U.S. patent application number 13/991258 was filed with the patent office on 2014-01-09 for advanced communication earpiece device and method.
The applicant listed for this patent is Antoine Bernier, Jean-Nicolas Laperle, Jakub Mazur, Jeremie Voix. Invention is credited to Antoine Bernier, Jean-Nicolas Laperle, Jakub Mazur, Jeremie Voix.
Application Number | 20140010378 13/991258 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46171118 |
Filed Date | 2014-01-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140010378 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Voix; Jeremie ; et
al. |
January 9, 2014 |
ADVANCED COMMUNICATION EARPIECE DEVICE AND METHOD
Abstract
An earpiece device (10, 110, 210, 210') provides advanced
communication to the user thereof, for controlling a total sound
dose (TND), including an audio output from an audio source (16)
reaching an ear of the user occluded at the outer ear canal (15) by
an in-ear device (14), for allowing an external ambient sound to be
heard by the ear of the user, and for allowing a voice (NSV) of the
user to be transmitted to a telecommunication transmission link
(TTL). The present invention also contemplates a method of
operation of the earpiece device (10, 110, 210, 210').
Inventors: |
Voix; Jeremie; (Montreal,
CA) ; Laperle; Jean-Nicolas; (Montreal, CA) ;
Mazur; Jakub; (Montreal, CA) ; Bernier; Antoine;
(Montreal, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Voix; Jeremie
Laperle; Jean-Nicolas
Mazur; Jakub
Bernier; Antoine |
Montreal
Montreal
Montreal
Montreal |
|
CA
CA
CA
CA |
|
|
Family ID: |
46171118 |
Appl. No.: |
13/991258 |
Filed: |
December 1, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
December 1, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CA2011/001312 |
371 Date: |
September 16, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61344977 |
Dec 1, 2010 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
381/57 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R 3/007 20130101;
H03G 3/20 20130101; H04R 1/1083 20130101; H04R 2430/01 20130101;
H04R 5/04 20130101; H04R 2201/107 20130101; G10L 21/0216 20130101;
H04R 2460/01 20130101; H03G 3/32 20130101; H04R 29/004 20130101;
H04R 29/001 20130101; H04R 2410/01 20130101; H04R 2460/05 20130101;
H04R 1/1016 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
381/57 |
International
Class: |
H03G 3/20 20060101
H03G003/20 |
Claims
1. A sound dose limiter device for controlling a total sound dose
reaching an ear of a user, said limiter device comprising: an
in-ear device for substantially occluding an outer ear canal of the
user, said in-ear device including a speaker for providing an audio
signal input from an audio output of an audio source inside the
outer ear canal, an internal microphone for measuring a sound
pressure level inside the occluded outer ear canal, and an external
microphone for measuring an external ambient sound pressure level
reaching the user's ear; and a controller device connecting to the
internal and external microphones for receiving respective internal
and external measured sound pressure levels and for receiving the
audio output, said controller device performing an evaluation of
the internal and external measured sound pressure levels,
calculating a cumulative total sound dose from the internal sound
pressure level and the audio signal input depending on the
evaluation, and controlling the audio signal input transmitted to
the speaker.
2. The sound dose limiter device of claim 1, wherein said
controller device further calculates, based on a level of the audio
signal input, an estimated sound dose decrease so as to account for
a fatigue recuperation of the user's ear over time, the estimated
sound dose decrease being subtracted from the cumulative total
sound dose.
3. The sound dose limiter device of claim 2, wherein said
controller device repeatedly performs the evaluation and
calculations over a predetermined time interval.
4. The sound dose limiter device of claim 2, further including a
display connecting to the controller device, said display
displaying an information from the controller device corresponding
to the calculated cumulative total sound dose.
5. The sound dose limiter device of claim 4, wherein said
controller device further calculates an estimated listening
remaining time of transmission of the audio output to the audio
signal input before the calculated cumulative total sound dose
reaches a maximum acceptable sound dose threshold based on the
internal sound pressure level and/or the audio signal input
depending on the evaluation.
6. The sound dose limiter device of claim 5, wherein said
information is the estimated remaining listening time.
7. The sound dose limiter device of claim 5, wherein, upon the
estimated calculated cumulative total sound dose approaching the
maximum acceptable sound dose threshold within a predetermined time
threshold, said controller device further transmits a warning
signal to the display and/or the speaker.
8. The sound dose limiter device of claim 5, wherein, upon the
estimated calculated cumulative total sound dose approaching or
reaching the maximum acceptable sound dose threshold within a
predetermined time threshold, said controller device further takes
an auditory action.
9. The sound dose limiter device of claim 8, wherein the auditory
action is a progressive decrease of the audio signal input
transmitted to the speaker.
10. The sound dose limiter device of claim 8, wherein the auditory
action is a stop of transmission of the audio signal input to the
speaker.
11. A method for calculating a total sound dose reaching an ear of
a user wearing an in-ear device substantially occluding a user's
outer ear canal, the in-ear device including a speaker for
providing an audio signal input from an audio output of an audio
source inside the outer ear canal, an internal microphone for
measuring a sound pressure level inside the occluded outer ear
canal, and an external microphone for measuring an external ambient
sound pressure level reaching the user's ear, said method
comprising the steps of: measuring, during a predetermined time
interval, the internal and external sound pressure levels, and the
audio output; performing an evaluation of the internal and external
measured sound pressure levels; calculating a current interval
total sound dose from the internal sound pressure level and the
audio signal input depending on the evaluation, and a cumulative
total sound dose based on previous time intervals; and controlling
the audio signal input transmitted to the speaker.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of calculating
includes calculating, based on a level of the audio signal input, a
current interval estimated sound dose decrease so as to account for
a fatigue recuperation of the user's ear over time, the estimated
sound dose decrease being subtracted from the cumulative total
sound dose.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of evaluating includes
comparing, over the predetermined time interval, the internal and
external sound pressure levels to determine if both correlate
and/or are coherent with one another, and if the external sound
pressure level is larger than the internal sound pressure level by
at least a predetermined level difference; and wherein the step of
calculating includes calculating a current interval total sound
dose from the audio signal input when the internal and external
sound pressure levels do not correlate and/or are not coherent with
one another, form the internal sound pressure level when the
internal and external sound pressure levels correlate and/or are
coherent with one another and when the external sound pressure
level is not larger than the internal sound pressure level by at
least the predetermined level difference, and from an addition of
the audio signal input and the internal sound pressure level when
the internal and external sound pressure levels correlate and/or
are coherent with one another and when the external sound pressure
level is larger than the internal sound pressure level by at least
the predetermined level difference.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of controlling
includes displaying an information corresponding to the calculated
cumulative total sound dose onto a display.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of calculating
includes estimating a listening remaining time of transmission of
the audio output to the audio signal input before the calculated
cumulative total sound dose reaches a maximum acceptable sound dose
threshold based on the internal sound pressure level and/or the
audio signal input depending on the evaluation.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of controlling
includes displaying the estimated listening remaining time.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of calculating
includes determining if the calculated cumulative total sound dose
approaches a maximum acceptable sound dose threshold, and wherein
the step of controlling includes, upon the calculated cumulative
total sound dose approaching the maximum acceptable sound dose
threshold, transmitting a warning signal to the display and/or the
speaker.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of controlling
includes, upon the calculated cumulative total sound dose
approaching or reaching the maximum acceptable sound dose
threshold, taking an auditory action.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of controlling
includes, upon the calculated cumulative total sound dose
approaching or reaching the maximum acceptable sound dose threshold
within a predetermined time threshold, progressively decreasing the
audio signal input transmitted to the speaker.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of controlling
includes, upon the calculated cumulative total sound dose
approaching or reaching the maximum acceptable sound dose threshold
within a predetermined time threshold, progressively stopping
transmission of the audio signal input to the speaker.
