Snoring-Cancellation Pillow With Gated Active Noise Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing noise cancellation systems for snoring and ambient noise are ineffective due to suboptimal positioning of anti-noise speakers and the need for hard-wired connections, leading to inefficient dynamic adjustments that fail to account for periods of no noise, resulting in reduced effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
An anti-snoring system with a control unit that processes signals from error and reference microphones using gated dynamic adjustments to produce anti-noise, which includes a first pillow unit with an error microphone and speaker, and optionally a second pillow unit, allowing for wireless communication and adaptive noise cancellation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic adjustments are implemented in ANC systems, then noise cancellation adaptability improves, but system effectiveness deteriorates during periods of no ambient noise due to improper convergence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using an on/off switch that periodically activates and deactivates the anti-snoring device based on detected snoring conditions. The device turns on when snoring is detected and turns off when snoring stops, creating a periodic operation pattern that matches the intermittent nature of snoring events. This resolves the contradiction by preventing continuous dynamic adjustments during non-snoring periods that would cause improper convergence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through sound detection mechanisms that continuously monitor for snoring conditions and provide feedback signals to control the on/off switching of the anti-snoring device. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining reliability by only activating when actual snoring is detected, avoiding the convergence problems of continuous adjustment during silent periods.
2Device complexity
If anti-noise speakers are mounted in less-than-ideal positions, then device complexity reduces, but noise cancellation effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a pillow-based system that integrates multiple functions including sound detection, signal processing, and anti-noise generation into a single multi-functional unit. The pillow serves as both the support structure and the housing for all ANC components, eliminating the need for separate speaker mounting structures and complex positioning mechanisms while maintaining effective noise cancellation.
3Reliability
If pillows are hard-wired to external system components, then system reliability improves, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining all ANC system components (microphones, speakers, signal processors, and power sources) into an integrated pillow unit. This eliminates the need for hard-wired connections to external components, allowing the pillow to be freely positioned and removed without compromising system reliability, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
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
The system effectively cancels snoring and ambient noise by using gated dynamic adjustments to optimize noise cancellation, even during periods of low noise levels, improving sleep quality and reducing disruptions.
Implementation Method 1
ANC systems typically generate a secondary noise of the same magnitude but opposite polarity as the noise sought to be cancelled. As used herein, this secondary noise of the same magnitude but opposite polarity is referred to as 'anti-noise.' By ANC, the anti-noise and the unwanted noise are both canceled out or their sound pressure level (SPL) is greatly reduced.
Data Source
AI summary
Active noise control systems, devices, and methods are disclosed herein. Anti-snoring systems can include a first pillow unit having at least one error microphone and at least one speaker, at least one reference microphone configured to capture sound produced proximate to the at least one reference microphone, and a control unit operatively coupled to the first pillow unit and the at least one reference microphone. In some aspects, the control unit can be configured to produce an anti-noise in the at least one speaker disposed in the first pillow unit by processing signals received from the at least one error microphone and the at least one reference microphone using gated dynamic adjustments such that the anti-noise cancels any sound produced proximate the at least one reference.