Adaptive ANC Wind Detection With Dynamic Microphone Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio devices face challenges in balancing wind noise detection accuracy and power consumption, particularly in battery-powered personal devices, as using multiple microphones for improved detection increases battery consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that dynamically reconfigures the microphone array between single and multiple microphone configurations based on environmental conditions and power status, using hysteresis to reduce false switching and conserve power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple microphones are used for wind noise detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between single-microphone and multiple-microphone configurations based on environmental conditions. When wind noise is detected or conditions warrant higher accuracy, additional microphones are activated. During normal conditions, only one microphone operates, reducing power consumption while maintaining adequate performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by adjusting the number of active microphones based on detected conditions. This parameter change allows the system to adapt between power-saving mode (single microphone) and high-accuracy mode (multiple microphones), resolving the contradiction between continuous power usage and intermittent high-performance needs.
2Measurement precision
If multiple microphones are activated continuously, then wind noise detection accuracy is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous operation of multiple microphones, the system employs periodic activation based on environmental assessment. The microphones are activated only when needed (periodically when wind noise or specific conditions are detected) rather than continuously, reducing energy loss while maintaining detection accuracy when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and activates only the necessary number of microphones based on current conditions. Rather than keeping all microphones continuously active, it takes out (activates) only the required subset, thereby reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining adequate detection capability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If single microphone configuration is used, then power consumption is reduced, but wind noise detection accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by using different microphone configurations in different operational contexts. In low-wind conditions, a single microphone provides adequate quality. In high-wind or critical conditions, the system locally enhances quality by activating additional microphones, ensuring adequate performance across varying conditions without always consuming maximum power.
Solution Approach 2:
The microphone array system serves multiple functions: it can operate in power-saving single-microphone mode during normal conditions and switch to high-accuracy multiple-microphone mode when needed. This multi-functionality allows the same hardware to satisfy both power conservation and high-accuracy detection requirements across different operational scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
Noise cancellation operations consume battery power, and thus techniques for reducing power consumption by performing power management in active noise cancellation in consumer devices are beneficial for the user. One example power management technique described according to embodiments of this disclosure allow wind noise detection to switch between a high-power higher-accuracy operation and a low-power lower-accuracy operation. For example, multiple microphones may be available on the personal device for detecting wind noise, in which using multiple microphones increases accuracy but also increases battery consumption. A personal device may switch between using a single microphone and multiple microphones based on environmental conditions to provide improved performance in certain environmental conditions and reduced power consumption in other environmental conditions.