21. The method of claim 11, wherein the user wears two similar said
in-ear device substantially occluding a corresponding said user's
outer ear canal, the step of calculating includes calculating, for
each said user's ear, a corresponding current interval total sound
dose from the internal sound pressure level and the audio signal
input depending on the evaluation, and a cumulative total sound
dose based on previous time intervals and the largest one of the
two said current interval total sound doses.
22. A push-to-hear device for allowing an external ambient sound to
be heard by an ear of a user, said push-to-hear device comprising:
at least one in-ear device for substantially occluding an outer ear
canal of the user, said at least one in-ear device including a
speaker for providing an audio signal input from an audio output of
an audio source inside the outer ear canal, and an external
microphone for measuring an external ambient sound pressure level
reaching the user's ear; and a controller device connecting to the
external microphone for receiving an external measured sound
pressure level and for receiving the audio output, said controller
device including an activation switch device activatable by the
user, said controller device allowing the audio output to reach the
speaker when the activation switch device is unactivated, and
allowing the external ambient sound pressure level to reach the
speaker when the activation switch device is activated, while at
least partially disabling the audio output from reaching the
speaker.
23. The push-to-hear device of claim 22, wherein said controller
device allows the external ambient sound pressure level to reach
the speaker when the activation switch device is activated, while
totally disabling the audio output from reaching the speaker.
24. The push-to-hear device of claim 22, wherein said controller
device further automatically and digitally adjusts the external
ambient sound pressure level for a natural sounding thereof at the
speaker of the in-ear device.
25. The push-to-hear device of claim 22, wherein said controller
device further includes a second activation command device
activatable by the user, said second activation command device
allowing a predetermined value of a sound volume ratio of the
external ambient sound pressure level over the audio output to
reach the speaker when the second activation command device is
activated, said second activation command device, when activated,
deactivating said activation switch device.
26. The push-to-hear device of claim 25, wherein said second
activation command device further allows the user to modify the
predetermined value of the sound volume ratio so as to vary the
blending ratio thereof reaching the speaker when the second
activation command device is activated.
27. The push-to-hear device of claim 22, wherein said controller
device further includes an ambient sound noise gating filter device
activatable by the user, said ambient sound noise gating filter
device, when activated, eliminating a noise portion of the external
ambient sound pressure level having an acoustic pressure smaller
than a predetermined gating threshold from the external ambient
sound pressure level so as to keep only a noise-emerging portion
thereof at the speaker of the in-ear device.
28. The push-to-hear device of claim 27, wherein said predetermined
gating threshold is adjustable by the user.
29. A method for allowing an external ambient sound to be heard by
an ear of a user wearing an in-ear device substantially occluding a
user's outer ear canal, the in-ear device including a speaker for
providing an audio signal input from an audio output of an audio
source inside the outer ear canal, and an external microphone for
measuring an external ambient sound pressure level reaching the
user's ear, said method comprising the steps of: upon activation of
an activation switch device activatable by the user, measuring the
external ambient sound pressure level; and allowing the external
ambient sound pressure level to reach the speaker, while at least
partially disabling the audio output from reaching the speaker.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of allowing includes
allowing the external ambient sound pressure level to reach the
speaker, while totally disabling the audio output from reaching the
speaker.
31. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of allowing includes
automatically and digitally adjusting the external ambient sound
pressure level for a natural sounding thereof at the speaker of the
in-ear device.
32. The method of claim 29, further including the steps of: upon
activation of second activation command device activatable by the
user, automatically deactivating said activation switch device and
measuring the external ambient sound pressure level; and allowing a
predetermined value of a sound volume ratio of the external ambient
sound pressure level over the audio output to reach the
speaker.
33. The method of claim 32, further including the step of: allowing
the user to modify the predetermined value of the sound volume
ratio so as to vary the blending ratio thereof reaching the speaker
when the second activation command device is activated.
34. The method of claim 29, further including the step of: upon
activation of an ambient sound noise gating filter device
activatable by the user, eliminating a noise portion of the
external ambient sound pressure level having an acoustic pressure
smaller than a predetermined gating threshold from the external
ambient sound pressure level, whereby keeping only a noise-emerging
portion thereof at the speaker of the in-ear device.
35. The method of claim 34, further including the step of: allowing
the user to modify said predetermined gating threshold.
36. A communication device for allowing a voice of a user to be
transmitted to a telecommunication transmission link, said
communication device comprising: an in-ear device for substantially
occluding an outer ear canal of the user, said in-ear device
including an internal microphone for measuring a sound pressure
level inside the occluded outer ear canal, and an external
microphone for measuring an external ambient sound pressure level
reaching the user's ear, the internal and external measured sound
pressure levels including respective acoustically deformed speech
voice from the user; and a controller device connecting to the
internal and external microphones for receiving respective internal
and external measured sound pressure levels, said controller device
performing an evaluation of the external measured sound pressure
level, digitally generating an enhanced natural speech voice signal
from at least the internal sound pressure level depending on the
evaluation, and transmitting the generated enhanced natural speech
voice signal to the telecommunication transmission link.
37. The communication device of claim 36, wherein said controller
device further generates the enhanced natural speech voice signal
from the internal sound pressure level when the external measured
sound pressure level is larger than a noise threshold.
