Wearable Audio ANR Control for Feedback Instability Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional approaches for controlling feedback instability in active noise reduction (ANR) systems in wearable audio devices suffer from frequent bouts of instability that are difficult to monitor continuously and can lead to distracting audio artifacts like chirps or spikes.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilizes multiple instability detectors to determine current feedback instability, applies latch logic with timers to adjust a driver command signal, and smooths transitions between ANR settings using a baseline mitigation value controlled by latch logic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional binary control mechanisms are used to mitigate feedback instability, then feedback instability is reduced, but distracting chirps or spikes in audio output occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeedback stabilityVSAvoidaudio artifacts (chirps or spikes)

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from binary control to continuous control. The system dynamically adjusts the mitigation parameter continuously based on real-time feedback instability measurements, allowing smooth adaptation that prevents abrupt changes causing audio artifacts while maintaining feedback stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the mitigation parameter continuously rather than using fixed binary states. The system changes the mitigation parameter in proportion to the measured feedback instability, enabling fine-grained control that eliminates distracting chirps and spikes while effectively reducing feedback instability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If multiple instability detectors are used to determine current feedback instability, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeedback instability detection accuracyVSAvoidcontroller complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by combining the outputs of multiple instability detectors into a single comprehensive measure of feedback instability. This integration approach maintains high detection accuracy by utilizing multiple detection perspectives while simplifying the overall control architecture through unified processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements universality by designing the controller to handle multiple detector inputs through a unified mitigation framework. The same control mechanism processes information from various detectors, making the system multi-functional without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20260031077A1Wearable Audio Device with Feedback Instability Control

Publication Date: 2026.01.29 BOSE CORP

AI summary

Various aspects include approaches for feedback instability control in wearable audio devices. In certain cases, a method of controlling feedback instability in a wearable audio device with an active noise reduction (ANR) system includes: determining a current feedback instability by combining outputs from multiple instability detectors, applying latch logic to the current feedback instability to determine a current mitigation value, where the latch logic controls adjustment of the current mitigation value with a set of timers, and adjusting a driver command signal based on the current mitigation value to mitigate feedback instability.