Respirator mask speech enhancement apparatus and method

THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND (12) TRANSLATION OF THE EUROPEAN PATENT (19) PL (11) PL / EP 2950892

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The Patent Office of the Republic of Poland (96) Date and number of the European patent application: 20.01.2014 14704213.9 (97) The grant of the European patent was announced:

28.02.2018 European Patent Bulletin 2018/09 EP 2950892 B1 (13) T3 (51) Int.CI.

A62B 18/08 (2006.01)

G10L 21/0364 (2013.01)

G10L 21/0316 (2013.01) (54) Title of the invention:

RESPIRATORY MASK WITH SPEECH QUALITY DEVICE AND WAYS TO IMPROVE SPEECH QUALITY

Priority:

2013-02-01 US 201313757493

03/15/2013 US 201313833131 (43) Application announced:

09.12.2015 in the European Patent Bulletin No. 2015/50 (45) The submission of the translation of the patent was announced:

31.07.2018 News of the Patent Office 2018/07 (73) Authorized by the patent:

3M Innovative Properties Company, Saint Paul, US

O (72) Inventor (s):

(M ROGER KIHLBERG, Sollentuna, SE σι co ® (74) Agent:

thing, pat. Joanna Bocheńska_n PATENT OFFICE

UJ ul. Nowowiejska 1/3 apartment 9 _j 00-643 Warsaw

ABOUT.

Caution:

Within nine months of the publication of the information on the grant of the European patent, any person may file an objection to the European Patent Office against the European patent granted. The objection must be made in the form of a written statement of reasons. It is considered filed only when the opposition fee has been paid (Art. 99 (1) of the Convention on the Grant of European Patents).

EP 2 950 892

RESPIRATORY MASK WITH SPEECH QUALITY DEVICE AND WAYS TO IMPROVE SPEECH QUALITY

The field of technology

Speech enhancement devices and respirators, including a speech enhancement device, as well as methods for improving speech transmission in a respirator wearer are described herein.

Background of the invention

Respirators are used in many different environments, such as, for example, spray booths, grain stores, biological hazardous materials laboratories, environments containing certain chemical vapors, etc. Respirators are usually adapted to receive a variety of filters and other attachments specifically designed for use in the hazardous environment in which the mask is to be used. As such, the same mask body can be used in many different hazardous environments by changing the filter. The ease of filter replacement makes the masks very cost effective, allowing a single mask to be manufactured for multiple environments.

Respiratory masks define a coating of clean air around the wearer's face. The clean air shell contains a source of clean air and is limited by the mask, the mask gasket within the wearer's face, and the mask exhalation valve.

There are two general designs for face respirators: half masks and full face masks. The half mask typically covers the user's mouth and nose and forms a seal with the part of the wearer's face that is adjacent to the nose and mouth. When a half-mask is used, the eyes remain unprotected. The full face mask is much larger and protects the wearer's eyes in addition to the nose and mouth.

Respiratory masks can be further divided into those with a device with positive pressure and negative pressure. The positive pressure device typically includes an external pump or pressure vessel, with or without a filter, that is, a source of clean air that forces air into the mask. A respirator with a negative pressure device works on

The negative pressure generated by the inhaling user. Inhalation creates a negative pressure inside the clean air envelope and draws air into the respirator. Generally, ambient air is drawn in through the filter or filters by negative pressure. Filters purify the air, which is then drawn into the clean air film of the mask for inhalation by the user.

As the masks cover the user's mouth, attempts have been made to increase speech intelligibility with respiratory masks. Passive devices are purely mechanical devices, and active devices involve some form of improvement through force-amplification. The most popular passive communication device is the speech diaphragm. Although useful, the level of their improved intelligibility is limited.

Active speech transmission devices may provide better speech enhancement but may be limited by the power required to operate the units. Examples of some active speech amplification units are described in US Patent No. 4,352,353; 4,508,936; 4,989,596; 4,980,926; 5,138,666; 5,224,473; 5,224,474; 6,382,206; e.t.c.

summary

Speech enhancement devices and respirators, including a speech enhancement device, as well as methods for improving speech transmission in a respirator wearer are described herein.

In one or more embodiments, the speech enhancement device and methods described in the present invention detect acoustic energy within a first frequency range in the air envelope of the respirator and deliver the compensating acoustic energy outside the clean air envelope via a loudspeaker. The compensated acoustic energy, in one or more embodiments, exhibits a predetermined attenuated amplitude profile such that the compensating acoustic energy has an amplitude less than 6 dB but greater than a mask body attenuated acoustic profile of at least 90% of the predetermined attenuated frequency range. In one or more embodiments, the compensating acoustic energy may be provided with a weakened amplitude profile that is uniform or that is non-uniform across one or more weakened frequency ranges.

