HIGH FIDELITY AND COMPACT MODELING FOR BONE CONDUCTION COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

摘要

Bone conduction (BC) hearing is the process of transmitting sound energy through vibrations of the skull, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain, which results in an auditory sensation (Stenfelt and Goode 2005). BC communication is attractive for military operations because the transducers are lightweight, inconspicuous, and easily integrated into military headgear. Bone conduction (BC) headsets can present audio when ambient sounds must be either blocked by hearing protection or preserved to maintain situational awareness, and they can provide necessary radio communication in quiet and high noise environments, especially when combined with an appropriate hearing protection system (McBride et al. 2005, Henry and Letowski, 2007). The overall objective of this research is to develop, validate, and deliver anatomy and physics based modeling tools and experimental procedures for analysis and design of cranial bone conduction (BC) communication systems. The modeling tools will be used to optimize the design, attachment, and anatomical location of BC speakers and microphones for best communication clarity in various military environments.