Active noise reduction method and system for office environment

Abstract

An active noise reduction system for an office environment relates to the technical field of noise reduction and comprises a sound source identification device, a microphone array, a noise reduction device, a loudspeaker array, a sound source detection module, a sound source positioning module, an environment evaluation module, a noise reduction control module, a central processing module and a user interface, according to the invention, the sound source identification and noise reduction equipment with the microphone array and the loudspeaker array is configured, and sound source detection, positioning, environment evaluation and noise reduction control modules are combined, so that real-time monitoring, accurate positioning, intelligent noise reduction and dynamic adjustment of the sound source are realized. The system can automatically adjust a noise reduction strategy according to station distribution and a sound source environment to ensure that an office environment is quiet and comfortable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of noise reduction, and in particular to an active noise reduction method and system for an office environment. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous development of modern office concepts, open office environment has gradually become an office model advocated by many companies and organizations due to its openness and shared space. This office environment helps to promote team collaboration and enhance communication efficiency, but it also brings a series of noise problems, such as conversation sounds, telephone conference sounds, keyboard tapping sounds, printers, copiers and other equipment running sounds, and noise caused by temporary experiments in technology research and development departments. These noises will not only affect employees' concentration and work efficiency, but may also reduce the overall office comfort, thus having an adverse impact on the company's operations and the physical and mental health of employees. Summary of the invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an active noise reduction method and system for an office environment to solve the technical defects mentioned in the background technology.

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0005] An active noise reduction system for an office environment, comprising:

[0006] A sound source identification device, configured with a microphone array, is used to continuously monitor the sound in the target environment and transmit the sound data to the sound source detection module when a sound exceeding a preset threshold is detected;

[0007] A noise reduction device, configured with a speaker array, which generates reverse sound waves for noise reduction according to the instructions of the noise reduction control module, and adjusts the divergence angle and direction of the sound waves;

[0008] The sound source detection module is used to perform preliminary processing on the sound data collected by the microphone array and determine whether the sound source localization module needs to be started according to the processing results;

[0009] The sound source localization module uses the sound source localization algorithm to calculate the specific location of the sound source and sends the location information to the environmental assessment module;

[0010] The environment assessment module evaluates which speaker nodes need to activate the noise reduction function according to the location of the sound source and the distribution of people in the target environment, and sends the evaluation results to the noise reduction control module;

[0011] The noise reduction control module controls the corresponding speaker nodes to start the noise reduction function and dynamically adjusts the noise reduction effect according to the evaluation results of the environment evaluation module;

[0012] The central processing module is responsible for coordinating the work of the sound source detection module, the sound source localization module, the environmental assessment module and the noise reduction control module, and interacting with the user interface for data;

[0013] The user interface is used to display the current status of the system, including the location of the sound source and the working status information of the noise reduction equipment.

[0014] Furthermore, the microphone array and the speaker array are both configured to be adjustable in direction and angle.

[0015] Furthermore, the sound source detection module includes a signal filter and a noise suppression algorithm.

[0016] Furthermore, the sound source localization module adopts a sound source localization algorithm based on arrival time difference or a sound source localization algorithm based on beamforming.

[0017] Furthermore, the noise reduction control module also includes a feedback adjustment mechanism to dynamically adjust the noise reduction strategy according to the real-time noise reduction effect and user feedback.

[0018] An active noise reduction method for an office environment comprises the following steps:

[0019] S1. According to the distribution of workstations, sound source identification equipment and noise reduction equipment are installed at intervals in the office area;

[0020] S2. During office hours, the decibel value in the environment is monitored in real time through the sound source identification device, and the sound source exceeding the preset decibel value is identified. When it is confirmed that the intensity of the sound source continues to be higher than the preset decibel value for a preset time threshold, the noise reduction measures are initiated;

[0021] S3. Use the sound source localization algorithm to calculate the specific location of the sound source, and determine which direction of noise reduction equipment to start based on the surrounding environment of the sound source, including the distribution of people and the distance between the sound source and other people, and automatically control the noise reduction effect;

[0022] S4. Automatically adjust the sound wave divergence direction and angle of the noise reduction device according to the location of the sound source;

[0023] S5. When the sound source intensity is detected to be lower than the preset decibel value for a period of time, the noise reduction measures are automatically turned off.

[0024] Furthermore, in step S1, the array spacing of the sound source identification device and the noise reduction device is reasonably designed according to the size and layout of the office area, and wired or wireless connections are used between the nodes. Each node can independently perform preliminary sound source detection and processing, and can also independently send the collected data to the central processing module.

