Tympanic Membrane Measurement for Active Noise Cancellation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing noise cancellation technologies in headphones and earbuds are imperfect, failing to completely eliminate unwanted sounds due to passive occlusion discomfort and imprecise active cancellation, especially in complex environments.
Innovation Solution
The development of in-ear devices that actively measure the tympanic membrane using optical, mechanical, or electromagnetic techniques to produce sound waves that destructively interfere with external noises, enabling more precise noise cancellation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If passive occlusion is used to block external sounds, then noise cancellation is achieved, but user comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical passive occlusion system with an active acoustic field-based noise cancellation system. By using speakers to generate anti-noise sound waves that destructively interfere with external noises, the system achieves noise cancellation without requiring tight physical sealing, thereby improving user comfort while maintaining noise isolation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sound waves as an intermediary medium to achieve noise cancellation. Instead of directly blocking sound through physical occlusion, the system uses generated anti-noise waves as intermediaries to cancel external noises through destructive interference, reducing the need for aggressive physical sealing and improving comfort.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If active sound cancellation is used to eliminate external noises, then noise reduction is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs tympanic membrane measurements before generating active noise cancellation signals. By measuring the baseline tympanic membrane position and movement characteristics first, the system establishes accurate reference data that enables precise noise cancellation without compromising measurement accuracy, as the measurements are taken prior to the cancellation process beginning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the measurement function from the noise cancellation function in time and space. The measurement unit captures tympanic membrane data during a dedicated measurement phase, while the speakers generate cancellation signals during a separate operation phase. This segmentation allows high-precision measurements to be obtained without interference from the active noise cancellation process.
3Illumination intensity
If in-ear devices are used to deliver audio content, then sound quality is improved, but noise cancellation effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single in-ear device system. The same speakers that deliver high-quality audio content also generate anti-noise sound waves for active noise cancellation. The measurement unit provides tympanic membrane data that optimizes both audio delivery and noise cancellation performance simultaneously, achieving multi-functionality without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback loop where tympanic membrane measurements continuously inform the noise cancellation process. The measurement unit monitors real-time tympanic membrane movement and position, and this feedback data is used to adjust the active noise cancellation signals dynamically, ensuring both high sound quality and effective noise cancellation are maintained simultaneously.
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 achieves more complete and accurate noise cancellation, reducing discomfort and improving sound quality by directly measuring the tympanic membrane's movement to generate counter-sound waves, effectively eliminating unwanted sounds.
Implementation Method 1
the optical emitter to emit light toward the tympanic membrane and the optical receiver to measure movement of the tympanic membrane by detecting reflected light
Implementation Method 2
outputting sound from the audio package to destructively interfere with sound received by the tympanic membrane
Data Source
AI summary
An in-ear device includes a tympanic membrane measurement unit (TMMU) and an audio package configured to emit sound. The device is configured to measure a movement of a tympanic membrane in an ear using the TMMU caused by external sound received by the tympanic membrane, analyze at least the movement of the tympanic membrane measured by the TMMU using a predictive model trained by a machine learning technique to generate a waveform of cancellation sound that will destructively interfere with the external sound when received by the tympanic membrane, and output the cancellation sound from the audio package to destructively interfere with external sound received by the tympanic membrane.