Acoustic Sensing for Diverse Applications

Publication ID: 24-11857360_0002_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:New Applications & Use Cases

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Acoustic Sensing for Diverse Applications,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857360_0002_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857360_0002_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,360.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

The inventive concept leverages the core technology of the biological sound measurement device to explore new applications and use cases in various industries, such as livestock health monitoring, water pollution detection, athletic performance tracking, environmental noise pollution monitoring, and industrial equipment failure detection.

Background and Problem Solved

The original biological sound measurement device was primarily designed for measuring respiratory sounds in humans. However, its limitations in terms of adaptability and versatility hindered its applicability in other fields. The new inventive concept addresses this limitation by applying the core technology to entirely different industries and problems, unlocking new possibilities for acoustic sensing.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The new inventive concept involves adapting the biological sound measurement device to measure acoustic emissions in various contexts. For instance, in livestock health monitoring, the device can be used to detect anomalies in respiratory sounds indicative of illness. In water pollution detection, the device can measure aquatic sounds to identify changes indicative of pollution. Similarly, in athletic performance tracking, the device can measure heart sounds and breathing patterns to provide real-time feedback. In environmental noise pollution monitoring, a network of devices can be deployed to identify sources of excessive noise. Lastly, in industrial equipment failure detection, the device can measure acoustic emissions from machinery to identify patterns indicative of impending failure.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new inventive concept introduces a novel application of the biological sound measurement device's core technology, expanding its scope beyond human respiratory sound measurement. The inventive step lies in recognizing the potential of the device to address diverse problems in various industries, thereby creating new opportunities for acoustic sensing.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include integrating the biological sound measurement device with other sensors, such as temperature or humidity sensors, to provide a more comprehensive monitoring system. Variations could also involve developing specialized devices for specific industries, such as a wearable device for athletes or a handheld device for environmental monitoring.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in various industries, including agriculture, environmental monitoring, sports technology, and industrial maintenance. The target market includes companies and organizations seeking innovative solutions for monitoring and detecting anomalies in their respective fields.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61B7/04
A A61 A61B5/7445
H H04 H04R1/46
A A61 A61B2560/0425

Field of Art

Medical and acoustic sensing technologies, specifically biological sound measurement devices with applications in physiological monitoring, sensor design, and acoustic signal processing

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

An engineer with expertise in biomedical instrumentation, signal processing, and sensor design, possessing knowledge of acoustic measurement techniques, medical device development, and interdisciplinary sensor applications

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the core acoustic sensing technology disclosed in the source patent represents a versatile platform for measuring biological and environmental sounds across multiple domains. The fundamental signal acquisition and processing principles are readily adaptable to diverse monitoring contexts by applying standard engineering techniques of sensor reconfiguration and domain-specific signal analysis.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Sound measurement unit with contact surface for capturing biological sounds
PTD Variation
Applying the contact-based acoustic sensing to livestock respiratory monitoring
Obviousness Reasoning
Extending acoustic sensing to animal health monitoring represents a predictable variation using known sensor adaptation techniques, with a finite and foreseeable set of potential applications
Source Patent Element
Microphone-based sound detection mechanism
PTD Variation
Deploying multiple devices in a networked configuration for environmental noise monitoring
Obviousness Reasoning
Scaling acoustic sensing technology to distributed monitoring is an obvious engineering solution using standard sensor network design principles
Source Patent Element
Signal processing capabilities for analyzing biological sounds
PTD Variation
Analyzing acoustic emissions from industrial machinery to predict equipment failure
Obviousness Reasoning
Applying pattern recognition techniques to acoustic signals represents a known approach in predictive maintenance, utilizing standard signal processing methodologies
Source Patent Element
Display unit for presenting analysis results
PTD Variation
Integrating additional sensor data like temperature or humidity for comprehensive monitoring
Obviousness Reasoning
Combining multiple sensor inputs is a standard design approach for enhancing monitoring capabilities, representing an obvious enhancement to the original device
Source Patent Element
Portable biological sound measurement device
PTD Variation
Creating specialized wearable configurations for athletic performance tracking
Obviousness Reasoning
Adapting a medical sensing device to sports performance monitoring represents a predictable variation using known sensor miniaturization and ergonomic design techniques
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857360 and the disclosed variations, a person of ordinary skill in the art would find the proposed acoustic sensing applications obvious and predictable extensions of existing biological sound measurement technologies, thereby rendering potential claims in this domain anticipated and non-patentable under standard obviousness analysis.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,360
TitleBiological sound measurement device
Assignee(s)Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd.