Method and System for Bone Conduction Sound Propagation

• US 20090304210A1
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DSP Group Ltd. (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: BoneTone Communications Limited (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Weisman, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,325,964 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/151
• 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 1/46 Special adaptations for use as contact microphones, e.g. on musical instrument, on stethoscope throat mountings H04R1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/022 Plurality of transducers corresponding to a plurality of sound channels in each earpiece of headphones or in a single enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

A wearable surround sound system, that includes: (a) a processor, adapted to receive input signals representative of requested audio signals to be heard by the user and in response to generate multiple output signals; and (b) multiple bone conduction speakers, coupled to the processor, adapted to convey the multiple output signals to at least one bone of a user; wherein the bone conduction speakers are arrayed so as to stimulate an encompassing sound perception of the use. A wearable ambient sound reduction system, that includes: (a) a microphone, adapted to detect an ambient sound signal; (b) a processor adapted to generate an output signal in response to the ambient sound signal; wherein the output signal, when conveyed to a bone of the user, reduces an affect that an ambient sound signal has upon the user; wherein the microphone is coupled to the processor; and (c) a bone conduction speaker, coupled to the processor, adapted to convey the output signal to a bone of a user.

Claims

1. A wearable surround sound system, the system comprises:

a processor, adapted to receive input signals representative of requested audio signals to be heard by the user and in response to generate multiple output signals; and

multiple bone conduction speakers, coupled to the processor, adapted to convey the multiple output signals to at least one bone of a user;

wherein the bone conduction speakers are arrayed so as to stimulate an encompassing sound perception of the user.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprises at least one acoustic speaker, wherein the bone conduction speakers and the at least one acoustic speaker are arrayed so as to stimulate an encompassing sound perception of the user.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprises a microphone, coupled to the processor, that is adapted to detect an ambient sound signal;

wherein the processor is further adapted to generate the multiple output signals in response to the ambient sound signal;

wherein at least one output signal component, when conveyed to a bone of the user, reduces an affect of the ambient sound signal upon the user.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the processor is further adapted to generate an output signal component out of the at least one output signal component, in response to a direction of the ambient sound signal.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the processor is adapted to generate the at least one output signal component in response to an allowed ambient volume level.

6. A wearable ambient sound reduction system, the system comprises:

a microphone, adapted to detect an ambient sound signal;

a processor adapted to generate an output signal in response to the ambient sound signal;

wherein the output signal, when conveyed to a bone of the user, reduces an affect that an ambient sound signal has upon the user;

wherein the microphone is coupled to the processor; and

a bone conduction speaker, coupled to the processor, adapted to convey the output signal to a bone of a user.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the system is a concealable compact system.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein the processor is adapted to generate the output signal in response to a direction of the ambient sound signal.

10. The system according to claim 6, wherein the processor is adapted to receive input signals representative of requested audio signals to be heard by the user;

wherein the processor is further adapted to generate the output signal in response to the input signals.

11. The system according to claim 10, further adapted to receive the input signals from external system.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprises a bone conduction microphone, that is coupled to the processor, and is adapted to detect a user bone conducted signal;

wherein the system is adapted to transmit a transmitted signal in response to the user bone conducted signal at least partially concurrently with the reception of the requested audio signals.

13. The system according to claim 12, further adapted to reduce echo effects from the transmitted signal, by subtracting from the transmitted signal a delayed signal that is responsive to the input signals.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the processor is further adapted to (a) determine a cancellation filter in response to a negligible user sound signal, and (b) reduce echo effects from the transmitted signal in response to the cancellation filter.

8. The system of 6, wherein the processor is adapted to generate the output signal in response to an allowed ambient volume level.

15. A method for conveying surround sound to a user, the method comprises:

receiving input signals, representative of requested audio signals to be heard by the user;

generating multiple output signals, in response to the requested audio signals; and

conveying, by multiple bone conduction speakers, the output signals to at least one bone of a user;

wherein the bone conduction speakers are arrayed so as to stimulate an encompassing sound perception of the user.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the conveying comprises conveying, by an acoustic speaker, an output signal to an ear of the user;

wherein the bone conduction speakers and the acoustic speaker are arrayed so as to stimulate an encompassing sound perception of the user.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the generating comprises generating the output signals in response to an ambient sound signal;

wherein at least one output signal component, when conveyed to a bone of the user, reduces an affect of the ambient sound signal on the user.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the generating comprises generating the output signal component in response to a direction of an ambient sound signal.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the generating comprises generating the output signal component in response to an allowed ambient volume level.

20. A method for ambient sound reduction by a wearable ambient sound reduction system, the method comprises:

detecting an ambient sound signal;

generating an output signal in response to the ambient sound signal;

wherein the output signal, when conveyed to a bone of the user, reduces an affect that an ambient sound signal has on the user; and

conveying, by a bone conduction speaker that belongs to the system, the output signal to a bone of a user.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the wearable ambient sound reduction system is a concealable compact system.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the generating comprises generating the output signal in response to an allowed ambient volume level.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the generating comprises generating an output signal component in response to a direction of the ambient sound signal.

24. The method according to claim 20, further comprises receiving input signals representative of requested audio signals to be heard by the user;

wherein the generating comprises generating the output signal in response to the input signals.

25. The method according to claim 24, further comprises receiving the input signals from an external system.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprises:

(a) detecting a user bone conducted signal, and (b) transmitting a transmitted signal that is responsive to the user bone conducted signal, at least partially concurrently to the receiving.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprises reducing echo effects from the transmitted signal, by subtracting from the transmitted signal a delayed signal that is responsive to the requested audio signal.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the reducing comprises determining a cancellation filter in response to a negligible user sound signal;

wherein the reducing is responsive to the cancellation filter.