Antiphase Sound Wave Generation for External Noise Offset

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing noise canceling methods in electronic devices are limited in effectively offsetting sound noise generated from external sources, such as vehicle operations or environmental sounds, while maintaining desired audio inputs.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with audio reception and output units that generate and emit antiphase sound waves to offset unwanted noise, using a processor to convert received sound into antiphase signals and control the direction of sound emission through beam forming techniques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If noise canceling is applied to remove external noise, then noise removal effectiveness is improved, but desired audio inputs may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexternal noise removalVSAvoidaudio input maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the audio processing into separate channels: one for capturing external noise via microphones and another for preserving desired audio inputs. The noise canceling operation is applied selectively to specific frequency ranges and time periods where external noise dominates, while maintaining the integrity of desired audio signals in other ranges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different processing qualities to different audio components. Noise canceling with antiphase signals is applied locally to identified noise frequencies and directions, while desired audio inputs maintain their original quality without degradation from the canceling process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If antiphase signals are generated and emitted via speakers, then noise offsetting is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise offsettingVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of the audio environment to identify noise characteristics, frequency ranges, and directional sources before generating antiphase signals. This preliminary detection and classification simplifies the subsequent signal generation process by pre-determining the parameters needed for effective noise canceling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the audio environment and adjusts the antiphase signal generation based on real-time feedback from microphones. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt to changing noise conditions while maintaining a relatively simple processing architecture through iterative optimization rather than complex predetermined processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Effectively minimizes external sound noise while maintaining desired audio inputs by generating and emitting antiphase sound waves that destructively interfere with unwanted noise, enhancing user experience in noisy environments.

Implementation Method 1

generating and emitting antiphase sound waves that destructively interfere with unwanted noise

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDestructive interference: Interference

Data Source

PatentEP3516648B1Electronic device and method of controlling the same
Publication Date: 2022.08.03 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3516648B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3516648B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3516648B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes an audio module including a plurality of audio reception units and a plurality of audio output units and a processor electrically connected to the audio module and configured to receive sound via the plurality of audio reception units, generate antiphase signals based on waveforms of the received sound, determine directions in which to emit the antiphase signals, based on locations of the plurality of audio reception units, and emit the antiphase signals via the plurality of audio output units.