Sound disturbance inhibition system

Abstract

A partial enclosure for inhibiting sound passing into and out of the partial enclosure includes an absorber-barrier or an absorber-barrier-absorber, each made from sound absorbing material and sound barrier material and arranged to form the partial enclosure. The enclosure also includes an adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system. The absorber-barrier or absorbed-barrier-absorber is positioned to block or inhibit unwanted sound from various positions of a source of the unwanted sound, or motion of the source of the unwanted sound. The adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system includes a sound generating device arranged on or in the partial enclosure to emit anti-noise signal to cancel or inhibit the unwanted sound.

Claims

1. A partial enclosure system for inhibiting sound passing into and out of a partial enclosure, comprising: the partial enclosure formed in a shape having an open end from sheet material, said sheet material having at least one barrier layer for inhibiting the energy of sound passing through said partial enclosure, said sheet material having at least one inner absorber layer having an ability to attenuate a frequency of said sound; and an adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system; wherein the sheet material is positioned to block or inhibit unwanted sound from a source of the unwanted sound located at various positions proximate the partial enclosure, or from a moving source of the unwanted sound as the moving source moves proximate the partial enclosure; and wherein the adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system includes at least one sound generating device arranged on, near or in the partial enclosure to serve as a cancelling sound source from which an anti-noise signal generated by the adaptive frequency matched sound masking system is output to effect an active noise cancellation and cancel or mask the unwanted sound, wherein the adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system includes or communicates to or with a database of sample sound signals, which are utilized to accelerate the learning of sounds to be generated to effect noise cancellation or inhibition, wherein the database is refined over time to recognize a user, wherein said anti-noise signal is generated from a refined signal from said database, wherein the efficacy of said system is improved, including by reducing the learning required by an adaptive process of said system, and wherein said database is populated with anti-noise signals that are user specific.

2. The partial enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the adaptive frequency matched sound masking system embodies a smartphone that is positioned within or near the partial enclosure.

3. The partial enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the adaptive frequency matched sound masking system includes a sound pick-up device within or near the partial enclosure.

4. The partial enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the database is part of a controller of the adaptive frequency matched sound masking system or is part of an iPad, a smart TV, a computer chip, a virtual assistant, a smartphone or a cloud application, each in communication with the adaptive frequency matched sound masking system.

5. The partial enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the database is refined over time by use, to recognize the user and accumulate data including unwanted sounds generated by the user, which unwanted sounds are cancelled or masked by the adaptive frequency matched sound masking system and used as a metric by the system to determine a change of state of health of the user over time.

6. The partial enclosure system of claim 5, wherein the adaptive frequency matched sound masking system includes a display device and a data input device, either as part of said system, or in electronic communication to the system, enabling; users to input user health-related data, including a weight gain or loss, for use as a metric by the system to a determine change of state of health of the user over time.

7. The partial enclosure system of claim 5, wherein the unwanted sounds are used as a metric by the adaptive frequency matched sound masking system to determine a change of state of health of the user over time.

8. The partial enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the refining of the database over time improves an efficacy of the system and reduces an initial learning time period relative initial learning in a conventional adaptive process.

9. The partial enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the shape of the partial enclosure includes one or more of an open box and a clam shell.

10. The partial enclosure system of claim 1, wherein said sheet material further includes an outer absorber layer for inhibiting the energy of sound reflecting off said partial enclosure.

11. The partial enclosure system of claim 10, wherein said outer absorber layer is formed of a non-woven fabric.

12. The partial enclosure system of claim 1, wherein said inner absorber layer is formed of a non-woven fabric.

13. The partial enclosure system of claim 1, wherein said barrier layer is formed of mass loaded vinyl.

14. The partial enclosure system of claim 1, wherein said barrier layer is formed of an additional layer of a non-woven fabric.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be described in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1A depicts sheet material comprising a sound barrier layer and a sound absorptive or absorbing layer 14;

(3) FIG. 1B depicts the FIG. 1A sheet material with a base layer arranged on the sound absorbing layer;

(4) FIG. 1C depicts the FIG. 1A sheet material with a base layer arranged on the sound barrier layer.

