Acoustic Sealing Analysis System

• US 20180132048A1
• Filed: 09/11/2017
• Published: 05/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ST Case1Tech, LLC
• Original Assignee: Staton Techiya, LLC
• Inventors: Usher, John, Keady, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,299,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/07 Use of position data from wide-area or local-area positioning systems in hearing devices, e.g. program or information selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/15 Determination of the acoustic seal of ear moulds or ear tips of hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/00 Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence

Abstract

A device or a method using the device includes a balloon configured to seal a user'"'"'s orifice, where the balloon is configured to produce an acoustic seal between a first side and a second side of the balloon in an ear canal. At least a second side of the balloon is fitted into the ear canal. Audio processing circuitry produces an audio signal for driving a speaker in the device and to measure sound level using output from the microphone in the device while the speaker is being driven by the audio signal. The device or method further includes control circuitry to evaluate a seal quality of the device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device having a speaker and a microphone located therein, comprising:

a balloon configured to seal an ear canal, wherein the balloon is configured to produce an acoustic seal in the ear canal, wherein the balloon has a first side and a second side, and wherein the first side is exposed to ambient sound and the second side is exposed to the ear canal;

audio processing circuitry configured to produce an audio signal in the device and to measure a sound level using output from the microphone in the device while the speaker is being driven by the audio signal; and

control circuitry to evaluate a seal quality of the device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the audio signal comprises a test tone in isolation.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is an earbud.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a headphone.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the audio processing circuitry comprises a transducer configured to emit the audio signal in the form of a test signal incident on the first side of the sealing section.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the control circuitry uses the microphone configured to measure an acoustic signal incident on the first side of the balloon, wherein the acoustic signal includes the test signal emitted from the transducer where the acoustic signal is compared to the test signal to determine if the balloon seals the ear canal.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the acoustic signal is compared to the test signal by calculating at least one of the cross correlation, the correlation, or the coherence of the signals.

8. A method for using an electronic device that provides audio for a user through a speaker contained in an earpiece that is located in the user'"'"'s ear, wherein the earpiece also contains a microphone, the method comprising:

with circuitry, driving an audio signal into the speaker in the earpiece;

with circuitry, measuring sound level using output from the microphone in the earpiece while the speaker is being driven by the audio signal; and

with circuitry, evaluating a seal quality of a balloon of the earpiece sealing an ear canal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the circuitry evaluating the seal quality of the earpiece analyzes peaks in analysis results from the circuitry evaluating the seal quality of the earpiece.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the circuitry evaluating the seal quality of the earpiece provides analysis results from strong tonal signal components represented by peaks in the analysis results.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the audio signal comprises a test tone in isolation, and wherein measuring the sound level comprises filtering the output from the microphone to isolate the test tone.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the audio signal is a test signal, the method further comprising:

generating an acoustic signal corresponding to the test signal incident on an ear canal side of the balloon;

converting the acoustic signal incident on a first side of the balloon to an electrical signal; and

comparing the test signal to the electrical signal where the earpiece is sealed correctly when the comparison between the test signal and the electrical signal is above a threshold value.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of comparing the test signal to the electrical signal includes calculating at least one of a cross-correlation, a correlation, or a coherence value between the two signals.

14. The method of claim 13 further including a step of using a single frequency tone to test sealing integrity of the earpiece.

15. The method of claim 8, further including the steps of:

testing the sealing integrity of the earpiece when a sealing section is initially inserted in an ear canal of a user; and

periodically testing the sealing integrity of the earpiece while in use by the user.

16. An electronic audio device for use with an earpiece having a speaker located therein, comprising:

an audio processing circuitry to produce an audio signal for driving the speaker in the earpiece; and

a control circuit to evaluate a seal quality of a balloon of the earpiece by analyzing the audio signal for a strong tonal signal component represented by at least a peak in an analysis result.

17. The electronic audio device of claim 16, wherein the earpiece is an earbud.

18. The electronic audio device of claim 16, further including a processor operatively coupled to the speaker and operatively coupled to a microphone wherein the processor has been configured to compare the audio signal to an acoustic signal corresponding to the audio signal to determine if the balloon of the earpiece is sealing an ear canal.

19. The electronic audio device of claim 18, wherein the balloon has passed a sealing test when a cross-correlation is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

20. The electronic audio device of claim 19 wherein the threshold corresponds to an attenuation level of the sealing section.