Patent Description:
Face masks can be worn to avoid pollution, prevent contracting and spreading diseases, as fashion items, to protect a person's face, or the like. It may be difficult to hear or understand what someone who is wearing a face mask is saying because the user's voice can be muffled due to the face mask. In addition, it may be difficult for electronic devices to hear or understand voice commands. Consequently, a user who is wearing a mask may speak louder to be heard through the face mask, which exposes conversations that are intended to be private to the public. Prior art face masks are known from documents <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

Apparatuses, systems, devices, and methods for a face mask for facilitating conversations are disclosed.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the embodiments may be embodied as a system, method or program product.

Many of the functional units described in this specification have been labeled as modules, in order to more particularly emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a module may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components.

An identified module of code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of executable code which may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified module need not be physically located together, but may comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module.

More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the storage device would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Code for carrying out operations for embodiments may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages including an object oriented programming language such as Python, Ruby, Java, Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C" programming language, or the like, and/or machine languages such as assembly languages.

This code may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams block or blocks.

In this regard, each block in the schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions of the code for implementing the specified logical function(s).

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a system <NUM> for a face mask <NUM>. A face mask <NUM>, as used herein, may comprise a face covering, typically over the mouth and/or nose but may cover the entire face/head, that may help prevent the wearer from spreading and/or inhaling airborne toxins, bacteria, droplets, virus particles, and/or the like. Examples of face masks <NUM> may include surgical face masks, procedure masks, medical masks, respirators (e.g., N95 or FFP masks), and/or other masks as part of personal protective equipment. Other masks may include Halloween masks, ski masks, sports masks, masks for hazmat or decontamination suits, scuba masks, and/or the like.

In one embodiment, the face mask <NUM> is made of a soundproof material so that audio spoken by the user while the user is wearing the face mask <NUM> is not audible or understandable external to or outside the face mask <NUM>. The material may include one or more portions of acoustic foam material, sound insulation (e.g., mineral wool, rock wool, fiberglass, or the like), acoustic fabrics, acoustic coatings, cork, felt, polymers, polyester material, and/or the like.

In one embodiment, the system <NUM> includes one or more information handling devices <NUM> that are communicatively coupled to the face mask <NUM>. The information handling devices <NUM> may be embodied as one or more of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smart phone, a smart speaker (e.g., Amazon Echo®, Google Home®, Apple HomePod®), an Internet of Things device, a security system, a set-top box, a gaming console, a smart TV, a smart watch, a fitness band or other wearable activity tracking device, an optical head-mounted display (e.g., a virtual reality headset, smart glasses, or the like), a High-Definition Multimedia Interface ("HDMI") or other electronic display dongle, a personal digital assistant, a digital camera, a video camera, or another computing device comprising a processor (e.g., a central processing unit ("CPU"), a processor core, a field programmable gate array ("FPGA") or other programmable logic, an application specific integrated circuit ("ASIC"), a controller, a microcontroller, and/or another semiconductor integrated circuit device), a volatile memory, and/or a non-volatile storage medium, a display, a connection to a display, and/or the like.

In one embodiment, the face mask <NUM> includes various electronic components to facilitate communications from the mask wearer. The face mask <NUM>, in certain embodiments, includes a microphone <NUM> for capturing audio that is spoken by the mask wearer. The microphone <NUM> may be any type of microphone <NUM> that is sensitive enough to detect and capture the wearer's speech and has a form factor that allows it to fit on the inside of the face mask <NUM>. Multiple microphones <NUM> may be placed on an inner surface of the face mask <NUM> to capture audio within the face mask <NUM> such as the wearer's speech.

In one embodiment, the face mask <NUM> includes a sound management apparatus <NUM>. The sound management apparatus <NUM>, in one embodiment, is configured to capture, using the microphone <NUM>, audio spoken by a user wearing the face mask <NUM>, determine a mode that the face mask <NUM> is in for transmitting the captured audio to a destination, and transmit the captured audio to the destination based on the determined mode. For instance, the destination may be speaker <NUM> while the face mask <NUM> is in a public mode and the destination may be an information handling device <NUM> while the face mask <NUM> is in a private mode. The sound management apparatus <NUM> is described in more detail below with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

In one embodiment, the sound management apparatus <NUM> may include a semiconductor integrated circuit device (e.g., one or more chips, die, or other discrete logic hardware), or the like, such as a field-programmable gate array ("FPGA") or other programmable logic, firmware for an FPGA or other programmable logic, microcode for execution on a microcontroller, an application-specific integrated circuit ("ASIC"), a processor, a processor core, or the like.

