Design and develop a prototype for Quadiometer integrated with

ANSI standards for meeting lower limits in compliance for air and
bone conduction.

By

20EC437: Meshwa Naik

Guided by

Prof. Amit H. Choksi

Dr. Bhargav C.
Goradiya

A Report is submitted to
Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya (Engineering College), An Autonomous
Institution affiliated to Gujarat Technological University in Partial Fulfillment of
the Requirements for
The Bachelor of Technology with Specialization in Electronics
and Communication Engineering

BIRLA VISHVAKARMA MAHAVIDYALAYA

(ENGINEERING COLLEGE)
AN AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTION
Vallabh Vidyanagar – 388120
GUJARAT, INDIA
 COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the work embodied in this Project entitled “Design and develop a
prototype for Quadiometer integrated with ANSI standards for meeting lower
limits in compliance for air and bone conduction.” was carried out at Birla
Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya (Engineering College) An Autonomous Institution for
partial fulfillment of Bachelor of Technology with Specialization in Electronics and
Communication Engineering degree to be awarded by Gujarat Technological
University.

Date:
07/03/2024
Place:
Anand,
Gujarat

Name of the Student ID No. of the Student Student Sign

Meshwa Naik 20EC437

Guide Name & Sign Project Coordinator & Head Sign
Sign

Prof. Amit H. Choksi Dr. Darshan C. Dalwadi Dr. Bhargav C. Goradiya

Dr. Bhargav C. Goradiya

BIRLA VISHVAKARMA MAHAVIDYALAYA

(ENGINEERING COLLEGE)
AN AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTION
Vallabh Vidyanagar – 388120
GUJARAT, INDIA
 ABSTRACT
An audiometer is a device used to evaluate a person's hearing abilities. It
produces pure tones at different frequencies and intensities, which are
presented to the individual through headphones. The person undergoing
the test responds to the tones, indicating when they can hear them. This
allows audiologists and other healthcare professionals to measure the
sensitivity of an individual's hearing across different frequencies and
volumes, helping to diagnose hearing loss and determine appropriate
treatment options. Audiometers are commonly used in medical settings
such as clinics, hospitals, and audiologist offices. Quadio Labs has
developed an Audiometer, called Quadiometer, which is a highly
portable, ultra-light, fully digital, diagnostic dual channel PC based
Audiometer with Air Conduction, Bone Conduction, Masking - NBN,
BBN, SBN (optional), Pulsed Tone, Warble Tone. It can be used for
doing Special Tests like Tone Decay, SISI, and ABLB, and has Digital
Calibration (can be calibrated on PC without having to open the
Quadiometer) feature. External AC power is not required as it operates
with PC USB connection. Quadiometer can also be used to conduct Tele-
Audiometry over internet, with patient at remote location, using our
licensed software that comes with the Quadiometer.

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 INTRODUCTION

Quadio labs has made prototype of Quadiometer. A prototype was developed

a few years back to meet the upper limits of the ANSI standard. The
prototype consists of an additional Board that couples with the existing Board
of the Quadiometer. The additional Board uses programmable amplifiers and
an Arduino microcontroller to increase the output levels of the Quadiometer.
However Quadiometer also needs to meet the lower limits of ANSI standards,
where signals of -10dB are played. So the project is, complete design and
development of prototype will have to be done and integrated with the design
for meeting the upper limits of ANSI standards.

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 WORK DONE

 What is Audiometer?
A device used to assess a person's hearing capacity is an audiometer.
Through headphones, the user is exposed to pure tones produced at
various frequencies and intensities. The test subject indicates when they
can hear the tones by responding to them. By measuring an individual's
sensitivity to various frequencies and volumes, audiologists and other
medical professionals can diagnose hearing loss and identify the best
course of therapy. In medical environments including clinics, hospitals,
and audiology offices, audiometers are frequently utilized.

 What is Air Conduction?

Air conduction in audiometry refers to the process of testing your
ability to hear sounds through the air, rather than through bone
conduction. During an audiometry test, you'll typically wear
headphones or earphones connected to an audiometer. The audiologist
will play different tones or words at various volumes through these
headphones, and you'll indicate when you hear them by pressing a
button or raising your hand. This test helps determine the softest sounds
you can hear across different frequencies. It's useful for assessing
overall hearing ability and detecting any issues with the outer, middle,
or inner ear, as well as the auditory nerve and pathways to the brain.

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 What is Bone Conduction?
Bone conduction is another method used in audiometry to test hearing.
Instead of using headphones or earphones, bone conduction involves
transmitting sounds directly to the inner ear through the bones of the
skull. During a bone conduction test, a small device called a bone
oscillator is placed behind the ear, typically on the mastoid bone. This
device sends vibrations through the bone to stimulate the inner ear
directly, bypassing the outer and middle ear. The test helps assess the
function of the inner ear and the auditory nerve. It's particularly useful
for determining whether hearing loss is due to problems in the outer or
middle ear (conductive hearing loss) or issues in the inner ear or
auditory nerve (sensor neural hearing loss).