[0025] Furthermore, in step S2, the microphone array constitutes a sound source recognition device to confirm the sound source, and the speaker array constitutes a noise reduction device; the preset decibel value and the preset time threshold can be customized according to actual conditions.

[0026] Furthermore, in step S3, it is determined whether the decibel of the received sound source exceeds a preset threshold. If so, it is considered that the person is disturbed by the noise, and the noise reduction device closest to the sound source in that direction is activated. If the noise reduction device is located directly on top of the sound source, the device is abandoned and a second short-distance noise reduction device in the same direction is activated.

[0027] Furthermore, in step S4, each noise reduction device is configured to adjust the sound wave divergence angle and direction. The system dynamically adjusts the sound wave divergence angle according to the specific location of the sound source and the environmental conditions, and uses phased array technology to control the sound wave divergence angle and direction by adjusting the phase difference between the speakers. The system dynamically adjusts the output parameters of each speaker according to the real-time sound source location and environmental information.

[0028] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0029] The present invention proposes an active noise reduction method and system for an office environment. By configuring a sound source identification and noise reduction device of a microphone array and a speaker array, combined with a sound source detection, positioning, environmental assessment and noise reduction control module, real-time monitoring, precise positioning, intelligent noise reduction and dynamic adjustment of the sound source are achieved. The system can automatically adjust the noise reduction strategy according to the distribution of workstations and the sound source environment to ensure a quiet and comfortable office environment. The system and method effectively improve the noise reduction efficiency and intelligence level of the office environment. By accurately positioning the sound source and intelligently adjusting the noise reduction device, the impact of noise on employees' work is reduced, while maintaining the comfort of the environment and the satisfaction of employees. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative labor.

[0031] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the active noise reduction system of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention are described clearly and completely below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0033] like Figure 1 As shown, an active noise reduction system for an office environment includes: a sound source recognition device, a noise reduction device, a sound source detection module, a sound source positioning module, an environment assessment module, a noise reduction control module, a central processing module, and a user interface.

[0034] A sound source identification device, configured with a microphone array, is used to continuously monitor the sound in the target environment and transmit the sound data to the sound source detection module when a sound exceeding a preset threshold is detected;

[0035] The microphone array consists of multiple high-performance microphones arranged in a specific geometric layout, which helps to accurately determine the direction of the sound source through information such as the time difference, phase difference or intensity difference of the sound waves reaching each microphone. This technology, commonly known as beamforming, can significantly enhance the sound signal from a specific direction while suppressing noise and interference from other directions.

[0036] The sound source identification device always maintains a continuous monitoring state of the target environment, and its microphone array can capture various subtle sound changes in the environment. When the device detects that the intensity of the sound signal exceeds the preset threshold, it means that there may be a noise source that needs attention in the environment. At this time, the sound source identification device will immediately start the data transmission mechanism to quickly and accurately transmit the captured sound data (which may include the original audio signal, pre-processed feature information, etc.) to the sound source detection module for further analysis and processing.

[0037] The setting of preset thresholds is usually based on a comprehensive consideration of multiple factors, such as the normal noise level of the office environment, the upper limit of the system's noise reduction capabilities, and the user's expectation of a quiet environment. By setting the thresholds reasonably, the sound source identification device can avoid being overly sensitive while ensuring a timely response to the noise sources that really need to be processed.

[0038] A noise reduction device, configured with a speaker array, which generates reverse sound waves for noise reduction according to the instructions of the noise reduction control module, and adjusts the divergence angle and direction of the sound waves;

[0039] Among them, when the noise reduction control module receives the noise reduction demand information sent by the environmental assessment module, it will calculate the parameters of the reverse sound waves to be generated based on this information, including frequency, amplitude, phase, and the divergence angle and direction of the sound waves. In order to achieve the noise reduction effect more accurately, the speaker array can dynamically adjust the angle and direction of its sound wave divergence. This is usually achieved by adjusting the output signal of each speaker, including parameters such as the phase, amplitude, and time delay of the signal. By precisely controlling these parameters, the speaker array can ensure that the reverse sound waves can be accurately "aimed" at the noise source, thereby achieving the best noise reduction effect. Similarly, each noise reduction device is equipped with a multi-axis motor that can quickly adjust the angle and direction of the device and accurately locate the sound source based on the sound source location information provided by the microphone array.

[0040] In addition, the noise reduction device also has an intelligent optimization function. It can dynamically adjust the noise reduction strategy according to the real-time monitored changes in environmental noise to adapt to different noise types and intensities. For example, when the noise source moves or the intensity changes, the noise reduction control module will update the noise reduction instructions in real time to ensure that the speaker array can continue to generate effective reverse sound waves and maintain the stability and continuity of the noise reduction effect.

