Safe & Sound Wearables
Hearing Guard System
Developer: Jon Morss
Date: 2/18/2017
INTRODUCTION
Motivation
The motivation for creating this project was that I had seen individuals loose part of their hearing from the continuos exposure to lab and data center noise. What I had observed was that there devices in place to measure the temperature and humidity and even the carbon monoxide levels in an area but nothing that indicated the noise level in these same areas. The devices in the data centers are typically in place to protect the equipment in the racks racks rather than the individuals in the data center.
According to the CDC:
"Four million workers go to work each day in damaging noise. Ten million people in the U.S. have a noise-related hearing loss. Twenty-two million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise each year."
This is an alarming static.
Anyone in an occupation that involves some sort of noise exposure will typically go through training to learn the proper user of hearing protection. However, after prolonged exposure to an elevated noise level, the individual may no longer be sensitive to what is a hazardous level of noise. Without any external indicator to alert them that the noise in the area is at an unsafe level for prolonged exposure, they may further damage their hearing.
This Hearing Guard system idea was conceived to fill in the gaps in Data Centers, Labs, and other areas where individuals are exposed to continuous hazardous noise levels.
OVERVIEW
The Hearing Guard System is a Personal Noise Sensor system designed to alert the user of a hazardous condition that could damage their hearing indicating that they need to wear hearing protection. The Hearing Guard System (HGS) detects the noise level in the immediate area of the user or a monitored room and will display a color associated with the noise level threshold that is configurable by the user. Also, the current and maximum DB level will be indicated on the display as a secondary alert to the user. The HGS Receives audio in via the on system audio circuit and verifies the db level to ensure sound level does not exceed a user selectable threshold. The level is indicated by a led color with green indicating normal noise level and red indicating the threshold has been exceeded and the noise level is at a hazardous level. Water mark is set at 75% of threshold so a warning is issued when the threshold is being reached.
The HGS modules
A Personal Noise Sensor device that can be worn on the body of the user preferably at or around chest level small enough to fit on a badge or wrist and light up to indicate the noise level..
A Base unit that collects the noise level history from the PNS and Room Monitor
A Room Monitor unit that can be placed in a strategic location to monitor the noise level in the room alerting occupants of the noise level in the room
Personal Noise Sensor
The Personal Noise Sensor is worn by the user and will light according to the noise level in the immediate area to the wearer by sampling the sound via the on unit audio circuit. The display on the Personal Noise Sensor (PNS) will display the current dB level and the set threshold level. Also, any alerts that have occurred recently will be displayed on the LCD by tapping the touch pads on the Sharp LCD Booster.
There will be 4 levels of indiction:
Green - Sound level is safe
Yellow - Sound level is elevated but not in danger zone (In ear protection suggested but not required)
Orange - Sound level is in danger zone and in ear protection is required
Red - Sound level is at a hazardous level and In ear as well as over ear protection required.
Input
Input to the PNS will be from the Touch Pads on the Sharp LCD booster pack. The user can use this to clear an alert, view dB levels and to transmit the data to the Base Unit. The Noise Level will be sampled from the on unit audio circuit which takes periodic samples of the noise the user is exposed to or if there is a sudden increase in the noise level.
Output
Display data will be viewed via the Sharp LCD booster pack. The data on the PNS can be transmitted to the Base unit via NFC/RFID or Bluetooth(le). To use the NFC/RFID option, the user places the PNS next to the Base unit and selects the appropriate option to transfer the data from the base unit display. The BLE option from the PNS is selectable by the user from the touch pads on the PNS and navigating to the BLE option for transfer of data. Note: This option will utilize more battery energy so the user needs to ensure there is enough batter life in the unit for the transfer.
Base unit
The Base Unit will be the central data collection unit for both the Personal Noise Sensor and the Room Monitor. The data transfer from the Personal Noise Sensor can occur either with NFC/RFID or with Bluetooth LE. The Room Monitor will use either Bluetooth LE or WiFi for the transfer of data from the room.
Input
Input to the Base Unit will be from the QVGA Touch screen. The user can transfer data from the Personal Noise Sensor or the Room Monitor to the Base Unit from the touch screen. Also, the user can set the threshold values for either the PNS or the Room Monitor. The data stored on the Base Unit can be viewed for historical purposes to identify any trends in the Noise Levels.
Output
The OVGA display on the Base Unit will be used to display the data collected and the current Noise Level settings.
Room Monitor
At this time, a separate Room Monitor unit is proposed but this functionality may get placed into the Base Unit to reduce complexity. The Room monitor has the same features as the PNS but is used to sample the room noise to alert anyone in the room or entering the room with regards to the Noise Level. Add environmental data such as Temperature, Humidity, and CO2 levels may be added if time permits.
Input
Input to the Room Monitor will be from the Touch Pads on the Sharp LCD booster pack. The user can use this to clear an alert, view dB levels and to transmit the data to the Base Unit. The Noise Level will be sampled from the on unit audio circuit which takes periodic samples of the noise the user is exposed to or if there is a sudden increase in the noise levels.
Output
Display data will be viewed via the Sharp LCD booster pack. The data on the Room Monitor can be transmitted to the Base unit via NFC/RFID or Bluetooth(le). To use the NFC/RFID option, the user places the PNS next to the Base unit and selects the appropriate option to transfer the data from the base unit display. The BLE option from the Room Monitor is selectable by the user from the touch pads on the Room Monitor and navigating to the BLE option for transfer of data. Note: This option will utilize more battery energy so the user needs to ensure there is enough batter life in the unit for the transfer.
HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
Base (main) unit:
MSP-EXP432P401RMSP-EXP432P401RLaunchpad
CC3100MODBOOSTCC3100MODBOOSTWi-Fi Network Processor
DLP-7970ABPDLP-7970ABPDLP Design NFC/RFID BoosterPack
BOOSTXL-CC2650MABOOSTXL-CC2650MABLE Network Processor
BOOSTXL-SENSORS Sensors Booster Pack
TIDM-3DGRAPHICS-QVGA Kentec QVGA Display BoosterPack
Personal Noise Sensor
MSP-EXP432P401RMSP-EXP432P401RLaunchpad
BOOSTXL-CC2650MABOOSTXL-CC2650MABLE Network Processo
BQ25570EVM-206BQ25570EVM-206Ultra Low Power Management IC Boost Charger
430BOOST-SHARP96430BOOST-SHARP96Memory LCD Booster Pack
NFC/RFID Patch
LM386 Audio Circuit
Room Noise Sensor
MSP-EXP432P401RMSP-EXP432P401RLaunchpad
BOOSTXL-CC2650MABOOSTXL-CC2650MABLE Network Processo
CC3100MODBOOSTCC3100MODBOOSTWi-Fi Network Processor
430BOOST-SHARP96430BOOST-SHARP96Memory LCD Booster Pack
BOOSTXL-SENSORS Sensors Booster Pack
LM386 Audio Circuit
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT TOOLS
TI RTOS
Code Composer Studio
SimpleLink Wi-Fi CC3100 Software Development Kit
TI Bluetooth low energy software stack
MQTT
REST
HIGH LEVEL ARCHITECTURE
