Patent Application
20120102629
NOT APPLICABLE
NOT APPLICABLE
NOT APPLICABLE
NOT APPLICABLE
1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to hearing protection and more particularly to ambient noise reduction while utilizing a helmet.
2. Description of Related Art
Headphones are known to provide an improved listening experience for listening to a variety of audio sources. For example, headphones may be used in commercial settings (e.g., recording studio, audio laboratories, etc.) to listen to audio content (e.g., music, audio signals, voice signals, etc.) with little to no interference from external sources (e.g., background noise). As another example, headphones may be used in recreational settings (e.g., at home, at the office, etc.) to listen to audio output by a digital audio player (e.g., MP3), an AM/FM radio, a television, a CD player, a DVD player, etc. with reduced interference from external sources and/or for private listening. In another example, headphones may be used in military settings (e.g., in an aircraft, in a vehicle, etc.) to listen to audio output by a battlefield two-way radio, an intercom, a satellite phone, a computer system, a guidance system, a navigation system, etc. with reduced interference from external sources and/or for private listening.
In general, a headphone includes one or more speakers (typically two) that can be held closely to the user's ears and circuitry for connecting to an audio source. For example, ear-bud headphones are held close to the user's ears by a pressure fit and include a male audio jack for connecting to a source. As other examples, the headphone may have an ear-cup or on-ear design that fit over the ears; may have a circumaural or full size design that completely surround the ears; or may have a supra-aural design that are light-weight and sits on the ears.
Headsets are known to provide “hands-free” operation of a communication device (e.g., landline telephone, cellular telephone, voice over IP telephone, two-way radio, etc.). As is also known, a headset is essentially a headphone with one or more microphones. In this regard, a headset provides the listening features of a headset with the added ability to transmit voice and/or other audio signals.
To further improve the listening experience, some headphones and/or headsets include noise cancelling circuitry. As is known, the noise cancelling circuitry includes one or more omni-directional microphones to receive noise that is proximal to user but does not receive noise that is further away. The noise received by the microphone may be filtered, amplified, and phase inverted to cause a reduction in proximal noise to the user. An audio signal may also be combined with the noise cancelling circuitry in a manner that does not allow the audio signal to be reduced by the system. In this manner, the audio signal provided to the speaker(s) of the headset or headphone includes the desired audio signal and a suppressed version of the noise.
Headphones are known to provide a reduction of ambient noise utilizing passive noise reduction techniques. For example, an ear-cup based headphone may be constructed with materials to absorb some undesired ambient noise that penetrates the ear-cup to the inside of the ear-cup. In general, headphones that utilize more noise absorbing material absorb more of the undesired ambient noise that penetrates the ear-cup.
Helmets are known to provide improved survivability and/or less trauma resulting from a crash or accident where otherwise a more serious head injury or death may result. Helmets are also known to be utilized by individuals participating in activities that are at a higher risk of a crash or accident. For example, helmets may be used in consumer applications by recreational vehicle operators (e.g., motorcycles, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles). In another example, helmets may be used in military settings by operators and occupants of military transport (e.g., aircraft, vehicles).
Helmets are known to comprise multiple layers of protection around the head of the user including an outside hard shell, an inner layer of energy absorbing material, and an inside liner. Helmets constructed with thicker layers may provide better user protection than helmets constructed with thinner layers. Helmets constructed with thicker layers may weigh more than helmets constructed with thinner layers. Helmets are heavier may cause more undesired fatigue to the user. Headphones utilizing larger ear-cups that accommodate more noise absorbing material are more difficult to fit inside of a helmet without substantially increasing the size of the helmet. Headphones utilizing ear-cups that readily fit inside of a helmet may not provide a satisfactory level of passive ambient noise reduction when the headphone is utilized in a helmet being used in extremely loud environment (e.g., military helicopters, military jets, military tanks, military transport vehicles, autoracing etc.). Conventional noise canceling circuitry and ambient noise absorbing materials within helmet headphones are inadequate and a more robust noise reduction approach is needed.
Helmets utilized in military and police applications are known to accommodate one or more add-on helmet accessories including a visor, an oxygen mask, a breathing filter, a chin strap, a neck shield, a face shield, a camouflage cover, and night vision goggles. Use of one or more of the helmet accessories can add a substantial amount of weight to the combination of the accessories and the helmet. A helmet system, that includes the helmet and the one or more accessories, introduces more fatigue to the user especially when utilizing the helmet system for longer periods of time. Some accessories may introduce a more substantial moment of weight on one side of the helmet versus the opposite side creating a center of gravity issue. For example, helmets equipped with night vision goggles tend to be very front heavy causing the helmet to gradually slipped down in the front over time. Some accessories may introduce ancillary devices that require periodic maintenance and/or attention. For example, night vision goggles may require a separate battery pack where the batteries are changed from time to time. Mission requirements may require that the periodic maintenance and/or attention be applied during a mission such that the helmet not be removed. Ancillary devices associated with a helmet accessory may not be attached to the helmet system. Detached ancillary devices may be cumbersome to accommodate one putting on or taking off the helmet system. For example, a cable between night vision goggles attached to the helmet and the separate battery pack may become entangled in other elements of the environment (e.g., a harness, a radio cord, an ejection seat control, etc.).
