ANR Circuit Dynamic Buffer Configuration for Power Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal active noise reduction (ANR) devices face issues with high power consumption, limited frequency range, and the generation of unwanted noise, leading to short battery life and unpleasant sound experiences.
Innovation Solution
An ANR circuit employing buffers to configure settings dynamically, including a first and second buffer for synchronization and a third buffer for 'failsafe' settings, along with a processing device and storage to monitor instability and adjust settings, and a compression controller to coordinate feedforward and feedback noise reduction based on acoustic energy thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic configuration of ANR settings is implemented, then adaptability and noise reduction efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple buffers and synchronization mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the ANR settings configuration into separate buffer components (first buffer, second buffer, third buffer) that can independently store and manage different types of settings. This segmentation allows dynamic configuration without overwhelming complexity, as each buffer handles specific configuration tasks separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second buffers are pre-configured with default ANR settings before the system operates. This preliminary action ensures that if instability occurs during operation, the system can immediately fall back to pre-prepared settings in the third buffer, reducing the complexity of real-time configuration while maintaining adaptability.
2Reliability
If multiple buffers are used for ANR settings synchronization, then reliability and stability are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic synchronization where buffers are updated at specific intervals rather than continuously. The first and second buffers are alternately used in a periodic manner, and the third buffer is activated only when instability is detected. This periodic action maintains reliability while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous buffer operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The ANR circuit automatically monitors its own stability and self-regulates buffer usage. When instability is detected, the system automatically switches to the third buffer's failsafe settings without external intervention. This self-service mechanism ensures reliability while minimizing the energy required for manual control and monitoring.
3Reliability
If failsafe buffer is implemented for instability detection, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The third buffer is pre-loaded with failsafe ANR settings that can be immediately activated if instability occurs. This beforehand cushioning ensures that the system has ready-made backup configurations, improving reliability without requiring complex real-time analysis or computation during instability events.
Solution Approach 2:
The third buffer acts as an intermediary between the primary ANR processing and the failsafe settings. It mediates the transition between normal operation and failsafe mode, simplifying the overall system architecture by providing a dedicated buffer for emergency settings rather than requiring complex real-time switching mechanisms.
4Productivity
If compression controller coordinates feedforward and feedback ANR, then noise reduction efficiency is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression controller applies compression selectively to feedforward and feedback ANR signals based on their individual characteristics and requirements. Rather than uniformly processing all signals, it applies partial compression only where needed, improving noise reduction efficiency while reducing overall power consumption compared to full-signal processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression controller dynamically adjusts compression parameters based on the acoustic energy thresholds and signal characteristics. By changing compression parameters adaptively rather than using fixed settings, the system optimizes noise reduction efficiency for different conditions while minimizing power consumption during low-noise periods.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and method of reducing the provision of ANR at an one end of a range of frequencies at which the ANR is provided without reducing the provision of the ANR at the other end of the range of frequencies by repeatedly reconfiguring coefficients of one or more digital filters to reduce the provision of ANR at the one end in increments at a first recurring interval, and then later reversing the reduction in the provision of the ANR at the one end by repeatedly reconfiguring coefficients of the one or more digital filters in increments at a second recurring interval.