Shielded Communication Transducer Using Skull Vibration Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current speaker-phone systems amplify background noises, such as traffic and engine sounds, which overwhelm the user's voice, reducing the signal-to-noise ratio and occupying unnecessary bandwidth, especially in noisy environments like cars or restaurants.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a laser-based interferometer to detect sound waves directly through the skull, employing a quasi-monochromatic, spatially-coherent light beam and a detector to generate an electric signal from the interference of light beams reflected from the body, effectively isolating internal sound signals from external noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional microphones are used to detect voice in speaker-phones, then the system can detect and transmit the user's voice, but background noises such as traffic noises, engine noises, and air-conditioner noises are also detected and amplified, overwhelming the voice signal and reducing signal-to-noise ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional acoustic detection system (microphones) with an optical detection system using laser beams. The laser beam is directed at the user's head, and the reflected light carries information about skull vibrations caused by voice production. This optical system naturally rejects background acoustic noises because it detects mechanical vibrations of the skull rather than airborne sound waves, thereby resolving the contradiction between detecting voice and rejecting background noise.
2Loss of information
If background noises are transmitted along with the voice signal, then the complete acoustic environment is captured, but unnecessary bandwidth is occupied and the transmitted voice becomes unrecognizable when noises overwhelm the system
Solution Approach 1:
By substituting acoustic detection with optical detection of skull vibrations, the system directly captures voice-related mechanical vibrations while inherently filtering out airborne background noises. This produces a clean voice signal that requires minimal bandwidth for transmission, resolving the contradiction between maintaining voice recognition quality and minimizing bandwidth consumption.
3Measurement precision
If acoustic detection methods are used, then the system can capture voice signals, but it cannot effectively distinguish between voice and background noises originating from different sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces acoustic field detection with optical field detection of mechanical vibrations. The laser beam reflects off the user's head, and the reflected light's Doppler shift or phase modulation encodes information about skull vibrations. Since the skull is directly coupled to the voice production mechanism (vocal cords and airway), it vibrates preferentially in response to voice production rather than airborne background noises, enabling effective sound source discrimination without acoustic contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the skull as an intermediary medium between the voice production mechanism and the detection system. Instead of directly detecting airborne sound waves, the system detects vibrations transmitted through the skull bone. This intermediary selectively transmits voice-related vibrations while attenuating airborne background noises, thereby resolving the contradiction between capturing voice signals and rejecting noise contamination.
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 significantly enhances the signal-to-noise ratio by directly detecting sound waves through the skull, reducing external noise interference and freeing up bandwidth for other communication uses, while being harmless and wire-free.
Implementation Method 1
an interferometer for interfering a light beam originated from the source, incident upon the body and reflected from it (henceforth the 'signal beam'), with a reference beam, which also originates from the light source
Implementation Method 2
a detector for detecting changes caused by motion of at least one interference fringe across the detector, and for generating a corresponding electric signal
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for detecting a sound originating from a body and enhancing signal-to-noise ratio with respect to noise originated outside the body is disclosed. The system comprises a light source for producing a quasi-monochromatic, spatially-coherent light beam; and interferometer for interfering alight beam originated from the source, incident upon the body and reflected from it, with a reference beam, which also originates from the light source; and a detector for detecting changes caused by motion of a least one interference fringe across the detector, and for generation a corresponding electric signal.