System and Method for Measuring Sound

• US 20070208558A1
• Filed: 09/01/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LSVT Global, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LSVT Global, Inc.
• Inventors: de Matos, Carlos
• Granted Patent: US 9,271,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/027 Spatial or constructional arrangements of microphones, e.g. in dummy heads

Abstract

A system and method for measuring sound is described. In one embodiment frequency-banded-noise samples, which collectively cover at least a portion of a spectrum, are sequentially generated at different points in time, and a baseline sound-pressure-level reading for each of the frequency banded noise samples is received. Using data received from a microphone, a sound pressure level reading is generated for each of the frequency banded noise samples. Calibration data is then produced for the microphone as a function of a difference between each of the baseline sound-pressure-level readings and a corresponding one of each of the generated sound pressure level readings for each of the frequency banded noise samples.

Claims

1. A method for measuring sound comprising:

sequentially generating frequency-banded-noise samples, wherein each frequency-banded-noise sample corresponds to a frequency band, each frequency banded noise sample being generated at a different point in time, wherein the frequency bands collectively cover at least a portion of a spectrum;

receiving a baseline sound-pressure-level reading for each of the frequency banded noise samples;

generating, utilizing data received from a microphone, a sound pressure level reading for each of the frequency banded noise samples;

producing calibration data for the microphone as a function of a difference between each of the baseline sound-pressure-level readings and a corresponding one of each of the generated sound pressure level readings for each of the frequency banded noise samples; and

providing the calibration data and the microphone to a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing includes providing the calibration data and the microphone simultaneously to a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing includes providing the calibration data to the user subsequent to the user receiving the microphone.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the providing includes providing the calibration data to the user via the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1, including:

encoding the calibration data so as to generate encoded calibration data for the microphone.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the frequency-banded-noise samples spans an octave band of a spectrum of noise.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the frequency-banded-noise samples spans an octave band of a spectrum of pink noise.

8. The method of claim 1, including:

generating an offset for the microphone based upon a difference between the power-density reading of a noise sample received from the microphone with a sound-pressure reading of the noise sample received from a sound-level meter;

wherein producing calibration data includes producing the calibration data so as to include the offset.

9. A system for measuring sound, comprising:

a first input configured to receive a sound-pressure-level reading for each of a plurality of frequency-banded-noise samples, each of the frequency-banded-noise samples corresponding to a frequency band, and each of the frequency banded noise samples being generated at a different point in time, wherein the frequency bands collectively cover at least a portion of a spectrum;

a second input configured to receive, from a microphone, data corresponding to each of the plurality of frequency banded noise samples; and

a calibration module configured to generate calibration data for the microphone as a function of a difference between each of the sound-pressure-level readings received via the first input and a corresponding one of each of a plurality of generated-sound-pressure-level readings, the plurality of generated-sound-pressure-level readings being generated from the data corresponding to each of the plurality of frequency-banded-noise samples received from the second input.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the calibration module is configured to generate the frequency-banded-noise samples.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the calibration module includes a memory, the memory including at least one audio data file encoded with frequency-banded-noise data.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the memory is selected from the group consisting of a hard drive, random-access memory and read-only memory.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the calibration module is configured to encode the calibration data.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the calibration module is configured to generate an offset for the microphone based upon a difference between the power-density reading of a noise sample received from the microphone with a sound-pressure reading of the noise sample received from a sound-level meter, wherein the calibration module is configured to include the offset as a component of the calibration data.

15. A processor-readable medium encoded with instructions for measuring sound, the instructions including instructions for:

sequentially generating frequency-banded-noise samples, wherein each frequency-banded-noise samples corresponds to a frequency band, each frequency banded noise sample being generated at a different point in time, wherein the frequency bands collectively cover at least a portion of a spectrum;

receiving a baseline sound-pressure-level reading for each of the frequency banded noise samples;

generating, utilizing data received from a microphone, a sound pressure level reading for each of the frequency banded noise samples; and

producing calibration data for the microphone as a function of a difference between each of the baseline sound-pressure-level readings and a corresponding one of each of the generated sound pressure level readings for each of the frequency banded noise samples.

16. The processor-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions include instructions for providing the calibration data to a user, via the Internet, subsequent to the user receiving the microphone.

17. The processor-readable medium of claim 15, including instructions for:

encoding the calibration data so as to generate encoded calibration data for the microphone.

18. The processor-readable medium of claim 15, wherein each of the frequency-banded-noise samples spans an octave band of a spectrum of noise.

19. The processor-readable medium of claim 18, wherein each of the frequency-banded-noise samples spans an octave band of a spectrum of pink noise.

20. The processor-readable medium of claim 15, including instructions for:

generating an offset for the microphone based upon a difference between the power-density reading of a noise sample received from the microphone with a sound-pressure reading of the noise sample received from a sound-level meter;

wherein producing calibration data includes producing the calibration data so as to include the offset.

21. A processor-readable medium encoded with instructions for measuring sound, the instructions including instructions for:

converting a sound sample from a microphone into a frequency domain so as to generate frequency information relative to the sound sample;

filtering the frequency information with calibration data for the microphone, the calibration data including data dependent upon a difference between each of a plurality of baseline sound-pressure-level readings and a corresponding one of each of a plurality of generated sound pressure level readings for each of a plurality of frequency banded noise samples;

generating a power density for the filtered frequency information so as to obtain a corrected sound sample; and

applying a sound-pressure level offset to the power density so as to obtain a sound-pressure level for the sound sample.

22. The processor-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions include instructions for dynamically linking with a software application, wherein the software application is adapted to utilize the sound-pressure levels.