Continuous sound pressure level monitoring

• US 9,609,449 B1
• Filed: 10/26/2015
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Menp, Ossi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bernardi, Brenda
• Application Number:
  US14/922,281
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 1/18 with arrangements for signalling that a predetermined value of an unspecified parameter has been exceeded G01D1/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 11/06 by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3005 in amplifiers suitable for low-frequencies, e.g. audio amplifiers H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

A device is disclosed, the device comprising a least one microphone, at least one output audio transducer driver, at least one processor, a storage comprising a set of instructions executed locally, wherein the set of instructions causes the processor to: continuously measure an ambient sound pressure level when the device is an on state, calculate a sound pressure level of the output audio transducer driver when the output audio transducer is active, combine the two sound pressure levels into a total sound pressure level.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a microphone;

an output audio transducer driver;

a processor; and

a local storage comprising a set of instructions for a local execution by the processor;

wherein the set of instructions causes the processor to;

measure an ambient sound pressure level using the microphone whenever the device is in an on state;

calculate a sound pressure level of an output audio transducer driven by the output audio transducer driver when the output audio transducer is active, based on a power of the output audio transducer driver and characteristics of the output audio transducer;

and combine the two sound pressure levels into a total sound pressure level.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to calculate an ear stress level based on the total sound pressure level and time of exposure.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein if the ear stress level is greater than a threshold, the user is notified by a notification.

4. The device of claim 1, further including a user interface, comprising information about:

a measure of accumulated sound pressure level dosage;

a recommended recovery time;

an ear stress level;

a history of ambient sound pressure levels;

a history of audio output transducer sound pressure levels;

a history of total sound pressure levels;

a peak level of the combined sound pressure levels;

and a history of ear stress levels.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the user is notified if the calculated output audio transducer sound pressure level or a calculated output audio transducer sound pressure level dosage passes a threshold.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the user is notified if the ambient sound pressure level or a calculated output audio transducer sound pressure level dosage passes a threshold.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the notification includes at least one of:

a measure of accumulated sound pressure level dosage;

a recommended recovery time;

an ear stress level;

a history of ambient sound pressure levels;

a history of audio output transducer sound pressure levels;

a history of total sound pressure levels;

a peak level of the combined sound pressure levels;

and a history of ear stress levels.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to adjust the power of the output audio transducer driver to keep the calculated output audio transducer sound pressure level below a threshold.

9. The device of claim 3, wherein the notification further includes an audio component.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the audio component includes an audio beep or a human language warning message.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the output audio transducer sound pressure level is calculated from power levels of the output audio transducer driver and a sensitivity of the output audio transducer.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the sensitivity of an output audio transducer whose sensitivity is not known is either input by the user or fetched over a network.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the instructions cause the processor to calculate a sensitivity of a new output audio transducer, the calculation including:

asking a user to dispose the new output audio transducer close to the microphone;

calculating an output sound pressure level of the output audio transducer from the audio received by the microphone;

subtracting an average sound pressure level from the measured output sound pressure level; and

calculating a sensitivity of the output transducer from the measured output sound pressure level and the power of the audio output transducer driver.

14. A mobile device, comprising:

at least one microphone;

at least one earphone driver;

at least one processor; and

a storage comprising a set of instructions;

wherein the set of instructions causes the processor to;

measure an ambient sound pressure level using the at least one microphone;

calculate a sound pressure level of an earphone when the earphone is active;

combine the two sound pressure levels into a total sound pressure level;

calculate an ear stress level based on the total sound pressure level and time of exposure;

notify a user if the ear stress level is greater than a threshold;

wherein the notification includes at least two of;

a measure of accumulated sound pressure level dosage;

a recommended recovery time;

and the ear stress level.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the notification further comprises at least one of:

a history of ambient sound pressure levels;

a history of audio output transducer sound pressure levels;

a history of total sound pressure levels;

a peak level of the combined sound pressure levels;

and a history of ear stress levels.

16. The device of claim 14, further including accessing, by the user, through a graphical user interface or a natural user interface, at least one of:

the measure of accumulated sound pressure level dosage;

the recommended recovery time;

the ear stress level;

a history of ambient sound pressure levels;

a history of audio output transducer sound pressure levels;

a history of total sound pressure levels;

a peak level of the combined sound pressure levels;

and a history of ear stress levels.

17. A method for locally implementing in a device, the method comprising:

measuring an ambient sound pressure level using a microphone of the device when the device is in an on state;

calculating an output audio sound pressure level based on an output power and characteristics of an output transducer;

and combining the two sound pressure levels into a total sound pressure level.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising calculating an ear stress level based on the total sound pressure level and time of exposure.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

comparing the total sound pressure level to a threshold sound pressure level;

comparing the ear stress level to a threshold ear stress level;

and notifying a user if a threshold is passed.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising, making available to a user, information comprising at least one of:

a measure of accumulated sound pressure level dosage;

a recommended recovery time;

an ear stress level;

a history of ambient sound pressure levels;

a history of audio output transducer sound pressure levels;

a history of total sound pressure levels;

a peak level of the combined sound pressure levels;

and a history of ear stress levels.