Custom microphones circuit, or listening circuit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9636260-B2
Application number	US-201514590706-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2015
Priority date	Jan 6, 2015
Publication date	May 2, 2017
Grant date	May 2, 2017

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure include hearing protection earmuffs, which generally might have two earcups providing passive noise reduction (e.g. an effective NRR to protect a user from a damaging external noise environment). Disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for transmitting external sounds to a speaker within the earcup, blocking transmission of sounds that are higher than a hearing protection threshold, amplifying sounds that are below the hearing protection threshold, and reducing or filtering undesirable background sounds by determining the frequency of the transmitted sounds.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for transmitting external sound through a hearing protection earcup comprising:
detecting, via a microphone and circuitry of a hearing protection earcup, external sounds outside the earcup;
analyzing, by the circuitry of the hearing protection earcup, the detected sounds to determine decibel level and frequency of the sound;
determining, by the circuitry of the hearing protection earcup, to transmit the detected sounds when the decibel level is lower than a preset hearing protection threshold; and
determining, by the circuitry of the hearing protection earcup, to filter the detected sounds when the frequencies of the detected sounds are constant and within a preset frequency range for an undesired background sound;
continuing, to transmit, by the circuitry, detected sounds only for the frequencies of the detected sounds outside of the preset frequency range for undesired backoround sound and only when the decibel level is lower than the preset hearing protection threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the circuitry of the hearing protection earcup, to block the detected sounds when the decibel level is higher than the preset hearing protection threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the circuitry of the hearing protection earcup, to reduce the detected sounds down to the hearing protection threshold when the decibel level is higher than the preset hearing protection threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the circuitry of the hearing protection earcup, to amplify the detected sounds up to the hearing protection threshold when the decibel level is lower than the preset hearing protection threshold.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the earcup comprises at least one speaker internal to the earcup that is configured to transmit the detected sounds that are determined to be transmitted.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the undesired background sound comprises heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) sounds.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preset hearing protection threshold is approximately 82 decibels and wherein the preset frequency range is between approximately 50 and 5000 Hertz.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the detected sounds to determine the decibel level and the frequency of the sound further comprises receiving frequency signals from a microphone, wherein the microphone comprises sensitivity for the preset frequency range.

9. A hearing protection device comprising:
a passive protection earcup comprising a hollow shell operable to encompass the ear of a user and having an air space volume to provide sufficient noise reduction rating (NRR);
one or more external microphones operable to pick up external sounds;
one or more internal speakers located within the earcup operable to direct sound into a user's ear; and
circuitry operable to:
determine the decibel level and frequency of sounds received from the microphone;
allow pass-through of sounds to the speaker when the decibel level is lower than a hearing protection threshold;
amplify sounds to the speaker up to a preset desired decibel level that is not above the hearing protection threshold; and
filter out undesired background sounds when the sounds are comprised of frequencies that are approximately constant and within a preset frequency range.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the circuitry is further operable to block pass-through of sounds from the microphone to the speaker when the decibel level is higher than the hearing protection threshold.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the circuitry is further operable to reduce the decibel level of sounds to the preset desired decibel level.

12. The device of claim 9 , wherein the preset desired level is equal to the hearing protection threshold.

13. The device of claim 9 , wherein the preset desired level is customizable by a user.

14. The device of claim 9 , wherein the undesired background sounds comprise heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) sounds.

15. The device of claim 9 , wherein the undesired background sounds comprise a frequency between approximately 50 and 5000 Hertz.

16. The device of claim 9 , wherein the speakers are operable to transmit external sounds only.

17. A hearing protection headset comprising:
two passive protection earcups comprising a hollow shell operable to encompass the ear of a user;
a headband connecting the two earcups operable to provide sufficient clamping force to maintain an airtight seal between the exterior and interior of the earcups;
one or more external microphones operable to pick up external sounds;
one or more internal speakers located within the earcups operable to direct sound into a user's ear, wherein the speakers are operable to transmit external sounds only; and
circuitry operable to:
determine the decibel level and frequency of sounds received from the microphone;
allow pass-through of sounds to the speaker when the decibel level is lower than a hearing protection threshold;
amplify sounds to the speaker up to a preset desired decibel level that is not above the hearing protection threshold;
filter out undesired background sounds when the sounds are comprised of frequencies that are constant and within a preset frequency range; and
allow pass-through and amplification of sounds that have frequencies outside of the preset frequency range and decibel levels below the hearing protection threshold.

18. The headset of claim 17 , wherein the microphone(s) comprise sensitivity for the preset frequency range.

19. The headset of claim 17 , wherein the circuitry is further operable to block pass-through of sounds from the microphone to the speaker when the decibel level is higher than the hearing protection threshold.

20. The device of claim 17 , wherein the circuitry is further operable to reduce the decibel level of sounds to the preset desired decibel level.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Jenkins John

Classifications

• G10K2210/1081

  Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets · CPC title

• G10K2210/3039

  Nonlinear, e.g. clipping, numerical truncation, thresholding or variable input and output gain · CPC title

• A61F11/14 Primary

  external, e.g. earcaps or earmuffs · CPC title

• G10K2210/3014

  Adaptive noise equalizers [ANE], i.e. where part of the unwanted sound is retained · CPC title

• G10K11/17853

  of the filter · CPC title