Smart mask and smart mask system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11848024-B2
Application number	US-202117158314-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 26, 2021
Priority date	Jan 26, 2021
Publication date	Dec 19, 2023
Grant date	Dec 19, 2023

Abstract

A smart mask includes a main body having a back frame and a front cover. The back frame and the front cover each include an opening that is aligned with the mask wearer's mouth when worn. The front cover and back frame may be detachable from one another, or a single piece. A microphone is provided in the main body, as well as a speaker. A processor located in the main body is connected to the microphone and the speaker, and is configured to enhance the speech of the mask wearer. In particular, the processor receives audio signals representing a transformation of a spoken utterance of the wearer, processes the audio signals to enhance the speech, and then outputs the enhanced speech to the speaker. This helps other people better understand what the mask wearer is saying.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A smart mask comprising:
a main body including:
a back frame defining a central opening and a border surrounding the central opening, the border providing a surface configured to engage a replaceable filter, and
a front cover at least partially removable and reattachable to the back frame, the front cover defining a central opening aligned with the central opening of the back frame when the front cover is attached to the back frame, the front cover further defining a border surrounding the central opening, wherein a first portion of the border of the front cover is configured to be removed and reattached to the border of the back frame to enable replacement of the filter, and wherein a second portion of the border of the front cover maintains connection to the border of the back frame during such replacement of the filter such that electrical communication between the front frame and back frame is maintained during such replacement;

a microphone embedded in the back frame and configured to receive an utterance from a mask wearer;
a speaker embedded in the front cover; and
a processor located in the main body and coupled to the microphone and the speaker, the processor programmed to (i) receive signals representing the utterance, (ii) execute a speech enhancement model stored in memory to enhance the utterance, and (iii) output signals to cause the speaker to output sound based on the enhancement of the utterance.

2. The smart mask of claim 1 , wherein the back frame includes loops or fasteners configured to attach to a head of the mask wearer.

3. The smart mask of claim 1 , wherein the front cover and the back frame define a hinge that enables the back frame and the front cover to remain in contact while the front cover is partially removed from the back frame.

4. The smart mask of claim 1 , wherein the border of the back frame is provided with a grip configured to maintain a position of the replaceable filter within the main body.

5. The smart mask of claim 1 , further comprising:
a light source embedded in the main body and coupled to the processor; and
a proximity sensor embedded in the main body, coupled to the processor, and configured to detect a distance from the proximity sensor to a person;
wherein the processor is configured to activate the light source in response to the detected distance being below a threshold distance.

6. The smart mask of claim 1 , further comprising:
a light source embedded in the main body and coupled to the processor; and
a proximity sensor embedded in the main body, coupled to the processor, and configured to detect a distance from the proximity sensor to a person;
wherein the processor is configured to emit a first color in response to signals received from the microphone indicating the mask wearer is speaking, and emit a second color in response to the detected distance being below a threshold distance.

7. The smart mask of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless transceiver configured to communicate signals representing the enhancement of the utterance to a mobile device of the wearer.

8. A smart mask comprising:
a main body having a back frame configured to contact a wearer when the smart mask is worn, and a front cover configured to cover the back frame, wherein the back frame and the front cover cooperate to retain a replaceable filter;
a proximity sensor fixed within the main body and configured to detect a distance an object is away from the proximity sensor;
a light source fixed within the main body; and
a processor embedded within the main body and coupled to the proximity sensor and the light source, wherein the processor is configured to cause the light source to emit a color in response to the detected distance being less than a predetermined, fixed distance threshold.

9. The smart mask of claim 8 , wherein the distance threshold is six feet.

10. The smart mask of claim 8 , further comprising a microphone embedded in the back frame and configured to detect an utterance by the wearer, wherein the processor is configured to cause the light source to change color in response to the utterance by the wearer.

11. The smart mask of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to cause the light source to emit a first color in response to the microphone detecting the utterance by the wearer, and cause the light source to emit a second color in response to the detected distance being less than the distance threshold.

12. The smart mask of claim 8 , further comprising:
a microphone configured to detect an utterance by the wearer; and
a speaker fixed to the main body;
wherein the processor communicates with memory housed within the main body that includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to (i) execute a speech enhancement model stored in memory to process the utterance and create an enhanced utterance, and (ii) output signals to cause the speaker to output sound based on the enhanced utterance.

13. The smart mask of claim 12 , further comprising a wireless transceiver configured to communicatively connect to a mobile device of the wearer, wherein the processor is configured to cause the wireless transceiver to send signals to the mobile device representative of the enhanced utterance.

14. A system for enhancing speech of a mask wearer, the system comprising:
a mask main body including a back frame and a front cover, the back frame including a first border defining a first opening aligned with a mouth of the mask wearer when worn, the front cover including a second border defining a second opening aligned with the first opening, wherein the back frame and the front cover cooperate to define a receptacle for receiving a replaceable filter;
a microphone attached to the mask main body and configured to receive an utterance from a mask wearer;
a speaker attached to the mask main body;
a memory housed within the mask main body and containing a speech enhancement model that is trained from a plurality of acoustic models; and
a processor housed within the mask main body and programmed to:
receive the utterance from the microphone,
employ the speech enhancement model to process the utterance by estimating a spectrum of background noise as deviating from the utterance remove the spectrum of background noise, and
output an enhanced utterance via the speaker with the spectrum of background noise removed.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the mask main body is a single unitary component and the receptacle is formed in the mask main body.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the front cover is at least partially removably attached to the back frame to enable access to the receptacle to replace the filter.

17. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a light source secured within the mask main body and coupled to the processor; and
a proximity sensor secured within the mask main body, coupled to the processor, and configured to detect a distance between the proximity sensor and an object;
wherein the processor is configured to activate the light source in response to the detected distance being below a threshold distance.

18. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a light source secured within the mask main body and coupled to the processor; and
a proximity sensor secured within the mask main body, coupled to the processor, and configured to detect a distance between the proximity sensor and an object;
wherein the processor is configured to emit a first color in response to signals received from the microphone indi

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Angkititrakul Pongtep
• Gao Xiaoyang
• Kim Hyeongsik
• Zhou Xiaowei
• Zhou Zhengyu

Classifications

• G10L21/0232 Primary

  Processing in the frequency domain · CPC title

• A41D13/0002

  Details of protective garments not provided for in groups A41D13/0007 - A41D13/1281 · CPC title

• A41D13/11

  Protective face masks, e.g. for surgical use, or for use in foul atmospheres (eye-masks A61F9/04 {; hoods affording protection against heat or harmful chemical agents A62B17/04}) · CPC title

• G10L25/18

  the extracted parameters being spectral information of each sub-band · CPC title

• G10L25/51

  for comparison or discrimination · CPC title