Suppressed Carrier Audio System Ultrasonic Transducers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hearing aids and audio systems require bulky components like microphones, amplifiers, and speakers, which are cumbersome and have limited battery life, and they do not efficiently transmit audio signals without a carrier in ultrasonic systems.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic, suppressed-carrier audio system that modulates audio signals onto a carrier frequency greater than 20 kHz, uses a band-pass filter to remove the carrier, and employs ultrasonic transducers to emit the suppressed carrier signal, with a demodulation circuit at the listener's location to recreate the audio content by mixing the suppressed carrier with a locally generated carrier signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional hearing aids use microphones, amplifiers, and speakers, then audio detection and amplification is achieved, but the device becomes bulky and has limited battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the carrier signal generation function from the hearing aid device itself and relocates it to an external source. The hearing aid only needs to receive and demodulate the suppressed-carrier signal, eliminating the need for internal carrier generation, microphone, amplifier, and speaker components, thereby reducing device complexity and power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an ultrasonic suppressed-carrier signal as an intermediary carrier that transmits audio information without requiring the hearing aid to generate its own carrier. This external carrier acts as a mediator that carries the audio signal to the hearing aid, simplifying the device architecture
2Productivity
If conventional audio systems use traditional transmission methods, then audio signals are transmitted, but the system lacks efficiency and directional control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses ultrasonic vibrations as the carrier wave frequency, which enables efficient directional transmission. The ultrasonic suppressed-carrier signal vibrates at frequencies above human hearing, allowing for precise directional control and efficient energy transmission to the hearing aid device
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the carrier signal parameters by using suppressed-carrier modulation with ultrasonic frequencies. This parameter change enables more efficient transmission by eliminating the need to transmit the full carrier signal, reducing energy consumption while maintaining transmission effectiveness
3Ease of operation
If hearing aids require bulky components, then audio processing is achieved, but the device becomes cumbersome and impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts multiple bulky components (microphone, amplifier, speaker, carrier generator) from the hearing aid and relocates their functions to external sources. The hearing aid is reduced to essential signal reception and demodulation circuitry, dramatically improving portability while maintaining audio processing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an external source to generate and transmit the carrier signal that would traditionally be generated internally by the hearing aid. This external copying of the carrier generation function eliminates the need for internal carrier generation hardware, reducing device complexity and improving portability
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 solution enables efficient, directional, and low-power audio transmission and reception, reducing bulkiness and power consumption, and allows for targeted audio delivery, including to hearing-impaired individuals, with improved signal quality and privacy control.
Implementation Method 1
a first ultrasonic transducer having an input coupled to receive the suppressed carrier signal, the ultrasonic transducer configured to emit the suppressed carrier signal
Implementation Method 2
the carrier signal from the second ultrasonic transducer mixes with the suppressed carrier signal from the first ultrasonic transducer thereby resulting in an audible reproduction of the audio content
Data Source
AI summary
A suppressed carrier audio system can include a modulator having an input configured to receive an audio signal having audio content and configured to modulate the received audio signal onto an ultrasonic carrier to produce a modulated signal; a bandpass filter to receive the modulated signal and suppress or remove the carrier from the modulated signal, and further configured to pass a sideband of the modulated signal thereby creating a suppressed carrier signal; and a first ultrasonic transducer having an input coupled to receive the suppressed carrier signal, the ultrasonic transducer configured to emit the suppressed carrier signal in a direction toward an intended listener. The system can also include a demodulator having a signal generator configured to generate a carrier signal and a second ultrasonic transducer having an input coupled to receive the carrier signal and to emit the carrier signal in a direction toward the intended listener.