[0041] The sound source detection module is used to perform preliminary processing on the sound data collected by the microphone array and determine whether it is necessary to start the sound source localization module according to the processing results; the sound source detection module includes a signal filter and a noise suppression algorithm.

[0042] Among them, the microphone array will continuously collect sound data in the surrounding environment and transmit this data to the sound source detection module in real time. Once the data is received, the sound source detection module will immediately start its built-in signal processing algorithm, which includes but is not limited to filtering, signal enhancement, feature extraction and other steps. Through these processing steps, the module can extract key information from the original sound data, such as the intensity, frequency distribution, duration, etc. of the sound, which is crucial for subsequent judgment and decision-making.

[0043] After processing the sound data, the sound source detection module will use preset thresholds or complex judgment logic to evaluate whether the current sound may constitute a noise source that needs attention. These thresholds and logic are usually set based on the normal sound level in the office environment, the range of the system's noise reduction capabilities, and the actual needs of the user. For example, if the intensity of the sound exceeds a preset threshold, or the frequency distribution of the sound matches the common noise characteristics, the sound source detection module may consider this to be a noise source that needs to be dealt with.

[0044] Once the sound source detection module determines that there is a potential noise source, it will send a signal to the system to request the sound source localization module to start. The sound source localization module will then use more advanced signal processing technology to determine the specific location of the noise source. However, if the sound source detection module determines that the current sound does not pose a threat or does not require special processing, it will continue to remain silent to avoid unnecessary consumption of system resources.

[0045] The sound source localization module calculates the specific location of the sound source using a sound source localization algorithm and sends the location information to the environment assessment module; the sound source localization module adopts a sound source localization algorithm based on arrival time difference or a sound source localization algorithm based on beamforming.

[0046] Among them, the sound source localization algorithm based on arrival time difference uses the time difference between the sound waves propagating to different microphones to locate the sound source. When the sound wave is emitted from the sound source and propagates to the microphone array, the time it takes for the sound wave to reach each microphone will be different due to the position differences between the microphones. The sound source localization module can calculate the three-dimensional position of the sound source by measuring these time differences and combining them with the geometric layout of the microphone array. The advantage of this algorithm is that it has high positioning accuracy, especially when the noise environment is relatively simple and the microphone array layout is reasonable.

[0047] On the other hand, the sound source localization algorithm based on beamforming uses the beam pattern formed by sound waves in space to locate the sound source. The microphone array adjusts the output signal of each microphone so that the sound waves are enhanced in a specific direction and suppressed in other directions. In this way, the sound source localization module can determine the direction of the strongest sound waves by observing the changes in the beam pattern, thereby inferring the approximate location of the sound source. The advantage of this algorithm is that it is relatively simple to implement and does not have strict requirements on the layout of the microphone array.

[0048] In actual applications, the sound source localization module will select the appropriate algorithm based on the specific noise environment and system requirements. For example, in scenarios that require high-precision positioning, the algorithm based on arrival time difference may be preferred; while in scenarios where the positioning accuracy requirements are not so strict but the system complexity is to be reduced, the algorithm based on beamforming may be selected.

[0049] Once the sound source localization module determines the location of the noise source, it sends this location information to the environmental assessment module. The environmental assessment module then uses this information and other factors in the office environment (such as personnel distribution, obstacle location, etc.) to evaluate which speaker nodes need to activate the noise reduction function and which parameters need to be adjusted to achieve the best noise reduction effect.

[0050] The environment assessment module evaluates which speaker nodes need to activate the noise reduction function according to the location of the sound source and the distribution of people in the target environment, and sends the evaluation results to the noise reduction control module;

[0051] After receiving the sound source location information sent by the sound source localization module, the environmental assessment module will first compare this information with the pre-stored office environment layout map to determine the specific location of the noise source. At the same time, it will also obtain the distribution information of people in the current environment, which may be obtained through cameras, sensor networks, or user input. Personnel distribution information is crucial for evaluating noise reduction needs because it can help the system identify which areas of people may be directly affected by noise, so as to prioritize noise reduction in these areas.

[0052] Next, the environmental assessment module uses advanced algorithms to analyze the relationship between noise sources and personnel distribution, as well as the noise reduction capabilities and coverage of different speaker nodes. These algorithms may consider a variety of factors, such as the intensity and frequency characteristics of the noise source, the location, orientation and power of the speaker nodes, and the relative distance between people and the noise source and speakers. By analyzing these factors, the environmental assessment module can determine which speaker nodes need to be activated to generate reverse sound waves to effectively cancel out the noise.

