EP4268224A1

EP4268224A1 - Audio headset with active noise reduction

Info

Publication number: EP4268224A1
Application number: EP21848016.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Shahin REZAEI
Original assignee: Focal JMLab SAS
Current assignee: Focal JMLab SAS
Priority date: 2020-12-24
Filing date: 2021-12-23
Publication date: 2023-11-01
Also published as: KR20230122026A; FR3118526B1; WO2022136807A1; FR3118526A1; CN116671128A

Abstract

The invention relates to an audio headset with active noise reduction that has two circumaural earpieces (10a) comprising: a partition (15) designed to be arranged facing an ear: the partition (15) integrating at least one vent (24) that passes through the partition (15) in such a way as to generate intentional leaks and has: a length (L1) greater than 1.5 mm; and a width (D1) selected such that: - a ratio between the length (L1) and width (D1) is less than or equal to 8:1 if a median cross-section is greater than 1.7 mm²; or - a ratio between the length (L1) and the width (D1) is less than or equal to 4:1 if the median cross-section is less than 1.7 mm².

Description

The invention relates to an audio headset with active noise reduction, that is to say a headset comprising two circum-auricular earpieces intended to isolate the user from at least part of the exterior noise. To do this, each headset comprises at least one microphone associated with a loudspeaker.

The invention can be used in all the technical fields for which it is desired to isolate the user from external noise, for example for the broadcasting of music or for the protection of a user moving in a noisy environment.

The invention finds a particularly advantageous application when a leak is present at the level of the frontal cavity formed around each ear of the user by the circum-auricular earpieces of the audio headset.

PRIOR ART

In an active noise reduction headset, each circumaural earpiece 100 conventionally comprises a partition 15 associated with a pad 20 to form a frontal cavity 11 around the ear of the user, as illustrated in FIG. The partition 15 supports a microphone 14 disposed in the front cavity 11 and configured to pick up sounds from outside entering the front cavity 11. In addition, the partition 15 is open to allow the integration of a loudspeaker 17 making it possible to generate sound waves opposite to the sounds from the outside picked up by the microphone 14.

To limit the sounds from outside penetrating into the frontal cavity 11, the pad 20, the partition 15 and the loudspeaker 17 form an assembly that is substantially hermetic to the external air. A rear cavity 12 can also be formed by a shell 16 intended to protect and integrate the electronic components, such as a sound controller emitted by the loudspeaker 17.

The loudspeaker 17 is preferably integrated into an intermediate cavity 13 so as to form an acoustic load making it possible to adjust the directivity of the loudspeaker 17. To do this, the motor 19 is integrated into the intermediate cavity 13 and the membrane 18 s extends radially at the level of the partition 15.

The tuning of this acoustic load can be obtained with a portion of low or high acoustic impedance before 21, for example micro-perforations made in the partition 15 between the front cavity 11 and the intermediate cavity 13. Likewise, to produce a acoustic agreement between the intermediate cavity 13 and the rear cavity 12, a rear wall 29 of the intermediate cavity 13 is conventionally provided with a portion of intermediate low acoustic impedance 22 and/or with a vent 27.

The shell 16 can be made acoustically transparent by means of a vent or a rear low acoustic impedance portion 23 made in the shell 16.

It is also known to use a front vent 101 connecting the front cavity 11 to the rear cavity 12 to balance the static pressure between the front cavity 11 and the exterior of the headset 100. It is conventionally sought to dimension this front vent 101 so as not to degrade the transfer function of the headset.

The transfer function of an earpiece corresponds to the difference between the signal transmitted to the loudspeaker 17 and the sound actually generated in the frontal cavity 11 for different frequencies. To obtain this transfer function, it is possible to use the assembly illustrated in FIG. 2, in which the headphones are perfectly placed on the listening holes of a dummy 32. These listening holes of the dummy 32 simulate the behavior of a middle ear of a user by means, for example, of a torsion simulator. The signal picked up by these listening holes is transmitted to an amplifier 33. For each frequency, an audio management unit 30 generates a signal S of the frequency considered, and picks up a signal Dut corresponding to the measurement made at the output of the amplifier 33. The signal S is reinjected at the input of the management unit audio 30 to obtain a reference signal Ref.

The audio management unit 30 is connected to a computer 31 performing the comparison between the reference signal Ref and the measured signal Dut for each frequency analyzed so as to obtain the transfer function.

As a variant, instead of using the listening holes, it is possible to reuse the signal from the microphone 14 present in the front cavity 11, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, by connecting the management member audio 30 to the signal from this microphone 14, it is also possible to obtain the transfer function.

An example of a transfer function is plotted in FIG. 4 between 10Hz and 20kHz for an earpiece having a front vent 101 of the state of the art, as illustrated in FIG. 1. More specifically, FIG. 4 illustrates two transfer functions: a transfer function measured while the front vent 101 is open; and a transfer function measured while the front vent 101 is closed.

On each transfer function, the variation of the amplitude and the phase between the signals Ref and Dut reveal the behavior of all the acoustic and electroacoustic elements, such as the characteristics of the loudspeaker, the microphone, the volumes, vents and portions of low or high acoustic impedance.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the presence of the front vent 101 in a state-of-the-art headset does not modify the transfer function thereof since the amplitude and phase curves are superimposed .

In addition to the transfer function, the front vent 101 of the state of the art is also sized to have a low cut-off frequency. For example, the front vent 101 has a length of 21.5 mm and a section of 2.26 mm ² . The cutoff frequency can be approximated by a simplified analogy with an RC electric circuit, in which the resistor is called acoustic mass Ma and the capacitor is called acoustic compliance of the frontal volume Cfv of the frontal cavity 11, the cutoff frequency Fc of a cylindrical vent can be determined with the relation

The acoustic mass Ma can be obtained from the section S and the length L of the vent, using the air density p, with the following relationship:

[Math 2]

The acoustic compliance of the frontal volume of the vent Cfv can be estimated from the volume Vfv of the frontal cavity 11 and the speed of sound c with the following relationship:

[Math 3]

The estimation of the volume Vfv of the frontal cavity 11 is preferably carried out without taking into account the volume of the ear present in the frontal cavity 11 and by making the approximation that the pad 20 is not compressed. Thus, the volume Vfv of the front cavity 11 can be estimated by considering a flat surface arranged on the pad 20 and by estimating the volume Vfv between the flat surface, the partition 15 and the pad 20 without taking into account the volume of the different vents .

However, the partition 15 may have recesses which should be taken into account in the estimation of the volume Vfv of the frontal cavity 11.

With this method, the volume Vfv of the frontal cavity 11 of the atrium 100 of FIG. 1 can be estimated at 62.4 cm ³ . This estimation of the volume Vfv of the frontal cavity 11 makes it possible to determine the cut-off frequency Fc with the following relationship:

[Math 4]

With a volume Vfv of the front cavity 11 of 62.4 cm ³ , and a front vent 101 having a length of 21.5 mm and a section of 2.26 mm ² , the cutoff frequency Fc of the front vent 101 of the atrium 100 of Figure 1 is substantially 70Hz.

For another example, the helmet has a frontal cavity whose volume Vfv is estimated at 78.6 cm ³ as well as a front vent having a length of 7 mm and a section of 1.5 mm ² . With this other example, the cutoff frequency of the helmet's front vent can be estimated at 90Hz.

Furthermore, a major problem with active noise reduction headphones comes from the leaks that may appear between the front cavity 11 and the exterior of the headset 100, typically between the user's skin and the pad 20. For example, leaks from the frontal cavity 11 are generally observed at the level of a branch of the glasses resting on the ear of the user because this amount of glasses degrades the tightness produced by the pad. Likewise, leaks can be generated when the user has not positioned an earpiece correctly because of that hair, hat, scar, or any other reason.

Indeed, in a feedback sound suppression system, the sound controller emitted by the loudspeaker is designed by making the approximation that the acoustic system is mostly fixed. If the acoustic system drastically changes phase, for example in the presence of leaks from the frontal cavity 11, the controller can become unstable and control the generation of unwanted sounds.

To reduce this problem of leakage from the frontal cavity, it is known to modify the structure of the pads so that they deform very strongly as close as possible to the skin and that this deformation forms a barrier that is as airtight as possible. However, structural modification of the pads is often insufficient to prevent frontal cavity leakage and may degrade wearer comfort.

The technical problem proposes to solve the invention and therefore to obtain an active noise reduction headset with an improved transfer function when the frontal cavity has leaks.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

To respond to this technical problem, the invention proposes to use at least one vent making it possible to create intentional low-frequency leaks.

Indeed, the invention stems from an observation according to which the creation of intentional low-frequency leaks makes it possible to limit the degradation of the frequency response due to a defect in the insulation of the frontal cavity, for example when the user wears eyeglasses.

To obtain effective low-frequency intentional leaks, the research of the invention has shown that it is possible to use at least one vent having: a length greater than 1.5 mm; and a width selected so that:

- a ratio between said length and said width is less than or equal to 8: 1 if a median section is greater than 1.7 mm ² ; Where

- a ratio between said length and said width is less than or equal to 4:1 if said median section is less than or equal to 1.7 mm ² .

To this end, the invention relates to an audio headset with active noise reduction having two circum-auricular earpieces, each circum-auricular earpiece comprising: a partition intended to be arranged facing one ear; a bearing mounted on an outer edge of said partition so as to form a front cavity; a shell positioned at the rear of said partition so as to form a rear cavity, a loudspeaker mounted on an opening of said partition; at least one microphone placed in said frontal cavity; and a noise canceling module controlling said loudspeaker to cancel unwanted noise detected by said microphone in said front cavity.

The invention is characterized in that said shell has at least one vent or a portion of low rear acoustic impedance made in said shell so as to make said shell acoustically transparent at low frequencies.

The invention is also characterized in that said partition incorporates at least one vent passing through said partition so as to generate intentional leaks, said at least one vent having: a length greater than 1.5 mm; and a width selected so that:

Within the meaning of the invention, the range of frequencies for which the shell is acoustically transparent is determined according to the dimensions of the vent or vents. Typically, the helmet can be made acoustically transparent for low frequencies, i.e. below 5000 Hz.

The invention thus makes it possible to obtain an audio headset with active noise reduction with homogeneous performance, even when the frontal cavity has leaks and without modifying the pad.

In doing so, the invention makes it possible to limit the undesirable sounds that may appear when a user is wearing glasses or when the pad is not correctly placed. Within the meaning of the invention, a vent configured to generate intentional leaks corresponds to a vent whose opening or closing modifies the measured frequency response of the atrium. For example, intentional leaks can be characterized by a phase shift of at least 5 deg over a frequency range of at least 10Hz between 20Hz and 200Hz between the transfer functions of said circumaural atrium, measured when said at least a vent is opened and closed. On the contrary, as described in the state of the art, if the phase shift between the transfer functions is less than 5 deg, then the vent does not generate intentional leaks. When multiple vents are used to generate the intentional leaks, the total phase shift can be measured when all vents are simultaneously open and closed. The partial phase shift related to a specific vent can be measured by closing all the vents and by opening and closing the vent whose phase shift is to be calculated.

Preferably, intentional leaks are characterized by a phase shift of at least 10 deg over a frequency range of at least 20Hz between 20Hz and 200Hz between the measured transfer functions when the vent is open and closed.

The phase shift measurement over a frequency range of at least 10Hz or 20Hz prevents a localized difference in the measurement from causing poor characterization of the vent. To do this, the transfer functions are preferably measured at each frequency unit between at least 20Hz and 200Hz, i.e. at 20Hz, at 21Hz, at 22Hz, at 23Hz, etc.

Intentional leaks can be created by one or more vents of various shapes. To do this, each vent has a length greater than 1.5 mm, preferably greater than 2 mm. Indeed, the invention stems from an observation that it is not enough to create a simple hole in the partition to generate these intentional leaks and limit the undesirable sounds that may appear when a user is wearing glasses or the pad is not is not correctly placed. Moreover, a simple hole would have the disadvantage of creating additional distortions at medium frequencies. In addition to the length, the invention also stems from an observation according to which two ratio thresholds between the length and the width make it possible to generate effective intentional leaks:

- either the ratio between the length and the width must be less than or equal to 8:1 if the median section is greater than 1.7 mm ² ; Where

- or the ratio between the length and the width must be less than or equal to 4:1 if the said median section is less than 1.7 mm ² .

Within the meaning of the invention, the “middle section” of a vent corresponds to its section in the middle of the height of the vent. In the simplest case, the vent can have a cylindrical shape with a constant section. With this cylindrical shape, the width of the vent corresponds to its diameter.

However, the vent can have a more complex shape than a simple cylinder. For example, at least one terminal part of the vent can form a pavilion, that is to say a flared end, to limit the disturbances acting in the air around this end of the vent.

The vent can thus have the shape of a nozzle with two flared ends.

The vent geometry can also be sized to search for a specific cutoff frequency of the vent, for example a cutoff frequency between 60 Hz and IKHz or between 60 and 300Hz. cylindrical vent, the cutoff frequency can be determined with the e: with Vfv corresponding to the volume of the frontal cavity, L to the length of the vent and S to its section. When the vent presents a shape of revolution of variable section, the cut-off frequency is determined with the following relationship:

[Matho] with Vfv corresponding to the volume of the frontal cavity, L to the length of the vent and S' to its average section.

When several vents are used, the cutoff frequency is measured independently for each vent, for example by closing the other vents. Indeed, this formula does not make it possible to measure the cut-off frequency generated by the association of several vents. To estimate the cutoff frequency of multiple vents, it is possible to determine the cutoff frequency of multiple vents by measuring the Bode diagram of the vents.

Besides its shape, the acoustic behavior of the vent can also be adapted by selecting the position of the vent, for example closer or less close to the loudspeaker. The vent can exit into a rear front cavity or directly outside the earcup, exhibiting distinct acoustic behaviors.

According to one embodiment, the acoustic behavior of the vent is adapted by forming a bell or by placing a resistive mesh on a terminal end of the vent forming a portion of low or high acoustic impedance. For example, a resistive mesh can be formed by a fabric, provided with holes, glued on the end of the vent opening in the front cavity.

Intentional leaks can be accomplished through a single vent.

Preferably, each circum-auricular earpiece comprises several juxtaposed vents having distinct lengths. Indeed, by using several vents having distinct shapes, it is possible to combine the impact of these vents to generate these intentional leaks and limit unwanted sounds. In particular, it has been observed that the embodiment in which each circumaural earpiece comprises two juxtaposed vents having distinct lengths presents a very good compromise between performance and space saving.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The manner of carrying out the invention as well as the advantages which result from it, will clearly emerge from the embodiments which follow, given by way of indication but not limitation, in support of the appended figures in which:

[Fig. 1] Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a prior art headset;

[Fig. 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a protocol for measuring a transfer function according to a non-invasive embodiment;

[Fig. 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a protocol for measuring a transfer function according to an invasive embodiment;

[Fig. 4] Figure 4 illustrates the transfer functions, in amplitude and in phase, of the atrium of Figure 1 when the vent of the state of the art is open or closed;

[Fig. 5] Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view of an earpiece according to a first embodiment of the invention with a vent;

[Fig. 6] Figure 6 is a schematic sectional view of an earpiece according to a second embodiment of the invention with two vents;

[Fig. 7] Figure 7 illustrates the transfer functions, in amplitude and in phase, of the atrium of Figure 5, with the vent closed and with or without leaks from the frontal cavity;

[Fig. 8] Figure 8 illustrates the transfer functions, in amplitude and in phase, of the atrium of Figure 5 having a long vent with or without leaks from the frontal cavity;

[Fig. 9] Figure 9 illustrates the transfer functions, in amplitude and in phase, of the atrium of Figure 5 having a medium vent with or without leakage from the frontal cavity;

[Fig. 10] Figure 10 illustrates the transfer functions, in amplitude and in phase, of the atrium of Figure 5 comprising a short vent with or without leakage from the frontal cavity; [Fig. 11] Figure 11 illustrates the transfer functions, in amplitude and in phase, of an atrium comprising three vents with or without leaks from the frontal cavity; and

[Fig. 12] FIG. 12 illustrates the phase shifts linked to the presence or absence of vents on the amplitude and phase transfer functions of an atrium comprising from zero to three vents. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 5 illustrates a circum-auricular earpiece 10a of an audio headset with active noise reduction. The circum-auricular headset 10a conventionally comprises a partition 15 associated with a pad 20 to form a frontal cavity 11 around the ear of the user. The partition 15 supports a microphone 14 disposed in the frontal cavity 11 and configured to pick up sounds from outside entering the frontal cavity 11.

In addition, the partition 15 is open to allow the integration of a loudspeaker 17 making it possible to generate sound waves that are the opposite of the sounds from outside picked up by the microphone 14. To do this, a noise suppression module, for example an analog or digital signal processor, controls the loudspeaker 17 to suppress the undesirable noises detected by the microphone 14 in the frontal cavity 11. The undesirable noises correspond to the sounds picked up in the frontal cavity 11 which are not generated by speaker 17.

To limit the sounds from outside penetrating into the frontal cavity 11, the pad 20, the partition 15 and the loudspeaker 17 form an assembly that is substantially hermetic to the external air.

Circum-auricular headset 10a also has a shell 16 positioned at the rear of partition 15 so as to form a rear cavity 12 between the partition and the internal wall of shell 16. This rear cavity 12 is intended to protect and integrating electronic components, such as a sound controller emitted by the loudspeaker 17, the latter integrating for example the noise suppression module.

Loudspeaker 17 is preferably integrated into an intermediate cavity 13 formed between partition 15 and shell 16. This intermediate cavity 13 is used to form an acoustic load making it possible to adjust the directivity of loudspeaker 17. To do this, the motor 19 is integrated in the intermediate cavity 13 and the membrane 18 extends radially at the level of the partition 15. The tuning of this acoustic load can be obtained with a portion of low or high acoustic impedance before 21, for example micro-perforations made in the partition 15 between the front cavity 11 and the intermediate cavity 13. Likewise, to produce a acoustic agreement between the intermediate cavity 13 and the rear cavity 12, a rear wall 29 of the intermediate cavity 13 is conventionally provided with a portion of intermediate low acoustic impedance 22 and/or with a vent 27.

The shell 16 is made acoustically transparent at low frequencies by means of a vent or a portion of low rear acoustic impedance 23 arranged in the shell 16.

In addition, the atrium 10a of Figure 5 differs from the atrium 100 of Figure 1 of the state of the art by the characteristics of the vent 24 passing through the partition 15 between the frontal cavity 11 and the rear cavity 12 .

In the context of the invention, this vent 24 has a length L1 greater than 1.5 mm; and a width DI selected such that: a ratio between the length L1 and the width DI is less than or equal to 8:1 if a middle section is greater than 1.7 mm ² ; or a ratio between the length L1 and the width DI is less than or equal to 4:1 if the median section is less than or equal to 1.7 mm ² .

For example, if the vent 24 corresponds to a cylinder having a diameter DI of 1.4 mm, the median section S is approximately 1.53 mm ² , according to the formula S=7iD ² /4. In this example, the median section S is less than 1.7 mm ² , the length L1 of the vent must therefore be less than 5.6 mm, i.e. 4.D1, so that the ratio between the length L1 and the width DI is less than or equal to 4:1. Thus, with a diameter ID of 1.4 mm, vents 24 of length 4 or 5 mm can be used to generate effective intentional leaks whereas a vent 24 of 6 mm or 10 mm would be less effective.

For another similar example, if the vent 24 corresponds to a cylinder having a diameter DI of 1.3 mm, the median section S is approximately 1.33 mm ² . In this example, the midsection S is still less than 1.7 mm ² , so the length L1 of the vent must be less than 5.2 mm, i.e. 4.D1, so that the ratio between the length L1 and the width DI is less than or equal to 4:1.

For another example with a larger section, if the vent 24 corresponds to a cylinder having a diameter DI of 1.6 mm, the median section S is approximately 2 mm ² . In this example, the median section S is greater than 1.7 mm ² , the length L1 of the vent must therefore be less than 12.8 mm, i.e. 8. Dl, so that the ratio between the length L1 and the width Dl is less than or equal to 8:1. Thus, with a diameter D1 of 1.6 mm, vents 24 of length 4, 5, 6 or 10 mm can be used to generate effective intentional leaks whereas a vent 24 of 15 mm would be less effective.

In addition, the dimensions of the vent 24 can be selected so that the vent 24 has a cut-off frequency Fc of between 60 Hz and 1 kHz, or preferably between 60 Hz and 300 Hz, so as to limit the phase shift of the transfer function in case of leaks from the frontal cavity 11.

The transfer function of an earpiece corresponds to the difference between the signal transmitted to the loudspeaker 17 and the sound actually generated in the frontal cavity 11 for different frequencies. To obtain this transfer function, it is possible to use the assembly illustrated in FIG. 2, in which the headphones are perfectly placed on the listening holes of a dummy 32. These listening holes of the dummy 32 simulate the behavior of a middle ear of a user by means, for example, of a torsion simulator. The signal picked up by these listening holes is transmitted to an amplifier 33.

For each frequency, an audio management unit 30 generates a signal S of the frequency considered, and picks up a signal Dut corresponding to the measurement made at the output of the amplifier 33. The signal S is reinjected at the input of the management unit audio 30 to obtain a reference signal Ref.

The audio management unit 30 is connected to a computer 31 performing the comparison between the reference signal Ref and the measured signal Dut for each frequency analyzed so as to obtain the transfer function. As a variant, instead of using the listening holes, it is possible to reuse the signal from the microphone 14 present in the front cavity 11, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, by connecting the management member audio 30 to the signal from this microphone 14, it is also possible to obtain the transfer function.

An example of a transfer function is plotted in Figure 7 between 10Hz and 20kHz for the atrium 10a of Figure 5 while the vent 24 is closed so as to visualize the degradation of the transfer function when the front cavity 11 has leaks with respect to the transfer function when the front cavity 11 is sealed. The presence of leaks can, for example, be simulated by placing glasses on the dummy 32.

As illustrated in this figure 7, below IKHz, the transfer functions measured with and without leaks are very different. For example, at 20 Hz, the measured phase of the atrium 10a is 40 deg while with leaks the measured phase is 110 deg. The presence of leaks thus induces a phase shift of 70 deg. This phase shift is more than enough to cause controller instability and generate unwanted sounds.

To limit this phase shift, the invention proposes using a vent configured to generate intentional leaks.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 illustrate three examples of transfer function measured, with and without leakage from the frontal cavity 11, for the same earpiece 10a and with three cylindrical vents 24 of the same section S, approximately equal to 1.65 mm ² , and with different L1 lengths. In these three examples, the frontal cavity 11 has a volume Vfv of 70 cm ³ and the vents 24 have a diameter DI of 1.45 mm.

The estimation of the volume Vfv of the frontal cavity 11 is preferably carried out without taking into account the volume of the ear present in the frontal cavity 11 and by making the approximation that the pad 20 is not compressed. Thus, the volume Vfv of the front cavity 11 can be estimated by considering a flat surface arranged on the pad 20 and by estimating the volume Vfv between the flat surface, the partition 15 and the pad 20 without taking into account the volume of the different vents . In the example of Figure 8, a cylindrical vent 24 of 10 mm in length L1 is used. The cut-off frequency of this vent 24 of 10 mm length L1 can be estimated at 83.1 Hz using the following relationship: with Vfv corresponding to the volume of the frontal cavity 11, L1 to the length of the vent 24 and S to its section.