In one embodiment, the sound management apparatus <NUM> may be mounted on a printed circuit board with one or more electrical lines or connections (e.g., to volatile memory, a non-volatile storage medium, a network interface, a peripheral device, a graphical/display interface, or the like). The printed circuit board may include one or more pins, pads, or other electrical connections configured to send and receive data (e.g., in communication with one or more electrical lines of a printed circuit board or the like), and one or more hardware circuits and/or other electrical circuits configured to perform various functions of the sound management apparatus <NUM>.

The face mask <NUM> may be communicatively coupled to an electronic device <NUM> via a data network <NUM>. The data network <NUM>, in one embodiment, includes a digital communication network that transmits digital communications. The data network <NUM> may include a (short-range) wireless network, such as a wireless cellular network, a local wireless network, such as a Wi-Fi network, a Bluetooth® network, a near-field communication ("NFC") network, an ad hoc network, and/or the like. The data network <NUM> may include a wide area network ("WAN"), a storage area network ("SAN"), a local area network ("LAN") (e.g., a home network), an optical fiber network, the internet, or other digital communication network. The data network <NUM> may include two or more networks. The data network <NUM> may include one or more servers, routers, switches, and/or other networking equipment. The data network <NUM> may also include one or more computer readable storage media, such as a hard disk drive, an optical drive, non-volatile memory, RAM, or the like.

The wireless connection may be a mobile telephone network. The wireless connection may also employ a Wi-Fi network based on any one of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ("IEEE") <NUM> standards. Alternatively, the wireless connection may be a Bluetooth® connection. In addition, the wireless connection may employ a Radio Frequency Identification ("RFID") communication including RFID standards established by the International Organization for Standardization ("ISO"), the International Electrotechnical Commission ("IEC"), the American Society for Testing and Materials® (ASTM®), the DASH7™ Alliance, and EPCGlobal™.

Alternatively, the wireless connection may employ a ZigBee® connection based on the IEEE <NUM> standard. In one embodiment, the wireless connection employs a Z-Wave® connection as designed by Sigma Designs®. Alternatively, the wireless connection may employ an ANT® and/or ANT+® connection as defined by Dynastream® Innovations Inc. of Cochrane, Canada.

The wireless connection may be an infrared connection including connections conforming at least to the Infrared Physical Layer Specification ("IrPHY") as defined by the Infrared Data Association® ("IrDA"®). Alternatively, the wireless connection may be a cellular telephone network communication. All standards and/or connection types include the latest version and revision of the standard and/or connection type as of the filing date of this application.

In one embodiment, the face mask <NUM> includes a processor <NUM>, which may be a microprocessor, an FPGA, an ASIC, and/or other programmable logic hardware, and a memory <NUM> that stores instructions, executable code, firmware, and/or the like for execution by the processor <NUM>. The memory <NUM> may be a random access memory ("RAM"), a read-only memory ("ROM"), an erasable programmable read-only memory ("EPROM" or Flash memory), and/or the like.

In one embodiment, the face mask <NUM> includes a network controller <NUM> such as a wireless network card ("NIC"). The NIC <NUM> may be configured to communicate wirelessly with an electronic device of the data network <NUM>. The NIC <NUM> may be configured to wireless communicate over a Bluetooth® connection, an NFC connection, a Wi-Fi connection, and/or the like.

The face mask <NUM>, in further embodiments, includes a power source that includes a battery <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may be a rechargeable battery, a replaceable battery, and/or the like. The battery <NUM> may be configured to provide power to the various components of the face mask <NUM>, e.g., the processor, memory, NIC <NUM>, sound management apparatus <NUM>, speaker <NUM>, sensors <NUM>/<NUM>, and/or the like. Other power sources may be used such as solar panels, or the like.

