Continuous sound pressure level monitoring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9609449-B1
Application number	US-201514922281-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 26, 2015
Priority date	Oct 26, 2015
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Mäenpää Ossi

Classifications

• H04R29/001 Primary

  for loudspeakers (H04R29/007 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01D1/18

  with arrangements for signalling that a predetermined value of an unspecified parameter has been exceeded (G01D1/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01H11/06

  by electric means · CPC title

• G06F3/162

  Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs · CPC title

• H03G3/32 Primary

  the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level · CPC title