Adaptive Volume Control via Scalar Gain Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio systems do not effectively adapt volume control to prevent sound output levels from exceeding safety thresholds, potentially causing hearing loss, as they rely on processing internal microphone signals for acoustic dosimetry, which is resource-intensive and power-consuming.
Innovation Solution
An audio system that determines sound output levels based on input audio signals, user volume settings, and sound output sensitivity, applying a scalar gain to adjust the volume and reduce loud sounds without processing internal microphone signals, thereby adapting volume control to stay within safe limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system processes internal microphone signals for acoustic dosimetry to control volume, then sound output levels can be monitored and controlled, but the system becomes resource-intensive and power-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the volume control function from the microphone signal processing path and relocates it to the audio signal processing path. Instead of using the microphone to monitor sound levels and then controlling volume based on that feedback, the system directly processes the audio signal before it reaches the speaker, eliminating the need for continuous microphone monitoring and the associated power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using the audio signal itself as the control parameter rather than relying on microphone feedback. The system processes the audio signal characteristics (amplitude, frequency content) directly to determine volume control, serving as an intermediary between the audio source and the speaker output, thereby avoiding the resource-intensive microphone processing path.
2Reliability
If the system processes internal microphone signals for acoustic dosimetry to control volume, then sound output levels can be monitored and controlled, but the system becomes resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the volume control function from the microphone signal processing path and relocates it to the audio signal processing path. Instead of using the microphone to monitor sound levels and then controlling volume based on that feedback, the system directly processes the audio signal before it reaches the speaker, eliminating the need for continuous microphone monitoring and the associated power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical/acoustic measurement approach (using a microphone to physically detect sound levels) with an electrical signal processing approach (analyzing the audio signal directly). This replacement eliminates the need for acoustic measurement hardware and the complex signal processing required to convert microphone signals into volume control decisions.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the system applies scalar gain to adjust volume based on estimated sound output, then sound levels can be controlled without microphone processing, but the estimation accuracy must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors the audio signal characteristics and adjusts the scalar gain accordingly. The estimated sound output level is calculated based on the audio signal properties (amplitude, frequency content) and used to dynamically adjust the volume control, creating a closed-loop system that maintains accuracy without requiring physical microphone measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters used for volume control from physical sound pressure measurements (requiring microphones) to audio signal parameters (amplitude, frequency spectrum). By transforming the control basis from acoustic physical quantities to electrical signal characteristics, the system achieves accurate estimation through mathematical modeling rather than physical measurement, thereby reducing power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by an audio source device. The method obtains an input audio signal and determines a sound output level of a headset based on the input audio signal, a user volume setting, and a sound output sensitivity of the headset. The method determines whether the sound output level is above a threshold. In response to determining that the sound output level is above the threshold, a scalar gain is applied upon the input audio signal to produce an output audio signal for output by the headset.