In one embodiment, the face mask <NUM> includes a physical switch/button <NUM> that is configured change the modes of the face mask <NUM>. The modes, in one embodiment, include a public mode or a private mode, which may be changed by toggling the switch/button <NUM>. The switch <NUM> may further be configured to turn the face mask <NUM> on/off (e.g., by holding the switch/button <NUM> down for a predefined period of time, by pressing the switch/button <NUM> in a certain pattern (press five times in a row, one long press and two short presses, and/or the like). Additionally, the face mask <NUM> may include a physical volume control <NUM> that controls the volume of the speaker <NUM>. In certain embodiments, a mobile application may execute on the electronic device <NUM> to control the mode, the speaker volume, a sensitivity of the microphone <NUM>, and/or other settings of the face mask <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the speaker <NUM> is located on an outer surface of the face mask <NUM> and is configured to broadcast sound captured from within the face mask <NUM>, e.g., the user's speech so that the user is easier to hear while speaking wearing the face mask <NUM>. In further embodiments, the face mask <NUM> includes sensors <NUM> located on the outside of the face mask <NUM>. The sensors <NUM> may be configured to detect the presence of objects such as other people, a proximity to those objects, and/or the like. The sensors <NUM> may include proximity sensors, motion sensors, infrared sensors, and/or the like. Furthermore, the face mask <NUM> may include sensors <NUM> on the inside of the face mask <NUM>. The sensors <NUM> may be configured to detect whether the face mask <NUM> is being worn or not. The sensors <NUM> may include proximity sensors, motion sensors, infrared sensors, and/or the like.

<FIG> depicts a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an apparatus <NUM> for a face mask for facilitating conversations. In one embodiment, the apparatus <NUM> includes an instance of a sound management apparatus <NUM>. The sound management apparatus <NUM>, in one embodiment, includes one or more of a sound capture module <NUM>, a mode module <NUM>, and a transmission module <NUM>, which are described in more detail below.

The sound capture module <NUM>, in one embodiment, is configured to capture, using a microphone <NUM>, audio spoken by a user wearing the face mask <NUM> depicted in <FIG>. As explained above, the microphone <NUM> may be located on the inner surface of a face mask <NUM> and may be configured to capture audio from within the face mask <NUM> while the face mask <NUM> is being worn.

The audio may be audible speech that the user speaks while the user is wearing the face mask <NUM>. The microphone <NUM> may be positioned on the inner surface of the face mask <NUM> to be in an optimal position to capture the user's speech, e.g., proximate to a user's mouth position. Multiple microphones <NUM> may be located on the inner surface of the face mask <NUM> to capture a full range of the user's speech.

The mode module <NUM>, in one embodiment, is configured to determine a mode that the face mask <NUM> is in for transmitting the captured audio to a destination. In one embodiment, the mode comprises a private mode or a public mode. In the private mode, as explained below, the audio that the microphone captures may be transmitted to an electronic device <NUM> such that the captured audio is not audible outside of the face mask <NUM>, e.g., to the general public. In the public mode, as explained below, the audio that the microphone captures is transmitted to the speaker <NUM> and broadcast outside the face mask <NUM>, e.g., broadcast to the general public.

In one embodiment, the mode module <NUM> is communicatively coupled to the switch <NUM> on the face mask <NUM> and receives signals from the switch <NUM> that indicate whether the face mask <NUM> is in a public or private mode. For instance, the mode module <NUM> may receive a signal, flag, bit, or the like that the switch/button <NUM> generates when it is actuated between a public mode and a private mode.

In some embodiments, if the mode module <NUM> detects that the face mask <NUM> is communicatively coupled to an electronic device <NUM>, the mode module <NUM> may default to a private mode. In such an embodiment, a user may temporarily switch the mode from private to public mode by actuating the button/switch <NUM> while speaking (e.g., similar to a walkie-talkie), or may permanently switch the mode from private to public mode by actuating the switch <NUM> for a predetermined period of time, in a certain pattern (e.g., pressing two times, one short press and one long press, and/or the like), and/or the like. In further embodiments, if the face mask <NUM> is disconnected from the electronic device <NUM>, the face mask <NUM> may automatically be placed in a public mode.

