Voice Communication Relay Device for MOPP Mask Audio Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Military personnel wearing Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) equipment experience degraded voice and hearing communication quality due to the use of M50 protective masks with external speakers, leading to reduced speech reproduction and delays in critical information transmission.
Innovation Solution
A voice communication relay device that includes a housing with a device speaker, amplifier, microphone pre-amplifier, circuit board, and power source, which bypasses the M50 mask's external speaker by connecting directly to the headset and radio, using an Impedance Dependent Auto Switch to optimize signal transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the M50 mask external speaker and PELTORTM COMTACTM boom microphone are used together, then communication can be maintained while wearing MOPP gear, but voice transmission quality deteriorates due to voice being broadcast from the mask speaker into the boom microphone
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the voice signal directly from the mask's internal microphone, bypassing the external speaker. The relay device captures the clean internal microphone signal and transmits it directly to the radio system, eliminating the degradation caused by the speaker-microphone path while maintaining communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The voice communication relay device serves as an intermediary between the mask's internal microphone and the radio system. It captures the high-quality internal mic signal and relays it directly to the radio, acting as a mediator that eliminates the need for the degraded external speaker-to-boom-mic path.
2Ease of operation
If the M50 mask external speaker is used for local communication, then speakers can hear the user's voice, but the voice quality is degraded due to the external speaker's limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the high-quality voice signal directly from the internal microphone and routes it to the relay device's speaker. This bypasses the degraded external mask speaker, allowing clear local communication while maintaining the ability to speak without removing the gas mask.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the current headset configuration is used, then communication can occur while wearing MOPP gear, but critical information may be missed due to poor voice quality, resulting in delays
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the clear voice signal directly from the internal microphone and transmits it via the relay device to the radio system. This eliminates the need to repeat critical information due to poor quality, reducing communication delays while maintaining adaptability to MOPP gear usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback through the relay device's speaker, allowing the user to hear their own voice and the quality of transmission. This enables real-time assessment of communication clarity, allowing immediate correction or repetition only when necessary, thereby reducing unnecessary delays.
Data Source
AI summary
A voice communication relay device for use in combination with a protective face mask having an embedded microphone, a headset, a radio, and a push-to-talk (PTT) device that is connected to a radio. The voice communication relay device includes: a housing; a device speaker associated with the housing; an amplifier in the housing, the amplifier being electrically connected to the device speaker; a circuit board located inside of the housing; and a power source. At least one function of the circuit board is to serve as an Impedance dependent auto switch (IDAS) that is electrically connected to the device speaker and an output connector for selectively sending signals to the device speaker or to a radio that is connected to the PTT device.