This vent 24 of 10 mm in length L1 therefore has a cut-off frequency Fc of between 60 Hz and 1 kHz. As illustrated in FIG. 12, it makes it possible to generate intentional leaks. For example, intentional leaks can be characterized by a phase shift of at least 5 deg over a frequency range of at least 10Hz between 20Hz and 200Hz between the transfer functions measured when the vent 24 is open and when the vent 24 is closed.

Preferably, the intentional leaks are characterized by a phase shift of at least 10 deg over a frequency range of at least 20Hz between 20Hz and 200Hz between the transfer functions measured when the vent 24 is open and when the vent 24 is closed.

Indeed, FIG. 8 reveals that the phase shift measured without leakage with this vent 24 is reduced compared to the phase shift measured without leakage and without the presence of this vent 24, as illustrated in FIG. 7. For example, in FIG. 7, at 20 Hz, the phase measured without leakage is 70 deg without vent 24 while the phase measured without leakage is 40 deg in the presence of vent 24. The presence of vent 24 therefore leads to a reduction in the phase shift 30 deg.

This limitation of the phase shift is all the more marked when the cut-off frequency Fc of the vent 24 is between 60 Hz and 1 kHz. Indeed, FIG. 9 illustrates the transfer functions of a cylindrical vent 24 with a length L of 6 mm with the same section S of 1.65 mm ² . With the same volume Vfv of 70 cm ³ , the cut-off frequency Fc of this vent 24 is 107.3 Hz. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the phase shift measured with or without leakage with this vent 24 of a cut-off frequency Fc of 107.3 Hz is globally lower than the phase shift measured with the vent 24 having a cut-off frequency Fc of 83.1 Hz, illustrated in figure 8.

Similarly, this phase shift is even more reduced when a cylindrical vent 24 with a length L of 4 mm is used, as illustrated in FIG. 10. With the section S of 1.65 mm ² and the volume Vvf of 70 cm ³ , this vent 24 with a length L of 4 mm has a cut-off frequency Fc of 131.4 Hz. of 131.4 Hz is generally lower than the phase shift measured with the vent 24 having a cut-off frequency Fc of 107.3 Hz, illustrated in FIG. 9. For example, at 20 Hz, the phase measured without leakage is substantially 60 deg then that the phase measured with leaks is close to 80 deg. This 4 mm vent 24 therefore makes it possible to obtain a phase shift limited to 20 deg contrary to the phase shift of 70 deg measured without using a vent 24 making it possible to generate intentional leaks.

These examples of FIGS. 8 to 10 make it possible to illustrate how to size the characteristics of a vent 24 to generate intentional leaks. Of course, the shape of the vent 24 can vary while configuring the vent 24 to generate intentional leaks. Thus, the vent 24 can have the shape of a nozzle, a shape of a horn or any other shape suitable for controlling the propagation of air. With a shape of revolution of variable section, the cutoff frequency Fc is determined with the following relationship: with Vfv corresponding to the volume of the frontal cavity 11, L1 to the length of the vent 24 and S' to its middle section. Besides the shape of the vent 24, one or more end portions can also be provided with a resistive mesh 28 to adapt the acoustic properties of the vent 24.

Preferably, several vents 24 can be juxtaposed to obtain an improvement in the phase shift with or without leakage from the frontal cavity 11. For example, FIG. L2 and a width D2 and a second vent 26 having a length L3 and a width D3.

By way of example, the width D2 of the first vent 25 can be 1.45mm and the length L2 of the first vent 25 can be 2.7mm. Similarly, the width D3 of the second vent 26 can be 45mm and the length L3 of the second vent 26 can be 3.9mm.

Figure 11 illustrates the transfer function of an atrium in which the three vents described with Figures 8, 9 and 10 are juxtaposed. This combination of several vents 24 makes it possible to obtain a very limited phase shift between the transfer functions measured with or without leakage from the frontal cavity 11.

