Adaptive Filtering Circuit for User-Specific Noise Cancellation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing noise cancellation technologies in electronic devices, such as ear-wearable devices, struggle to adapt to individual user's ear shape and length, leading to varying noise cancellation performance.

Innovation Solution

A noise processing circuit that estimates the secondary path between an inner speaker and a microphone, selects an optimal filter set value set by comparing it with pre-stored reference paths, and adjusts the filtering circuit's set values to optimize noise cancellation based on the user's unique ear anatomy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed filtering circuit is used for noise cancellation, then the device structure is simple, but the noise cancellation performance varies for different users due to individual ear shape and length differences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise cancellation performance adaptationVSAvoidfiltering circuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-calculates and stores multiple optimal filter set value sets corresponding to different reference secondary paths before actual use. When a user wears the device, the system estimates the user's secondary path and selects the pre-prepared optimal filter set that best matches, avoiding real-time complex calculations while achieving personalized noise cancellation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameters of the filtering circuit by selecting different pre-calculated filter set value sets based on the estimated secondary path. Instead of continuously adjusting parameters in real-time, the system switches between discrete parameter sets that were optimized in advance for different ear canal characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If real-time secondary path estimation and filter adjustment is performed, then noise cancellation performance is optimized for individual users, but calculation consumption and battery usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise cancellation performanceVSAvoidbattery consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs the computationally intensive filter optimization in advance and stores the results. During actual noise cancellation, only light operations such as secondary path estimation and optimal set selection are needed, dramatically reducing real-time calculation requirements and battery consumption while maintaining personalized performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of performing full real-time optimization, the system performs partial optimization by selecting from pre-calculated sets. This partial action approach achieves sufficient noise cancellation performance without the excessive computational burden of complete real-time adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple filter set value sets are prepared for different users, then adaptability to individual users is improved, but memory storage requirements and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser-specific noise cancellationVSAvoidmemory storage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system manages multiple filter configurations by organizing them as discrete parameter sets indexed by reference secondary path characteristics. This structured parameter management allows efficient storage and quick retrieval of appropriate filter sets based on the user's estimated secondary path, balancing adaptability with storage efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250274699A1Electronic device adjusting filtering circuit, noise processing circuit, and operating method thereof

Publication Date: 2025.08.28 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic device includes a first microphone configured to receive a noise signal, a second microphone configured to receive an error signal and forming a primary path from the first microphone, a filtering circuit configured to generate an electrical offset signal for offsetting at least one of the noise signal and the error signal, a memory in which reference secondary paths and pre-set optimal filter set value sets corresponding to the reference secondary paths, respectively, are stored, and a noise processing circuit configured to adjust a set value of the filtering circuit. The noise processing circuit is configured to estimate an object secondary path between an inner speaker outputting an acoustic offset signal corresponding to the electrical offset signal, and the second microphone, select one of the optimal filter set value sets by comparing the estimated object secondary path with each of the reference secondary paths, and change, based on the selected optimal filter set value set, the set value of the filtering circuit.