38. The communication device of claim 37, wherein, when the
external measured sound pressure level is smaller or equal to the
noise threshold, said controller device generates the enhanced
natural speech voice signal from both the internal and external
sound pressure levels with greater content of the external sound
pressure level than of the internal sound pressure level when the
internal sound pressure level is generally larger than the external
sound pressure level, and with greater content of the internal
sound pressure level than of the external sound pressure level when
the internal sound pressure level is generally smaller than the
external sound pressure level.
39. The communication device of claim 38, wherein, when generating
the enhanced natural speech voice signal from both the internal and
external sound pressure levels, said controller device
substantially combines, over a human voice frequency band, a high
frequency portion of the external sound pressure level with a low
frequency portion of the internal sound pressure level to generate
the enhanced natural speech voice signal.
40. The communication device of claim 37, wherein, when the
external measured sound pressure level is smaller or equal to the
noise threshold, said controller device generates the enhanced
natural speech voice signal from both the internal and external
sound pressure levels when the internal and external sound pressure
levels correlate and/or are coherent with one another, and from the
internal sound pressure level when the internal and external sound
pressure levels do not correlate and/or are not coherent with one
another.
41. The communication device of claim 40, wherein, when generating
the enhanced natural speech voice signal from both the internal and
external sound pressure levels, said controller device
substantially combines, over a human voice frequency band, a high
frequency portion of the external sound pressure level with a low
frequency portion of the internal sound pressure level to generate
the enhanced natural speech voice signal.
42. A method for transmitting a voice of a user wearing an in-ear
device substantially occluding a user's outer ear canal to a
telecommunication transmission link, the in-ear device including an
internal microphone for measuring a sound pressure level inside the
occluded outer ear canal, and an external microphone for measuring
an external ambient sound pressure level reaching the user's ear,
the internal and external measured sound pressure levels including
respective acoustically deformed speech voice from the user, said
method comprising the steps of: measuring the internal and external
sound pressure levels; performing an evaluation of the external
measured sound pressure level; digitally generating an enhanced
natural speech voice signal from at least the internal sound
pressure level depending on the evaluation; and transmitting the
generated enhanced natural speech voice signal to the
telecommunication transmission link.
43. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of generating includes
digitally generating the enhanced natural speech voice signal from
the internal sound pressure level when the external measured sound
pressure level is larger than a noise threshold.
44. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of generating
includes, when the external measured sound pressure level is
smaller or equal to the noise threshold, digitally generating the
enhanced natural speech voice signal from both the internal and
external sound pressure levels with greater content of the external
sound pressure level than of the internal sound pressure level when
the internal sound pressure level is generally larger than the
external sound pressure level, and with greater content of the
internal sound pressure level than of the external sound pressure
level when the internal sound pressure level is generally smaller
than the external sound pressure level.
45. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of generating
includes, when generating the enhanced natural speech voice signal
from both the internal and external sound pressure levels,
substantially combining, over a human voice frequency band, a high
frequency portion of the external sound pressure level with a low
frequency portion of the internal sound pressure level to generate
the enhanced natural speech voice signal.
46. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of generating
includes, when the external measured sound pressure level is
smaller or equal to the noise threshold, digitally generating the
enhanced natural speech voice signal from both the internal and
external sound pressure levels when the internal and external sound
pressure levels correlate and/or are coherent with one another, and
from the internal sound pressure level when the internal and
external sound pressure levels do not correlate and/or are not
coherent with one another.
47. The method of claim 46, wherein the step of generating
includes, when generating the enhanced natural speech voice signal
from both the internal and external sound pressure levels,
substantially combining, over a human voice frequency band, a high
frequency portion of the external sound pressure level with a low
frequency portion of the internal sound pressure level to generate
the enhanced natural speech voice signal.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to earpiece devices and is
more particularly concerned with an earpiece device providing
advanced communication to the user thereof, and method of operation
thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The noisy environment in our industrial society is a health
hazard to numerous workers as well as to people engaged in
recreational activities generating loud noises, or simply listening
to music with varying volume settings from individual digital music
players such as an Ipod.TM., MP3 players or the like, via a set of
earphones or the like.
[0003] Many documents such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,952 granted to
Widegren et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,151,835 granted to Yonovitz et
al., US patent publication No. 2009/0208024 A1 to Farver and
European patent No. EP 1,816,892 B2 to Ruwisch aim at limiting the
harm produced by the continuous estimated noise/sound reaching the
user's ear which could induce permanent partial hearing loss. These
methods and devices typically integrate by estimation the total
noise dose received by the user's ear, considering a sound
generation via the speaker inside the headset of the user, as well
as the estimated added noise contribution of the user surroundings
or environmental noise as measured by and external microphone
located on the headset. Upon the calculated total dose reaching a
pre-determined threshold, an action or protective measure is taken
by the processor.
[0004] These integrated total doses are estimated depending on the
type of earpiece or headset being worn by the users, and
considering their partial occlusion of the ear canals, the
estimated cumulative total doses are only estimations and not real
measures of the ear exposures. These estimations do not take into
account the actual positioning of the earpieces inside the user's
ears, which may vary considerably from one user to another, as
opposed to constant and known occlusion occurring when using
custom-fitted in-ear devices, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,754,357 granted to McIntosh et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,687,377
granted to Voix et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 7,688,983 granted to Voix
et al. Furthermore, these estimated integrations do not take into
consideration the fact that the human ear rests, or recuperates
from auditory fatigue over time, especially when the sound pressure
level or the ambient noise is relatively low.
[0005] With the always increasing popularity of personal music
players (PMP) or the like, users tend to constantly wear the
headphones to listen music or the like. In such cases, the users
essentially become acoustically disconnected, at least partially,
from surrounding ambient sounds and/or noises, which could cause
dangerous situations. In order to be in hearing contact with the
environment, the users need to either significantly reduce the
sound or playback volume of the PMP or remove at least one of the
two headphones, which might become annoying, especially if that
kind of situation occurs frequently.
[0006] Many documents such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,819,860 granted to
Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 6,754,359 granted to Svean et al., and U.S.
Pat. No. 7,502,484 granted to Ngia et al. teach an ear terminal
with an internal microphone for clean voice pickup from the user.
This measured voice signal, although clean (essentially noiseless),
is not a natural speech voice since the higher frequencies have
essentially been transformed, by the surrounding body parts, into
lower frequencies, giving the impression of an occlusion effect in
that the voice is muffled or captured from inside a box, or closed
cavity or the like, such that it is not preferred for transmission
via a telecommunication network or the like.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved earpiece device
and method.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is therefore a general object of the present invention to
provide an improved earpiece device and method that obviate the
above-mentioned disadvantages.