EP 2 950 892

In one or more embodiments, the one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges may be selected based on the overall attenuation characteristics of the respirator or the particular type of respirator with which the speech enhancement device is used. The respiratory mask attenuation characteristic can be described as the portion or portions of the speech frequency range that are not transmitted through the mask or are transmitted at a reduced amplitude. The speech enhancement device and methods described herein can compensate for the attenuation caused by respirators by delivering compensated acoustic energy in one or more attenuated frequency ranges outside of the clean air envelope. In this way, the speech enhancement device and methods described herein can increase speech intelligibility of a person in the vicinity of a person wearing the respirator. In one or more embodiments, the compensating acoustic energy may be provided with a weakened amplitude profile that is uniform or that is non-uniform across one or more weakened frequency ranges.

Since the speech enhancement device and methods described herein only provide acoustic energy over a portion of the entire speech frequency range and / or with one or more selected attenuated amplitude profiles, the power required to improve speech using the device and methods described herein may be reduced compared to, e.g. a system designed to deliver acoustic energy over a wider frequency range, for example, the entire frequency range detected in a clean air envelope using the apparatus and methods described herein, or without a weakened amplitude profile.

In one aspect, one or more embodiments of the respirator described herein may include: a mask body configured to define a clean air coating between the mask and a user's mouth and nose and a speech enhancement device. The speech enhancement device includes a microphone configured for attachment to the mask body, the microphone configured to sense acoustic energy within the clean air envelope when attached to the mask body; speaker configured for generation

Sound energy outside the clean air envelope; and a controller functionally connected to the loudspeaker and microphone.

In one or more embodiments, the controller may be configured to: receive a speech signal from a microphone, the speech signal indicative of acoustic energy detected by the microphone within a first frequency range; and providing an output signal to the loudspeaker, the output signal being configured such that the loudspeaker emits compensating acoustic energy, wherein the compensating acoustic energy is emitted in one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges that cover less than the entire first frequency range. and wherein the compensating acoustic energy comprises a predetermined weakened amplitude profile over each predetermined weakened frequency range of one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges.

In one or more of the embodiments of the respiratory masks described herein, the predetermined weakened amplitude profile is uniform over at least one predetermined weakened frequency range of one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges.

In one or more of the embodiments of the respiratory masks described herein, the predetermined weakened amplitude profile is non-uniform over at least one predetermined weakened frequency range of one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges.

In one or more of the embodiments of the respiratory masks described herein, the speech enhancement device comprises a selector, the selector being operatively coupled to the controller and configured to select one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges from two or more different predetermined weakened frequency ranges.

In one or more of the embodiments of the respiratory masks described herein, the speech enhancement device includes a selector, the selector being operatively coupled to a controller and configured to select one or more presets.

There are two or more different predetermined weakened amplitude profiles and two or more different predetermined weakened amplitude profiles.

In one or more of the embodiments of the respirators described herein, the microphone, loudspeaker, and controller are housed in a housing together with a power source that is operatively connected to the controller, and wherein the housing is configured to be attached to the mask body. In one or more embodiments, the respirator includes a port in which the housing of the speech enhancement device includes a fit configured to selectively attach to the port.

In one or more of the embodiments of the respiratory masks described herein, the microphone is coupled to a housing that is configured to be attached to the mask body; and wherein the speaker and driver are housed in an additional housing.

In one or more embodiments of the respiratory masks described herein, the one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges comprises only one predetermined weakened frequency range.

In one or more of the embodiments of the respiratory masks described herein, the one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges include an upper limit of about 10,000 Hz or less.

In one or more of the embodiments of the respiratory masks described herein, the one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges include a lower limit of about 300 Hz or greater.

In another aspect, one or more embodiments of a speech enhancement device configured to be attached to a respirator as described herein may include: a microphone configured to sense acoustic energy within the clean air envelope of the respirator; a loudspeaker configured to generate acoustic energy outside of a clean air shell, wherein the microphone is configured to sense acoustic energy; and a controller operably linked to a microphone and a loudspeaker. In one or more examples

In one embodiment, the controller may be configured to: receive a speech signal from a microphone, the speech signal indicative of acoustic energy detected by the microphone within a first frequency range; and providing an output signal to the loudspeaker, the output signal being configured such that the loudspeaker emits compensating acoustic energy, wherein the compensating acoustic energy is emitted in one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges that cover less than the entire first frequency range. and wherein the compensating acoustic energy comprises a predetermined weakened amplitude profile over each predetermined weakened frequency range of one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges.

In one or more embodiments of the speech enhancement device described herein, the predetermined weakened amplitude profile is uniform over at least one predetermined weakened frequency range of one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges.

In one or more embodiments of the speech enhancement device described herein, the predetermined weakened amplitude profile is non-uniform over at least one predetermined weakened frequency range of one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges.

