Rotatable Microphone Array for Ear-Mountable Listening Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ear-mounted listening devices, such as headphones and hearing aids, are not designed for all-day wear and fail to accurately reproduce environmental cues, leading to difficulties in localizing sounds and are not easily customizable or cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
An ear-mountable listening device with a rotatable microphone array and binaural listening system that uses acoustical beamforming and machine learning to selectively amplify or attenuate sounds based on their location, providing near-perfect perceptual transparency and spatial awareness, and is modular for easy replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional monolithic ear-mounted listening devices are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but customization and cost-effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The listening device is divided into separate modular components including a housing, a rotatable microphone array assembly, and a speaker assembly. Each component can be independently manufactured, replaced, or customized. The microphone array is segmented into multiple individual microphone elements that can be independently controlled and positioned.
Solution Approach 2:
The microphone array is designed to be rotatable relative to the housing, allowing dynamic repositioning of the microphone elements. This rotational capability enables the system to adapt to different spatial arrangements and optimize sound capture from various directions without requiring multiple fixed arrays.
2Measurement precision
If fixed microphone array orientation is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but sound localization accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The microphone array incorporates a rotational mechanism that allows it to change its orientation relative to the housing. This dynamic repositioning capability enables the system to accurately localize sounds from different directions by rotating the microphone array to face the sound source, thereby maintaining high localization accuracy without requiring complex multiple-array systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the spatial parameters of the microphone array through rotation, altering the relative positions of the microphone elements with respect to the sound source. This parameter change enables the system to adapt to different acoustic scenarios and maintain accurate sound localization across various spatial conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If monolithic device design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different users and environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into modular components that can be independently customized for different users and applications. The housing, microphone array, and speaker assembly can be separately designed and optimized for specific needs, allowing for adaptability without requiring complete redesign of the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design creates a universal platform where the same basic components can serve multiple functions and be adapted to different users. The rotatable microphone array can be configured for various listening scenarios, and the separable components allow for customization while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process for each individual module.
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 all-day comfort with improved sound localization and environmental awareness, allowing users to selectively enhance or dampen specific sounds, while maintaining the natural Head Related Transfer Function and being cost-effective with modular design.
Implementation Method 1
uses acoustical beamforming to selectively amplify or attenuate sounds based on their location
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques described herein include generating first audio signals representative of sounds emanating from an environment and captured with an array of microphones disposed within an ear-mountable listing device. A rotational position of the array of microphones is determined. A rotational correction is applied to the first audio signals to generate a second audio signal. The rotational correction is based at least in part upon the determined rotational position. A speaker of the ear-mountable listening device is driven with the second audio signal to output audio into an ear.