Contact microphones, especially throat microphones, have been developed to be used in environments with high background noises to improve the speech intelligibility in communication. They pick up vibrations from the surface they are attached to and are therefore less sensitive to sound and noise from the air. Comparison of the speech intelligibility with other types of microphones have previously been done by letting test persons examine the communication devices in question. This study examines the possibility to make use of the STI-method instead and therefore make a comparison faster, more cost-efficient and customizable. The thought is that if the relationship between speech signals and vibrations were known, it could be used to transform the STI test signal to vibrations and then use the STImethod to estimate the speech intelligibility for the chosen contact microphone. This study, containing 22 men and women, evaluated the vibrations at the most suitable locations on the head for contact microphones and compared it with the speech signal of the same test person. Frequency responses were calculated for all locations of the head and a more detailed study showed that the frequency response of the neck may be approximated as a second order lowpass filter with a cut-off frequency of about 300 Hz that attenuates speech signals with higher frequencies. Experiments were also done to measure the STI value of a throat microphone with the known relationship. However, the results pointed out several problems that needs to be addressed before a STI method can be performed successfully. The results from this study may also be used to deeper study the relationships between different vibrations resulting from speech signals and suggestions on how the performance of contact microphones may be improved are given.

Komatsu Forrest AB have a demand for a media solution where the user can select between different input sources as well as output channels. The input sources are Radio, Bluetooth, AUX, two microphones and PC. The system shall also be able to mix sound from an ANC unit (Active Noise Control). Due to the demands from the company, the system must be able to be digitally controlled. The goal is to present a concept that offers the solution for these demands.To specify the needs from the user a dialog with employees with more knowledge about the user’s use have resulted in a table. From this a technical design has been created and resulted in a technical design requirement. With the design structure as a base, simulations have been done. After the structure has been verified by simulations a prototype with the basic functions have been designed and programmed and verified to clarify the function.Simulations and measurements have shown that the design works as desired. The result shows that the unit can meet the requirements set by the company in a user-friendly manner. The project has resulted in different solutions and these evaluated for pros and cons compared to the chosen solution. / Komatsu Forest AB behöver en multimedialösning för att uppfylla specifika behov exempelvis simultant användande av två mobiltelefoner och två mikrofoner. Enheten ska klara av att hantera ljud från flertalet ljudkällor samt två mikrofoner och aktiv bullerreducering. Systemet ska styras digitalt från till exempel en PC. Målet är att presentera ett koncept som erbjuder en lösning för dessa problem.Utformningen av enheten har gjorts genom att utvärdera användarens bruksområden tillsammans med den vision som legat till grund för projektet. Detta har genom samtal med anställda på företaget medfört en sammanställning över förarens användnings-områden. Utifrån denna sammanställning av användningsområdena har en teknisk skiss för enhetens uppbyggnad möjliggjorts. Efter att funktionen för skissen har verifierats med simuleringar har ett prototypkort för enhetens grundstomme konstrueras, programmerats samt verifierat konstruktionen.Simuleringar och mätningar verifierar att konstruktionen fungerar som önskat. Resultatet visar att enheten skulle uppfylla de uppsatta önskemålen på ett bra och användarvänligt sätt. Då flera lösningar har tagits fram under projektets gång diskuteras för och nackdelar med dessa samt motiveras varför den valda lösningen är bäst anpassad.