Telecommunications Audio Endpoint Radial Waveguide Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Audio endpoints with vertical separation between the speaker and microphone experience sound quality issues due to combing effects, failing to meet telecommunication standards, and existing acoustic echo canceling algorithms are not effective in all conditions, especially at low distortion and sound pressure levels.
Innovation Solution
The design features a speaker waveguide directing sound radially outward and microphones positioned within a microphone waveguide close to the base, oriented to pick up sound tangentially, providing vibrational and acoustic isolation and increasing speaker-to-microphone coupling rejection, allowing for full-duplex communication in a compact form factor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If vertical separation between speaker and microphone is used, then device compactness is improved, but sound quality deteriorates due to combing effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal separation (2D plane) to vertical separation (3D space) between speaker and microphone. The speaker is positioned at the top surface while microphones are placed at the bottom surface, utilizing the vertical dimension to achieve compactness without compromising audio quality through combing effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a base structure as an intermediary element between the speaker and microphones. The base serves as a physical separator that prevents direct acoustic coupling while maintaining the vertical compactness of the device.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If horizontal separation between speaker and microphone is increased, then acoustic coupling is reduced, but device footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the contradiction by moving the separation from the horizontal plane to the vertical dimension. The speaker and microphone are separated vertically through the base structure, maintaining small horizontal footprint while achieving sufficient acoustic isolation.
3Reliability
If acoustic echo canceling algorithms are implemented, then echo quality is improved, but full-duplex communication fails under low sound pressure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful acoustic coupling between speaker and microphone through physical separation via the base structure. By removing the direct acoustic path, echo is naturally reduced without relying on complex algorithms that fail under low sound pressure conditions.
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
This configuration enhances audio quality by reducing echo return and maintaining high-frequency fidelity while meeting telecommunication standards, achieving a small footprint that is typically larger in traditional conference phones.
Implementation Method 1
The speaker waveguide is generally configured to guide sounds output by the speaker in radially (outward) directions
Implementation Method 2
a gap is disposed between the speaker waveguide and the microphone waveguide which allows low frequency pressure to pass through the endpoint between the speaker waveguide and the microphone waveguide
Implementation Method 3
the microphone assembly is vibrationally and acoustically isolated from the speaker assembly
Implementation Method 4
the microphone assembly is vibrationally and acoustically isolated from the speaker assembly
Implementation Method 5
the two or more microphones may each be oriented to receive sound in a direction perpendicular to at least one of the radially outward directions in which the speaker waveguide guides the sound output by the speaker
Data Source
AI summary
Presented herein is an audio endpoint for telecommunication operations, sometimes referred to herein as a “telecommunications audio endpoint” or, more, simply as an “audio endpoint.” According to at least one example, the audio endpoint presented herein includes a base, a speaker, a speaker waveguide, a microphone waveguide, and two or more microphones. The base is configured to engage a support surface (i.e., a table) and the speaker is configured to emit sounds (i.e., fire) in a direction of the base. The speaker waveguide is disposed between the speaker and the microphone waveguide, while the microphone waveguide is disposed between the speaker waveguide and the base. The two or more microphones are disposed within the microphone waveguide and are proximate to the base. In general, the speaker waveguide is configured to guide sounds output by the speaker in general radially (outward) directions.