Ambient volume modification through environmental microphone feedback loop system and method

• US 10,412,493 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2018
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Inventors: Dohmen, David K, Kosider, Gwenael, Boesen, Peter Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Laekemariam, Yosef K
• Application Number:
  US15/950,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20180242085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 381 56, 381 57, 381 58, 381 60, 381328, 381330, 381358
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

A system, method and one or more wireless earpieces for performing self-configuration. A user is identified utilizing the one or more wireless earpieces. Noises from an environment of the user are received utilizing the one or more wireless earpieces. An audio profile associated with the noises of the environment of the user is determined. The components of the one or more wireless earpieces are automatically configured in response to the audio profile and the user identified as utilizing the one or more wireless earpieces.

Claims

1. A method for configuring one or more wireless earpieces, the method comprising:

identifying a user with at least one sensor of the one or more wireless earpieces, wherein a processor operably coupled to the at least one sensor receives biometric identifiers from the at least one sensor, and wherein the identifying is performed automatically in response to the one or more wireless earpieces being powered on and worn by the user and wherein the user is identified utilizing voice characteristics and ear topography;

relaying ambient noise from an environment of the user from one or more microphones of the one or more wireless earpieces to the processor of the one or more wireless earpieces;

determining an audio profile associated with the ambient noise of the environment of the user, wherein the processor determines the audio profile based upon the relayed ambient noise;

configuring the one or more wireless earpieces in response to the audio profile and the user identified as utilizing the one or more wireless earpieces, wherein the processor creates audio content utilizing the ambient noise based upon the audio profile and the user identified and the processor sends the audio content to one or more operably coupled speakers;

learning preferences of the user over time, wherein the processor stores within an operably coupled memory the user'"'"'s preferences; and

associating differing environmental conditions with a specific configuration stored within the memory of the one or more wireless earpieces.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ambient noise of the environment of the user is categorized into one of a plurality of audio profiles utilizing one or more thresholds.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring of the one or more wireless earpieces comprises adjusting the volume levels of one or more speakers of the one or more wireless earpieces.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring of the one or more wireless earpieces comprises adjusting the microphone sensitivity of the one or more microphones of the one or more wireless earpieces.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more microphones include an ear bone microphone of the one or more wireless earpieces utilized to receive a voice of the user in response to the audio profile being associated with a high noise environment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more wireless earpieces prevent pass-through of ambient noise of the environment through the one or more speakers of the one or more wireless speakers in response to determining the audio profile is associated with a dangerous noise level in the environment.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more wireless earpieces are a pair of wireless earpieces.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calibrating the at least one sensor of the one or more wireless earpieces to ensure accurate readings of the environment and the user.

9. A wireless earpiece comprising:

an earpiece frame;

at least one microphone operably coupled to the earpiece frame and positioned to detect environment audio;

one or more speakers operably coupled to the earpiece frame;

a processor operably coupled to a plurality of sensors which provide biometric information to identify a user wearing the wireless earpiece;

wherein the detected environment audio received from the at least one microphone is processed to determine an audio profile associated with the environment audio;

wherein the processor processes the environment audio in response to the audio profile and the user identified as utilizing the wireless earpiece to create processed environment audio;

wherein the identifying is performed automatically in response to wireless earpiece being powered on and worn by the user and wherein the user is identified utilizing voice characteristics and ear topography; and

wherein the processor learns preferences of the user over time during varying environmental conditions and automatically configures the wireless earpieces to implement the user'"'"'s preferences when the user encounters the varying environmental conditions.

10. The wireless earpiece of claim 9, wherein the environment audio is categorized into one of a plurality of audio profiles utilizing one or more thresholds.

11. The wireless earpiece of claim 9, wherein the processor adjusts the volume levels of the one or more speakers of the wireless earpiece.

12. The wireless earpiece of claim 9, wherein the processor adjusts microphone sensitivity of the at least one microphone of the wireless earpiece.

13. The wireless earpiece of claim 12, wherein the at least one microphone includes an ear bone microphone utilized to receive a voice of the user in response to the audio profile being associated with a high noise environment.

14. The wireless earpiece of claim 9, wherein the processor calibrates the plurality of sensors of the wireless earpiece to ensure accurate readings of the environment and the user biometric information.