Integrated Headsets Using the Adaptive Hybrid Active Noise Control System

An integrated approach towards the development of an active noise control (ANC) headset for audio and communication applications is explored and evaluated. Two different ANC methods are presented and their performance compared. The first method called the integrated feedback active noise control (IFBANC) system employs adaptive feedback ANC technique. Its main advantage is the use of a single error microphone per ear-cup. The second method is the integrated hybrid active noise control (IHANC) system. This approach combines adaptive feedforward and feedback ANC techniques and requires the use of an error microphone and a reference microphone that is mounted on the external of the ear-cup. Simulations have been conducted for both integrated ANC methods and they performed equally well in the lower frequency range. However, the IHANC system continues to perform moderately well in the mid frequency range where the IFBANC system exhibits only slight attenuation. In addition, the IHANC system performs better than the IFBANC system in attenuating narrowly spaced periodic noise in the lower frequency range