METHOD AND DEVICE CONFIGURED FOR SOUND SIGNATURE DETECTION

• US 20080240458A1
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ST CasesTech, LLC
• Original Assignee: Personics Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Goldstein, Steven W., Clements, Mark A., Boillot, Marc A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/72
• 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 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/41 Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/453 electronically

Abstract

At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a method for personalized listening which can be used with an earpiece is provided that can include capturing ambient sound from an Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) of an earpiece partially or fully occluded in an ear canal, monitoring the ambient sound for a target sound, and adjusting by way of an Ear Canal Receiver (ECR) in the earpiece a delivery of audio to an ear canal based on a detected target sound. A volume of audio content can be adjusted upon the detection of a target sound, and an audible notification can be presented to provide a warning.

Claims

1. An acoustic device, comprising:

an Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM) configured to capture ambient sound;

at least one Ear Canal Receiver (ECR) configured to deliver audio to an ear canal; and

a processor operatively coupled to the ASM, where the processor monitors the ambient sound for a target sound.

2. The acoustic device of claim 1, where the acoustic device is earpiece, wherein the processor detects sound signatures in the ambient sound and adjusts the audio delivered to the ear canal based on detected sound signatures.

3. The acoustic device of claim 1, where the acoustic device is an earpiece, wherein the target sound is at least one among an alarm, a horn, and a noise.

4. The acoustic device of claim 1, where the acoustic device is an earpiece, wherein the processor monitors the ambient sound for spoken words associated with verbal warnings.

5. The acoustic device of claim 1, where the acoustic device is an earpiece, further comprising a memory to store, responsive to a directive by a user of the device, at least one target sound captured by the ASM for learning.

6. The acoustic device of claim 1, where the acoustic device is an earpiece, further comprising an audio interface operatively coupled to the processor configured to receive audio content from a media player or cell phone,

wherein the processor selectively adjusts a volume of the audio content delivered to the ear canal when the target sound is detected.

7. A method for personalized listening, the method comprising:

capturing ambient sound with an Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM);

monitoring the ambient sound for a target sound; and

adjusting by way of an Ear Canal Receiver (ECR) in the earpiece a delivery of audio to an ear canal based on a detected target sound.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

passing the target sound to the ECR for delivery to the ear canal.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

amplifying the target sound for delivery to the ear canal.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

attenuating the target sound for delivery to the ear canal.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

generating an audible message for delivery to the ear canal.

12. A method for personalized listening, the method comprising:

capturing ambient sound with an Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM);

detecting a sound signature within the ambient sound that is associated with a target sound; and

mixing the target sound with audio content delivered to the earpiece in accordance with a priority of the target sound.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

detecting and reporting from the sound signature a direction or a speed of a sound source generating the target sound.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

detecting and reporting from the sound signature a spoken utterance in the ambient sound associated with verbal warnings.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

identifying the target sound from the sound signatures and transmitting a warning notification to other devices.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the target sound is at least one among an alarm, a horn, a voice, and a noise.

17. A method for sound signature detection, the method comprising:

capturing ambient sound with an Ambient Sound Microphone (ASM); and

receiving a directive to learn a sound signature within the ambient sound.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

saving the sound signature locally on the earpiece or remotely to a server.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a voice command or user interaction to initiate the step of capturing and learning.

20. A method for personalized listening, the method comprising:

capturing ambient sound via an earpiece that is at least partially occluded in an ear canal;

detecting a sound signature within the ambient sound that is associated with a target sound; and

mixing the target sound with audio content delivered to the earpiece in accordance with a priority of the target sound and a personalized hearing level (PHL).

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

retrieving learned models from a database, comparing the sound signature to the learned models, and identifying the target sound from the learned models in view of the comparison.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

enhancing auditory queues in the target sound relative to the audio content based on a spectrum of the ambient sound captured at the ASM.

23. A sound detection device comprising:

an ambient sound microphone configured to measure an ambient sound; and

a processor configured to compare the ambient sound to at least one target sound signature, and where the processor identifies an onset of an identified target sound signature in the ambient sound.

24. The sound detection device according to claim 23, further comprising:

an ear canal microphone, where the ear canal microphone is configured to emit an auditory warning when the processor identifies the onset.

25. The sound detection device according to claim 24, where the ear canal microphone is operatively connected to an earpiece.