In one or more embodiments of the speech enhancement device described herein, the speech enhancement device comprises a selector, the selector being operatively connected to the controller and configured to select one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges from two or more. different predetermined weakened frequency ranges.

In one or more embodiments of the speech enhancement device described herein, the speech enhancement device includes a selector, the selector being operatively coupled to a controller and configured to select one or more predetermined weakened amplitude profiles and from two or more different weaker amplitude profiles. predetermined weakened amplitude profiles.

EP 2 950 892

In one or more embodiments of the speech enhancement device described herein, the microphone is housed in a housing configured to connect to a respirator port defining a clean air envelope in which the microphone is configured to sense acoustic energy. In one or more embodiments, the loudspeaker and controller are housed in the housing. In one or more embodiments, the loudspeaker and controller are housed in an additional housing.

In one or more embodiments of the speech enhancement device described herein, the one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges comprises only one predetermined weakened frequency range.

In one or more embodiments of the speech enhancement device described herein, the one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges have an upper limit of about 10,000 Hz or less.

In one or more embodiments of the speech enhancement device described herein, the one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges include an upper limit of about 300 Hz or greater.

In one or more embodiments, the speech enhancement methods described herein may include: detecting acoustic energy in the clean air envelope of the respirator with a microphone; supplying a speech signal to the controller from a microphone, the speech signal indicative of detected acoustic energy in a first frequency range; and providing an output signal to the loudspeaker, the output signal causing the loudspeaker to emit compensating acoustic energy beyond the clean air envelope in one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges that include less than the entire first frequency range. and wherein the compensating acoustic energy comprises a predetermined weakened amplitude profile for each predetermined weakened frequency range of one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges.

EP 2 950 892

In one or more embodiments according to the methods described herein, the predetermined weakened amplitude profile is uniform over at least one predetermined weakened frequency range of one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges.

In one or more embodiments according to the methods described herein, the predetermined weakened amplitude profile is non-uniform over at least one predetermined weakened frequency range of one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges.

In one or more embodiments of the methods described herein, the method comprises selecting one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges from two or more different predetermined weakened frequency ranges.

In one or more embodiments of the methods described herein, the method comprises selecting one or more predetermined weakened amplitude profiles from two or more different predetermined weakened amplitude profiles.

In one or more embodiments of the methods described herein, the microphone is attached to the housing, and the method includes attaching the housing to a port on the respirator.

In one or more embodiments of the methods described herein, the one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges include only one predetermined weakened frequency range.

In one or more embodiments of the methods described herein, the one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges include an upper limit of about 10,000 Hz or less.

In one or more embodiments of the methods described herein, the one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges include a lower limit of about 300 Hz or greater.

The words "preferred" and "preferably" refer to the embodiments of the invention described herein that offer certain advantages

EP 2 950 892 under certain circumstances. However, under the same or different circumstances, other embodiments may also be advantageous. Furthermore, the listing of one or more of the preferred embodiments does not mean that other embodiments are not useful, and it is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the invention.

As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include reference to the plural unless the context clearly requires otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to the article "a" or "the" may include one or more elements and their equivalents known to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the term "and / or" means one or all of the listed elements or a combination of any at least two of the listed elements.

It should be noted that the term "comprises" and its variations are not limiting where they appear in the accompanying description. In addition, English articles such as "a", "an", "the", and terms such as "at least one" and "one or more" are used interchangeably.

Relative terms such as left, right, front, back, top, bottom, side, top, bottom, horizontal, vertical, and the like may be used in this specification, and in so far from the point of view shown in the particular figure. Rather, these terms are used for the purpose of simplifying the description only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

The above summary is not intended to describe each embodiment or each implementation of a speech enhancement device, respiratory masks including speech enhancement devices, and methods of improving speech transmission as described herein. A more complete understanding of the invention will, however, be apparent and appreciated by reference to the following description of illustrative embodiments and claims with reference to the accompanying drawing figures.

Brief description of the drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one illustrative embodiment of a half mask and speech enhancement device configured for use with a respirator.

EP 2 950 892

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the back side of the speech enhancement device shown in FIG. 1 showing the structure used to connect the speech enhancement apparatus to the respirator and other speech enhancement components.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of components in one illustrative embodiment of a speech enhancement device described herein.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of components in one alternative illustrative embodiment of a speech enhancement device described herein.

FIG. 5 is one illustrative plot of the acoustic energy detected within the clean air envelope of the respirator and one illustrative plot of that acoustic energy attenuated by the mask.

FIG. 6 depicts various illustrative embodiments with compensatory acoustic energy that can be provided with the speech enhancement device and speech enhancement methods described herein.

FIG. 7 shows an illustrative embodiment with user acoustic energy measured while wearing the mask and user acoustic energy measured while wearing the mask.

