SBIR-STTR Award

Most commercial of-the-shelf (COTS) headset systems utilize a combination of Passive and analog active noise reduction (AANR) to improve voice communication reception and intelligibility in high noise aircraft environments. These system do not satisfy USAF needs. The USAF has defined the need for high performance headsets: (1) Noise attenuation bandwidth needs to be extended to include higher frequencies 2,500 Hz. (2) There is a need for further intelligibility improvements. The BioAcoustics concept integrates: three important performance features: (1) unique "high-damping earcup cushions" (hybrid material arrangement) in an anthropomorphically correct cushion configuration to significantly improve passive noise attenuation in low frequency bands; (2) adjustable position, low impedance, receiver to enhance the audio-receiver-to-ear-canal coupling; an (3) Digital Active Noise Attenuation to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. The fully integrated system concept is expected to attenuate greater noise levels (40 to 45 dB) in a broader band (20-2500 Hz), reduce the signal level required for audibility, and, thus, significantly improve user comfort and intelligibility. Special attention is given to noise cancellation algorithms to deal with random noise. We will domonstrate that the proposed Audio-Comfort EarSearl(tm) is a more effective passive noise barrier and more comfortable than their SOA circumaural earcup cushion counterpart.

Keywords:
Noise Attenuation Microphone Algorithm Fourier Transform Headset Digital Signal Processing Wavelet T