High-Fidelity Noise-Exposure Recorder

Noise-exposure data is crucial in various industries, especially in environments where high sound pressure levels are prevalent. Extreme noise can lead to several health hazards like hearing loss or stress. However, capturing, interpreting, and utilizing noise data can be challenging because of its complex and unpredictable nature. Current methods of collecting noise data often focus on either impulse noise or continuous noise, but rarely both simultaneously. These methods tend to use sensors remote from the noise source, compromising the integrity of the data. Limited processing power can also result in shock artifacts in the generated audio signal. These issues highlight the need for a more advanced, comprehensive solution that can accurately collect and interpret different types of sound pressures while producing clear, shock-artifact-free audio signals.

Technology Description

The technology is a complex system, apparatus, and method designed for collecting, interpreting, and utilizing noise exposure data. This system uses sensors to gather an analog signal expressing impulse noise sound pressure and another analog signal showing continuous noise sound pressure. To translate these analog signals into digital ones, at least one analog-to-digital converter (ADC) samples the signals at a frequency equal to or greater than double the inverse of the minimum impulse rise time. The system also includes accelerometers for data gathering near and far from the sensors. What makes the system stand out is its intricate processing mechanism. A primary combining node blends the digital signals to represent both the continuous noise and the impulse noise. It consists of a shock-artifact detection filter that identifies time frames that include a shock artifact based on the recorded accelerometry data. Apart from this, a frequency filter generates a background-removed audio signal, while an adaptive filter estimates the shock artifact. A secondary combining node then produces a shock-artifact-free audio signal, differentiating it from other noise data interpretation systems.