Microphone Media Mixing for Dynamic Hearthrough Gain Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users often face challenges in simultaneously listening to media and hearing their surroundings without one dominating the other, leading to suboptimal audio experiences, particularly in situations with low hearthrough levels.
Innovation Solution
An audio device that processes microphone and media input signals to determine and apply gains, using loudness estimation and averaging techniques to enhance situational awareness and improve audio quality and intelligibility by balancing hearthrough and media playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the media volume is increased to improve media playback quality, then the media audio quality is improved, but the hearthrough level becomes too low causing loss of environmental awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic gain adjustment where the hearthrough gain is modified based on the detected audio signal level. When media playback is active, the system automatically reduces hearthrough gain during loud media passages and increases it during quiet passages, creating a dynamic balance that preserves both media quality and environmental awareness without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the audio signal level and uses this feedback to automatically adjust the hearthrough gain. The gain modification is based on the detected signal characteristics, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing audio conditions and maintains optimal balance between media and environmental sounds.
2Loss of information
If the hearthrough level is increased to improve environmental awareness, then the situational awareness is improved, but the media volume must be considerably reduced resulting in suboptimal media playback quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts hearthrough gain based on the detected audio signal level rather than using a fixed gain value. This allows the hearthrough level to adapt to the current media playback intensity, ensuring environmental awareness is maintained without requiring manual reduction of media volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically manages the balance between media and hearthrough without requiring user intervention. The gain modification is self-regulating based on the detected signal characteristics, eliminating the need for users to manually adjust settings to achieve optimal balance.
3Illumination intensity
If manual adjustment of hearthrough level is implemented to balance media and environment, then the audio balance can be optimized, but the device complexity and user operation burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic gain adjustment based on detected signal levels without requiring user input. The processor continuously monitors the audio signal and modifies hearthrough gain accordingly, making the device self-regulating and eliminating manual adjustment operations for users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the detected audio signal level to automatically control the hearthrough gain. This closed-loop approach continuously optimizes audio balance based on real-time conditions without requiring user intervention or complex manual adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
An audio device comprising an interface, a memory, and one or more processors is disclosed, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: obtain a microphone input signal; obtain a media input signal; process the microphone input signal for provision of a microphone output signal; and provide an audio output signal based on the microphone output signal, wherein to process the microphone input signal comprises to: determine a microphone gain; and apply the microphone gain to the microphone input signal for provision of the microphone output signal, and wherein to determine the microphone gain comprises: estimate a first loudness of the microphone input signal; determine a first primary average based on the first loudness; estimate a second loudness of the media input signal; determine a second average based on the second loudness; determine a first gain based on the first primary average and the second average; determine a first secondary average based on the first loudness; determine a second gain based on the first secondary average and the second average; and determine the microphone gain based on the first gain and the second gain.