(5) FIG. 1D depicts a barrier layer separated from a second barrier layer 12 by a sound absorbing layer;

(6) FIG. 1E depicts the sheet material of FIG. 1D with an additional sound absorbing layer on the second sound barrier layer;

(7) FIG. 1F depicts a base layer sandwiched between a sound absorbing layer and a barrier layer, where a second sound barrier layer is arranged on the barrier layer;

(8) FIG. 1G depicts a base layer upon which a sound absorbing layer is arranged, with a sound barrier layer positioned on the sound absorbing layer and a second sound absorbing layer positioned on the sound barrier layer;

(9) FIG. 1H depicts a base layer surrounded by two sound absorbing layers;

(10) FIG. 2A depicts a plan view of a bed with a snorer, an embodiment of a barrier, which is in some sense a partial enclosure, formed with sheet material in accordance with the invention, two speakers and multiple receivers that are part of an adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system arranged in a tube that also houses one of the speakers;

(11) FIG. 2B depicts a partial enclosure formed in accordance with the invention;

(12) FIG. 3 depicts a partial enclosure, comprising a canopy-bed type arrangement, formed with curtains made of the sheet material and including at least one roller shade separating the persons depicted on the bed.

(13) FIG. 4 depicts a dog (barking-ruff!) in a dog house surrounded by an inventive partial enclosure that includes a speaker and microphone of an adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system (where the controller is not shown);

(14) FIG. 5A depicts an embodiment of an adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system that can be used with the partial enclosure to form the sound disturbance inhibition system;

(15) FIG. 5B depicts a smartphone that may include a set of computer readable instructions that when processed by a controller therein implement the inventive adaptive frequency matched sound-masking process;

(16) FIG. 5C depicts an exemplary computer readable medium, in a form of a portable memory storage device with a USB connector, for storing a set of computer readable instructions readily downloaded therefrom;

(17) FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary display image generated and presented to a user by the inventive method implemented in the adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system to effect registration, which like all display images and pre-recorded sounds, associated with the user or not, is stored in database that either is integrally part of the system of in communication with the system;

(18) FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary display image of login screen presented to a user by the inventive method during intended use;

(19) FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary display image presented to a user by the inventive method that allows the user to start recording background noise in order to process to cancel the background noise or store the background noise signal for future use, for example, a snore signal;

(20) FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary display image presented to a user by the inventive method that lets the user know that the system is recording the background noise;

(21) FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary display image presented to a user by the inventive method that lets the user start cancellation, in a system embodiment that is configured for user control of the inventive method, rather than the default configuration where all processing is automatic;

(22) FIG. 11 depicts an exemplary display image presented to a user by the inventive method that lets the user stop cancellation, in a system embodiment that is configured for user control of the inventive method, rather than the default configuration where all processing is automatic;

(23) FIG. 12 depicts an exemplary display image presented to a user by the inventive method embodying a weekly dashboard memorializing system operation; and

(24) FIG. 13 depicts an exemplary display image presented to a user by the inventive method embodying a monthly dashboard memorializing system operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(25) The following is a detailed description of example embodiments of the invention depicted in the accompanying drawings. The example embodiments are presented in such detail as to clearly communicate the invention and are designed to make such embodiments obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

(26) In an embodiment, the inventive partial or quasi enclosure (“partial enclosure” and “quasi enclosure” are used interchangeably herein) is formed with a sheet acoustic material comprising a sound barrier layer 12 and a sound absorptive or absorbing layer 14, attached to or integral or blended with the sound barrier layer, such as shown in cross section in FIG. 1A. The sheet material also may include a base layer 16 attached to either the sound absorbing layer 14 or the sound barrier layer 12, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, respectively. The sound absorbing layer operates to absorb sound where the barrier layer prevents sound from passing through, and may result in reflection.