FIG. 8 depicts an illustrative embodiment of the attenuated acoustic profile of an exemplary respirator.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In the following illustrative description of embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying figures in the drawings which form part thereof and which show specific embodiments by way of illustration. Thus, it should be understood that other embodiments may exist and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

One illustrative embodiment of the respirator 10 is shown in FIG. 1. Mask 10 may include, in one or more embodiments, a rubberized body 12 that is adapted to protect the nose and mouth of a wearer. The body 12 is designed to form a circumferential seal with the face of the wearer. Sealing material

The EP 2 950 892 may be attached close to the periphery of the body 12 to contact the wearer's skin so as to form a better seal with it. Body 12 is formed of a material that is selected to be substantially impermeable to various types of airborne hazardous substances or gases and for which mask 10 is designed to provide a barrier. Mask 10 includes filters 14 used to filter air entering mask 10 when inhaled by a wearer. The filters 14 shown in conjunction with the mask 10 are only one embodiment of the many different filters that may be used with respiratory masks as described herein. Respirators incorporating a speech enhancement device and implementing the methods described herein will typically include straps or other fastening structures to hold the respirator 10 on the wearer's face. However, no strips or other attachment structures are shown with the mask 10 described herein.

An illustrative embodiment of the respirator 10 shown in FIG. 1 also includes an exhaust port 16. A flexible membrane (not shown) can, in one or more embodiments, be positioned over the exhaust port 16 and open in response to an increase in pressure in the clean air envelope. Many different embodiments of exhalation ports and membranes may be used in conjunction with respiratory masks as described herein. However, the wide variety of exhaust ports and associated membranes will not be further described.

While the speech enhancement device and methods may, as described herein, be used with a negative pressure respirator (an illustrative embodiment of which is the mask 10 shown in FIG. 1), the speech enhancement device and methods described herein may be used with a negative pressure respirator. also be used in conjunction with positive pressure respirators. Further, although mask 10 is a respirator, the speech enhancement device described herein may be used with a full-face respirator in one or more alternative embodiments.

The respirators define a clean air envelope around at least a user's nose and mouth within the body 12 of the illustrative respirator 10 shown in FIG. 1. Clean air shell

The EP 2 950 892 is largely defined by the body 12 of the respirator 10 and each seal extending around the edge of the respirator 10. In respirators, such as mask 10, as shown in FIG. 1, the inhalation ports to which the filters 14 are attached, together with the exhalation port 16, may also, in one or more embodiments, define a clean air envelope.

The illustrative embodiment of the respirator 10 also includes a port 18 of the speech enhancement device 20 to which the speech enhancement device 20 may be attached. The speech enhancement device 20 is shown selectively connected to port 18 of the speech enhancement device. In one or more alternative embodiments, the speech enhancement device described herein may be permanently attached to the respirator. As used herein, permanently attached (and variations thereof) means that separating the speech enhancement apparatus from the respirator would require the destruction or deformation of a portion of the mask and / or the speech enhancement device.

In one or more embodiments, the port 18 of the speech enhancement device opens directly into the clean air envelope within the respirator 10 such that any speech energy emitted within the clean air envelope may directly reach the speech enhancement device. . Referring to FIG. 2, the back side of the speech enhancement device 20 is shown. Components on the back of speech enhancement apparatus 20 will, in one or more embodiments, typically be located within the clean air envelope defined by the respirator 10.

With reference to both FIG. 1 and 2, the speech enhancement device 20 includes a housing 22 and, in the illustrated embodiment, a collar 24 configured for insertion into port 18 of the speech enhancement device. The collar 24 includes lugs 26, which may, in one or more embodiments, be configured to fit into slots 19 in port 18 of the speech enhancement device such that the housing axis 22 of the speech enhancement device 20 about the axis 21 engages the device. for speech enhancement 20 in place within the speech enhancement port 18. The design of the collar 24, the ears 26 and the port 18 (including the slots 19) provides a bayonet-type attachment to the

For attaching speech enhancement device 22 to mask 10. Many other bayonet type matching structures may be used in place of those shown in the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 1 and 2. In addition, many other attachment structures may be used to selectively attach the speech enhancement device 20 described herein to the respirator 10. Examples of some potentially suitable alternative attachment structures configured for selective attachment may include, but are not limited to: threaded structures, ratchet mechanisms, straps, etc.

An illustrative embodiment of a speech enhancement device 20 includes a controller 30, a power supply 32, a microphone 34, a loudspeaker 36, and a selector 38. The drivers 30 used in the speech enhancement device described herein may be provided in any suitable form and may, for example, for example, include memory and driver. The controller may for example be in the form of one or more microprocessors, Direct Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Digital Signal Processing (DSP), microcontrollers, specialized integrated circuits (ASICs) in the form of fixed machines, etc.

In the illustrative embodiment described herein, the controller 30 and the power supply 32 of the speech enhancement device 20 may be located in a control module 31 (see e.g., FIG. 2), although in one or more alternative embodiments, the controller 30 and the power supply are 32 can be delivered separately. The power supply 32 may be provided in any of a number of different forms, including, for example, batteries, capacitors, etc.