Each of the left and right bladders may be included as part of a fully articulating air bladder system. In this configuration, the hearing enhancement system 10 provides improved ambient noise reduction and enables the use of one or more helmet accessories. As such, the hearing enhancement system 10 is well suited for use in extremely noisy environments.
The left ear unit includes a left ear-cup mechanically coupled to a left ear seal. Similarly, the right ear unit includes a write ear-cup mechanically coupled to a right ear seal. The ear seals may have a torus (e.g., doughnut) shaped structure where an outside pliable material (e.g., plastic, cloth, leather) is filled with a material (e.g., foam, gas, gel, liquid) that compresses as the ear unit is pressed against the user's head around the user's ear. The ear seals provide acoustic isolation of the inside of ear-cup housing from the outside of the ear units while providing the user greater comfort. The left and right ear units provide attenuation of outside acoustic vibrations in a proximal environment by utilizing sound absorbing materials inside of the ear units. The acoustic vibrations may correspond to engine noise, wind noise, propeller noise, rotor noise, explosion noise, and/or any other sound.
The left and right bladders are utilized between the left and right ear units and a helmet worn by the user where the helmet substantially fits on the outside of both of the ear units. The bladder may expand between a helmet liner of the helmet and the ear unit so as to force the ear-cup and the ear seal against the head to maximize a consistent contact all the way around the ear seal and the head producing an improved level of acoustic isolation. The bladder is inflatable with air, gas, or a liquid, to provide an adjustable fit to the user's head and ears to improve the consistency of the effectiveness of the ear seal.
In an example of operation, the left and right ear units mechanically couple to the left and right bladders utilizing hook and loop fasteners and the left and right bladders mechanically couple to the helmet liner utilizing hook and loop fasteners. A bulb pump provides air pressure through plastic tubes to the left and right bladders causing compression of the ear seals against the user's head and further stability of the helmet in a position relative to the users head. Acoustic absorption material within the left and right ear units attenuates acoustic vibrations from the outside that enter the ears of the user.
Note that a gross fit is provided by helmet size selection and fine-level fit is provided by adjusting air bladder position and air pressure. The ear seal is discussed in greater detail with reference to
The front panel is compressed against a user's head around the ear and may be exposed to ambient noise. The outer panel is typically exposed to the ambient noise. As such, the front and outer panels may be constructed with a material (e.g., leather, plastic, vinyl, vinyl leatherette) that attenuates ambient noise entering the ear opening space through the front and outer panels and serves to form an acoustic space on the inside of the seal. The inner panel is typically not exposed directly to the ambient noise. The inner panel may be constructed with a material that is acoustically transparent (e.g., sweat wicking breathable antimicrobial cloth) to expand the effective acoustic volume of the ear opening space while not changing the size of the overall ear seal. In other words, sounds around the ear in the ear opening space more readily travel through the inner panel to the inside of the ear seal but are substantially trapped by the other seal panels to form a larger acoustic volume. The inside of the ear seal volume may be filled with a filler that includes a sound absorbing material (e.g., a visco-elastic foam) to help absorb unwanted acoustic vibrations within the acoustic volume around the ear and to provide comfort by cushioning the ear seal against the head. Note that by utilizing the inner panel constructed with the acoustically transparent material, the large area of sound absorbing material (e.g., foam) of the inside of the ear seal increases available air volume to the ear providing increased passive attenuation of the undesired acoustic vibrations from the outside.
The hidden panel is typically exposed to the ambient noise penetrating the rear panel. As such, the hidden panel may be constructed with a material (e.g., leather, plastic, vinyl, vinyl leatherette) that attenuates ambient noise entering the ear space through the hidden panel and serves to form an acoustic space on the inside of the seal. Note that a “C” shaped toroidal volume is formed by the hidden panel, outer panel, and front panel. The filler occupies the space of the “C” shaped volume. Note that by utilizing the inner panel constructed with the acoustically transparent material, the large area of sound absorbing material (e.g., foam) of the inside of the “C” shaped volume (e.g., ear seal interior) increases available air volume to the ear providing increased passive attenuation of the undesired acoustic vibrations from the outside. The “C” shaped volume provides improved heat production around the ear and head through the additional air volume and sweat wicking fabric of the inner panel and/or filler.