(27) The sheet material used in the inventive partial enclosure may comprise multiple sound absorbing layers 14, and/or multiple sound barrier layers 12, in any layer arrangement, with or without a base layer 16. For example, if there are 5 layers in total, in addition to the base layer, there can be 5-factorial or more possible layer arrangements, without deviating from the scope or spirit of the invention. FIG. 1D, for example, shows the material sheet comprising a barrier layer separated from a second barrier layer 12 by a sound absorbing layer, where FIG. 1E shows the sheet material of FIG. 1D with an additional sound absorbing layer 14 on the second sound barrier layer. FIG. 1F depicts a sheet material with a base layer 16 sandwiched between a sound absorbing layer 14 and a barrier layer 12, where a second sound barrier layer 14 is arranged on the barrier layer. FIG. 1G shows a base layer 16 upon which a sound absorbing layer 14 is arranged, with a sound barrier layer 12 positioned on the sound absorbing layer 14 and a second sound absorbing layer 14 positioned on the sound barrier layer 12. FIG. 1H shows a simple arrangement with a base layer surrounded by two sound absorbing layers 14.

(28) Please note that the barrier layer may exhibit sound barrier properties, for example, the base layer(s) 16 may limit sound passage, reflecting some sound, where the sound barrier layer(s) 12 prevent alt sound from passing therethrough. Preferably, the base layer defines an aesthetic character of the partial enclosure, in the case where it is arranged as the outer layer and, depending on the application, any layer arrangement is possible, even a base layer with a single sound absorbing layer, or with a single sound barrier layer. For that matter, the sound absorbing material may be any type of material that absorbs or inhibits sound energy when sound waves pass by or through the material, as opposed to reflecting or channeling the sound energy, as is the case of a sound barrier. For example, LUMITEX® sound absorbing material, manufactured by or for, distributed and/or sold by SoundSense LLC. Wainscott, N.Y. operates as an effective sound absorbing material. LUMITEX® is a lightweight, breathable, non-woven fabric that provides excellent acoustic absorption while requiring a fraction of the space required for traditional absorptive panels. And multiple layers of sound absorbing material, or one thicker layer, such as LUMITEX® may be used to form a laminate that operates as an excellent sound barrier/absorber.

(29) A barrier on the other hand is governed by its ability to attenuate sound and has an STC rating, but typically not NRC. A barrier, such as a mass loaded vinyl (MLV), stops (depending on the density per square feet of the material) anywhere from 23 dB to 35 dB. The common MLV has a weight of one pound per square foot and an STC of 26. SoundSense LLC makes various sound barrier materials available. QB-111, for example, is a barrier/absorber formed as a multi-layer, quilted sound barrier that incorporates a mass loaded vinyl barrier septum with absorptive fiberglass decouplers on both sides. Likewise, QB-12 is a two-layer, mass loaded vinyl barrier with quilted absorptive fiberglass on one side.

(30) FIG. 2A depicts a plan view of a bed 18 with a snorer S, a barrier 20, which is in some sense a partial enclosure, formed with sheet material in accordance with the invention, two speakers 22 and multiple receivers (RB1, RB2, . . . , RS1, Rs2, . . . , and a controller 24 comprising a tube-like structure (that also includes one of the speakers), operating as a system, or sub-system, in accordance with a set of computer-readable instructions that are processed to implement an adaptive frequency matched sound-masking process of the invention, in cooperation with the physical barrier.

(31) FIG. 2B depicts a partial enclosure 30 formed in accordance with the invention, shown on a bed 18 and partially enclosing a snorer S, where next to the snorer is a person P who in this example is a non-snorer. The partial enclosure 30 is constructed with the sheet material formed as taught herein. Please note that inventive acoustic partial is easily collapsed or pulled aside for easy access and/or increased sound transmissibility in and out.

(32) FIG. 3 depicts a partial enclosure 40, comprising a canopy-bed type arrangement (in bed 18), formed with curtains 42 made of the sheet material described herein and including at least one roller shade 44 that may be rolled up or down to separate the snorer S from the non-snoring person P.

