HEARING PROTECTOR ALLOWING ACOUSTIC COMMUNICATION

描述（由申请人提供）：工作是为了开发一个先进的 听力保护器，结合了最大程度地衰减环境声音， 提取声音中最重要成分的信号处理 字段，用于受控地向用户呈现。通过处理来自 麦克风阵列安装在听力保护器的头带上，该装置 增强了来自指定的“环视方向"的期望信号， 从其他方向的信号，允许面对面的声学通信， 许多高噪音环境中，这将是不可能的，否则。在 此外，信号处理允许保存声音定位 能力第一阶段的工作开发了数组处理的实现 算法的便携式DSP处理器和评估其影响 听者的声音定位和言语接收性能。的目标 第二阶段-一个完全指定的原型设备准备制造-将 通过四个方面的工作来实现：1）开发算法， 定向选通和自动频谱整形; 2）开发 将声刺激传递到耳道的能力， 保护免受耳罩和插入插头的影响; 3）主动降噪 组合保护模式，最大限度地降低噪音; 4）电子和 机械设计，允许麦克风和电路完全安装 戴在一个耳罩式听力保护器的头带上 拟定商业应用： 正在开发的听力保护器/通信耳机将用于高噪声环境，在这种环境中，既需要听力保护，又需要面对面交流和监测声音的能力。这些项目的某些方面将导致改进的通信耳机，即向用户提供通信信号而无需对环境进行声学感测的设备。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Work is proposed to develop an advanced hearing protector that combines maximal attenuation of ambient sounds with signal processing that extracts the most important components of the sound field for controlled presentation to the user. By processing the signals from a microphone array mounted on the headband of the hearing protector, this device enhances desired signals from a specified "look about direction relative to signals from other directions, allowing face-to-face acoustic communication in many high-noise environments where it would be impossible otherwise. In addition, the signal processing allows the preservation of sound localization ability. Work in Phase I developed implementations of array-processing algorithms on a portable DSP processor and evaluations of their impact on listeners' sound localization and speech reception performance. The goal of Phase II -- a fully-specified prototype device ready for manufacturing -- will be achieved through work in four areas: 1) development of algorithms for directional gating and automatic spectral shaping; 2) development of the capability to deliver acoustic stimuli to the ear canals with combined hearing protection from muffs and insert plugs; 3) active noise reduction in the combined-protection mode for maximal sound reduction; and 4) electronic and mechanical design to allow the microphones and circuitry to be mounted entirely on the headband of a muff-style hearing protector. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The hearing protector/communication headset being developed will be of use in high-noise environments where it is necessary to have both hearing protection and the abilities to communicate face-to-face and to monitor sounds. Some aspects of the projects will result in improved communication headsets, devices that deliver a communication _signal to the user without acoustic sensing of the environment.