Open Ear Headset Bone Conduction Sound Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for assisting visually impaired individuals in navigating real environments struggle to distinguish virtual sound from ambient sound, leading to confusion and reduced effectiveness in navigation guidance.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device and method that uses an open ear style earpiece to present virtual sound and ambient sound separately, employing sensor information and situation recognition to control the level and presentation of sound information, allowing users to differentiate between the two.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If bone conduction headset is used to provide audio information, then the ear canals remain open allowing ambient sound perception, but the user cannot distinguish between virtual sound and ambient sound leading to confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio output into distinct virtual sound channels and ambient sound channels. The virtual sound is delivered through bone conduction at specific locations (temporal bone), while ambient sound is delivered through air conduction via open ear canals. This spatial and modal segmentation allows the user to distinguish between the two sound types despite both being audible simultaneously.
2Loss of information
If excessive information is transmitted via voice guidance, then comprehensive navigation assistance is provided, but the user becomes confused by the excessive amount of information
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by selectively transmitting only the necessary navigation information at appropriate times. The controller determines what information to provide based on the user's current location, destination, and environmental context, avoiding unnecessary information transmission. This partial information approach maintains completeness where needed while reducing overall information load to prevent confusion.
3Adaptability or versatility
If open ear style earpiece is used, then ambient sound can be heard simultaneously with virtual sound, but the virtual sound may not be sufficiently distinguished from ambient sound
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses bone conduction as an intermediary transmission medium to deliver virtual sound. The temporal bone acts as a conduit that transmits vibrations from the speaker directly to the cochlea, creating a distinct auditory pathway separate from air conduction. This intermediary mechanism provides a perceptible difference between virtual and ambient sound, enabling users to distinguish them simultaneously when using open ear style earpieces.
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
Enhances the user's ability to distinguish virtual and ambient sounds, reducing listening fatigue and improving navigation by providing clear and controlled sound information in real-time.
Implementation Method 1
presenting acoustic information in a three-dimensional acoustic space
Implementation Method 2
an open ear style earpiece that has a structure allowing an ear canal to be open
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an information processing device that controls and presents sound information in an appropriate form to a user who acts in an environment on the basis of situation recognition including recognition of the environment and recognition of the actions of the user. The information processing device includes: a sensor that detects an object; an open ear style earpiece that is worn on an ear of a listener, and includes an acoustics generation unit, and a sound guide portion that transmits a sound generated by the acoustics generation unit into an earhole; and a processing unit that processes sound information of a sound source, the sound information being generated by the acoustics generation unit, the processing unit acquiring the sound information of the sound source corresponding to the object detected by the sensor, and a process of localizing a sound image of the acquired sound source while varying a position of the sound image in accordance with a position in a three-dimensional acoustic space, the position in the three-dimensional acoustic space corresponding to a position of the detected object.