Since the microphone 34 provided in the speech enhancement device 20 is located on the back of the casing 22 of the speech enhancement device 20 that includes the collar 24, the microphone 34 will be placed in the clean air envelope formed by the respirator 10 when the speech enhancement device 10 is used. 20 is attached to port 18 on the respirator 10. As a result, the microphone 34 is positioned to detect acoustic energy within the clean air envelope of the respirator 10. Detecting the acoustic energy within the clean air envelope enables the microphone 34 to detect the speech of a wearer of the respirator 10.

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As shown in FIG. 1, the speech enhancement device 20 also includes a loudspeaker 36 attached to housing 22, which, in one or more embodiments, is configured such that acoustic energy produced by loudspeaker 36 is directed away from the clean air envelope defined within. respirator 10. While the illustrative embodiment of speech enhancement device 20 includes only one loudspeaker 36, in one or more alternative embodiments of the speech enhancement devices described herein may include more than one loudspeaker.

The illustrative embodiment of speech enhancement device 20 also includes a switch 38, which may be used to turn the speech enhancement device 20 on and off. In one or more alternative embodiments, selector switch 38 may provide other functions, such as for example, selecting frequency ranges and / or amplitude profiles for compensating acoustic energy as described in more detail below.

Referring to FIG. 3, in one or more embodiments, the controller 30 is operatively connected to a power supply 32, a microphone 34, a loudspeaker 36, and a selector switch 38. In one or more embodiments, all components required to improve speech quality with a speech enhancement device are as follows: as described herein, may be housed in a housing that is configured to be attached to a respirator. Providing all components required for speech enhancement in the same housing may provide the user with the ability to replace a faulty speech enhancement device, be replaced with another speech enhancement device providing different functions for use with the same respirator, and / or provide a speech enhancement device. on any respirator having an accessible port that is capable of attaching a speech enhancement device as described herein.

In still other embodiments, the microphone of a speech enhancement device as described herein may be selectively or permanently attached to the respirator in a manner that aligns the microphone to detect acoustic energy in a blank envelope.

EP 2 950 892 with air defined by the respirator when worn by a person, whether the microphone is housed in a housing or not, which is selectively or permanently attached to the respirator. In such an embodiment, one or both of the controller and loudspeaker may be housed in a housing that itself may or may not be selectively or permanently attached to the respirator (furthermore, the housing may also include a power source for the speech enhancement device).

As discussed above in connection with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1-3, all components of the speech enhancement device 20 may be housed in a single housing 22. Alternatively, however, one or more embodiments of the speech enhancement device described herein may be contained in two or more separate housings that may be combined to provide the functionality of the speech enhancement device described herein. One alternative embodiment of a speech enhancement device 120 is shown schematically in FIG. 4. The speech enhancement device 120 shown in FIG. 4 includes two separate housings 122 and 123. In the illustrated embodiment, the microphone 134 is contained within housing 122. Since microphones used in conjunction with a speech enhancement device described herein are disposed within the clean air envelope defined by the respirator, the housing 122 may, in one or more embodiments, be configured to be attached (selectively or permanently) to it. a respirator as described herein. As discussed herein, in one or more embodiments, housing 122 may be optional, i.e., microphone 134 may be selectively or permanently attached to the respirator in the absence of housing 122, as long as it is configured to sense acoustic energy within a clean envelope. air determined by the mask.

In the illustrated embodiment, the remaining components of the speech enhancement device 120 as shown in FIG. 4 are disposed in a secondary housing 123 which is, in one or more embodiments, separate and distinct from housing 122 such that housing 122 may be provided in one location (e.g., attached to the mask body).

EP 2 950 892) and additional housing may be provided elsewhere. Secondary housing 123 may, in one or more embodiments, be configured to attach to (or insert into) clothing, belts, helmets, backpacks, etc., of a respirator wearer to which housing 122 with microphone 134 is attached.

The secondary housing 123 includes, in the illustrated embodiment, a controller 130, a power supply 132, a loudspeaker 136, and a selector switch 138. A connection 135 is provided in the speech enhancement device 120 so as to connect the microphone 134 in the first housing 122 to the controller 130 in the second housing. 123. Connection 135 may, in one or more embodiments, be a wired connection. In yet other alternative embodiments, connection 135 may be a wireless connection (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RF, optical, etc.).

Some variations in the placement of the various components of the speech enhancement device 120 may also be possible in alternative embodiments. For example, in one or more embodiments, the loudspeaker 136 may be located within housing 122 with the microphone 134. In another example, selector switch 138 may be located within housing 122. In yet another embodiment, controller 130 may be located within housing 122. within the housing 122. In one or more embodiments, the only component within the secondary housing 123 may be, for example, a power supply 132. Although the speech enhancement device shown in FIG. 3 and 4 include components contained in a single housing or in two housings, in other alternative embodiments, the components of the speech enhancement device described herein may be disposed in three or more different housings.