The rear panel is mechanically coupled (e.g., sewn) to the outer panel (e.g., at the outside edge of the rear panel diameter) and may or may not be mechanically coupled to the hidden panel. Note that this facilitates insertion of an ear-cup to the ear-cup opening as is discussed in greater detail with reference to
As illustrated, the ear-cup bottom includes a flat lowest area that mechanically couples (e.g., rests on) a hidden panel of an ear seal and curves up into an ear-cup opening thus forming an overhang space within the volume of ear-cup. The overhanging space traps low to mid-frequency noise to further reduce ambient noise from reaching an ear of a user. A plurality of retention fingers is implemented along the circumference of the ear-cup opening formed by the ear-cup bottom. The retention fingers are mechanically coupled to the top of the ear-cup bottom and protrude upwards into the volume of the ear-cup. The retention fingers retain items that are inserted into the ear-cup space (e.g., the speaker cloth, the sound absorption material, the sweat wicking material, the speaker, etc.).
The air bladder may be constructed with a pliable material that can hold air pressure while expanding or contracting (e.g., plastic). The air bladder forms the side tube on one side that interfaces with the shrink fit tube nipple point. In an operational example, the side tube extends towards the back of a helmet where the air bladder is installed. Note that the side tube is constructed as one piece of the air bladder and hence is of the same pliable material. Such a construction avoids breakage of the side tube from the rest of air bladder in a side impact scenario.
The bottom side of the air bladder couples to a helmet liner of the helmet via a plurality of bottom hook fasteners that are permanently attached (e.g., radio frequency welded) to the air bladder. In an example, the helmet liner is constructed utilizing a material that is a loop fastener material of a hook and loop fastener system. Note that the plurality of hook fasteners is larger relative to fasteners on a top side of the air bladder since the helmet liner provides an anchor point for the air bladder to expand and contract. In an example, the diameter of the hook fastener is 21 mm.
As illustrated, the first tube is mechanically coupled to the T-block nipple fitting at one end and the shrink fit tube nipple point of the first air bladder at the other end. In an example, the first tube is 160 mm in length. The second tube is mechanically coupled to the T-block nipple fitting at one end and the shrink fit tube nipple point of the second air bladder at the other end. In an example, the second tube is 48 mm in length. In this set of examples, the first tube is longer than the second tube offsetting the location of the bulb pump to one side of the user to facilitate ease of access to the bulb pump. The pump tube, first tube, and second tube may be constructed with a tubing material that is both pliable and durable to withstand numerous deployment cycles.
As an example of operation, the first and second air bladders are deployed between left and right ear units and a helmet. The bulb pump provides air pressure to mechanically expand the air bladders providing a beneficial seal of the left and right ear units to side of a head of a user. Note that mechanical stability is provided between the helmet and the left and right ear units, which facilitates the helmet staying in one position on the user's head even when the helmet has an unfavorable center of gravity (e.g., from use of night vision goggles). The pressure relief valve lowers the air pressure to the air bladders providing less compression of the left and right ear units to the head. As an example, some of the air pressure is relieved to adjust helmet comfort or to reset the position of the helmet on the head. In another example, all of the air pressure is relieved to facilitate removal of the air bladders and the left and right ear units from helmet.
In another implementation example, an electric pump provides air pressure instead of and/or in addition to the bulb pump. The electric pump may be operably coupled to a pump controller and sensors. For instance, the pump controller determines an effectiveness level of noise reduction in an air volume around an ear based on the sensors and operates the electric pump in accordance with the effectiveness level to improve noise reduction effectiveness.
The primary and secondary eyelets provide a feed-through opening to accommodate a fastener and may be constructed with the materials such as plastic or metal. The primary and secondary eyelets are permanently mechanically couple to the primary strap and secondary strap. As an example, metal edges of the primary eyelet make contact with the primary strap (e.g., press fit) in a circular pattern around a hole through the strap to accommodate the eyelet. A pair of fasteners may be utilized through the primary and secondary eyelets to mechanically couple the containment system to a helmet. Such fasteners may enable the primary and secondary straps to be rotated around the fasteners while keeping the straps attached to helmet (e.g., the fasteners are adjusted such that the strap has some free travel around the fastener against the helmet).