(33) FIG. 4 depicts another embodiment of an inventive enclosure 30′ surrounding a dog house 28 in which a dog D is barking (ruff!). The dog house 28 is surrounded by the inventive partial enclosure 30′. A speaker and microphone are arranged in the partial enclosure 30′, which are part of an adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system. The system also includes a controller, in wireless communication with the speaker 22 and microphone 26, for controlling the adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system.

(34) FIG. 5A depicts one embodiment of an adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system 60 of the invention. The adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system 60 includes a controller 62. The controller 62 includes a computer device 64 such as a microprocessor or microcontroller, a memory 66 that may be include ROM, RAM, an internal hard drive, or may connect to an external memory device physically or wirelessly, and operate to store computer readable instructions and operational data such as pre-recorded sounds and instantly recorded sounds and anti-noise signals; the memory 66 may operate as a database, in cooperation with the controller. The anti-noise signals are signals either pre-formed and stored in the memory, or downloaded to the memory, or instantly formed by the controller for use in cancelling unwanted noise. The anti-noise signals are 180 degrees out of phase with the electrical signals representative of detected unwanted sound signals (by the microphones), at or substantially at the frequency of the noise signals, which are presumed to be substantially periodic. Before sending the anti-noise signals to the speakers, the controller first determines the optimal magnitude, to control the optimum magnitude of the sound signal generated by the speaker in accordance therewith. The controller also includes an IO section 68 for communicating with the speaker(s) 22 and microphone(s) 26, and/or the Internet or other controllers or a bus if part of a network. While shown here connected physically to the speaker(s) and microphone(s), the controller and other system devices may operate wirelessly. Element 70 represents an input device and/or a displace device, for user control of the controller. Please note however, that while the inventive process of operating the system envisions user control, the system is configured to operate automatically on default, without need for user interaction.

(35) FIG. 5B depicts a smartphone 60′ that may include a set of computer readable instructions that when processed by a controller therein implement the inventive adaptive frequency matched sound-masking process. FIG. 5C depicts an exemplary computer readable medium, in a form of a portable memory storage device with a USB connector 76, for storing a set of computer readable instructions readily downloaded therefrom. For that matter, a database with preformed anti-noise signals, or prior known user signals may be maintained in the computer readable medium. For that matter, the computer readable medium may be any memory device that is wired or wirelessly connectable to the system 60 and/or controller 64.

(36) Preferably, the system 60 is utilized with a partial enclosure or barrier constructed with the sound absorptive/sound barrier material, as described. Most preferably, the system 60 is implemented in a smart phone uploaded with a set of computer readable instructions that when processed by a controller in the smartphone implement the adaptive frequency matched sound-masking method. In addition to the computer readable instructions for implementing the inventive process, however, several instructions also are included for controlling the smartphone to go directly to voicemail, without “ringing,” when the smartphone is in its operational state as the adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system. For that matter, operation of the frequency matched sound masking and/or active noise cancellation system, in reliance upon the large data set of pre-recorded sounds of concern, also may be activated by either a facial recognition system that notes the mouth opening for a snore, an error function increase or detection from the active noise cancelling system (the system implements an error correcting loop with negative feedback to generate the corrected frequency for the anti-noise signal), or similar event detector that reduces the learning time of the frequency matched sound masking or active noise cancelling system. As such, the system overcomes the problems that occur for machine learning of an event and specifically a transient event and the motion of the source to be cancelled and/or masked, such as a head turning or mouth position moving.

(37) So, while the inventive enclosure alone can overcome the problems associated with unwanted sound, and/or a source position and motion of the source such as from a snoring person (e.g., sleeping snoring person rolling over), an animal moving, a moving vehicle emitting a sound such as from its engine or from a sound source such as a siren arranged on the vehicle, etc., implementation of the adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system to complement the physical enclosure optimizes the noise inhibition. And the use of the adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system with the partial enclosure, as an inventive A sound disturbance inhibition system provides for at least two options which increase the efficacy of the partial enclosure.

