Granted Patent B2

US 12,424,191 · App. 17/798,147 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Inventors: Angela D'Orazio (Rochester, NY); David A. Borkholder (Rochester, NY); Scott J. Featherman (Louisburg, NC)

Assignee: BlackBox Biometrics, Inc.

G10K11/002H04R1/086

Abstract

Claims (47)

1. A vocal acoustic attenuation apparatus comprising:

an acoustic sensor having a first surface; and

an attenuation material secured to the acoustic sensor and covering at least a portion of the first surface of the acoustic sensor,

wherein the attenuation material is configured to attenuate a vocal audible decibel range from an acoustic signal received at a first surface of the attenuation material, and

wherein the acoustic sensor is configured to receive the attenuated acoustic signal through the attenuation material and to provide an attenuated output signal.

2. The vocal acoustic attenuation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the attenuation material is a component of the vocal acoustic attenuation apparatus and is secured to the acoustic sensor.

3. The vocal acoustic attenuation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic sensor includes a sound port in the first surface of the acoustic sensor, and

wherein the attenuation material covers the sound port to reduce or eliminate air communication between the sound port and an area over the first surface of the acoustic sensor.

4. The vocal acoustic attenuation apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the attenuation material is secured to the acoustic sensor and covering the sound port to reduce an air gap over the sound port and to eliminate air communication between the sound port and the area over the first surface of the acoustic sensor.

5. The vocal acoustic attenuation apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

an adhesive material configured to adhere the attenuation material to the first surface of the acoustic sensor, wherein the acoustic sensor has a noise floor between 20 dB and 35 dB.

6. The vocal acoustic attenuation apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the attenuation material is configured to cover a portion of the first surface of the acoustic sensor,

wherein the adhesive material is configured to adhere the attenuation material to the portion of the first surface of the acoustic sensor,

wherein the attenuation material and the adhesive material are configured to attenuate the acoustic signal received at the first surface of the attenuation material, and

wherein the acoustic sensor is configured to receive the attenuated acoustic signal through the attenuation material and the adhesive material and to provide the attenuated output signal.

7. The vocal acoustic attenuation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the attenuation material is configured to attenuate the vocal audible decibel range from the acoustic signal to a range below a noise floor of the acoustic sensor prior to the acoustic signal reaching the acoustic sensor.

8. The vocal acoustic attenuation apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the vocal audible decibel range comprises acoustic sound pressure levels below and up to 90 dB, and

wherein the noise floor of the acoustic sensor comprises an acoustic sound pressure level below 35 dB.

9. The vocal acoustic attenuation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic sensor includes a sound port in the first surface, and

wherein the attenuation material comprises a tape material having an adhesive material covering the sound port of the acoustic sensor.

10. The vocal acoustic attenuation apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a dosimeter circuit configured to measure exposure to acoustic noise using the attenuated output signal.

11. The vocal acoustic attenuation apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a dosimeter circuit coupled to the acoustic sensor, the dosimeter circuit configured to measure exposure to acoustic events, comprising impulse events, having unattenuated sound pressure levels greater than 80 dB using the attenuated output signal.

12. The vocal acoustic attenuation apparatus of claim 11 , comprising a housing comprising the acoustic sensor and the dosimeter circuit.

13. The vocal acoustic attenuation apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a housing, the housing comprising the acoustic sensor and the attenuation material,

wherein the first surface is a top surface, wherein the attenuation material includes a polyester material configured to cover at least a portion of the top surface to reduce or eliminate acoustic transmission of the acoustic signal from outside of the acoustic sensor.

14. A vocal acoustic attenuation method comprising:

receiving an acoustic signal at a first surface of an attenuation material, the attenuation material secured to and covering at least a portion of a first surface of an acoustic sensor;

attenuating, using the attenuation material, a vocal audible decibel range from the acoustic signal received at the first surface of the attenuation material;

receiving, using the acoustic sensor, the attenuated acoustic signal through the attenuation material; and

providing, using the acoustic sensor, an attenuated output signal.

15. The vocal acoustic attenuation method of claim 14 , wherein the attenuation material and the acoustic sensor are components of an apparatus and the attenuation material is secured to the acoustic sensor.

16. The vocal acoustic attenuation method of claim 15 , wherein the acoustic sensor includes a sound port in the first surface of the acoustic sensor,

wherein the attenuation material covers the sound port to eliminate air communication between the sound port and an area over the first surface of the acoustic sensor.

17. The vocal acoustic attenuation method of claim 14 , wherein the attenuation material is adhered to the first surface of the acoustic sensor with an adhesive material,

wherein the impulse sensor has a noise floor between 20 dB and 35 dB,

wherein the attenuation material is configured to cover a portion of the first surface of the acoustic sensor,

wherein the attenuation material is adhered to the portion of the first surface of the acoustic sensor with the adhesive material,

wherein attenuating the acoustic signal comprises using the attenuation material and the adhesive material, and

wherein receiving the attenuated acoustic signal through the attenuation material comprises receiving the attenuated acoustic signal through the attenuation material and the adhesive material.

18. The vocal acoustic attenuation method of claim 14 , wherein attenuating the acoustic signal comprises attenuating, using the attenuation material, a vocal audible decibel range from the acoustic signal to a range below a noise floor of the acoustic sensor prior to the acoustic sensor receiving the attenuated acoustic signal,

wherein the vocal audible decibel range comprises acoustic sound pressure levels below and up to 90 dB, and

wherein the noise floor of the acoustic sensor comprises an acoustic sound pressure level below 35 dB.

19. The vocal acoustic attenuation method of claim 14 , comprising:

measuring exposure of the acoustic sensor to acoustic events having unattenuated sound pressure levels greater than 80 dB using the attenuated output signal using a dosimeter circuit coupled to the acoustic sensor,

wherein acoustic events include impulse events.

20. The vocal acoustic attenuation method of claim 14 , wherein the acoustic sensor and the attenuation material are components of a housing,

wherein the first surface is a top surface, wherein the attenuation material includes a polyester material configured to cover at least a portion of the top surface to reduce or eliminate acoustic transmission of the acoustic signal from outside of the acoustic sensor.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (100)