Microsoft patents audio tool that adjusts sound based on hearing tests
This patent describes a system that creates a personalized audio profile for a user based on the results of a hearing test. It uses mathematical curves to boost specific sound frequencies that the user may struggle to hear, ensuring that music or speech sounds balanced and clear through speakers or headphones.
In the filing’s own words
A method and system for providing a customized configuration of settings for an audio processor. The customized configuration is determined for a user based on results of a hearing test. The test may be provided by the system or another system. The customized configuration includes an increase or decrease to an intensity level of one or more frequency bands of one or more channels (e.g., a left and right) to compensate for a decreased hearing threshold level experienced by the user (e.g., as indicated by the hearing test results). The settings may be further adjusted based on an application of one or more equal-loudness contours representing varying sensitivity of the human ear to different frequencies. When audio is played by an application including or in communication with the audio processor, the audio is adjusted based on the customized configuration and the user is provided with an improved listening experience.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method, comprising: determining a customized configuration of audio processor settings for an audio processor based on results of a hearing test that indicate hearing loss experienced by a user at a first frequency band, wherein determining the customized configuration comprises: applying an equal-loudness contour to the audio processor settings; based on the equal-loudness contour, determining an adjusted level of intensity of the first frequency band that offsets a perceived loudness fall-off at the frequency band; and setting an intensity level of the first frequency band to the adjusted level of intensity; adjusting the audio processor settings based on the customized configuration; receiving an audio content; adjusting playback of the audio content based on the customized configuration of audio processor settings; and providing the adjusted audio content to a sound interface for output by a speaker.
Facts
- Company
- Microsoft (Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC)
- Official title
- Customized audio modification tool
- Patent number
- US12750619B2
- Application number
- 18756883
- Filed
- Jun 27, 2024
- Granted
- Sep 29, 2026
- Inventors
- 1
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04R 3/04 Electricity & electronicsA61B 5/123 Human necessitiesG06F 3/162 Physics & computingH04R 2430/01 Electricity & electronicsMore from Microsoft in Audio & voice
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.