[0053] After determining the speaker nodes that need to be activated, the environmental assessment module will further calculate the optimal noise reduction parameters for each node, such as the frequency, amplitude and phase of the sound wave. The setting of these parameters is crucial to achieving accurate noise reduction effects because they determine how the reverse sound waves interact with the original noise sound waves.

[0054] Finally, the environment assessment module sends the assessment results and the optimal noise reduction parameters to the noise reduction control module. The noise reduction control module then controls the corresponding speaker nodes to start the noise reduction function based on this information, and dynamically adjusts the noise reduction effect to ensure that while reducing the noise, it will not cause discomfort or interference to people in the environment.

[0055] The noise reduction control module controls the corresponding speaker node to start the noise reduction function and dynamically adjusts the noise reduction effect according to the evaluation results of the environment evaluation module; the noise reduction control module also includes a feedback adjustment mechanism to dynamically adjust the noise reduction strategy according to the real-time noise reduction effect and user feedback.

[0056] Each speaker array has an adjustable sound wave divergence angle and direction. The system dynamically adjusts the sound wave divergence angle according to the specific location and environmental conditions of the sound source, ensuring that the surrounding noise level is effectively reduced while not interfering with the internal discussion of the sound source;

[0057] Phased array technology is used to control the divergence angle and direction of sound waves by adjusting the phase difference between speakers. The system dynamically adjusts the output parameters of each speaker based on the real-time sound source position and environmental information, and accurately controls the decibel value of the sound source within a certain range to be lower than the A threshold.

[0058] The central processing module is responsible for coordinating the work of the sound source detection module, the sound source localization module, the environmental assessment module and the noise reduction control module, and interacting with the user interface for data;

[0059] The user interface is used to display the current status of the system, including the location of the sound source and the working status information of the noise reduction equipment.

[0060] An active noise reduction method for an office environment comprises the following steps:

[0061] S1. According to the distribution of workstations, sound source identification equipment and noise reduction equipment are installed at intervals in the office area;

[0062] S2. During office hours, the decibel value in the environment is monitored in real time through the sound source identification device, and the sound source exceeding the preset decibel value is identified. When it is confirmed that the intensity of the sound source continues to be higher than the preset decibel value for a preset time threshold, the noise reduction measures are initiated;

[0063] S3. Use the sound source localization algorithm to calculate the specific location of the sound source, and determine which direction of noise reduction equipment to start based on the surrounding environment of the sound source, including the distribution of people and the distance between the sound source and other people, and automatically control the noise reduction effect;

[0064] S4. Automatically adjust the sound wave divergence direction and angle of the noise reduction device according to the location of the sound source;

[0065] S5. When the sound source intensity is detected to be lower than the preset decibel value for a period of time, the noise reduction measures are automatically turned off.

[0066] Specifically, in step S1, the array spacing of the sound source identification device and the noise reduction device is reasonably designed according to the size and layout of the office area, and wired or wireless connections are used between the nodes. Each node can independently perform preliminary sound source detection and processing, and can also independently send the collected data to the central processing module.

[0067] Specifically, in step S2, the microphone array constitutes a sound source recognition device to confirm the sound source, and the speaker array constitutes a noise reduction device; the preset decibel value and the preset time threshold can be customized according to actual conditions.

[0068] Specifically, in step S3, it is determined whether the decibel level of the received sound source exceeds a preset threshold. If so, it is considered that the person is disturbed by the noise, and the noise reduction device closest to the sound source in that direction is activated. If the noise reduction device is located directly on top of the sound source, the device is abandoned and a second short-distance noise reduction device in the same direction is activated.

[0069] Specifically, in step S4, each noise reduction device is configured to adjust the sound wave divergence angle and direction. The system dynamically adjusts the sound wave divergence angle according to the specific location of the sound source and the environmental conditions, and uses phased array technology to control the sound wave divergence angle and direction by adjusting the phase difference between the speakers. The system dynamically adjusts the output parameters of each speaker according to the real-time sound source location and environmental information.

[0070] The present invention proposes an active noise reduction method and system for an office environment. By configuring a sound source identification and noise reduction device of a microphone array and a speaker array, combined with a sound source detection, positioning, environmental assessment and noise reduction control module, real-time monitoring, precise positioning, intelligent noise reduction and dynamic adjustment of the sound source are achieved. The system can automatically adjust the noise reduction strategy according to the distribution of workstations and the sound source environment to ensure a quiet and comfortable office environment. The system and method effectively improve the noise reduction efficiency and intelligence level of the office environment. By accurately positioning the sound source and intelligently adjusting the noise reduction device, the impact of noise on employees' work is reduced, while maintaining the comfort of the environment and the satisfaction of employees.

