Audio Processor Frequency Band Filtering for Alert Perceptibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Personal electronic devices face challenges in ensuring that priority audio signals, such as alerts, are perceivable over non-priority audio signals, especially when pre-processing enhances certain frequency content of the non-priority signals, leading to the priority signals being masked during simultaneous audio playback and alerts.
Innovation Solution
An audio processor method that filters non-priority audio signals to suppress frequency content in specific frequency bands occupied by priority audio signals, allowing the priority signals to be heard clearly by determining or being provided with the frequency band parameters, and combining the filtered non-priority signals with the priority signals for output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If pre-processing is used to enhance certain frequency content of non-priority audio signals, then the audio quality of non-priority signals is improved, but the priority audio signals become masked and imperceptible
Solution Approach 1:
The audio spectrum is segmented into different frequency bands, with specific bands allocated to priority signals. The non-priority audio signal is processed to suppress content in these designated frequency bands, allowing priority signals to be heard clearly while maintaining overall audio quality through selective frequency management.
Solution Approach 2:
Different quality treatments are applied to different frequency bands of the non-priority audio signal. Specifically, frequency bands occupied by priority signals have their content suppressed, while other frequency bands maintain their enhanced audio quality through pre-processing, achieving local optimization of signal perceptibility.
2Device complexity
If the priority audio signal is played over the non-priority audio signal without filtering, then the device complexity is reduced, but the priority signal becomes imperceptible when frequency bands overlap
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of frequency bands that will be occupied by priority audio signals before combining the signals. This advance preparation allows the non-priority signal to be pre-filtered to suppress content in these bands, ensuring priority signal perceptibility without requiring complex real-time processing during signal combination.
Solution Approach 2:
Frequency band identification and filtering parameters act as intermediaries between the priority and non-priority audio signals. These parameters enable the system to manage frequency band allocation and suppression without requiring direct complex interaction between the two audio signals, simplifying the overall mixing process.
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 clear perception of priority audio signals, like alerts, over non-priority audio signals during audio playback by suppressing interfering frequency content, ensuring users are alerted without interrupting the ongoing audio.
Implementation Method 1
The audio processor commences filtering the non-priority audio signals to suppress frequency content of the non-priority audio signals in the frequency band occupied by the priority audio signal
Data Source
AI summary
An audio processor (202) receives a non-priority audio signal (302) and a priority audio signal (304). The priority audio signal occupies a frequency band (408). The audio processor filters (320) the non-priority audio signal by suppressing frequency content in the same frequency region occupied by the priority signal, creating a filtered non-priority signal (412). The filtered non-priority signal and the priority signal are combined (328) and played over an audio transducer (110).