Sony patents fake ear with two mics to measure sound power
Sony has been granted a patent for a synthetic human ear model equipped with two microphones placed opposite each other. This setup allows the device to calculate the total energy of sound (sound power) rather than just measuring how loud it is at a single point. The system is designed to help engineers test headphones and speakers more accurately.
In the filing’s own words
In one aspect, opposing microphones may be mounted within a synthetic human ear. The synthetic human ear may form part of a head and torso simulator (HATS) system used for measuring output of any sound source, such as those embodied in headphones or loudspeakers. The opposing microphones may be used to calculate sound intensity and/or sound power, rather than just sound pressure level. The determined sound intensity/power can then be used to research and/or develop audio products, and/or quantify how a sound source is perceived regardless of acoustic loading on the HATS.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An apparatus, comprising: a synthetic human ear, the synthetic human ear comprising a first microphone and comprising a second microphone; circuitry in the synthetic human ear, the circuitry configured for receiving input from the first and second microphones and providing the input to a processor system configured for determining, using the input from the first and second microphones, a sound power level, a sound intensity level, or both a sound power level and sound intensity level for adjusting at least one audio sound source.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Group Corporation)
- Official title
- Synthetic human ear with opposing microphones for detecting sound power/intensity
- Patent number
- US12756965B2
- Application number
- 18755257
- Filed
- Jun 26, 2024
- Granted
- Oct 6, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04R 1/083 Electricity & electronicsG01H 3/12 Physics & computingH04R 3/005 Electricity & electronicsH04R 25/30 Electricity & electronicsMore from Sony in Audio & voice
- Sony patents headphones that pause noise cancelling when someone talks to you Sep 8, 2026
- Sony patents system to place virtual sounds in real rooms Sep 3, 2026
- Sony patents virtual audio that spreads out overlapping voices Sep 1, 2026
- Sony patents method to make virtual audio sound more natural Sep 8, 2026
- Sony patents audio system that adjusts sound based on hearing feedback Sep 15, 2026
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.