The drivers of the speech enhancement device described herein may, in one or more embodiments, be configured to receive a speech signal from a microphone as described herein. The speech signal received from the microphone is indicative of the acoustic energy detected by the microphone. This acoustic energy will, in the embodiments described herein, typically dominated by the acoustic energy generated by the wearer of the respirator, e.g. during

EP 2 950 892 speech. In one or more embodiments, the speech signal may indicate acoustic energy detected by the microphone within a first frequency range.

The controller is also operatively coupled to the loudspeaker such that the controller may be configured to provide an output signal to the loudspeaker. The output signal provided to the loudspeaker by the driver may, in one or more embodiments, be configured such that the loudspeaker emits compensating acoustic energy as described herein. In one or more embodiments, the compensating acoustic energy is based on the speech signal provided by the microphone and may be emitted in one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges at which the respirator may attenuate speech acoustic energy. In some embodiments, one or more ranges may include less than the entire first frequency range detected within the clean air envelope of the respirator. In one or more embodiments, the compensating acoustic energy may only be emitted in one predetermined weakened frequency range that includes less than the entire first frequency range detected in the clean air envelope of the respirator. In other embodiments, the compensating acoustic energy may be emitted in one or more predetermined attenuated frequency ranges that include all or part of the first frequency range detected within the clean air envelope of the respirator.

Moreover, in one or more embodiments, the compensating acoustic energy may have one or more predetermined weakened amplitude profiles over each of the one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges. In other words, the one or more embodiments may include providing compensating acoustic energy in a first frequency range with a first attenuated amplitude profile and in a second (different) frequency range with a second attenuated amplitude profile that is the same as or different from the first attenuated amplitude profile.

Operation of the speech enhancement device described herein to detect acoustic energy within a clean air envelope and provide compensating acoustic energy beyond the envelope

An EP 2 950 892 with clean air to compensate for the respiratory mask speech impairment as described herein may be described with reference to FIG. 5 and 6.

Illustrative examples of acoustic energy detected within the clean air coating and outside the clean air coating of the respirator are shown in FIG. 5. Graph 40 is one illustrative example of acoustic energy detected in the clean air envelope of a respirator. The acoustic energy represented by plot 40 is one example of the amplitude and frequency range of the acoustic energy generated when the respirator wearer speaks while wearing the mask. This acoustic energy in the illustrated embodiment is generated in a first frequency range from Fo to Ft.

As described herein, the speech enhancement device includes a microphone disposed within the clean air envelope of the respirator to detect such acoustic energy in a first frequency range. The first frequency range over which acoustic energy is detected may, in one or more embodiments, cover the entire expected frequency range for speech acoustic energy as well as the amplitude of that acoustic energy over that frequency range. However, in one or more alternative embodiments, the first frequency range over which the acoustic energy is detected as described herein may not cover the entire frequency range and / or amplitude of the acoustic energy generated in the mask by the mask wearer.

Graph 42 as shown in FIG. 5 is one illustrative example of acoustic energy detected outside the clean air envelope of the respirator after attenuation of the acoustic energy represented by plot 40 in the clean air envelope. Plot 42 illustrates that the acoustic energy amplitude over at least a portion of the first frequency range of plot 42 is significantly reduced compared to the acoustic energy amplitude detected in the clean air envelope. Accordingly, the respirator exhibits a weakened acoustic profile, characterized in that there is a difference between the amplitude of the acoustic energy inside and outside of the envelope with the clean air of the mask at a certain frequency or within a certain range.

EP 2 950 892 frequencies. In the illustrative examples shown in FIG. 5, this attenuation is more pronounced at higher frequencies in the Fi to Ft frequency range, although some attenuation also occurs at the lower end of the Fo to Fi frequency range.

To compensate for the attenuation of acoustic energy by the respirator, the speech enhancement device and methods described herein provide a compensating acoustic energy outside of the clean air envelope based on the acoustic energy detected in the clean air envelope and / or the attenuated acoustic profile of the respirator. Referring to FIG. 6, various illustrative examples of the compensating acoustic energy that may be delivered outside the clean air envelope using the speech enhancement device described herein are shown as graphs 50, 52, 54, 56, and 58.