[0009] An advantage of the present invention is that the earpiece
device provides for a more accurate calculation of the total noise
dose reaching a specific ear, by taking advantage of using a
custom-fitted in-ear device (with improved occlusion of the ear
canal), which allows evaluation of occurring sound bursts, and
measuring the actual impact thereof inside the occluded ear canal,
behind the earpiece.
[0010] Another advantage of the present invention is that the
earpiece device considers a relative ear fatigue recuperation over
time when continuously calculating the cumulated total noise or
sound dose.
[0011] A further advantage of the present invention is that the
earpiece device can detect if the earpiece is actually being worn
by the user or not, and reflect this situation into the calculation
of the cumulated total noise or sound dose.
[0012] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the
earpiece device provides for a more accurate calculation of the
total sound dose reaching a specific ear.
[0013] Another advantage of the present invention is that the
earpiece device provides for the user to selectively disable the
audio signal reaching the speaker of the headphone(s) temporarily,
permanently or for a predetermined time duration, and allow the
user to hear, via the headphone speaker, the external ambient noise
measured by an external microphone located on the corresponding
headphone.
[0014] A further advantage of the present invention is that the
earpiece device provides to the user the capability of individually
varying the ratio of sound volume playing in the background
(external microphone) and of the audio source to mix or crossfade
the signals before they are being played by the speaker of the
earpiece.
[0015] Yet a further advantage of the present invention is that the
earpiece device provides for ambient sound noise gating (ASNG) to
allow the external ambient noise measured by the corresponding
external microphone to be gated in removing the excessive ambient
noise therefrom and keep only noise emerging signals.
[0016] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the
earpiece device allows the user to select a desired gate threshold
for the ASNG, thereby adjusting the sensitivity level of the
ambient noise to be transferred to the speaker of the corresponding
headphone speaker.
[0017] Still another advantage of the present invention is that the
earpiece device, in transmitting the ambient noise measured by the
corresponding external microphone, ensures an unaltered
localization of the incoming noise that enables the user to detect
the source direction of that ambient noise because of the
localization of the external microphone in close proximity of the
corresponding user's ear.
[0018] Another advantage of the present invention is that the
earpiece device provides for user's voice pickup from the user's
ear for transmission thereof, via an earpiece internal
microphone.
[0019] Still another advantage of the present invention is that the
earpiece device provides for simultaneous user's voice pickup from
an earpiece external microphone, which allows for a combination of
the two internal and external microphone signals for clearer and
more acoustically natural voice, which combination depends on the
comparison between the two signals to prevent ambient noise
perturbations, whenever applicable.
[0020] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a sound dose limiter device for controlling a total sound
dose reaching an ear of a user, said limiter device comprising:
[0021] an in-ear device for substantially occluding an outer ear
canal of the user, said in-ear device including a speaker for
providing an audio signal input from an audio output of an audio
source inside the outer ear canal, an internal microphone for
measuring a sound pressure level inside the occluded outer ear
canal, and an external microphone for measuring an external ambient
sound pressure level reaching the user's ear; and [0022] a
controller device connecting to the internal and external
microphones for receiving respective internal and external measured
sound pressure levels and for receiving the audio output, said
controller device performing an evaluation of the internal and
external measured sound pressure levels, calculating a cumulative
total sound dose from the internal sound pressure level and the
audio signal input depending on the evaluation, and controlling the
audio signal input transmitted to the speaker.
[0023] In one embodiment, the controller device further calculates,
based on a level of the audio signal input, an estimated sound dose
decrease so as to account for a fatigue recuperation of the user's
ear over time, the estimated sound dose decrease being subtracted
from the cumulative total sound dose.
[0024] Conveniently, the controller device repeatedly performs the
evaluation and calculations over a predetermined time interval.
[0025] In one embodiment, the controller device further includes a
display connecting to the controller device, said display
displaying an information from the controller device corresponding
to the calculated cumulative total sound dose.
[0026] Conveniently, the controller device further calculates an
estimated listening remaining time of transmission of the audio
output to the audio signal input before the calculated cumulative
total sound dose reaches a maximum acceptable sound dose threshold
based on the internal sound pressure level and/or the audio signal
input depending on the evaluation.
[0027] Typically, the information is the estimated remaining
listening time.
[0028] Conveniently, upon the estimated calculated cumulative total
sound dose approaching the maximum acceptable sound dose threshold
within a predetermined time threshold, the controller device
further transmits a warning signal to the display and/or the
speaker.
[0029] Alternatively, upon the estimated calculated cumulative
total sound dose approaching or reaching the maximum acceptable
sound dose threshold within a predetermined time threshold, the
controller device further takes an auditory action.
[0030] Conveniently, the auditory action is a progressive decrease
of the audio signal input transmitted to the speaker.
[0031] Alternatively, the auditory action is a stop of transmission
of the audio signal input to the speaker.
[0032] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method for calculating a total sound dose reaching an
ear of a user wearing an in-ear device substantially occluding a
user's outer ear canal, the in-ear device including a speaker for
providing an audio signal input from an audio output of an audio
source inside the outer ear canal, an internal microphone for
measuring a sound pressure level inside the occluded outer ear
canal, and an external microphone for measuring an external ambient
sound pressure level reaching the user's ear, said method
comprising the steps of: [0033] measuring, during a predetermined
time interval, the internal and external sound pressure levels, and
the audio output; [0034] performing an evaluation of the internal
and external measured sound pressure levels; [0035] calculating a
current interval total sound dose from the internal sound pressure
level and the audio signal input depending on the evaluation, and a
cumulative total sound dose based on previous time intervals; and
[0036] controlling the audio signal input transmitted to the
speaker.
[0037] In one embodiment, the step of calculating includes
calculating, based on a level of the audio signal input, a current
interval estimated sound dose decrease so as to account for a
fatigue recuperation of the user's ear over time, the estimated
sound dose decrease being subtracted from the cumulative total
sound dose.
[0038] Conveniently, the step of evaluating includes comparing,
over the predetermined time interval, the internal and external
sound pressure levels to determine if both correlate and/or are
coherent with one another, and if the external sound pressure level
is larger than the internal sound pressure level by at least a
predetermined level difference; and
wherein the step of calculating includes calculating a current
interval total sound dose from the audio signal input when the
internal and external sound pressure levels do not correlate and/or
are not coherent with one another, form the internal sound pressure
level when the internal and external sound pressure levels
correlate and/or are coherent with one another and when the
external sound pressure level is not larger than the internal sound
pressure level by at least the predetermined level difference, and
from an addition of the audio signal input and the internal sound
pressure level when the internal and external sound pressure levels
correlate and/or are coherent with one another and when the
external sound pressure level is larger than the internal sound
pressure level by at least the predetermined level difference.
