Reprogrammable Analog Circuitry for Remote Audio Tone Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing alarm systems lack the ability to efficiently transmit audio tone data to other devices without requiring close proximity and consume excessive power due to digital processing, making them costly and inconvenient to retrofit.
Innovation Solution
Analog processing systems with re-programmable and reconfigurable circuitry that utilize sound sensors and out-of-band filters to detect audio tones efficiently, reducing power consumption and enabling accurate detection from a distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If digital processors are used to continuously monitor audio information, then detection accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces digital signal processing with analog signal processing. The audio monitoring device uses analog filters, amplifiers, and comparators to detect alarm tones directly in the analog domain, eliminating the need for continuous digital processing. This substitution significantly reduces power consumption while maintaining detection accuracy through dedicated analog circuitry tuned to specific alarm frequency ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The analog processing system uses periodic sampling and threshold-based detection rather than continuous processing. The circuitry monitors audio signals continuously but only triggers detection events when analog thresholds are exceeded, allowing the system to maintain low power consumption while achieving accurate detection of alarm tones through event-driven operation rather than continuous computation.
2Measurement precision
If alarm monitoring device is placed close to alarm, then detection accuracy is improved, but installation convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances the monitoring device's capability to detect alarm tones from greater distances by improving the sensitivity and frequency selectivity of the analog processing circuitry. Through careful design of bandpass filters and low-noise amplifiers, the system can accurately detect alarm frequencies even when positioned several feet away from the alarm, transforming the constraint from requiring close proximity to allowing flexible placement on walls or ceilings.
Solution Approach 2:
The analog processing system uses adjustable frequency ranges and threshold parameters that can be tuned to match different alarm types. By making the detection parameters configurable, the system can adapt to various alarm frequencies and operating conditions, maintaining high detection accuracy regardless of the distance from the alarm source.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional alarm monitoring device is installed, then data transmission capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm monitoring device integrates multiple functions into a single unit: analog audio processing, digital signal analysis, alarm tone detection, and wireless data transmission. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate monitoring and transmission devices, reducing overall system complexity while enabling existing alarms to communicate with central monitoring systems or mobile devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring device acts as an intermediary between traditional analog alarms and modern digital communication systems. It receives analog audio signals from existing alarms, processes them through analog and digital stages, and transmits detection results via wireless communication protocols, thereby bridging the gap between legacy alarm systems and contemporary smart home infrastructure without requiring replacement of the original alarms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate and power-efficient audio tone detection from a distance, reducing installation costs and power consumption, while maintaining system versatility and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
analog processing systems with re-programmable and reconfigurable circuitry that utilize sound sensors
Implementation Method 2
analog processing systems with re-programmable and reconfigurable circuitry that utilize sound sensors and out-of-band filters to detect audio tones efficiently
Data Source
AI summary
According to some embodiments, re-programmable and/or reconfigurable analog circuitry monitor an acoustic signal sensed by a sound sensor and selectively generates a tone detection signal in response to an analysis of the acoustic signal and a defined tone detection condition. The tone detection condition may be, for example, associated with presence of at least one pre-determined tone frequency. A digital Microcontroller Unit (“MCU”), coupled to the analog circuitry, may receive the tone detection signal as an interrupt causing the MCU to wake-up, generate a digital timestamp, and/or analyze a series of digital timestamps to detect at least one temporal audio alarm pattern, such as a temporal-three (“T3”) or a temporal-four (“T4”) audio alarm pattern.