ADPCM Noise Shaping Feedback Control for Instability Prevention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

ADPCM coding systems face instability and saturation issues due to noise feedback, particularly with signals exhibiting fast transitions and large spectral dynamic range, leading to audible artifacts and acoustic shocks.

Innovation Solution

A method for controlling noise shaping in ADPCM-type coding that involves detecting a risk of instability through spectral dynamic range indicators, limiting feedback, and progressively reactivating it to prevent instability and saturation, using parameters like second reflection coefficients or signal-to-noise ratios to manage noise feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If noise feedback is implemented for shaping coding noise in ADPCM coding, then coding quality is improved, but instability and saturation occur with signals exhibiting fast transitions and large spectral dynamic range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoding qualityVSAvoidfeedback stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements noise feedback for shaping coding noise by filtering the noise signal and adding it back to the input signal. The feedback loop includes a noise filtering module that processes the quantization noise and a加法 module that combines the filtered noise with the original signal, thereby improving coding quality through spectral shaping while maintaining system stability through controlled feedback gain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts the feedback gain parameter based on signal characteristics. By monitoring spectral dynamic range indicators (such as reflection coefficients or signal-to-noise ratio), the system adapts the noise feedback strength to prevent instability with fast-trans transitioning signals while maintaining effectiveness for stable signals, thus resolving the contradiction between coding quality and feedback stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If noise feedback gain is increased to improve noise shaping effectiveness, then coding quality improves, but risk of saturation and acoustic shocks increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise shaping effectivenessVSAvoidsaturation and acoustic shocks
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic control of the noise feedback gain rather than a fixed gain value. The system continuously monitors signal characteristics and adjusts the feedback gain in real-time, increasing gain when signals are stable to improve noise shaping effectiveness, and reducing gain when fast transitions are detected to prevent saturation and acoustic shocks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent detects potential instability conditions (fast transitions, large spectral dynamic range) before they cause saturation or acoustic shocks. By identifying these conditions through spectral analysis and preemptively reducing the noise feedback gain, the system prevents harmful effects before they occur, rather than reacting after saturation has happened.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS9489961B2Controlling a noise-shaping feedback loop in a digital audio signal encoder avoiding instability risk of the feedback
Publication Date: 2016.11.08 ORANGE SA
  • US9489961B2 patent drawing
  • US9489961B2 patent drawing
  • US9489961B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method and apparatus are provided for controlling the shaping of encoding noise during the ADPCM encoding of a digital audio input signal. The noise-shaping is carried out through the use of feedback that comprises filtering noise. The method includes the following steps: obtaining a parameter for indicating a high spectral dynamic range of the signal, the parameter indicating a risk of instability of the feedback; detecting a risk of instability by comparing the indication parameter to at least one predetermined threshold; limiting the feedback in the event that a risk of instability is detected; and gradually reactivating the feedback over a predetermined number of frames subsequent to the current frame for which the feedback is limited. Also provided is an encoder with feedback, including a control module implementing the control method as described.