In certain embodiments, when the mode is switched between private and public modes, the mode module <NUM> may provide feedback via the speaker <NUM> to indicate to the user that the mode has changed. The feedback may include voice feedback, e.g., a voice command such as "mode changed to public mode," tone feedback, e.g., a beep, and/or the like.

The transmission module <NUM>, in one embodiment, is configured to transmit the captured audio to the destination based on the determined mode. In one embodiment, if the face mask <NUM> is in a private mode, the destination may be one or more electronic devices <NUM> that are communicatively connected to the face mask <NUM>. For instance, if the mode module <NUM> determines that the face mask <NUM> is in a private mode, the transmission module <NUM> may send the captured audio, e.g., the user's voice, to a smart phone that is connected to the face mask <NUM> over a Bluetooth® connection.

In certain embodiments, if the face mask <NUM> is in a public mode, the destination is the speaker <NUM> such that the audio captured from within the face mask <NUM> is broadcast from the speaker away from the face mask <NUM>. For instance, if the mode module <NUM> determines that the face mask <NUM> is in a public mode, the transmission module <NUM> may send the captured audio, e.g., the user's voice, to the speaker <NUM>. In such an embodiment, the user may control the volume of the speaker using the volume control <NUM>.

In certain embodiments, a mobile application executing on the electronic device <NUM> may be configured to control various features of the face mask <NUM>, including the mode that the face mask <NUM> is in, e.g., public/private, turning the face mask on/off, controlling the volume of the speaker <NUM>, and/or the like.

<FIG> depicts a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an apparatus <NUM> for a face mask for facilitating conversations. In one embodiment, the apparatus <NUM> includes an instance of a sound management apparatus <NUM>. The sound management apparatus <NUM>, in one embodiment, includes one or more of a sound capture module <NUM>, a mode module <NUM>, and a transmission module <NUM>, which may be substantially similar to the sound capture module <NUM>, the mode module <NUM>, and the transmission module <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>. In further embodiments, the sound management apparatus <NUM> includes one or more of a private module <NUM> and a deactivation module <NUM>, which are described in more detail below.

The private module <NUM>, in one embodiment, is configured to output noise cancelling sounds from the speaker <NUM> in response to the face mask <NUM> being in a private mode. To add an additional layer of security and privacy (in addition to the soundproof material that the face mask <NUM> is made of), while the face mask <NUM> is in a private mode where the audio captured from within the face mask <NUM> is transmitted to the electronic device <NUM>, the private module <NUM> triggers, generates, creates, and/or the like noise-cancelling sounds to be output by the speaker <NUM> so that people around the user cannot hear what the user is saying.

The private module <NUM>, for instance, may create noise cancelling sounds by generating a sound wave that the speaker emits that has the same amplitude, but an inverted phase as the original sound, e.g., the user's voice. In such an embodiment, if the sounds waves overlap outside of the face mask <NUM>, then the sound waves would effectively cancel each other out. One of skill in the art would recognize other methods for generating noise cancelling sounds.

In certain embodiments, the private module <NUM> uses the sensors <NUM> located on the outer surface of the face mask <NUM> to determine if there are people within a proximity of the user, e.g., people around a device that the user is giving voice commands to or people besides a person who is the intended target of the conversation. The private module <NUM> may use environment data that the sensors <NUM> capture, e.g., proximity data, motion data, and/or the like, to determine how many other people are around the user, distances to each person, and/or the like, and may set privacy settings based on the environment data such as a volume of the speaker, a type/level of the noise cancelling sounds, and/or the like.

The deactivation module <NUM>, in one embodiment, is configured to deactivate the speaker <NUM> in response to detecting no people with a proximity of the face mask <NUM>. The deactivation module <NUM> may use environmental data captured using the sensors <NUM> that are located on the outer surface of the face mask <NUM> to determine if there are people within a sensing proximity of the face mask <NUM>, e.g., a speaking distance. The sensors <NUM> may include proximity sensors, motion sensors, and/or the like. If there is no one within speaking distance of the user, then the deactivation module <NUM> may deactivate the speaker to conserve battery life, or the like.