The primary and secondary strap couplers mechanically join the primary and secondary straps while the couplers are in a coupled mode. The primary and secondary strap couplers may be constructed with a material such as plastic or metal. The primary and secondary strap couplers may be joined in the coupled mode by inserting one coupler into the other or by activating a latch mechanism. The primary and secondary strap couplers include a release function to enable separating the couplers from the coupled mode when the release function is activated. For example, the release function may be provided by a pair of plastic actuators. Note that while the primary and secondary strap couplers are in the coupled mode, the primary and secondary straps form the system that is held in place to the helmet in substantially one position via the fasteners through the eyelets. Note that the primary and/or secondary strap may swing away from the other strap pivoting on the associated primary or secondary eyelet when the primary and secondary strap couplers are not in the coupled mode as is discussed in greater detail with reference to
As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately” provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding term and/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted tolerance ranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to, but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit process variations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermal noise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a few percent to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, the term(s) “operably coupled to”, “coupled to”, and/or “coupling” includes direct coupling between items and/or indirect coupling between items via an intervening item (e.g., an item includes, but is not limited to, a component, an element, a circuit, and/or a module) where, for indirect coupling, the intervening item does not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As may further be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled to another element by inference) includes direct and indirect coupling between two items in the same manner as “coupled to”. As may even further be used herein, the term “operable to” or “operably coupled to” indicates that an item includes one or more of power connections, input(s), output(s), etc., to perform, when activated, one or more its corresponding functions and may further include inferred coupling to one or more other items. As may still further be used herein, the term “associated with”, includes direct and/or indirect coupling of separate items and/or one item being embedded within another item. As may be used herein, the term “compares favorably”, indicates that a comparison between two or more items, signals, etc., provides a desired relationship. For example, when the desired relationship is that signal 1 has a greater magnitude than signal 2, a favorable comparison may be achieved when the magnitude of signal 1 is greater than that of signal 2 or when the magnitude of signal 2 is less than that of signal 1.
As may also be used herein, the terms “processing module”, “module”, “processing circuit”, and/or “processing unit” may be a single processing device or a plurality of processing devices. Such a processing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of the circuitry and/or operational instructions. The processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit may have an associated memory and/or an integrated memory element, which may be a single memory device, a plurality of memory devices, and/or embedded circuitry of the processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit includes more than one processing device, the processing devices may be centrally located (e.g., directly coupled together via a wired and/or wireless bus structure) or may be distributedly located (e.g., cloud computing via indirect coupling via a local area network and/or a wide area network). Further note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit implements one or more of its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory and/or memory element storing the corresponding operational instructions may be embedded within, or external to, the circuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Still further note that, the memory element may store, and the processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit executes, hard coded and/or operational instructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/or functions illustrated in one or more of the Figures. Such a memory device or memory element can be included in an article of manufacture.
The present invention has been described above with the aid of method steps illustrating the performance of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functional building blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined herein for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships are appropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention. Further, the boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significant functions are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also have been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certain significant functionality. To the extent used, the flow diagram block boundaries and sequence could have been defined otherwise and still perform the certain significant functionality. Such alternate definitions of both functional building blocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention. One of average skill in the art will also recognize that the functional building blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules and components herein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discrete components, application specific integrated circuits, processors executing appropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.
The present invention may have also been described, at least in part, in terms of one or more embodiments. An embodiment of the present invention is used herein to illustrate the present invention, an aspect thereof, a feature thereof, a concept thereof, and/or an example thereof. A physical embodiment of an apparatus, an article of manufacture, a machine, and/or of a process that embodies the present invention may include one or more of the aspects, features, concepts, examples, etc. described with reference to one or more of the embodiments discussed herein. Further, from figure to figure, the embodiments may incorporate the same or similarly named functions, steps, modules, etc. that may use the same or different reference numbers and, as such, the functions, steps, modules, etc. may be the same or similar functions, steps, modules, etc. or different ones.
While the transistors in the above described figure(s) is/are shown as field effect transistors (FETs), as one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the transistors may be implemented using any type of transistor structure including, but not limited to, bipolar, metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFET), N-well transistors, P-well transistors, enhancement mode, depletion mode, and zero voltage threshold (VT) transistors.
Unless specifically stated to the contra, signals to, from, and/or between elements in a figure of any of the figures presented herein may be analog or digital, continuous time or discrete time, and single-ended or differential. For instance, if a signal path is shown as a single-ended path, it also represents a differential signal path. Similarly, if a signal path is shown as a differential path, it also represents a single-ended signal path. While one or more particular architectures are described herein, other architectures can likewise be implemented that use one or more data buses not expressly shown, direct connectivity between elements, and/or indirect coupling between other elements as recognized by one of average skill in the art.
The term “module” is used in the description of the various embodiments of the present invention. A module includes a functional block that is implemented via hardware to perform one or module functions such as the processing of one or more input signals to produce one or more output signals. The hardware that implements the module may itself operate in conjunction software, and/or firmware. As used herein, a module may contain one or more sub-modules that themselves are modules.
While particular combinations of various functions and features of the present invention have been expressly described herein, other combinations of these features and functions are likewise possible. The present invention is not limited by the particular examples disclosed herein and expressly incorporates these other combinations.
The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/371,993, entitled “HEARING PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR USE WITHIN A HELMET,” (Attorney Docket No. SPL002), filed Aug. 9, 2010, pending, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Application for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61371993 | Aug 2010 | US |
