Audio Device Near-Field Sensitivity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional audio devices, such as hearing aids, lack selective amplification, amplifying both target voices and user voices equally, leading to interference and reduced voice recognizability due to similar sensitivity to near-field and far-field sound sources.
Innovation Solution
An audio device with a dual microphone setup, where one microphone is positioned closer to the user's voice and another farther away, using a signal processing circuit to generate output signals that suppress near-field sound sources while amplifying far-field sound sources, by adjusting sensitivity and amplitude based on distance ratios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hearing aids amplify all sound sources equally, then the user can hear distant voices, but the user's own voice interferes with target voice recognizability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different sensitivity zones for different sound sources. The hearing aid device has high sensitivity to far-field sound sources (target voices) and low sensitivity to near-field sound sources (user's own voice), achieving spatially selective amplification that resolves the interference problem while maintaining target voice recognizability
2Reliability
If the audio device increases sensitivity to far-field sound sources, then distant voices are amplified, but near-field sound sources are also amplified causing interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sensitivity parameter based on the spatial location of sound sources. By adjusting the sensitivity parameter to be high for far-field sources and low for near-field sources, the system achieves selective amplification that enhances target voice while suppressing interference noise through parameter differentiation
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the audio device decreases sensitivity to near-field sound sources, then user voice interference is reduced, but the ability to capture close-talk scenarios is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic sensitivity adjustment based on the detected spatial characteristics of sound sources. The device dynamically changes its sensitivity profile according to whether the primary sound source is near-field or far-field, enabling adaptability to different usage scenarios while consistently suppressing user voice interference
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 reduces interference from user voices while enhancing distant voices, improving voice recognizability and communication quality by selectively amplifying far-field sound sources over near-field sources.
Implementation Method 1
a first sound wave sensor to receive a sound wave and output a first signal based on the sound wave; a second sound wave sensor to receive the sound wave and output a second signal based on the sound wave
Data Source
AI summary
The present application discloses an audio device that has an inhibitory effect on sound waves emitted by a near-field sound source within a specified range and has an amplification effect on sound waves emitted from a far-field sound source outside the specified range. The audio device includes a first sound wave sensor to receive a sound wave and output a first signal based on the sound wave; a second sound wave sensor to receive the sound wave and output a second signal based on the sound wave; and a signal processing circuit coupled to the first sound wave sensor and the second sound wave sensor to generate an output signal based on the first signal and the second signal, wherein the audio device's near-field sensitivity to a sound wave is substantially lower than its far-field sensitivity to the sound wave.