Sound exposure monitoring system and method for operating the same

摘要

A personal noise monitoring system and method for operating the same. Sound pressure data from inside the ears of a user of hearing protection device (HPD) are acquired from microphones in the HPD and reported to a master control unit. Simultaneously, the master control unit receives sound pressure data from the ambient environment in which the user is located. The data are reported to a central server for processing. The central server may use the data to determine in near real time or real time whether the user of the HPD is at risk for exposure to excess sound levels and to take remedial action while the user is still in the ambient environment.

主权项

1. A system for monitoring sound exposure comprising:
a hearing protection device, wherein the hearing protection device comprises first and second microphones for measuring sound pressure in the ears of a user; a master control unit, wherein the master control unit comprises a third microphone, a wireless communications system, a first processor, first software executable instructions, and a unique identifier stored in a memory, and wherein the first processor is configured with software executable instructions to cause the master control unit to perform operations comprising:
receiving sound measurement data from the first, second and third microphones;associating the sound measurement data with the unique identifier stored in the memory; andsending the sound measurement data and the unique identifier to a central server via the communication system, wherein the central server comprises a second processor and second software executable instructions and wherein the second processor is configured with the second software executable instructions to cause the central server to perform operations comprising:
continuously determining a sound exposure measure from the sound measurement data associated with the unique identifier; andissuing an alert when the sound exposure measure indicates that an alert should be sent.