Selective Noise Cancellation Using Prehearing Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing noise cancellation technologies often inadvertently attenuate conversations of interest along with background noise, failing to effectively isolate and enhance the desired conversation in noisy environments, particularly for individuals with hearing impairments.

Innovation Solution

A method and system utilizing noise-cancellation earphones connected to a mobile device that prehears noise from a source, analyzes it, and processes the signal to selectively cancel background noise, allowing the conversation-of-interest to be heard by positioning the noise source further away from the user and using techniques like music identification or sound sensing to anticipate and counteract noise before it reaches the user.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If active noise cancellation is applied to reduce background noise, then background noise is reduced, but the conversation of interest is also attenuated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackground noiseVSAvoidconversation of interest

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the audio signal into different components (background noise and conversation of interest) and applies different processing to each. The system identifies and separates these components, then selectively cancels only the background noise while preserving the conversation signal, resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and information preservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different quality characteristics to different parts of the audio spectrum. By analyzing the spatial and spectral characteristics of various sound sources, the system applies noise cancellation selectively to specific frequency ranges and spatial locations where background noise predominates, while leaving the conversation frequencies intact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If hearing aids amplify all sounds to compensate for hearing loss, then hearing sensitivity is improved, but the ability to distinguish conversation from noise is not improved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehearing sensitivityVSAvoidconversation discrimination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the conversation signal from the mixed audio environment by identifying its unique characteristics (such as spatial direction, frequency content, or temporal patterns). Once extracted, the conversation can be amplified and enhanced separately from the background noise, improving both hearing sensitivity and conversation discrimination simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing stage between sound capture and delivery to the user. This intermediary system analyzes the audio environment, identifies the conversation of interest, and applies selective enhancement and noise cancellation before presenting the processed signal to the hearing aid, thereby improving both sensitivity and discrimination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This approach enables more precise noise cancellation, allowing users to clearly hear conversations in noisy environments by distinguishing and reducing background noise while preserving the conversation-of-interest, improving communication in settings like restaurants and public places.

Implementation Method 1

a transmitting transducer, which converts electrical signals into acoustical signals and is arranged at an aperture of the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroacoustic transduction:

Implementation Method 2

a receiving transducer converts acoustical signals into electrical signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustoelectric transduction:

Data Source

PatentUS10529358B2Method and system for reducing background sounds in a noisy environment

Publication Date: 2020.01.07 UR SHMUEL

AI summary

A method for reducing noise to a user to enable a conversation-of-interest to be heard, the noise originating from a noise source, the method comprising the steps of: operating at least one first device located at a first distance from the noise source, the user having noise-cancellation earphones connected to a second mobile device, the second mobile device located at a second distance from the noise source, the first distance less than the second distance; prehearing noise from the noise source using the at least one first device; analyzing the preheard noise to yield a respective analyzed noise signal; and processing the respective analyzed noise signal to effect noise cancellation for the noise-cancellation earphones.