[0039] In one embodiment, the step of controlling includes
displaying an information corresponding to the calculated
cumulative total sound dose onto a display.
[0040] Conveniently, the step of calculating includes estimating a
listening remaining time of transmission of the audio output to the
audio signal input before the calculated cumulative total sound
dose reaches a maximum acceptable sound dose threshold based on the
internal sound pressure level and/or the audio signal input
depending on the evaluation.
[0041] Typically, the step of controlling includes displaying the
estimated listening remaining time.
[0042] In one embodiment, the step of calculating includes
determining if the calculated cumulative total sound dose
approaches a maximum acceptable sound dose threshold, and
wherein the step of controlling includes, upon the calculated
cumulative total sound dose approaching the maximum acceptable
sound dose threshold, transmitting a warning signal to the display
and/or the speaker.
[0043] In one embodiment, the step of controlling includes, upon
the calculated cumulative total sound dose approaching or reaching
the maximum acceptable sound dose threshold, taking an auditory
action.
[0044] In one embodiment, the step of controlling includes, upon
the calculated cumulative total sound dose approaching or reaching
the maximum acceptable sound dose threshold within a predetermined
time threshold, progressively decreasing the audio signal input
transmitted to the speaker.
[0045] Conveniently, the step of controlling includes, upon the
calculated cumulative total sound dose approaching or reaching the
maximum acceptable sound dose threshold within a predetermined time
threshold, progressively stopping transmission of the audio signal
input to the speaker.
[0046] In one embodiment, the user wears two similar said in-ear
device substantially occluding a corresponding said user's outer
ear canal, the step of calculating includes calculating, for each
said user's ear, a corresponding current interval total sound dose
from the internal sound pressure level and the audio signal input
depending on the evaluation, and a cumulative total sound dose
based on previous time intervals and the largest one of the two
said current interval total sound doses.
[0047] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a push-to-hear device for allowing an external ambient
sound to be heard by an ear of a user, said push-to-hear device
comprising: [0048] at least one in-ear device for substantially
occluding an outer ear canal of the user, said at least one in-ear
device including a speaker for providing an audio signal input from
an audio output of an audio source inside the outer ear canal, and
an external microphone for measuring an external ambient sound
pressure level reaching the user's ear; and [0049] a controller
device connecting to the external microphone for receiving an
external measured sound pressure level and for receiving the audio
output, said controller device including an activation switch
device activatable by the user, said controller device allowing the
audio output to reach the speaker when the activation switch device
is unactivated, and allowing the external ambient sound pressure
level to reach the speaker when the activation switch device is
activated, while at least partially disabling the audio output from
reaching the speaker.
[0050] In one embodiment, the controller device allows the external
ambient sound pressure level to reach the speaker when the
activation switch device is activated, while totally disabling the
audio output from reaching the speaker.
[0051] In one embodiment, the controller device further
automatically and digitally adjusts the external ambient sound
pressure level for a natural sounding thereof at the speaker of the
in-ear device.
[0052] In one embodiment, the controller device further includes a
second activation command device activatable by the user, said
second activation command device allowing a predetermined value of
a sound volume ratio of the external ambient sound pressure level
over the audio output to reach the speaker when the second
activation command device is activated, said second activation
command device, when activated, deactivating said activation switch
device.
[0053] Conveniently, the second activation command device further
allows the user to modify the predetermined value of the sound
volume ratio so as to vary the blending ratio thereof reaching the
speaker when the second activation command device is activated.
[0054] In one embodiment, the controller device further includes an
ambient sound noise gating filter device activatable by the user,
said ambient sound noise gating filter device, when activated,
eliminating a noise portion of the external ambient sound pressure
level having an acoustic pressure smaller than a predetermined
gating threshold from the external ambient sound pressure level so
as to keep only a noise-emerging portion thereof at the speaker of
the in-ear device.
[0055] Conveniently, the predetermined gating threshold is
adjustable by the user. According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a method for allowing an external
ambient sound to be heard by an ear of a user wearing an in-ear
device substantially occluding a user's outer ear canal, the in-ear
device including a speaker for providing an audio signal input from
an audio output of an audio source inside the outer ear canal, and
an external microphone for measuring an external ambient sound
pressure level reaching the user's ear, said method comprising the
steps of: [0056] upon activation of an activation switch device
activatable by the user, measuring the external ambient sound
pressure level; and [0057] allowing the external ambient sound
pressure level to reach the speaker, while at least partially
disabling the audio output from reaching the speaker.
[0058] In one embodiment, the step of allowing includes allowing
the external ambient sound pressure level to reach the speaker,
while totally disabling the audio output from reaching the
speaker.
[0059] In one embodiment, the step of allowing includes
automatically and digitally adjusting the external ambient sound
pressure level for a natural sounding thereof at the speaker of the
in-ear device.
[0060] In one embodiment, the method further includes the steps of:
[0061] upon activation of second activation command device
activatable by the user, automatically deactivating said activation
switch device and measuring the external ambient sound pressure
level; and [0062] allowing a predetermined value of a sound volume
ratio of the external ambient sound pressure level over the audio
output to reach the speaker.
[0063] Conveniently, the method further includes the step of:
[0064] allowing the user to modify the predetermined value of the
sound volume ratio so as to vary the blending ratio thereof
reaching the speaker when the second activation command device is
activated.
[0065] In one embodiment, the method further includes the step of:
[0066] upon activation of an ambient sound noise gating filter
device activatable by the user, eliminating a noise portion of the
external ambient sound pressure level having an acoustic pressure
smaller than a predetermined gating threshold from the external
ambient sound pressure level, whereby keeping only a noise-emerging
portion thereof at the speaker of the in-ear device.
[0067] Conveniently, the method further includes the step of:
[0068] allowing the user to modify said predetermined gating
threshold.
[0069] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a communication device for allowing a voice of a user
to be transmitted to a telecommunication transmission link, said
communication device comprising: [0070] an in-ear device for
substantially occluding an outer ear canal of the user, said in-ear
device including an internal microphone for measuring a sound
pressure level inside the occluded outer ear canal, and an external
microphone for measuring an external ambient sound pressure level
reaching the user's ear, the internal and external measured sound
pressure levels including respective acoustically deformed speech
voice from the user; and [0071] a controller device connecting to
the internal and external microphones for receiving respective
internal and external measured sound pressure levels, said
controller device performing an evaluation of the external measured
sound pressure level, digitally generating an enhanced natural
speech voice signal from at least the internal sound pressure level
depending on the evaluation, and transmitting the generated
enhanced natural speech voice signal to the telecommunication
transmission link.
