Acoustic Waveform Transmission via Light Inversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Common microphones in household devices are susceptible to modulation by direct light beams, posing security risks and limiting effective waveform transmission and event detection due to ambient noise interference.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a first transducer that converts acoustic waveforms to electrical and then light waveforms, which are inverted and combined with acoustic waveforms from a second transducer, reducing ambient noise by out-of-phase cancellation and enhancing security through improved waveform detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If microphones are used to detect acoustic waveforms, then event detection capability is provided, but susceptibility to modulation by direct light beams and ambient noise interference occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent detection capabilityVSAvoidsusceptibility to light modulation and ambient noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a second transducer system that acts as an intermediary to detect and cancel the harmful light modulation effects. The second transducer receives both the original acoustic signal and the light-modulated signal, processes them separately, and combines them to eliminate the harmful interference while preserving the useful acoustic information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of the light-modulated signal through the second transducer and prepares a canceling signal before the harmful modulation affects the primary microphone output. By inverting the phase of the detected light-modulated signal and combining it with the original signal, the system preemptively neutralizes the harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Device complexity

If acoustic waveforms are transmitted directly, then transmission simplicity is maintained, but ambient noise interference degrades the signal quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission simplicityVSAvoidsignal quality affected by ambient noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the output signals from two separate transducers - the first transducer that receives the original acoustic waveform and the second transducer that detects the light-modulated waveform. By combining these signals through addition, the system achieves noise cancellation while maintaining a relatively simple transmission architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Speed

If light waveforms are used for transmission, then transmission speed is improved, but susceptibility to direct light beam modulation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission speedVSAvoidsusceptibility to light beam modulation

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful light beam modulation effect into a beneficial signal by using the same light modulation that causes interference as the carrier for transmitting the canceled acoustic signal. The second transducer detects the light-modulated waveform, inverts its phase, and combines it with the original signal, thereby transforming the harmful modulation into a useful transmission mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system significantly reduces ambient noise and enhances security by effectively canceling out routine acoustic waveforms, improving the detection of unexpected events and audio quality through combined waveform transmission.

Implementation Method 1

a first transducer configured to receive acoustic waveforms, to convert the acoustic waveforms to electrical waveforms

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

The first transducer processor and transmitter is configured to convert the received electrical waveforms into light waveforms

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectro-optic modulation: Electro-Optic Effects

Implementation Method 3

The second transducer is configured to receive the light waveforms received from the first transducer processor, convert the light waveforms to an electrical waveform

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 4

combine the inverted phase electrical waveform with an electrical waveform obtained from an acoustic waveform received by the second transducer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWave interference: Interference

Data Source

PatentUS11606143B2Waveform transmission and event detection

Publication Date: 2023.03.14 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A system for improvement of waveform transmission and event detection includes a first transducer configured to receive acoustic waveforms, and a first transducer processor and transmitter configured to invert the phase of the received waveforms of the first transducer and transmit the inverted waveforms via light to a second transducer. The second transducer is configured to receive light waveforms from the first transducer processor and transmitter, receive acoustic waveforms from the second transducer, convert the first transducer light waveforms and the second transducer acoustic waveforms into electrical waveforms, and transmit a combined electrical waveform onwards.