Noise-Cancelling Headphones With Wireless Speech-Triggered Transparency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing active noise cancellation (ANC) headphones struggle to reliably switch between noise cancellation and transparent modes, often failing to identify appropriate situations for transitioning, leading to inappropriate noise reduction or cancellation of desired sounds.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method and system using microphones, speech recognition processors, and wireless transceivers to monitor ambient sound for speech and control signals, enabling automatic switching between ANC and transparent modes based on recognized speech patterns or wireless control signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If active noise cancellation is used to reduce unwanted ambient sound, then noise reduction effectiveness is improved, but desired sounds such as speech are cancelled or reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between noise cancellation mode and transparent mode based on speech detection. When speech is detected in the ambient environment, the system transitions from active noise cancellation to transparent mode, allowing the desired speech signals to pass through to the user while maintaining noise reduction capabilities when speech is absent.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the audio processing by switching between two distinct modes: noise cancellation mode (where unwanted sounds are reduced) and transparent mode (where ambient sounds including speech are transmitted). This parameter switching allows the system to adapt to different acoustic environments and user needs.
2Loss of information
If transparent mode is implemented to allow ambient sound transmission, then desired speech can be heard, but it is difficult to identify situations when switching is appropriate
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects speech in the ambient environment using integrated microphones and speech recognition algorithms. This self-service capability allows the system to autonomously determine when to switch between noise cancellation and transparent modes without requiring manual user input, thereby simplifying operation while maintaining appropriate mode transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the ambient acoustic environment through microphones and uses speech recognition processing to provide feedback about the presence of desired sound signals. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts its operational mode, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing acoustic conditions.
3Ease of operation
If manual switching between modes is used, then user control is maintained, but automatic identification of switching situations is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates automatic speech detection and recognition capabilities that enable it to self-determine when mode switching is appropriate. The microphones continuously monitor the ambient environment, and the speech recognition processor automatically identifies speech signals, triggering autonomous mode transitions without requiring manual user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses continuous acoustic monitoring and speech recognition to provide real-time feedback about the environment. This feedback mechanism enables automatic decision-making regarding mode switching, allowing the system to autonomously transition between noise cancellation and transparent modes based on detected speech presence.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for operating at least two noise cancelling headphones, each headphone being switchable between a noise cancelling mode of operation and a transparent mode of operation, and each headphone including a microphone, a speech recognition processor and a wireless transceiver. The method includes monitoring sound in the ambience of each headphone picked up by the corresponding microphone for speech using the corresponding speech recognition processor; and monitoring the ambience of each headphone with the corresponding transceiver for a wireless mode control signal. The method includes switching a first one of the headphones into the transparent mode of operation and sending the wireless mode control signal, whose reception range is adjustable, from the first headphone to at least another one of the headphones using the transceivers if speech is recognized in the picked up sound of the first headphone, wherein the recognising may comprise identifying a first word sequence or a specific keyword of the first word sequence. The method further includes switching at least the another one of the headphones from the noise cancelling mode of operation into the transparent mode of operation if the wireless mode control signal is received by at least the another one of the headphones from the first headphone. Upon identification of a second word sequence or keyword the headphones may switch back to noise cancelling mode.