[0072] In one embodiment, the controller device further generates
the enhanced natural speech voice signal from the internal sound
pressure level when the external measured sound pressure level is
larger than a noise threshold.
[0073] Conveniently, when the external measured sound pressure
level is smaller or equal to the noise threshold, the controller
device generates the enhanced natural speech voice signal from both
the internal and external sound pressure levels with greater
content of the external sound pressure level than of the internal
sound pressure level when the internal sound pressure level is
generally larger than the external sound pressure level, and with
greater content of the internal sound pressure level than of the
external sound pressure level when the internal sound pressure
level is generally smaller than the external sound pressure
level.
[0074] Typically, when generating the enhanced natural speech voice
signal from both the internal and external sound pressure levels,
the controller device substantially combines, over a human voice
frequency band, a high frequency portion of the external sound
pressure level with a low frequency portion of the internal sound
pressure level to generate the enhanced natural speech voice
signal.
[0075] Alternatively, when the external measured sound pressure
level is smaller or equal to the noise threshold, the controller
device generates the enhanced natural speech voice signal from both
the internal and external sound pressure levels when the internal
and external sound pressure levels correlate and/or are coherent
with one another, and from the internal sound pressure level when
the internal and external sound pressure levels do not correlate
and/or are not coherent with one another.
[0076] Typically, when generating the enhanced natural speech voice
signal from both the internal and external sound pressure levels,
said controller device substantially combines, over a human voice
frequency band, a high frequency portion of the external sound
pressure level with a low frequency portion of the internal sound
pressure level to generate the enhanced natural speech voice
signal.
[0077] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method for transmitting a voice of a user wearing an
in-ear device substantially occluding a user's outer ear canal to a
telecommunication transmission link, the in-ear device including an
internal microphone for measuring a sound pressure level inside the
occluded outer ear canal, and an external microphone for measuring
an external ambient sound pressure level reaching the user's ear,
the internal and external measured sound pressure levels including
respective acoustically deformed speech voice from the user, said
method comprising the steps of: [0078] measuring the internal and
external sound pressure levels; [0079] performing an evaluation of
the external measured sound pressure level; [0080] digitally
generating an enhanced natural speech voice signal from at least
the internal sound pressure level depending on the evaluation; and
[0081] transmitting the generated enhanced natural speech voice
signal to the telecommunication transmission link.
[0082] In one embodiment, the step of generating includes digitally
generating the enhanced natural speech voice signal from the
internal sound pressure level when the external measured sound
pressure level is larger than a noise threshold.
[0083] In one embodiment, the step of generating includes, when the
external measured sound pressure level is smaller or equal to the
noise threshold, digitally generating the enhanced natural speech
voice signal from both the internal and external sound pressure
levels with greater content of the external sound pressure level
than of the internal sound pressure level when the internal sound
pressure level is generally larger than the external sound pressure
level, and with greater content of the internal sound pressure
level than of the external sound pressure level when the internal
sound pressure level is generally smaller than the external sound
pressure level.
[0084] Conveniently, the step of generating includes, when
generating the enhanced natural speech voice signal from both the
internal and external sound pressure levels, substantially
combining, over a human voice frequency band, a high frequency
portion of the external sound pressure level with a low frequency
portion of the internal sound pressure level to generate the
enhanced natural speech voice signal.
[0085] In one embodiment, the step of generating includes, when the
external measured sound pressure level is smaller or equal to the
noise threshold, digitally generating the enhanced natural speech
voice signal from both the internal and external sound pressure
levels when the internal and external sound pressure levels
correlate and/or are coherent with one another, and from the
internal sound pressure level when the internal and external sound
pressure levels do not correlate and/or are not coherent with one
another.
[0086] Conveniently, the step of generating includes, when
generating the enhanced natural speech voice signal from both the
internal and external sound pressure levels, substantially
combining, over a human voice frequency band, a high frequency
portion of the external sound pressure level with a low frequency
portion of the internal sound pressure level to generate the
enhanced natural speech voice signal.
[0087] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description
provided herein, with appropriate reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0088] Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will
become better understood with reference to the description in
association with the following Figures, in which similar references
used in different Figures denote similar components, wherein:
[0089] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic bloc diagram of an advanced
communication earpiece device in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, referring to a noise and music dose limiter
(MDL) device, and a push-to-hear (PTH) device, and an in-ear
microphone (IEM) device;
[0090] FIG. 2 is a simplified flow chart of an advanced
communication earpiece method in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, referring to a method of operation of the
noise and music dose limiter (MDL) device of FIG. 1;
[0091] FIG. 3 is a simplified flow chart of an advanced
communication earpiece method in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, referring to a method of operation of the
push-to-hear (PTH) device of FIG. 1;
[0092] FIG. 4A is a simplified flow chart of an advanced
communication earpiece method in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, referring to a method of operation of the
in-ear microphone (IEM) device of FIG. 1; and
[0093] FIG. 4B is similar to FIG. 4A, showing an alternate method
of operation of the in-ear microphone (IEM) device of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0094] With reference to the annexed drawings the preferred
embodiments of the present invention will be herein described for
indicative purpose and by no means as of limitation.
[0095] Referring now in more detail to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is
shown simplified schematic bloc diagram of an embodiment 10 of an
advanced communication earpiece device, as a sound or music dose
limiter device, and a method for using the device in accordance
with the present invention. The noise and music dose limiter (MDL)
10 typically includes a controller unit 12 connected to at least
one, preferably a pair of custom-fitted in-ear devices 14 (only one
being shown), such that the respective outer ear canal 15 of the
user is essentially occluded thereby (snugly fit), for connection
to an audio output of an audio source 16 such as a personal music
player (PMP) or the like, or any electronic device adapted to send
an audio signal to the speaker 18 of the each in-ear device 14,
typically left and right devices.
[0096] In addition to the speaker 18, each in-ear device 14
includes an internal microphone 20 (Min) for measuring the
sound/noise level inside the ear occluded canal 15, between the
in-ear device 14 and the tympanic membrane, and an external
microphone 22 (Mout) for measuring the external ambient sound/noise
level reaching the corresponding outer ear of the user. These
internal and external measured sound pressure levels, from internal
20 and external 22 microphones, of each in-ear device 14, as well
as the corresponding (left or right) audio signal coming from the
PMP 16 are input signals of the controller unit 12. Based on these
inputs, the controller unit 12 calculates the total noise dose
(TND), or total sound dose, reaching each user's ear, and provides
for a remaining time estimate for listening to the input signal
(such as music or the like) before the TND reaches the maximum
acceptable sound dose (MASD) value or threshold considered to be
harmful to the user, based on the most recent measured average
sound level reaching each ear as well as on the user's own
susceptibility, including physical characteristics (age, etc.),
beyond which there might be some permanent hearing losses for the
user. Upon the TND approaching, reaching or exceeding the MASD
value, the controlled unit 12 typically sends an audio warning
signal to the user, such as an audible repeated appropriate beep,
or simply starts, at least intermittently, reducing the volume of
the sound signal, or ultimately stops the audio signal sent to the
speaker 18, or any other warning code as required.
[0097] More specifically, the controller device unit 12 performs
the following steps in calculating the TND, for each ear, based on
the internal (Min) and external (Mout) microphone measured sound
pressure levels and the audio input from the PMP 16. The
calculation being done at regular time intervals .DELTA.T, and the
different sound pressure levels measured from the microphones 20,
22 and received from the PMP 16 are typically averaged via an RMS
(Root Mean Square) estimator. For each time interval .DELTA.T, the
evaluation consists of the measured sounds from both internal and
external microphones 20, 22 being compared to find out if they
correlate (essentially follow the same magnitude or amplitude
profile over time on specific frequency sub-bands) and/or are
coherent (essentially follow the same magnitude profile over
frequency in specific time frames) with one another. If not, this
means that there is significantly less external sound that reaches
inside the occluded ear canal other than the one coming from the
speaker 18, such that both measured sounds are different, and the
estimated acoustic pressure that reaches the tympanic area is
primarily due to the signal reaching the speaker 18, which is
estimated taking into account the in-ear device loudspeaker
sensitivity. If yes, the controller unit 12 then verifies if the
measured sound from the external microphone 22 is significantly
stronger, by a predetermined level difference of at least a few
decibels (dBs), than the one measured by the internal microphone
20. If not, it essentially means that the in-ear device 12 is not
worn by the user (since both measurements are considered to have
similar measurands), and, in such a case, the estimated acoustic
pressure that reaches the tympanic area is essentially the one
reaching either microphone 20, or 22. If yes, it means that an
external sound burst (disturbance) or the like reached inside the
occluded ear canal 15 after passing through the in-ear device 14,
in which case, the estimated acoustic pressure that reaches the
tympanic area is due to both the sound measured by the internal
microphone 20 that is distinct from the signal reaching the speaker
18 added to the signal reaching the speaker 18.
[0098] Based on the above estimated acoustic pressure level
reaching the tympanic area, for the specified time interval
.DELTA.T, a sound dose is calculated which is then added to the
cumulative noise and music dose. Furthermore, an estimated dose
decrease is calculated for that same time interval .DELTA.T to
account for a certain `ear fatigue recuperation` of the ear, based
on an estimated Noise Dose Decrease Rate (NDDR), or sound dose
decrease rate, which could be either linear or non-linear
(logarithmic or the like) over time, depending on time as well as
on the current noise level reaching the ear, and subtracted from
the cumulative sound dose (as it reduces the same) to obtain the
estimated cumulative TND.
[0099] The NDDR could, for example assumes that the human ear
totally recuperates from the MASD threshold in a few hours, such as
16 hours or the like, in the absence of any harmful noise, such as
any noise above a predetermined safe level of 70 decibels or the
like. On the other hand, in the presence of harmful noise, the
higher the harmful noise is, the more the hearing recuperation time
increases.
[0100] As mentioned hereinabove, upon the estimated TND, the
controller unit 12 typically estimates, assuming a sound volume
similar to the latest measured volume (over the last time interval,
or the history of the last few time intervals), the remaining time
(RT) for the user to listen to the music or the like from the PMP
16, or any other similar listening time-related information, and
transmits that information to a display 24 which displays the
estimated time thereon. Such a display 24 could be either in the
form of a bar meter, of multiple leds (light emitting diodes), or a
digital display. Similarly, upon the estimated TND approaching the
MASD threshold, the controller unit 12 typically further sends an
audible warning signal to the speaker 18, such a warning signal
varying depending on the value of the estimated RT according to a
predetermined warning code or the like. Ultimately, upon the
estimated TND reaching and/or exceeding the MASD threshold within a
time threshold, or one of a plurality of time thresholds, the
controller unit 12 typically further simply starts, at least
intermittently, reducing the volume of the sound signal, or
ultimately stops the audio signal sent to the speaker 18, and also
typically displays the corresponding situation of the display
24.
[0101] When both in-ear devices 14 are used, the controller unit 12
typically calculates only one TND, taking into consideration the
worst (highest) estimated TND of the two devices 14 for each time
interval .DELTA.T.
[0102] Now referring more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 3, there is
shown simplified schematic bloc diagram of an embodiment 110 of an
advanced communication earpiece device, as a push-to-hear device,
and a method for using the device in accordance with the present
invention. The push-to-hear (PTH) device 110 typically includes a
controller unit 112 connected to at least one, preferably a pair of
custom-fitted in-ear devices 14 (only one being shown), such that
the respective ear canal 15 of the user is essentially occluded
thereby, for connection to an audio output of a personal music
player (PMP) 16 or the like, or any electronic device adapted to
send an audio signal to the speaker 18 of the each in-ear device
14, typically left and right devices.
[0103] In addition to the speaker 18, each in-ear device 14 of the
PTH device 110 includes at least an external microphone 22 (Mout)
for measuring the external ambient sound/noise reaching the
corresponding ear or the user. The controller unit 112 typically
includes an on/off activation switch to activate/deactivate the
controller 112. When activated, the controller 112 disconnects the
audio input from the PMP 16 from the headphone speakers 18 and
connects the ambient sound measured by the corresponding external
microphone 22 to the speakers 18, as represented by toggle switch
126, to enable the user to selectively and temporarily hear the
ambient sound rather than the music or the like. Although not
illustrated, when activated, the controller unit 112 could
alternatively automatically switch back the device 110 to reconnect
the audio signal from the PMP 16 instead of the ambient sound from
the external microphone 22 after a predetermined lapse of time has
occurred, such as 30 seconds, one minute or the like.