In one or more embodiments, the speech enhancement device and methods described herein can provide compensating acoustic energy in one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges that may be selected based on the frequency range in which the mask is used. breathing weakens the acoustic energy of speech to some extent, which may adversely affect the understanding of bystanders of the person wearing the respirator. One or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges may be as shown in FIG. 6 provided over a selected frequency range from F1 to Ft (see, e.g., graphs 50, 52, 54, and 56 in FIG. 6). However, in one or more alternative embodiments, the one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges may lie outside of a selected frequency range from F1 to Ft over which the respirator significantly attenuates speech acoustic energy (see, e.g., plot 58 in FIG. 6). In one or more alternative embodiments, at least one of the one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges may cover the entire selected frequency range F1 to Ft (see, e.g., plots 50 and 52 in FIG. 6) or the entire frequency range in FIG. which the microphone works, e.g. Fo to Ft.

In one or more embodiments, one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges may, for example, have

The lower limit is 300 Hz or more, possibly 500 Hz or more, or even 1000 Hz or more. In other words, the compensating acoustic energy may be provided in one or more frequency ranges starting at or above one of these selected lower limits. In one or more embodiments, the one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges may, for example, not have upper or lower limits set (i.e., the upper or lower limits may simply be upper or lower limits at which the speaker and / or or circuitry within the controller is capable of delivering acoustic energy). In one or more alternative embodiments, however, the one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges may have an upper limit, for example, 10,000 Hz or less, possibly 9,000 Hz or less, or even 8,000 Hz or less. The acoustic compensation energy may be provided in a frequency range that extends up to one of these upper limits in one or more of the embodiments of the speech enhancement device and methods and described herein.

In one or more embodiments, the speech enhancement device and methods herein may provide a compensating acoustic energy based on the acoustic energy detected by the microphone within a clean air envelope with a flat frequency response. Graph 50 as shown in FIG. 6 is one illustrative example of the compensation of acoustic energy supplied within a predetermined weakened frequency range with a flat frequency response such that the weakened amplitude profile of the compensating acoustic energy is uniform over the weakened frequency range, e.g., F1 to Ft.

In one or more alternative embodiments, the speech enhancement device and methods described herein can provide a compensating acoustic energy based on acoustic energy detected by a microphone in a clean air envelope that has a non-uniform, attenuated amplitude profile. Graph 52 shown in FIG. 6 is one illustrative example of compensating acoustic energy provided with a non-uniformly attenuated amplitude profile in a predetermined weakened frequency range, e.g., F1 to Ft.

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The weakened amplitude profile represented by plot 52 is only one example of an infinite number of potential non-uniform weakened amplitude profiles that may be used in conjunction with the speech enhancement device and methods described herein. For example, in one or more embodiments, a compensating acoustic energy may be provided with an amplitude profile that is not linear, e.g. which enhances or in particular enhances one or more selected frequencies or frequency ranges in a weakened frequency range which may especially improve speech intelligibility by persons in the vicinity of the respirator wearer by means of the speech enhancement device described herein. Graph 54 shown in FIG. 6 is one illustrative example of compensating acoustic energy provided with a non-uniformly attenuated amplitude profile in a predetermined weakened frequency range that enhances or enhances one frequency range in the weakened frequency range.

As one example, it may be useful to attenuate higher frequencies, such as for example frequencies in the range 3000kHz to 4000kHz (with a peak of, e.g., about 3700kHz) to improve speech intelligibility. While the compensating acoustic energy can be provided over a wider frequency range (e.g. from 300 Hz to e.g. 10 000 Hz), the compensating acoustic energy provided in a lower frequency range and / or at selected frequencies in this wider frequency range may be used to further improve speech intelligibility as described herein.

In an exemplary embodiment, the speech enhancement device and methods described herein provide the compensating acoustic energy in one or more predetermined attenuated frequency ranges and exhibit an amplitude associated with a diminished respiratory mask acoustic profile. Minimum amplitude compensating acoustic energy can be provided at frequencies or frequency ranges where the respirator produces little or no attenuation and at greater amplitude at frequencies or frequency ranges where the respirator produces greater attenuation. For example, a compensating acoustic energy with an amplitude within 12 dB can be provided, or

EP 2 950 892 within 6 dB, or within 3 dB, or less of the amplitude of the attenuation of the acoustic profile (ie the acoustic energy attenuated by the mask at any particular frequency or frequency range).

The attenuation caused by the respirator, and thus the diminished acoustic profile of the mask, depends primarily on the materials, design and configuration of the mask. Accordingly, the various masks of a given model or type may exhibit a similar or identical attenuated acoustic profile at a particular frequency or within a certain frequency range. The amplitude profile of the compensating acoustic energy in the desired frequency range may therefore be selected for a given mask model or mask type based on the attenuated acoustic profile of the given mask model or mask type.

