Frequency shifting listening device

Abstract

Sound identification is important in vibration and acoustic related engineering fields. The frequency spectrum of sound in some environments falls into the infrasound frequency range below 20 Hz, which is too low for the average human ear. Furthermore, sound above this frequency is still often difficult to identify due to interference and masking by other ambient noise sources. The focus of this paper is on the design and construction of a frequency shifting listening device which is able to shift frequency in real time and amplify low frequency noise into the audible frequency range, typically around 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The design phase of this device includes programming in Matlab/Simulink and rapid prototyping hardware using a Texas Instruments (TI) TMS320C6713 Digital Signal Processor Starter Kit (DSK).