 ANSI specifications for Audiometer

The ANSI specification for audiometers sets out standards ensuring
accurate and reliable hearing tests. It mandates regular calibration to
maintain precise sound level output. Audiometers must cover a wide
frequency range to test different aspects of hearing. They should offer a
broad intensity range, spanning from soft to loud sounds. Various
testing methods, including air and bone conduction, must be supported.
Clear controls and displays are required for easy operation and accurate
readings. Compliance with these standards ensures audiometers
consistently deliver reliable results in assessing hearing ability.

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 Why logarithmic scale is used in Audiometry?
A logarithmic scale is used in audiometry because human hearing
responds to changes in sound intensity in a non-linear manner. The
logarithmic scale allows for a more accurate representation of how the
human ear perceives changes in sound intensity across a wide range.
Using this scale, smaller changes in sound intensity at lower levels are
represented distinctly, which is crucial for detecting slight variations in
hearing sensitivity. Additionally, logarithmic scales simplify
calculations and make it easier to interpret audiometric results.
Therefore, logarithmic scales are well-suited for audiometry as they
reflect the nonlinear nature of human hearing perception.

 Testing of Quadiometer
Testing of the existing Quadiometer was done using QAS software,
audiometer, oscilloscope and air and bone conduction headphones.

Results of the test are shown below:

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 Frequency=250Hz, dB Level=120 dB

Frequency=1000Hz, dB Level=120 dB

Frequency=2000Hz, dB Level=120 dB

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Frequency=8000Hz, dB Level=120 dB

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Frequency=8000Hz, dB Level=110 dB

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Frequency=2000Hz, dB Level=110 dB

Frequency=1000Hz, dB Level=110 dB

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Frequency=8000Hz, dB Level=100 dB

Frequency=250Hz, dB Level=100 dB

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Frequency=250Hz, dB Level=85 dB

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Frequency=1000Hz, dB Level=85 dB

Frequency=8000Hz, dB Level=60dB

Frequency=1000Hz, dB Level=0dB

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Frequency=1000Hz, dB Level= -5dB

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 Frequency=1000Hz, dB Level= -10dB

From the results of testing of Quadiometer we can see that at -10dB

intensity level no signal is getting generated because headphone is not
getting enough power. To solve this, it is necessary to program the
TMS320C5515 chip in such a way that it produces signal which is
enough to power the headphones.

 TMS320C5515 Chip
The TMS320C5515 is a digital signal processor (DSP) chip
manufactured by Texas Instruments. It is part of the TMS320C5000
series of DSPs, which are designed for low-power, real-time signal
processing applications. The C5515 chip features a fixed-point
architecture and is optimized for audio and speech processing tasks. It
has a high-performance core with various peripherals, including analog-
to-digital converters (ADCs), digital-to-analog converters (DACs), serial
interfaces, and timers, making it suitable for applications such as digital
audio processing, voice recognition, telecommunications, and more. The
C5515 chip offers a balance of performance, power efficiency, and cost-
effectiveness, making it a popular choice for embedded systems
requiring signal processing capabilities.

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 TMS320C5515 eZdsp USB Stick
The TMS320C5515 eZdsp USB Stick is a development tool provided by
Texas Instruments for engineers and developers working with the
TMS320C5515 digital signal processor (DSP) chip. It serves as a
platform for learning, prototyping, and developing applications on the
C5515 DSP. The eZdsp USB Stick includes a C5515 DSP chip, along
with supporting circuitry and interfaces, all contained within a USB
stick form factor. This convenient design allows for easy connection to a
host computer for programming and debugging via USB. The eZdsp
USB Stick typically comes with software development tools, including
an integrated development environment (IDE), software libraries, and
example code to aid in application development. It enables users to
quickly get started with development and testing of DSP-based
applications, such as audio processing, telecommunications, and control
systems.

o The TMS320C5515 DSP is used in real-time applications such as

audio processing, telecommunications, and medical devices.
o It enables tasks like noise cancellation, speech recognition, and
digital modulation.
o The DSP's high-performance capabilities make it suitable for
applications requiring efficient signal processing.
o It is commonly found in industrial automation, automotive
electronics, and consumer electronics products.
o The TMS320C5515 DSP provides a balance of performance,
power efficiency, and cost-effectiveness for real-time processing
needs.
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 TMS320C5515 chip was used in existing Quadiometer for generating
audio signals at different frequency and different intensity level.
 Now for reaching the lower limit i.e. -10dB, it is necessary to generate
signal which is in microvolt.
 For that I have to program the USB stick such that it produces the signal
in micro volt.
 For programming the USB stick first I learned about Code Composer
Studio which is used for programming the USB stick.

 Practical done using TMS320C5515 eZdsp USB stick

One of the first practicals I did on USB stick was real time audio
monitoring.In which mic was connected to the input port of USB stick
and earphones was connected to output port of USB Stick. The practical
was to initialize the codec so we can hear anything we say on the mic.

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