Method and device for acute sound detection and reproduction
First Claim
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1. A method for acute sound detection and reproduction, the method comprising:
- measuring an external ambient sound level (xASL) using a microphone wherein a processor applies signal processing to condition and compensate a signal from the microphone and outputs a processed signal;
estimating a background noise level (BNL) from the processed signal;
storing the processed signal in an audio buffer;
identifying and measuring at least one peak level (SPL) in the processed signal stored in the audio buffer;
subtracting the estimated background noise level (BNL) from the measured at least one peak level (SPL) to generate a SPL-BNL difference;
comparing the SPL-BNL difference to a first predetermined threshold wherein an acute sound has been detected when the SPL-BNL difference is greater than the first predetermined threshold;
estimating a proximity of the acute sound by performing a cross correlation between at least two microphones with the at least one processor, wherein the at least two microphones includes the microphone for measuring the external ambient sound level and identifying a peak in the cross correlation; and
upon detecting the acute sound and a time lag in the acute sound between the at least two microphones, reproducing the acute sound with an ear canal receiver after determining the acute sound was not a user-generated sound.
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Abstract
Earpieces and methods for acute sound detection and reproduction are provided. A method can include measuring an external ambient sound level (xASL), monitoring a change in the xASL for detecting an acute sound, estimating a proximity of the acute sound, and upon detecting the acute sound and it'"'"'s proximity, reproducing the acute sound within an ear canal, where the ear canal is at least partially occluded by an earpiece. Other embodiments are disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for acute sound detection and reproduction, the method comprising:
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measuring an external ambient sound level (xASL) using a microphone wherein a processor applies signal processing to condition and compensate a signal from the microphone and outputs a processed signal; estimating a background noise level (BNL) from the processed signal; storing the processed signal in an audio buffer; identifying and measuring at least one peak level (SPL) in the processed signal stored in the audio buffer; subtracting the estimated background noise level (BNL) from the measured at least one peak level (SPL) to generate a SPL-BNL difference; comparing the SPL-BNL difference to a first predetermined threshold wherein an acute sound has been detected when the SPL-BNL difference is greater than the first predetermined threshold; estimating a proximity of the acute sound by performing a cross correlation between at least two microphones with the at least one processor, wherein the at least two microphones includes the microphone for measuring the external ambient sound level and identifying a peak in the cross correlation; and upon detecting the acute sound and a time lag in the acute sound between the at least two microphones, reproducing the acute sound with an ear canal receiver after determining the acute sound was not a user-generated sound. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system configured for acute sound detection and reproduction, comprising:
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a microphone used for measuring an external ambient sound level (xASL); a memory containing computer instructions; one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured when executing the computer instructions to perform operations comprising; estimating a background noise level (BNL); storing an external ambient sound in an audio buffer wherein the audio buffer accumulates the external ambient sound over a predetermined time period; identifying and measuring at least one peak level (SPL) stored in the audio buffer; subtracting the estimated background noise level (BNL) from the measured at least one peak level (SPL) identified in the audio buffer to generate a SPL-BNL difference; comparing the SPL-BNL difference to a first predetermined threshold wherein an acute sound has been detected when the SPL-BNL difference is greater than the first predetermined threshold; detecting a proximity of the acute sound to determine if the acute sound was user generated; and passing the acute sound to an ear canal receiver if the acute sound was not user generated. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system configured for acute sound detection and reproduction, comprising:
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at least two microphones including a microphone used for measuring an external ambient sound level (xASL); a memory containing computer instructions; one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured when executing the computer instructions to perform operations comprising; estimating a background noise level (BNL) from the external ambient sound level (xASL); storing an external ambient sound in an audio buffer wherein the audio buffer accumulates the the external ambient sound over a predetermined time period; identifying and measuring at least one peak level (SPL) in the processed signal stored in the audio buffer; comparing a SPL-BNL difference to a first predetermined threshold wherein an acute sound is indicated when the SPL-BNL difference is greater than the first predetermined threshold; comparing the at least one peak level (SPL) to a second predetermined threshold wherein the acute sound is indicated when the SPL is greater than the second predetermined threshold; estimating a proximity of the acute sound by performing a cross correlation analysis of signals captured by the at least two microphones; identifying a peak in a cross correlation during the cross correlation analysis; identifying a time lag in the acute sound between the at least two microphones to determine if the acute sound is user generated; and passing the acute sound to an ear canal receiver if the acute sound was not user generated. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification