Hearing Test System with Acoustic Calibration Cavity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hearing test systems are inadequate for self-administration by non-expert users due to calibration challenges and inaccuracy caused by consumer electronics, which often introduce distortion and noise, and require specialized clinical settings and equipment, making them costly and inaccessible for home use.
Innovation Solution
A hearing test system with a built-in self-calibration capability using a portable test unit and acoustic calibration cavity, which includes a microphone and audio processing electronics to produce and validate calibration signals, allowing users to perform calibration checks and adjustments without professional intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional hearing test systems use specialized clinical instrumentation and sound-isolated rooms, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-administered hearing tests by non-expert users through automated calibration and guidance. The portable test unit performs self-calibration using built-in reference tones and microphones, eliminating the need for expert operators while maintaining measurement accuracy through automated procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential calibration and measurement functions from complex clinical equipment into a portable test unit. By separating the core hearing threshold measurement capability from the bulky sound-isolated room infrastructure, the system achieves clinical-grade precision in home settings.
2Measurement precision
If conventional hearing tests are performed in sound-isolated rooms with specialized equipment, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring expert administration
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed for self-administration by non-expert users with automated calibration procedures. The portable test unit guides users through hearing threshold measurement without requiring expert knowledge, while the automated calibration using reference tones and built-in microphones ensures audiogram accuracy is maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calibration automatically before the actual hearing test. The portable test unit uses built-in reference tones and microphones to calibrate the audio output and input paths in advance, ensuring measurement precision is achieved without requiring expert setup procedures during the test administration.
3Device complexity
If consumer electronics are used for hearing tests, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to audio distortion and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses built-in microphones to capture the actual audio output from headphones or earphones and feeds this back for calibration. By measuring the real-world acoustic response and comparing it to reference levels, the system compensates for variations in consumer electronics audio characteristics, maintaining measurement precision despite using portable devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts calibration parameters based on measured acoustic response. By changing the calibration tone frequencies and levels adaptively according to the specific headphones or earphones being used, the system compensates for device-specific audio characteristics and maintains hearing threshold measurement accuracy across different consumer electronics.
4Ease of operation
If transducers are used without individual calibration, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to transducer variability
Solution Approach 1:
The portable test unit performs self-calibration by using its built-in microphones to measure the acoustic output of the connected headphones or earphones. This automated process eliminates the need for manual calibration by experts while ensuring that transducer variability is compensated for, maintaining measurement precision without complicating the setup process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs calibration as a preliminary step automatically before the hearing test begins. The portable test unit generates reference calibration tones, captures the acoustic response through built-in microphones, and stores calibration data specific to the connected transducers. This preliminary calibration ensures measurement precision is achieved without requiring user intervention during the actual test administration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate and cost-effective hearing evaluations and calibrations in non-clinical settings, reducing the need for specialized equipment and expert calibration, empowering users to self-administer hearing tests and maintain the integrity of the hearing test system.
Implementation Method 1
an earpiece that produces an acoustic hearing test stimuli... and/or an acoustic calibration stimuli
Implementation Method 2
The microphone may receive acoustic calibration stimuli from the earpiece and produce a calibration signal input in response to the acoustic calibration stimuli
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are examples of methods and systems for performing a calibration check of a personal hearing test system using a built-in calibration cavity, particularly for use by a non-expert user outside the clinical environment. The hearing test system includes a one or more earpieces. The hearing test system further includes a portable test unit having an acoustic calibration cavity for accommodating the earpiece at least partially therein. The acoustic calibration cavity may include an opening along an exterior surface of the portable test unit. The acoustic calibration cavity receives an acoustic calibration stimuli and the microphone provided within the acoustic calibration cavity produces a calibration signal input for measuring and performing a calibration check, or an automatic self-calibration.