Microphone Audio Processing With Adaptive Beamforming and Gain

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing audio processing systems fail to dynamically adapt to changes in the acoustic environment, leading to deteriorated performance in processing audio signals, especially in varying acoustic conditions.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device and method that determine first and second information based on energy levels and phase differences between audio signals, controlling noise cancellation and amplification to dynamically adjust beam-forming and amplification according to the acoustic environment, including determining information on sound sources and their distances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If audio processing systems use fixed parameter values initialized at a certain cycle, then the system structure is simple and stable, but the system cannot adapt to changing acoustic environments leading to deteriorated performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to acoustic environmentVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from fixed parameter values to dynamically adjustable parameters. The system continuously updates filter values and processing parameters based on real-time acoustic environment analysis, allowing the audio processing system to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining manageable complexity through systematic implementation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system analyzes the acoustic environment and uses this information to adjust processing parameters. The acoustic environment analysis results feed back into the signal processing chain, enabling continuous optimization of noise cancellation and voice enhancement based on actual environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the system continuously analyzes acoustic environment to update filter values, then the adaptability improves, but the processing complexity and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio processing performanceVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing the framework for acoustic environment analysis and filter value updates. The system is configured with predetermined analysis methods and update mechanisms that are activated based on detected environmental changes, allowing reliable performance improvement without requiring continuous complex processing at full intensity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by systematically adjusting filter values and processing parameters based on acoustic environment analysis. The system modifies specific parameters such as noise reduction strength, echo cancellation levels, and voice enhancement settings according to the analyzed environmental conditions, improving reliability through targeted parameter optimization rather than comprehensive reprocessing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If the system performs comprehensive signal processing operations, then the audio quality improves, but the processing time and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice detection precisionVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by focusing signal processing operations on specific aspects of the audio signal based on acoustic environment analysis. Instead of uniformly processing all audio data with maximum intensity, the system selectively applies enhanced processing where needed (e.g., voice frequency ranges, specific time windows with detected speech) while using lighter processing elsewhere, improving voice detection precision without proportional increases in processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3304548B1Electronic device and method of audio processing thereof
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3304548B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3304548B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP3304548B1 patent drawingFigure 3C~3D

AI summary

An electronic device configured to process an audio signal output from a microphone, and an audio processing method thereof are provided. The electronic device includes at least one speaker; at least one microphone; a signal processor configured to process an audio signal being output from the microphone; and a processor configured to control the signal processor to determine first information regarding an output of the speaker by analyzing at least one speaker input signal being input into the speaker and to determine second information regarding a sound source being input into the microphone by analyzing at least one audio signal being output from the microphone, and to process the at least one audio signal according to at least one of the first and second information.