Wearable Masking Signal Control for Speech Distraction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional headphones and earphones with active noise reduction fail to adequately reduce distracting speech from nearby individuals, leading to listening fatigue due to inconsistent noise masking levels.

Innovation Solution

A wearable electronic device with a processor that detects voice activity and adjusts the masking signal volume based on voice activity and inactivity, using a masking signal at a higher volume during speech and a lower or absent volume during silence to minimize intelligibility and fatigue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a masking signal is emitted at a high volume to mask distracting speech, then speech intelligibility is reduced, but listening fatigue increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeech intelligibilityVSAvoidlistening fatigue

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The masking signal volume is dynamically adjusted based on detected voice activity. The system transitions between high volume (when speech is detected) and low or zero volume (when silence is detected), making the masking effect adaptive rather than static. This resolves the contradiction by applying strong masking only when needed, avoiding continuous high-volume emission that causes fatigue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The masking signal is emitted in periodic intervals synchronized with detected voice activity rather than continuously. The processor alternates between emitting masking signal during speech periods and remaining silent during silence periods, creating a periodic action that maintains masking effectiveness while reducing overall exposure time and associated fatigue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a masking signal is emitted continuously to maintain speech masking, then distraction is reduced, but acoustic strain on the wearer increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedistractionVSAvoidacoustic strain

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts masking signal emission based on real-time voice activity detection. During speech periods, the masking signal is emitted at high volume to maintain distraction reduction. During silence periods, the signal is reduced to low or zero volume, minimizing acoustic strain while maintaining effectiveness during critical speech moments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the ambient sound field itself (detected through the microphone) to control its own operation. The voice activity detection mechanism allows the masking system to self-regulate based on environmental conditions, emitting signal only when speech is present and automatically reducing when silence occurs, thereby reducing unnecessary acoustic strain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the masking signal volume is reduced to minimize fatigue, then listening fatigue decreases, but speech masking effectiveness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelistening fatigueVSAvoidspeech masking effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the microphone signal through voice activity detection to control masking signal emission. The detected voice activity directly influences the masking signal volume, creating a closed-loop system that automatically adjusts masking strength based on real-time speech presence, ensuring effectiveness when needed while minimizing fatigue during silence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

The device effectively masks ambient speech while reducing listening fatigue by dynamically controlling the masking signal volume, ensuring minimal distraction and acoustic strain on the wearer.

Implementation Method 1

an electro-acoustic input transducer arranged to pick up an acoustic signal and convert the acoustic signal to a microphone signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectro-acoustic transduction:

Implementation Method 2

a loudspeaker; and a processor configured to: control the volume of a masking signal; and supply the masking signal to the loudspeaker

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectro-acoustic transduction:

Data Source

PatentUS12437745B2Wearable electronic device for emitting a masking signal

Publication Date: 2025.10.07 GN HEARING AS

AI summary

A signal processing method and a wearable electronic device such as a headphone or an earphone comprising a microphone arranged to pick up an acoustic signal and convert the acoustic signal to a microphone signal (x); a loudspeaker arranged in an earpiece; and a processor configured to control the volume of a masking signal (m); and supply the masking signal (m) to the loudspeaker. Further, the processor is further configured to detect voice activity and generate a voice activity signal (y) which is, concurrently with the microphone signal, sequentially indicative of one or more of: voice activity and voice in-activity; and control the volume of the masking signal (m) in response to the voice activity signal (y) in accordance with supplying the masking signal (m) to the loudspeaker at a first volume at times when the voice activity signal (y) is indicative of voice activity and at a second volume at times when the voice activity signal (y) is indicative of voice in-activity.