The weakened acoustic profile of the mask may be measured according to any suitable technique known in the art. For example, an attenuated acoustic profile can be determined by measuring the acoustic energy delivered from a wearer both while wearing the mask and while wearing the mask over the nose and mouth. In the exemplary procedure, the words spoken by the user are predetermined, the user has no mask while in the anechoic chamber, so that acoustic energy is generated by the user over a frequency range. The acoustic energy is measured with a microphone, such as a measuring microphone type 2669 available from Bruel &amp; Kjaer of N-rum Denmark, for example placed one meter in front of the user's mouth. The user then speaks the same predetermined words while wearing the mask, and the microphone measures the user-generated acoustic energy. The difference between the acoustic energy detected while the user was not wearing the mask and the acoustic energy detected while the user was wearing the mask represents a diminished acoustic profile of the mask. The difference between the sound detected with the user wearing the mask and the user not wearing the mask is due to the acoustic attenuation caused by the mask, which may be specified for any frequency or frequency range. The procedure may be repeated with several users, such as users, to ensure the mask attenuation profile is accurate.

Figure 7 shows exemplary charts 71 and 72 showing the measured acoustic energy while the user is wearing the mask and the user is not wearing the mask, respectively. At relatively lower frequency

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Fi, for example, the amplitude Ai of the acoustic energy measured without the mask and the amplitude A2 of the acoustic energy measurement with the mask are similar, indicating that the acoustic attenuation caused by the mask at Fi is relatively small. For example, at a relatively higher frequency F2, the amplitude A3 of the acoustic energy measured without the mask and the amplitude A4 of the acoustic energy measurement with the mask are very different, indicating that the acoustic attenuation caused by the mask at F2 is relatively large.

An exemplary attenuated profile determined from the difference in acoustic energy measured with and without the mask may be provided over the entire frequency range from F0 to Ft and is represented by plot 81 in Figure 8. In an exemplary embodiment, the compensating acoustic energy having an amplitude less than 12 dB or less than 6 dB, or less than 3 dB greater than the mask acoustic attenuation profile, is provided of at least 90%, or at least 95%, or approximately 100. % of one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges. This means that an acoustic energy compensation is provided that approximately corresponds to or is less than the attenuated acoustic profile of the mask. The compensating acoustic energy having this amplitude profile provides the desired balance with reduced power consumption and high accuracy and provides an efficient communication device that can be used for example for an extended period with a single battery charge. Thus, a compensating acoustic energy can be provided so as to best reproduce the user's speech, reducing the energy consumption that may be associated with reproducing all the acoustic energy generated within the clean air envelope.

In one or more embodiments, the speech enhancement device and methods described herein may provide the user with the ability to select at least one of one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges and / or weakened amplitude profile profiles to be used and used for enhancement. speech intelligibility. In one or more embodiments, a selection from different frequency ranges and / or amplitude profiles can be used to customize speech enhancement devices and methods for use with a variety of respiratory masks. For example, different respirators often provide different cushioning properties and devices and methods for improvement

The speech qualities described herein can be used to account for these various attenuation properties when speech enhancement devices and methods are used with different respiratory masks. One example of respirators that may provide different attenuation characteristics could be, for example, full face masks as opposed to respirators. Another example of a respirator that may provide different attenuation characteristics may include two different respirators that are of different designs and that have different speech attenuation.

The selection of different frequency ranges and / or amplitude profiles in the device and methods for improving speech quality described herein can also be useful in accommodating gender differences in speech. For example, the use of the speech enhancement device and methods described herein to improve speech intelligibility may best be accomplished by using different weakened frequency ranges and / or weakened amplitude profiles, depending on the gender of the respirator wearer.

The selection of different frequency ranges and / or amplitude profiles in the device and methods for improving speech quality described herein may also be useful for improving speech intelligibility in noisy environments. For example, speech intelligibility in noisy environments can best be improved by providing compensating acoustic energy in frequency ranges and / or amplitude profiles that can consume energy at a faster rate, and also provide the user with a choice of weakened frequency ranges and / or weakened amplitude profiles that consume energy slower, but which increase speech intelligibility (for example, in a calmer environment, where less aggressive acoustic energy compensation is required to improve speech intelligibility).

Referring to FIG. 1 and 3, selector switch 38 provided in conjunction with the illustrative embodiment of speech enhancement device 20 may provide both an on / off functionality as well as a mechanism by which a user may select at least one from one or more predetermined. weakened frequency ranges and / or weakened amplitude profiles to be used to increase speech intelligibility. In one or more

In an alternative embodiment, one or more other switches or other selector devices may be used to provide the user with the possibility to select at least one of one or more predetermined weakened frequency ranges and / or weakened amplitude profiles to be used. to improve speech intelligibility.

Illustrative embodiments of a device and methods for improving speech quality and respiratory half masks for use with the same as described herein are provided, and reference is made to some possible variants. These and other changes and modifications to the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention, and it should therefore be understood that the present invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments but must be governed by the limitations described in the following claims and any equivalents thereof. The present invention can advantageously be practiced in the absence of any element not expressly disclosed herein.

All patents and patent applications cited herein are incorporated herein in their entirety. To the extent there is a conflict or inconsistency between this document and any disclosure in any such document, this document will prevail.

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