Similarly, the deactivation module <NUM> may activate the speaker <NUM> if the face mask <NUM> is in public mode and the deactivation module <NUM> detects the presence of at least one person or device, e.g., a smart speaker such as an Alexa-enabled device, within a proximity of the face mask <NUM> based on input from the sensors <NUM> located on the outer surface of the face mask <NUM>. In this manner, the speaker <NUM> is not always enabled but is enabled and disabled as the sensors <NUM> detect users or devices within a proximity of the face mask <NUM>.

The deactivation module <NUM>, in further embodiments, uses environmental data captured using the sensor <NUM> that are located on the inner surface of the face mask <NUM> to determine if the user is wearing the face mask <NUM>. The sensors <NUM> may include proximity sensors, motion sensors, or the like. If the deactivation module <NUM> determines that the user is not wearing the face mask <NUM>, the deactivation module <NUM> automatically deactivates the components of the face mask <NUM>, e.g., the processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, microphone <NUM>, or the like, to conserve battery life because the face mask <NUM> is not currently in use.

Similarly, the deactivation module <NUM> may activate the components of the face mask <NUM>, e.g., the processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, microphone <NUM>, or the like in response to determining that the face mask <NUM> is being worn, which is based on input captured by the sensors <NUM>, e.g., proximity sensors, motion sensors, or the like, on the inner surface of the face mask <NUM>. In this manner, the components of the face mask <NUM> are not always on but are enabled and disabled as the user puts on and takes off the face mask <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method <NUM> for a face mask <NUM> for facilitating conversations. In one embodiment, the method <NUM> begins and captures <NUM>, using a microphone <NUM>, audio spoken by a user wearing the face mask <NUM>. In further embodiments, the method <NUM> determines <NUM> a mode that the face mask <NUM> is in for transmitting the captured audio to a destination.

In certain embodiments, the method <NUM> transmits <NUM> the captured audio to the destination based on the determined mode, and the method <NUM> ends. In one embodiment, the sound capture module <NUM>, the mode module <NUM>, and the transmission module <NUM> perform the various steps of the method <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method <NUM> for a face mask <NUM> for facilitating conversations. In one embodiment, the method <NUM> begins, and captures <NUM>, using a microphone <NUM>, audio spoken by a user wearing the face mask <NUM>. In further embodiments, the method <NUM> determines <NUM> a mode that the face mask <NUM> is in for transmitting the captured audio to a destination.

In one embodiment, if the method <NUM> determines that the face mask <NUM> is in private mode <NUM>, the method <NUM> outputs <NUM> noise cancelling sounds and transmits <NUM> the captured audio to an electronic device over a short-range wireless network, e.g., Bluetooth®, and the method <NUM> ends.

In further embodiments, if the method <NUM> determines that the face mask <NUM> is in public mode <NUM>, the method <NUM> transmits <NUM> the captured audio to a speaker <NUM>, and the method <NUM> ends. In one embodiment, the sound capture module <NUM>, the mode module <NUM>, the transmission module <NUM>, and the private module <NUM> perform the various steps of the method <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A face mask (<NUM>), comprising:
a microphone (<NUM>) located on an inside of the face mask (<NUM>);
a speaker (<NUM>) located on an outer surface of the face mask;
a processor (<NUM>) located on the inside of the face mask (<NUM>) and connected to the microphone (<NUM>) and the speaker (<NUM>); and
a memory located on the inside of the face mask (<NUM>), the memory storing code executable by the processor (<NUM>) to:
capture, using the microphone (<NUM>), audio spoken by a user wearing the face mask (<NUM>);
determine that the face mask (<NUM>) is in a private mode for transmitting the captured audio in response to detecting that the face mask is communicatively connected to an external communication device (<NUM>) over a short-range wireless communication network (<NUM>);
enable the speaker (<NUM>) to output (<NUM>) sound to cancel the sound of the user's voice, the output sound having the same amplitude as but inverted phase to the sound of the user's voice, in response to the face mask being in the private mode;
r transmit, while in the private mode, the captured audio to the external communication device (<NUM>) for output via the external communication device (<NUM>);
switch the mode for the face mask to a public mode in response to the face mask being disconnected from the external communication device (<NUM>); and
transmit, while in the public mode, the captured audio to the speaker (<NUM>) for output from the speaker (<NUM>).