# US 11,451,915 B2 · Apparatus, system, and method of testing an acoustic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,451,915 B2 - Document ID: US11451915B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/519,367 - Filed: 2021-11-04 - Published: 2022-06-30 - Granted: 2022-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 2020-12-30 - Assignees: Silentium Ltd. - Applicants: Silentium Ltd. - Inventors: Tzvi Fridman; Mordehay Elbaz; Victor Melichov; Iddo Sheinfeld - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11451915B2 ## CPC - H04R 29/008: {Visual indication of individual signal levels (visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40)} - H04R 29/001: {for loudspeakers (H04R29/007 takes precedence)} - H04R 29/004: {for microphones (H04R29/007 takes precedence)} - G10K 11/175: using interference effects; Masking sound - G10K 11/178: by electro-acoustically regenerating the original acoustic waves in anti-phase - G10K 2210/128: Vehicles - H04R 29/002: {Loudspeaker arrays} - H04R 29/005: {Microphone arrays} - H04R 2430/03: Synergistic effects of band splitting and sub-band processing - H04R 2499/13: Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of testing an acoustic device, an acoustic component, and/or a device or system including one or more acoustic devices. For example, an acoustic device tester may be configured to process input acoustic information of a tested acoustic device to determine a tested acoustic value distribution for the tested acoustic device in a plurality of frequency sub-bands; determine whether or not the tested acoustic device meets a predefined testing criterion based on the tested acoustic value distribution and a reference profile defining a plurality of reference values corresponding to the plurality of frequency sub-bands, respectively; and generate an output to indicate whether or not the tested acoustic device meets the predefined testing criterion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A product comprising one or more tangible computer-readable non-transitory storage media comprising computer-executable instructions operable to, when executed by at least one processor, enable the at least one processor to cause an acoustic device tester to: process input acoustic information of a tested acoustic device to determine a tested acoustic value distribution for the tested acoustic device in a plurality of frequency sub-bands, the tested acoustic value distribution for the tested acoustic device comprising a plurality of tested values in the plurality of frequency sub-bands, respectively; determine whether or not the tested acoustic device meets a predefined testing criterion based on the tested acoustic value distribution and a reference profile defining a plurality of reference values corresponding to the plurality of frequency sub-bands, respectively, wherein the reference profile comprises threshold information defining a plurality of thresholds corresponding to the plurality of frequency sub-bands, wherein the plurality of thresholds comprises a first threshold corresponding to a first frequency sub-band, and a second threshold corresponding to a second frequency sub-band, the second threshold is different from the first threshold, wherein the first threshold comprises a first failure threshold to identify failure with respect to the first frequency sub-band, wherein the second threshold comprises a second failure threshold, different from the first failure threshold, to identify failure with respect to the second frequency sub-band, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the acoustic device tester to: determine a plurality of difference values corresponding to the plurality of frequency sub-bands, respectively, wherein the plurality of difference values comprises a first difference value corresponding to the first frequency sub-band and a second difference value corresponding to the second frequency sub-band, wherein the first difference value comprises a difference between a first tested value corresponding to the first frequency sub-band and a first reference value corresponding to the first frequency sub-band, and wherein the second difference value comprises a difference between a second tested value corresponding to the second frequency sub-band and a second reference value corresponding to the second frequency sub-band; and determine whether or not the tested acoustic device meets the predefined testing criterion based on the plurality of difference values and the plurality of thresholds; and generate an output to indicate whether or not the tested acoustic device meets the predefined testing criterion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the acoustic device tester to determine whether or not the tested acoustic device meets the predefined testing criterion based on a plurality of comparison results corresponding to the plurality of frequency sub-bands, wherein the plurality of comparison results comprises a first comparison result corresponding to the first frequency sub-band, and a second comparison result corresponding to the second frequency sub-band, wherein the first comparison result is based on a comparison between the first difference value and the first threshold, and the second comparison result is based on a comparison between the second difference value and the second threshold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the acoustic device tester to determine that the tested acoustic device fails to meet the predefined testing criterion based on at least one of a first failure determination or a second failure determination, wherein the first failure determination comprises a determination that the first difference value corresponding to the first frequency sub-band exceeds the first threshold corresponding to the first frequency sub-band, wherein the second failure determination comprises a determination that the second difference value corresponding to the second frequency sub-band exceeds the second threshold corresponding to the second frequency sub-band. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the plurality of thresholds comprises a third threshold corresponding to a third frequency sub-band, the third threshold is equal to the second threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the threshold information defines a first frequency-range threshold value to be set for a first plurality of thresholds corresponding to a first plurality of frequency sub-bands in a first frequency range, and a second frequency-range threshold value, different from the first frequency-range threshold value, to be set for a second plurality of thresholds corresponding to a second plurality of frequency sub-bands in a second frequency range. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the acoustic device tester to determine that the tested acoustic device fails to meet the predefined testing criterion based on a determination that, for at least one particular frequency sub-band, a difference value corresponding to the particular frequency sub-band is greater than a threshold corresponding to the particular frequency sub-band. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the acoustic device tester to determine that the tested acoustic device meets the predefined testing criterion based on a determination that, for each particular frequency sub-band, a difference value corresponding to the particular frequency sub-band is not greater than a threshold corresponding to the particular frequency sub-band. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the acoustic device tester to select the reference profile from a plurality of a reference profiles based on at least one attribute corresponding to the tested acoustic device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The product of claim 8, wherein the plurality of reference profiles comprises a first reference profile defining a first plurality of reference values, and a second reference profile defining a second plurality of reference values, wherein the first plurality of reference values is different from the second plurality of reference values. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The product of claim 8, wherein the at least one attribute corresponding to the tested acoustic device comprises a sensor/transducer attribute defining whether the tested acoustic device is an acoustic sensor or an acoustic transducer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The product of claim 8, wherein the at least one attribute corresponding to the tested acoustic device comprises an assembly-configuration attribute defining a configuration of an assembly of the tested acoustic device in a tested device or system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the acoustic device tester to determine the plurality of reference values based on reference acoustic information of a reference acoustic device, which meets the predefined testing criterion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the tested acoustic device comprises an acoustic transducer, wherein the input acoustic information of the tested acoustic device is based on an output signal of an acoustic sensor subject to an acoustic signal output by the acoustic transducer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the tested acoustic device comprises an acoustic sensor, wherein the input acoustic information of the tested acoustic device is based on an output signal of the acoustic sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the acoustic device tester to: process input acoustic information corresponding to acoustic signals communicated between the tested acoustic device and a plurality of other acoustic devices, to determine a plurality of tested acoustic value distributions corresponding to a respective plurality of combinations of the tested acoustic device with the plurality of other acoustic devices; determine a plurality of test results for the plurality of tested acoustic value distributions, wherein a test result for a particular tested acoustic value distribution is based on tested values of the particular tested acoustic value distribution and a reference profile for the particular tested acoustic value distribution; and determine whether or not the tested acoustic device meets the predefined testing criterion based on the plurality of test results. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the acoustic device tester to determine a tested value for a frequency sub-band based on a sum of acoustic values in the frequency sub-band. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the plurality of frequency sub-bands comprises a plurality of ⅓-octave bands. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the plurality of frequency sub-bands comprises at least 5 frequency sub-bands. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the tested acoustic value distribution comprises a tested acoustic energy distribution comprising a plurality of tested energy values in the plurality of frequency sub-bands. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the tested acoustic value distribution represents a tested acoustic transfer function of the tested acoustic device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the acoustic device tester to determine whether or not the tested acoustic device meets a runtime testing criterion relating to runtime conditions during operation of a device comprising the tested acoustic device, wherein the input acoustic information of the tested acoustic device comprises runtime acoustic information at the runtime conditions. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the acoustic device tester to determine whether or not the tested acoustic device meets an End of Line (EOL) testing criterion relating to EOL conditions at an EOL manufacturing process of the tested acoustic device, wherein the input acoustic information of the tested acoustic device comprises EOL acoustic information at the EOL conditions. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The product of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the acoustic device tester to determine whether or not the tested acoustic device meets a post-assembly testing criterion relating to post-assembly conditions of the tested acoustic device assembled in a device, wherein the input acoustic information of the tested acoustic device comprises post-assembly acoustic information at the post-assembly conditions. ### Claim 24 An apparatus comprising: a memory to store a reference profile defining a plurality of reference values corresponding to a plurality of frequency sub-bands, respectively, wherein the reference profile comprises threshold information defining a plurality of thresholds corresponding to the plurality of frequency sub-bands, wherein the plurality of thresholds comprises a first threshold corresponding to a first frequency sub-band, and a second threshold corresponding to a second frequency sub-band, the second threshold is different from the first threshold, wherein the first threshold comprises a first failure threshold to identify failure with respect to the first frequency sub-band, wherein the second threshold comprises a second failure threshold, different from the first failure threshold, to identify failure with respect to the second frequency sub-band; and an acoustic device tester to: process input acoustic information of a tested acoustic device to determine a tested acoustic value distribution for the tested acoustic device in the plurality of frequency sub-bands, the tested acoustic value distribution for the tested acoustic device comprising a plurality of tested values in the plurality of frequency sub-bands, respectively; determine whether or not the tested acoustic device meets a predefined testing criterion based on the tested acoustic value distribution and the reference profile, wherein the acoustic device tester is configured to: determine a plurality of difference values corresponding to the plurality of frequency sub-bands, respectively, wherein the plurality of difference values comprises a first difference value corresponding to the first frequency sub-band and a second difference value corresponding to the second frequency sub-band, wherein the first difference value comprises a difference between a first tested value corresponding to the first frequency sub-band and a first reference value corresponding to the first frequency sub-band, and wherein the second difference value comprises a difference between a second tested value corresponding to the second frequency sub-band and a second reference value corresponding to the second frequency sub-band; and determine whether or not the tested acoustic device meets the predefined testing criterion based on the plurality of difference values and the plurality of thresholds; and generate an output to indicate whether or not the tested acoustic device meets the predefined testing criterion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the acoustic device tester is configured to determine whether or not the tested acoustic device meets the predefined testing criterion based on a plurality of comparison results corresponding to the plurality of frequency sub-bands, wherein the plurality of comparison results comprises a first comparison result corresponding to the first frequency sub-band, and a second comparison result corresponding to the second frequency sub-band, wherein the first comparison result is based on a comparison between the first difference value and the first threshold, and the second comparison result is based on a comparison between the second difference value and the second threshold. ### Claim 26 A method of testing an acoustic device, the method comprising: processing input acoustic information of a tested acoustic device to determine a tested acoustic value distribution for the tested acoustic device in a plurality of frequency sub-bands, the tested acoustic value distribution for the tested acoustic device comprising a plurality of tested values in the plurality of frequency sub-bands, respectively; determining whether or not the tested acoustic device meets a predefined testing criterion based on the tested acoustic value distribution and a reference profile defining a plurality of reference values corresponding to the plurality of frequency sub-bands, respectively, wherein the reference profile comprises threshold information defining a plurality of thresholds corresponding to the plurality of frequency sub-bands, wherein the plurality of thresholds comprises a first threshold corresponding to a first frequency sub-band, and a second threshold corresponding to a second frequency sub-band, the second threshold is different from the first threshold, wherein the first threshold comprises a first failure threshold to identify failure with respect to the first frequency sub-band, wherein the second threshold comprises a second failure threshold, different from the first failure threshold, to identify failure with respect to the second frequency sub-band, wherein determining whether or not the tested acoustic device meets the predefined testing criterion comprises: determining a plurality of difference values corresponding to the plurality of frequency sub-bands, respectively, wherein the plurality of difference values comprises a first difference value corresponding to the first frequency sub-band and a second difference value corresponding to the second frequency sub-band, wherein the first difference value comprises a difference between a first tested value corresponding to the first frequency sub-band and a first reference value corresponding to the first frequency sub-band, and wherein the second difference value comprises a difference between a second tested value corresponding to the second frequency sub-band and a second reference value corresponding to the second frequency sub-band; and determining whether or not the tested acoustic device meets the predefined testing criterion based on the plurality of difference values and the plurality of thresholds; and generating an output to indicate whether or not the tested acoustic device meets the predefined testing criterion. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26 comprising determining whether or not the tested acoustic device meets the predefined testing criterion based on a plurality of comparison results corresponding to the plurality of frequency sub-bands, wherein the plurality of comparison results comprises a first comparison result corresponding to the first frequency sub-band, and a second comparison result corresponding to the second frequency sub-band, wherein the first comparison result is based on a comparison between the first difference value and the first threshold, and the second comparison result is based on a comparison between the second difference value and the second threshold.