Facilitation of headphone audio enhancement

• US 9,762,199 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2014
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bitwave Pte Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Bitwave Pte Ltd.
• Inventors: Hui, Siew Kok
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tan X
• Application Number:
  US14/469,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20150280677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/14 by displaying frequency domain information
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 7/002 in untuned or low-frequency amplifiers, e.g. audio amplifiers H03G7/007, H03G7/001, H03G7/008, H03G7/02, H03G7/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 7/007 of digital or coded signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1075 Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones
• 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 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response

Abstract

A headphone with adjustable speaker drivers and a microphone can be used to determine and adjust sound pressure levels. The speaker drivers can be adjusted manually or wirelessly via a mobile device with a wireless connection to the headphone. Processing of audio and microphone data via the headphone can also be used to help determine and adjust the sound pressure levels.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a device comprising a processor, speaker driver position data representing a position of a speaker driver relative to a frame of a headphone;

determining, by the device, a sound pressure level based on audio signal data representing an audio signal and microphone signal data representing a signal of a microphone of the headphone, wherein the microphone is in front of the speaker driver;

based on a repeatedly performed estimation, generating, by the device, sound pressure level data representative of a sound pressure level, wherein the sound pressure level data comprises a minimum sound pressure level, a mean sound pressure level, and a maximum sound pressure level; and

in response to receiving the audio signal data and the microphone signal data, sending, by the device, instruction data comprising an instruction for adjusting the position of the speaker driver at least in part by adjusting the sound pressure level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the position of the speaker driver is based on manual input received by the device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending the instruction comprises sending the instruction to adjust the position of the speaker driver wirelessly.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calibrating, by the device, the sound pressure level between the microphone and the speaker driver based on the audio signal data and the microphone signal data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, by the device, warning data representative of a warning signal in response to a condition related to the sound pressure level being determined to have been satisfied.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the condition is based on a critical hearing level.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, by the device, sound pressure level data representing the sound pressure level in a memory accessible to the device.

8. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

receiving speaker driver position data representing a first speaker driver position of a speaker driver of a headphone;

determining a sound pressure level based on audio signal data representing an audio signal and microphone signal data representing a microphone signal of a microphone of the headphone, wherein the microphone is in front of the speaker driver of the headphone, and wherein the sound pressure level comprises a minimum, a mean, and a maximum sound pressure level; and

in response to the determining the sound pressure level, sending instruction data comprising an instruction to adjust the first speaker driver position at least in part by adjusting the sound pressure level.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving an input of preference data, of a user preference, by an interface of the system.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the interface is configured to display a graphical representation of multi-band frequency sound pressure location data representing a multi-band frequency applicable to operation of the headphone.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the interface is further configured to display a graphical representation of overall band frequency sound pressure location data representing an overall band frequency applicable to operation of the headphone.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the interface comprises a frequency band selector configured to adjust a frequency band applicable to operation of the headphone.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the interface is configured to filter a frequency band applicable to operation of the headphone.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage device having executable instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution, cause a system comprising a processor to perform operations, comprising:

receiving speaker driver position data representing a position of a speaker driver relative to a frame of a headphone;

determining a sound pressure level based on audio signal data representing an audio signal and microphone signal data representing a signal of a microphone of the headphone, wherein the microphone is in front of the speaker driver, and wherein the sound pressure level comprises a sound pressure level statistic comprising a minimum, a mean, and a maximum sound pressure level; and

in response to receiving the audio signal data and the microphone signal data, sending instruction data employable to adjust the speaker driver position at least in part by adjusting the sound pressure level.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise:

initiating, on a display of a mobile device, sound pressure level data representative of the sound pressure level of the headphone.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the instruction data is employable to adjust the speaker driver towards an ear canal of a user.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the sending the instruction data comprises sending a wireless signal to adjust the speaker driver.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise:

based on the audio signal data, calibrating the sound pressure level between the microphone and the speaker driver.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to the condition associated with the sound pressure level being determined to have been satisfied, sending warning data representative of a warning signal.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 19, wherein the condition is based on a time associated with a critical hearing level.