[0104] Alternatively, the PTH device 110 has a second
activation/deactivation command, such as by simultaneously pressing
two buttons or the like, as the two up (`+`) and down (`-`) volume
buttons 128, during a predetermined time duration (such as 2 second
or the like) for the controller unit 112 to allow both the audio
signal from the PMP 16 and the ambient sound from the external
microphone 22 to be simultaneously connected to the headphone
speaker 18, and also press either the up and/or down volume buttons
128 to increase or decrease the sound volume ratio (SVR), or
blending ratio, of the ambient sound over the audio signal.
[0105] The PTH device 110 typically provides for automatic,
preferably digital, adjustment of the ambient noise measured from
the external microphone 22 and transmitted to the headphone speaker
18 for a natural sounding thereof, the gain and frequency response
adjustments depending on the actual type of headphone speaker and
in-ear device.
[0106] Additionally, the PTH device 110 typically includes a user
activatable electronic filter 130 of the ambient sound/noise signal
measured by the external microphone 22. The ambient sound noise
gating (ASNG) filter 130 essentially eliminates the noise portion
of the ambient signal to keep only the noise emerging-type signals
having an acoustic pressure larger than or above a gating threshold
(GT). Preferably, the gating threshold GT, or microphone
sensitivity threshold, is also adjustable by the user via up (`+`)
and down (`-`) volume buttons 132 or the like. Alternatively, as an
example, instead of using specific buttons 132, the same two
buttons 128 could also be used for the GT adjustment, as long as
the two buttons are simultaneously pressed during a second
predetermined time duration, typically longer than the first one,
for activation/deactivation of the ASNG filter 130.
[0107] Typically, the ASNG filter 130 can be used at any time
during the operation of the PTH device 110, whichever option is
selected by the user.
[0108] Now referring more specifically to FIGS. 1, 4A and 4B, there
is shown simplified schematic bloc diagram of an embodiment 210 of
an advanced communication earpiece device, as an inside-the-ear
microphone device, and a method for using the device in accordance
with the present invention. The in-ear microphone (IEM) device 210
typically includes a controller unit 212 connected to at least one
custom-fitted in-ear device 14, such that the corresponding outer
ear canal 15 of the user is essentially occluded thereby (snugly
fit).
[0109] In addition, the in-ear device 14 includes an internal
microphone 20 (Min) for measuring the sound/noise, and also the
user's voice inside the ear canal 15, between the in-ear device 14
and the tympanic membrane, and an external microphone 22 (Mout) for
measuring the external ambient sound/noise reaching the
corresponding ear or the user. These internal and external measured
noises, from internal 20 and external 22 microphones, of the in-ear
device 14 are input signals of the controller unit 212.
[0110] Based on these inputs, the controller unit 212 evaluates if
the RMS value of the external noise is smaller or equal to a first
noise threshold (NT). If not, this means that the external ambient
noise is too loud and disturbs any sound voice that would be
simultaneously measured by the external microphone 22. The user's
voice is therefore captured by the internal microphone 20 before it
is sent by the controller unit 212 of the IEM device 210 to a
telecommunication transmission link (TTL), such as a Bluetooth.TM.
system wireless link, a telephone or the like. In such a case,
since the speech voice measured from the ear canal of the user is
acoustically deformed, the controller unit 212 typically and
digitally transforms the deformed speech voice into an enhanced
speech signal (recreating especially the higher frequencies) which
sounds more like a natural speech voice (NSV) from one's mouth.
[0111] The user's voice can be captured using either only the
external microphone 22, by internal microphone 20 or by a
combination (blending) of both signals from external microphone 22
and internal microphone 20. The controller unit 212 continuously
monitors the levels and frequency characteristics of both external
and internal picked-up signals and decides on the ratio to be
applied to the blending of both signals. In a quiet environment,
the user's voice will be primarily picked-up by the external
microphone 22 that offers natural sound quality because of the
extended frequency response. In a louder environment a mix of both
microphone signals will be applied, using the internal microphone
20 as the primary reference signal and merging it with the
high-frequency components of the voice signal picked-up by external
microphone 22. Finally in a very loud environment, where the
external microphone signal is unusable, only the internal
microphone signal is used, and possibly enhanced with the
aforementioned digital high-frequency reclamation processing. Since
the ambient noise level in a given environment will be changing
over time, the mixing algorithm of the controller unit 212 will
constantly adapt the mixing ratio accordingly, with appropriate
signal smoothing and cross-fading.
[0112] In the case the RMS value of the external noise is smaller
or equal to NT, the measured sounds from both internal and external
microphones 20, 22 are compared to find out if they correlate
(essentially follow the same magnitude or amplitude profile over
time on specific frequency sub-bands) and/or are coherent
(essentially follow the same magnitude profile over frequency in
specific time frames) with one another, by being above a second
correlation threshold CT. If not, this means that the external
noise, although not too loud, is significant enough inside the
speech frequency band to alter the user's voice measured by the
external microphone 22, and as above, only the signal captured by
the internal microphone 20 is considered and preferably transformed
by the controller unit 212 of the IEM device 210 into a NSV to be
sent to the TTL. If yes, the controller unit 12 generates a
combination of both the internal signal for preferably lower
frequencies (LF) and external signal for preferably higher
frequencies (HF), over the typical human voice frequency band to
generate the best user's speech voice as the NSV signal to be sent
to the TTL, as shown in FIG. 4A.
[0113] As shown in the embodiment 210' of FIG. 4B, an alternative
approach, when the RMS value of the external noise is smaller or
equal to NT, is to compare the levels of both the external 22 and
internal 20 microphones and to assess if the wearer is speaking in
a quiet but reverberant environment. In such case the external
microphone 22 might pick-up a high signal level solely caused by
the wearer's voice reflections. With the internal signal being
generally larger than the external signal, a mix of both signals
are considered by the controller unit 212 with greater content of
external signal than internal signal, while with the external
signal being larger than the internal signal, greater content of
the internal signal is considered than the external signal. It is
noted that the ratio of both signals for that latest comparison is
typically different than 1:1 and typically depends on digital
processing of the signals which incorporates an experimentally
derived scaling factor. In order to avoid the controller unit 212
tendency to discard the signal from the external microphone 22
because of its high level, the internal microphone signal is then
tested for user's voice content. If user is assessed to be
speaking, both the external and internal signals are merged before
being sent to the TTL. On the other hand, if no voice signal is
present on the internal microphone, the external microphone signal
will be faded-out from the mix by the controller unit 212.
[0114] Although the present advanced communication earpiece device
embodiments and methods of use have been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the disclosure
has been made by way of example only and that the present invention
is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and
illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications
within the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *