In-Ear Digital Electronic Noise Cancelling and Communication Device
First Claim
1. A noise canceling and communication system comprising:
- an in-ear device adapted to fit in the ear canal of a device user and having;
i. a passive noise reduction element for reducing external noise entering the ear canal,ii. at least one external microphone for sensing an external acoustic signal outside the ear canal to produce a representative external microphone signal,iii. at least one internal microphone for sensing an internal acoustic signal proximal to the tympanic membrane to produce a representative internaliv. at least one internal sound generator for producing a noise cancellation signal and an acoustic communication signal, both directed towards the tympanic membrane, andv. at least one probe tube for shaping an acoustic response between the internal sound generator and the internal microphone to be relatively constant over a wide audio frequency band; and
an external electronics module in communication with the in-ear device for processing the microphone signals using a hybrid feed forward and feedback active noise reduction algorithm to produce the noise cancellation signal, the noise reduction algorithm including at least one noise modeling component based on a transfer function associated with the internal sound generator and at least one of the microphones to automatically adjust the noise cancellation signal for fit and geometry of the ear canal of the user.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A noise canceling and communication system is described. An in-ear device is adapted to fit in the ear canal of a device user. A passive noise reduction element reduces external noise entering the ear canal. An external microphone senses an external acoustic signal outside the ear canal to produce a representative external microphone signal. An internal microphone senses an internal acoustic signal proximal to the tympanic membrane to produce a representative internal microphone signal. One or more internal sound generators produce a noise cancellation signal and an acoustic communication signal, both directed towards the tympanic membrane. A probe tube shapes an acoustic response between the internal sound generator and the internal microphone to be relatively constant over a wide audio frequency band. An electronics module is located externally of the ear canal and in communication with the in-ear device for processing the microphone signals using a hybrid feed forward and feedback active noise reduction algorithm to produce the noise cancellation signal. The noise reduction algorithm includes a modeling component based on a transfer function associated with the internal sound generator and at least one of the microphones to automatically adjust the noise cancellation signal for fit and geometry of the ear canal of the user. The communication component also includes a modeling component based on a transfer function associated with the internal sound generator and at least one of the microphones to automatically adjust the communication signal for fit and geometry of the ear canal of the user and to assure that the communication signal does not interfere with the noise reduction algorithm and that the noise cancellation signal does not interfere with passing of the communication signal.
143 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A noise canceling and communication system comprising:
-
an in-ear device adapted to fit in the ear canal of a device user and having; i. a passive noise reduction element for reducing external noise entering the ear canal, ii. at least one external microphone for sensing an external acoustic signal outside the ear canal to produce a representative external microphone signal, iii. at least one internal microphone for sensing an internal acoustic signal proximal to the tympanic membrane to produce a representative internal iv. at least one internal sound generator for producing a noise cancellation signal and an acoustic communication signal, both directed towards the tympanic membrane, and v. at least one probe tube for shaping an acoustic response between the internal sound generator and the internal microphone to be relatively constant over a wide audio frequency band; and an external electronics module in communication with the in-ear device for processing the microphone signals using a hybrid feed forward and feedback active noise reduction algorithm to produce the noise cancellation signal, the noise reduction algorithm including at least one noise modeling component based on a transfer function associated with the internal sound generator and at least one of the microphones to automatically adjust the noise cancellation signal for fit and geometry of the ear canal of the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An in-ear communication device adapted to fit in the ear canal of a device user, the device comprising:
-
a passive noise reduction element fitting in the ear canal of the user for reducing external noise entering the ear canal; at least one sensing element for generating a sensing data signal associated with the ear canal; at least one internal sound generator for producing an acoustic communication signal directed towards the tympanic membrane, and a probe tube having one end coupled to the sensing element and the other end having a probe tube outlet proximal to the tympanic membrane for shaping an acoustic response between the internal sound generator and the sensing element. - View Dependent Claims (14, 16)
-
-
15. An in-ear communication device adapted to fit in the ear canal of a device user, the device comprising:
-
a passive noise reduction element fitting in the ear canal of the user for reducing external noise entering the ear canal; at least one sensing element for generating a sensing data signal associated with the ear canal; at least one internal sound generator for producing an acoustic communication signal directed towards the tympanic membrane; a probe tube having one end coupled to the sensing element and the other end having a probe tube outlet proximal to the tympanic membrane for shaping an acoustic response between the internal sound generator and the sensing element; and an external electronics module in communication with the in-ear device for processing at least one microphone signal to produce an enhanced communication signal, the processing algorithm including a modeling component based on a transfer function associated with the internal sound generator and at least one of the microphones to automatically detect fit and geometry of the ear canal of the user.
-
-
17. A modeling component comprising:
-
at least one microphone sensing element; at least one internal sound generator; and an electronics module in communication with the sensing and sound generator elements for processing their signals to provide a transfer function between the sensing element and the sound generator.
-
Specification