[0071] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

[0072] In addition, it should be understood that although the present specification is described according to implementation modes, not every implementation mode contains only one independent technical solution. This description of the specification is only for the sake of clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each embodiment may also be appropriately combined to form other implementation modes that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An active noise reduction system for an office environment, characterized in that: include: A sound source identification device, configured with a microphone array, is used to continuously monitor the sound in the target environment and transmit the sound data to the sound source detection module when a sound exceeding a preset threshold is detected; A noise reduction device, configured with a speaker array, which generates reverse sound waves for noise reduction according to the instructions of the noise reduction control module, and adjusts the divergence angle and direction of the sound waves; The sound source detection module is used to perform preliminary processing on the sound data collected by the microphone array and determine whether the sound source localization module needs to be started according to the processing results; The sound source localization module uses the sound source localization algorithm to calculate the specific location of the sound source and sends the location information to the environmental assessment module; The environment assessment module evaluates which speaker nodes need to activate the noise reduction function according to the location of the sound source and the distribution of people in the target environment, and sends the evaluation results to the noise reduction control module; The noise reduction control module controls the corresponding speaker nodes to start the noise reduction function and dynamically adjusts the noise reduction effect according to the evaluation results of the environment evaluation module; The central processing module is responsible for coordinating the work of the sound source detection module, the sound source localization module, the environmental assessment module and the noise reduction control module, and interacting with the user interface for data; The user interface is used to display the current status of the system, including the location of the sound source and the working status information of the noise reduction equipment.

2. The active noise reduction system for an office environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The microphone array and the speaker array are both configured to be adjustable in direction and angle.

3. The active noise reduction system for an office environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sound source detection module includes a signal filter and a noise suppression algorithm.

4. The active noise reduction system for an office environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sound source localization module adopts a sound source localization algorithm based on arrival time difference or a sound source localization algorithm based on beamforming.

5. The active noise reduction system for an office environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The noise reduction control module also includes a feedback adjustment mechanism to dynamically adjust the noise reduction strategy according to the real-time noise reduction effect and user feedback.

6. A noise reduction method using the active noise reduction system in an office environment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1. According to the distribution of workstations, sound source identification equipment and noise reduction equipment are installed at intervals in the office area; S2. During office hours, the decibel value in the environment is monitored in real time through the sound source identification device, and the sound source exceeding the preset decibel value is identified. When it is confirmed that the intensity of the sound source continues to be higher than the preset decibel value for a preset time threshold, the noise reduction measures are initiated; S3. Use the sound source localization algorithm to calculate the specific location of the sound source, and determine which direction of noise reduction equipment to start based on the surrounding environment of the sound source, including the distribution of people and the distance between the sound source and other people, and automatically control the noise reduction effect; S4. Automatically adjust the sound wave divergence direction and angle of the noise reduction device according to the location of the sound source; S5. When the sound source intensity is detected to be lower than the preset decibel value for a period of time, the noise reduction measures are automatically turned off.

7. The active noise reduction method for an office environment according to claim 6, characterized in that: In step S1, the array spacing of the sound source identification device and the noise reduction device is reasonably designed according to the size and layout of the office area. The nodes are connected by wire or wirelessly. Each node can independently perform preliminary sound source detection and processing, and can also independently send the collected data to the central processing module.

8. The active noise reduction method for an office environment according to claim 6, characterized in that: In step S2, the microphone array constitutes a sound source recognition device to confirm the sound source, and the speaker array constitutes a noise reduction device; the preset decibel value and the preset time threshold can be customized according to actual conditions.

9. The active noise reduction method for an office environment according to claim 6, characterized in that: In step S3, it is determined whether the decibel level of the received sound source exceeds a preset threshold. If so, it is considered that the person is disturbed by the noise, and the noise reduction device closest to the sound source in that direction is activated. If the noise reduction device is located directly on top of the sound source, the device is abandoned and the second short-distance noise reduction device in the same direction is activated.

10. The active noise reduction method for an office environment according to claim 6, characterized in that: In step S4, each noise reduction device is configured to adjust the sound wave divergence angle and direction. The system dynamically adjusts the sound wave divergence angle according to the specific location of the sound source and the environmental conditions, and uses phased array technology to control the sound wave divergence angle and direction by adjusting the phase difference between the speakers. The system dynamically adjusts the output parameters of each speaker according to the real-time sound source location and environmental information.

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