Acoustic Processing Unit Propagation Delay Buffer for Noise Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to effectively distinguish voice commands from noisy sound environments, particularly in scenarios like home cinema systems, due to unsuitable configuration of electronic components and varying sound signal propagation times.
Innovation Solution
A system with an acoustic processing unit that determines propagation latency between a sound reproduction device and a microphone, configures a buffer memory with a read trigger threshold, and transmits a reference signal after delay to filter out background noise, ensuring clear voice command recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a reference audio signal is transmitted to suppress background noise, then noise suppression effectiveness improves, but voice command recognition accuracy deteriorates when audio signals are reproduced at high volume
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by transmitting the reference audio signal through the buffer memory before it is needed for noise suppression. The buffer memory is configured with a read trigger threshold that corresponds to the propagation latency, ensuring the reference signal is delayed appropriately to match the actual acoustic propagation time. This preliminary configuration enables the acoustic processing unit to effectively suppress background noise while maintaining voice command recognition accuracy.
2Device complexity
If electronic components are configured with fixed propagation times, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different installation configurations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic adaptability by allowing the buffer memory configuration to be adjusted based on actual installation conditions. The read trigger threshold is set according to the determined propagation latency, which varies with speaker-microphone distance and acoustic environment. This dynamic configuration approach maintains relatively simple component structure while adapting to different installation scenarios, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and adaptability.
3Speed
If the buffer memory read trigger threshold is set low, then voice signal processing speed improves, but noise suppression effectiveness deteriorates due to premature signal processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes the buffer memory read trigger threshold parameter based on the determined propagation latency. By setting the threshold to correspond to the actual acoustic propagation time between the sound reproduction device and microphone, the system achieves optimal balance between voice signal processing speed and noise suppression effectiveness. This parameter adjustment ensures that the reference audio signal is processed at the correct moment, preventing both premature and delayed processing.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus comprising a first interface intended to be connected to a sound reproduction device and at least one second interface intended to be connected to at least one microphone, and an acoustic processing unit suitable for outputting an audio signal that is filtered by attenuating or suppressing a reference audio signal of an audio signal received from the second interface. In an initialization stage, the apparatus determines (405) propagation delay, configures (406) a buffer memory using a reading trigger threshold defined on the basis of the determined propagation delay. In a nominal operating stage, the apparatus transmits a third audio signal via the first interface, the third audio signal being the reference signal after the latter has passed through the memory buffer.