(38) The first option is positioning the adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system not necessarily close to the noise source, but closer to the potentially disturbed person (such as the snorer's partner) If the unwanted sound source is a snoring person, the sound masking implemented by the adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system is specifically directed to the frequencies of the snore. Likewise, if the disturbing sound is a person talking in their sleep, then the adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system generates sounds having frequencies that are similar or related to the frequencies generated by the person talking, but out of phase to effect cancellation. This sound masking can begin over a frequency range that is chosen from the database and then over a frequency range that the system “learns.” In the preferred embodiment, the database is one that is known to match the snorer, talker, animal sounds, etc.

(39) Another option that overcomes the problems of source position, source movement or noise disturbance while the adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system learns the error function for the noise cancellation or masking, is that it includes an adaptive autoregressive (“AR”) function, or auto regressive moving average (ARMA) function. Please note that in any implementation, most if not all of the microphones and speakers are arranged in the inventive partial enclosure. The optional active noise cancellation system works not only with a memory-stored set of sound signals (e.g., snore or other disturbing unwanted noise signals), but also is capable of learning and refining the signal based on changing noise signature (frequencies and/or amplitude) or position of the source. As an example, the unwanted sound (e.g., snore) signal may start out as a simple sine wave of frequency 250 Hertz. When the person goes to bed they say, “going to bed”. There is a short time when there is no snoring, but just the background noise. Then, as soon as the system detects a change in the background (an event that is the snore), it immediately generates the reverse phase 250 Hertz (i.e., the anti-noise or masking signal), and outputs it to the speaker to generate the physical cancelling sound signal. The actual signal representative of the selected sound is then compared to the database 250 Hertz signal and changed, if necessary, for the next signal. This trigger to begin the active noise cancelling system can be an active user fed command, input through a Graphical user interface (GUI) or downloaded via the controller 62 or a remote computer in electrical communication with the remote computer, an active face recognition system that “knows” when the head is on a pillow and the mouth opens (such as captured by an image pick-up device or camera that is part of the adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system as implemented), a passive system that “listens” for the first snore, etc., without limitation.

(40) Both the adaptive frequency matched sound masking and/or the active noise cancelling systems obtain the initial sound or sounds in the large database based on preliminary identifiers, such as facial recognition, speech signatures, breathing or trigger sounds, etc. This unique trigger can take into account the position of the head, as well as the degree to which the mouth is open or the movement of the chest. The full system can be an app on a phone with certain portions in a cloud, part of an audio assistant, an iPad or any other data processing system, including a computer, and any combination thereof.

(41) FIGS. 6-13 together depicts operation of the adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system, when it is not configured for wholly automatic operation. FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary display image generated and presented to a user by the inventive method implemented in the adaptive frequency matched sound-masking system to effect registration, which like all display images and pre-recorded sounds, associated with the user or not, is stored in database that either is integrally part of the system of in communication with the system.

(42) FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary display image of login screen presented to a user by the inventive method during intended use, while FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary display image presented to a user by the inventive method that allows the user to start recording background noise in order to process to cancel the background noise or store the background noise signal for future use, for example, a snore signal. FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary display image presented to a user by the inventive method that lets the user know that the system is recording the background noise, and FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary display image presented to a user by the inventive method that lets the user start cancellation, in a system embodiment that is configured for user control of the inventive method, rather than the default configuration where all processing is automatic.

(43) FIG. 11 depicts an exemplary display image presented to a user by the inventive method that lets the user stop the noise cancellation process, in a system embodiment that is configured for user control of the inventive method, rather than the default configuration where all processing is automatic. FIG. 12 depicts an exemplary display image presented to a user by the inventive method embodying a weekly dashboard memorializing system operation and FIG. 13 depicts an exemplary display image presented to a user by the inventive method embodying a monthly dashboard memorializing system operation.

(44) As will be evident to persons skilled in the art, the foregoing detailed description, applications and figures are presented as examples of the invention, and that variations are contemplated that do not depart from the fair scope of the teachings and descriptions set forth in this disclosure.