17822064. METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING AND TRACKING EAR CHARACTERISTICS simplified abstract (Apple Inc.)
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING AND TRACKING EAR CHARACTERISTICS
Organization Name
Inventor(s)
Martin Kuster of Los Gatos CA (US)
Tom-Davy W. Saux of Los Altos CA (US)
Prateek Murgai of San Francisco CA (US)
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING AND TRACKING EAR CHARACTERISTICS - A simplified explanation of the abstract
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17822064 titled 'METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING AND TRACKING EAR CHARACTERISTICS
Simplified Explanation
The patent application describes a method performed by a headset with a speaker and an in-ear microphone. The method involves calibrating the headset to obtain a baseline measurement and using an audio signal to drive the speaker, projecting sound into the user's ear canal. The microphone captures sound from within the user's ear canal, and a parameter associated with the user's ear is determined based on the captured signal and the baseline measurement. A notification related to the characteristics of the user's ear is then transmitted based on the parameter.
- The method involves calibrating a headset with a speaker and in-ear microphone.
- An audio signal is used to drive the speaker, projecting sound into the user's ear canal.
- The in-ear microphone captures sound from within the user's ear canal.
- A parameter associated with the user's ear is determined based on the captured microphone signal and a baseline measurement.
- A notification related to the characteristics of the user's ear is transmitted based on the determined parameter.
Potential Applications
- Personalized hearing assistance: The technology can be used to customize sound output based on the user's ear characteristics, providing a tailored listening experience.
- Hearing health monitoring: By analyzing the captured microphone signal, the technology can provide insights into the user's ear health and potential hearing issues.
- Noise cancellation optimization: The parameter determined based on the captured signal can be used to optimize noise cancellation algorithms, enhancing the effectiveness of noise reduction.
Problems Solved
- Personalized sound experience: The technology solves the problem of generic sound output by customizing it based on the user's ear characteristics, improving the listening experience.
- Limited hearing health monitoring: The technology addresses the issue of limited monitoring of ear health by capturing sound from within the ear canal and providing notifications related to hearing elements.
- Ineffective noise cancellation: By optimizing noise cancellation algorithms based on the user's ear characteristics, the technology solves the problem of ineffective noise reduction in headsets.
Benefits
- Improved user experience: The personalized sound output enhances the user's listening experience, providing clear and tailored audio.
- Enhanced hearing health monitoring: The technology allows for continuous monitoring of ear health, providing early detection of potential hearing issues.
- Effective noise cancellation: By optimizing noise cancellation algorithms based on the user's ear characteristics, the technology improves the effectiveness of noise reduction in headsets.
Original Abstract Submitted
A method performed by a headset that includes a speaker and an in-ear microphone, the method includes performing a calibration on the headset to obtain a baseline measurement; using, while the headset is being worn by a user, an audio signal to drive the speaker that is arranged to project sound into a canal of a user's ear; capturing as a microphone signal, from the in-ear microphone of the headset, sound from within the canal of the user's ear; determining a parameter associated with the user's ear based at least on the captured microphone signal and the baseline measurement; and transmitting a notification related to one or more characteristics of one or more hearing elements of the user's ear based on the parameter.