The invention thus makes it possible to limit the phase shift with or without leakage from the frontal cavity 11 by creating intentional leakages which degrade the measured response when the circum-auricular earpiece 10a-10b is perfectly positioned around the ears of the user. However, the invention starts from the observation that this ideal positioning is practically not reproducible in reality and that it is preferable to produce headphones with active noise reduction in which the quality of the attenuation is better in the majority of case of use and in particular in the most degraded cases for which leaks are present at the level of the frontal cavity 11 so as to obtain a limitation of the undesirable sounds.

The invention therefore makes it possible to guarantee homogeneity in the performance of an active noise reduction headset for all cases of use by reducing the maximum degradation that may be suffered in the presence of leaks from the frontal cavity 11.

Claims

1. Active noise reduction headphones having two circum-auricular ear pieces (10a-10b), each circum-auricular ear piece (10a-10b) comprising:

- a partition (15) intended to be arranged opposite an ear;

- a bearing (20) mounted on an outer edge of said partition (15) so as to form a front cavity (11);

- a shell (16) positioned at the rear of said partition (15) so as to form a rear cavity (12); a loudspeaker (17) mounted on an opening of said partition (15); at least one microphone (14) placed in said front cavity (11); and a noise canceling module controlling said speaker (17) to cancel unwanted noise detected by said microphone (14) in said front cavity (11); characterized in that said shell (16) has at least one vent or a portion of low rear acoustic impedance (23) made in said shell (16) so as to make said shell (16) acoustically transparent at low frequencies, and in that that said partition (15) incorporates at least one vent (24-26) passing through said partition (15) and extending between said front cavity (11) and said rear cavity (12) so as to generate intentional leaks, said at least at least one vent (24-26) having: a length (L1-L3) greater than 1.5 mm; and a width (D1-D3) selected so that:

- a ratio between said length (L1-L3) and said width (D1-D3) is less than or equal to 8: 1 if a median section is greater than 1.7 mm ² ; Where

- a ratio between said length (L1-L3) and said width (D1-D3) is less than or equal to 4: 1 if said median section is less than or equal to 1.7 mm ² .

2. Headphones with active noise reduction according to claim 1, wherein said at least one vent (24-26) has a length (L1-L3) greater than 2 mm.

3. Active noise reduction headphones according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said intentional leaks are characterized by a phase shift of at least 5 deg over a frequency range of at least 10Hz between 20Hz and 200Hz between functions of transfer of said circumauricular atrium (10a-10b), measured when said at least one vent (24-26) is open and closed.

4. Active noise reduction headphones according to claim 3, wherein said intentional leaks are characterized by a phase shift of at least 10 deg over a frequency range of at least 20Hz between 20Hz and 200Hz between the transfer functions of said circumaural atrium (10a-10b), measured when said at least one vent (24-26) is open and closed.

5. Headphones with active noise reduction according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said at least one vent (24-26) has a cylindrical shape.

6. Headphones with active noise reduction according to claim 5, wherein said at least one vent (24-26) has a cutoff frequency (Fc) of between 60 and 300Hz, said cutoff frequency (Fc) being determined with the e: with Vfv corresponding to the volume of said frontal cavity (11), L to said length of said at least one vent (24-26) and S to its section.

7. Headphones with active noise reduction according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said at least one vent (24-26) has a shape of revolution of variable section and a cut-off frequency (Fc) of between 60 and 300Hz, said cut-off frequency (Fc) being determined with the following relationship: with Vfv corresponding to the volume of said front cavity (11), L to said length of said at least one vent (24-26) and S' to its middle section.

8. Headphones with active noise reduction according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said at least one vent (24-26) has at least one end portion in the shape of a flag.

9. Headphones with active noise reduction according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said at least one vent (24-26) has at least one end portion provided with a resistive mesh (28).

10. Headphones with active noise reduction according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein each circum-auricular earpiece (10a-10b) comprises two vents (24-26) juxtaposed having distinct lengths (L1-L3).