Earplug for selectively providing sound to a user

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9414964-B2
Application number	US-201414147445-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 3, 2014
Priority date	Jan 3, 2014
Publication date	Aug 16, 2016
Grant date	Aug 16, 2016

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth an earplug for selectively providing sound to a user. The earplug includes a microphone, a processing unit, and a speaker. The microphone is configured to acquire ambient sound. The processing unit is configured to determine that a first sound included in the ambient sound is associated with a first set of sound parameters and, in response, generate a first cancellation signal associated with the first sound. The processing unit is further configured to determine that a second sound included in the ambient sound is associated with a second set of sound parameters and, in response, generate a second signal to cause the second sound to be produced. The speaker is configured to produce one or more sound waves based on the first cancellation signal to cancel the first sound from the ambient sound and produce the second sound based on the second signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An earplug for selectively providing sound to a user, the earplug comprising:
an earplug body shaped to fit an ear canal of the user and configured to provide noise isolation;
a microphone disposed in the earplug body and configured to acquire ambient sound;
a processor disposed in the earplug body and configured to:
determine that a first sound included in the ambient sound is associated with a first set of sound parameters;
in response, generate a first cancellation signal associated with the first sound;
determine that a second sound included in the ambient sound is associated with a second set of sound parameters; and
in response, generate a second signal to cause the second sound to be produced;

a speaker disposed in the earplug body and configured to:
produce one or more sound waves based on the first cancellation signal to cancel the first sound from the ambient sound; and
produce the second sound based on the second signal; and

a wireless module that is configured to wirelessly couple to an external computing device and receive the first set of sound parameters and the second set of sound parameters, wherein each of the first set of sound parameters and the second set of sound parameters is individually configured via a plurality of selectors included in a user interface provided by the external computing device.

2. The earplug of claim 1 , wherein the second sound acquired by the microphone is associated with a first loudness value, and, in response to determining that the second sound is associated with the second set of sound parameters, the processor is configured to cause the speaker to produce the second sound at a second loudness value that is higher than the first loudness value.

3. The earplug of claim 1 , further comprising at least one input device configured to activate a learning function.

4. The earplug of claim 3 , wherein the microphone is further configured to acquire a third sound when the learning function is activated by the at least one input device, and the processor is configured to analyze the third sound to generate a third set of sound parameters.

5. The earplug of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine, based on the third set of sound parameters, that the ambient sound includes the third sound;
in response, generate a second cancellation signal associated with the third sound; and
cause the speaker to produce one or more sound waves based on the second cancellation signal to cancel the third sound from the ambient sound.

6. The earplug of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine, based on the third set of sound parameters, that the ambient sound includes the third sound, and cause the speaker to produce the third sound.

7. The earplug of claim 4 , wherein the learning function comprises a block function and a permit function, and the at least one input device comprises a first button configured to activate the block function, and a second button configured to activate the permit function.

8. The earplug of claim 1 , further comprising a memory configured to store the first set of sound parameters and the second set of sound parameters.

9. The earplug of claim 1 , wherein at least one parameter included in the first set of sound parameters or the second set of sound parameters is associated with a frequency range or a digital sound signature.

10. The earplug of claim 1 , wherein a first selector included in the plurality of selectors specifies a first loudness value included in the first set of sound parameters and associated with the first sound, and a second selector included in the plurality of selectors specifies a second loudness value included in the second set of sound parameters and associated with the second sound.

11. The earplug of claim 10 , wherein the first loudness value is based on a location of the first selector along a first continuum of sound level values, and the second loudness value is based on a location of the second selector along a second continuum of sound level values.

12. A method for selectively providing sound to a user, comprising:
acquiring ambient sound via a microphone disposed in an earplug body, wherein the earplug body is shaped to fit an ear canal of the user and configured to provide noise isolation from the ambient sound;
determining, via a processor disposed in the earplug body, that a first sound included in the ambient sound is associated with a first set of sound parameters;
in response, generating a first cancellation signal associated with the first sound;
producing, via a speaker disposed in the earplug body, one or more sound waves based on the first cancellation signal to cancel the first sound from the ambient sound;
determining that a second sound included in the ambient sound is associated with a second set of sound parameters;
in response, enhancing the second sound by generating a second signal to cause an enhanced sound to be produced;
producing the enhanced sound based on the second signal; and
receiving the first set of sound parameters and the second set of sound parameters via a wireless module that is configured to wirelessly couple to an external computing device, wherein each of the first set of sound parameters and the second set of sound parameters is individually configured via a plurality of selectors included in a user interface provided by the external computing device.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second sound is associated with a first loudness value, and the enhanced sound is associated with a second loudness value that is higher than the first loudness value.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
activating a learning function;
acquiring a third sound when the learning function is activated; and
analyzing the third sound to generate a third set of sound parameters.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
determining, based on the third set of sound parameters, that the ambient sound includes the third sound;
in response, generating a second cancellation signal associated with the third sound; and
producing one or more sound waves based on the second cancellation signal to cancel the third sound from the ambient sound.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising determining, based on the third set of sound parameters, that the ambient sound includes the third sound, and producing the third sound.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the learning function comprises a block function and a permit function, and further comprising receiving input via a first button to activate the block function, and receiving input via a second button to activate the permit function.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising storing the first set of sound parameters and the second set of sound parameters in a local database.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein at least one parameter included in the first set of sound parameters or the second set of sound parameters is associated with a frequency range or a digital sound signature.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein a first selector included in the plurality of selectors specifies a first loudness value included in the first set of sound parameters and associated with the first sound, and a second selector included in the plurality of selectors specifies a second loudness value included in the second set of sound parameters and associated with the second sound.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the first

Assignees

• Harman Int Ind

Inventors

• Censo Davide Di
• Marti Stefan

Classifications

• H04R2460/01

  Hearing devices using active noise cancellation · CPC title

• H04R1/1083

  Reduction of ambient noise (active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06) · CPC title

• A61F11/08 Primary

  internal, e.g. earplugs · CPC title

• G10K2210/108

  Communication systems, e.g. where useful sound is kept and noise is cancelled · CPC title

• H04R1/1041

  Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H) · CPC title