Development of Microcontroller-Based Mask with Acoustic Dampening System/ Althea V. Garcia, Vonz Louie C. Vadlit, Jamela A. Camarudin, and Mikko E. Villanueva..-

Bachelor's Thesis

College of Industrial Technology..- Bachelor of Engineering Technology Major in Electronic Communications Technology: Technological University of the Philippines, 2025.

Includes bibliographic references and index.

The rise of remote and hybrid work has increased the need for wearable communication
devices that keep the user’s voice clear while reducing background noise in open and
shared office spaces. Open-plan offices can be challenging because multiple people talking
at the same time and sound reflections from surfaces can make voices harder to
understand. Existing research and patents have introduced different methods for voice
capture and sound isolation through systems like WhisperMask and smart soundproof
masks but these methods still lack the ability to combine material-based sound dampening
with multiple connectivity options. The existing solution needs a compact design which
provides comfortable use and total sound isolation for its users to use as a speech isolation
device which supports multiple communication methods. The study created a
Microcontroller-Based Mask with Acoustic Dampening System which protects privacy
through its multi-layer design that uses a detachable tri-mode microphone system for wired
Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz communication. The researchers used the Waterfall Model to
create a prototype which combines sound-absorbing foams and fabric layers and
detachable microphone housing that uses magnetic attachment for simple operation. The
experimental testing results demonstrate that the prototype reached an average sound
reduction of 10 dB which resulted in the perception of loudness being reduced to half
while the system maintained Signal-to-Noise Ratios (SNR) between 11 dB and 18 dB
across different testing environments which provided excellent voice clarity. The device
testing results show that the device successfully reduced voice leakage while enhancing
speech understanding for people in noisy environments which makes it an effective
solution for people who want to keep their conversations private in public areas. The study
advances wearable acoustic technology development which supports UN Sustainable
Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and 9 (Industry, Innovation, and
Infrastructure) through its development of innovative human-centered audio technologies
for upcoming work environments.
Keywords: Sound-Dampening, Acoustic, Microphone, Wearable Acoustic Technology,
UN SDG 3, UN SDG 9