Wearable Audio Device Dynamic Sound Parameter Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy hearing aids and active noise cancellation headsets struggle to selectively enhance specific sounds while canceling noise, particularly in noisy environments, leading to challenges like the 'cocktail party situation' where it's difficult to follow conversations amidst multiple background sounds.
Innovation Solution
A wearable audio device with a neural network-based system that dynamically adjusts sound parameters using sensors and user feedback to enhance desired sounds and reduce unwanted noise, allowing users to customize sound settings through a mobile app and server-based algorithms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If hearing aids amplify frequencies to help users hear better, then hearing ability is improved, but background noise is also amplified making it difficult to distinguish speech
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating processing for different frequency components and sound sources. The system identifies specific speech frequencies and applies selective amplification while applying different processing (including attenuation) to background noise frequencies, thereby improving speech detection while reducing noise interference
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts sound parameters in real-time based on the detected acoustic environment. The neural network continuously analyzes incoming audio signals and adapts the equalization parameters to optimize speech enhancement while suppressing background noise, transforming a static amplification system into a dynamic adaptive one
2Object-affected harmful factors
If active noise cancellation headsets cancel ambient sounds, then noise reduction is achieved, but users become isolated from their surroundings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of noise cancellation parameters based on user activity and environmental context. The system can adaptively adjust the degree of noise cancellation, transitioning between strong cancellation for focused listening and reduced cancellation for situational awareness, thereby resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and environmental awareness
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters of the noise cancellation function dynamically - adjusting cancellation strength, frequency ranges, and timing based on detected conditions such as user movement, ambient noise levels, and speech presence, allowing the system to optimize between noise reduction and situational awareness
3Loss of information
If pass-through functionality amplifies all ambient sounds, then users remain aware of surroundings, but desired speech is not selectively enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniform amplification of all ambient sounds, the patent applies selective processing to different frequency components and sound sources. The neural network identifies speech frequencies and applies targeted enhancement while applying different processing to other sounds, achieving both awareness and intelligibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the balance between pass-through mode and selective enhancement based on environmental conditions. When speech is detected, the system transitions from uniform amplification to selective speech enhancement, optimizing intelligibility while maintaining situational awareness
4Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of sound parameters is provided, then user customization is possible, but the system cannot adapt to changing environments automatically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the neural network continuously monitors the acoustic environment and user responses, then automatically adjusts sound parameters accordingly. This closed-loop system maintains ease of operation while achieving environmental adaptability through real-time feedback-driven adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service by automatically adapting to changing environments without requiring manual user intervention. The neural network independently analyzes environmental conditions and adjusts parameters, freeing users from continuous manual adjustment while maintaining optimal performance
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments may relate to a wearable audio device. The wearable audio device may be configured to generate a data related to a sound environment in which the wearable audio device is located, and transmit an indication of that data to a computing device that is located remote from the wearable audio device. The wearable audio device may further be able to receive an indication of an audio signal parameter that is based on the data, and generate an audio signal based on the audio parameter. Other embodiments may be described or claimed.