Audio Device Microphone Array Bottom Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional loudspeaker designs face challenges in integrating microphone arrays due to conflicts with other devices, leading to compromised appearance and sound quality, as microphone arrays require specific placement to avoid acoustic interference and reflections, limiting the aesthetic and functional design of intelligent audio devices.
Innovation Solution
The audio device features a microphone array positioned at the bottom surface, with acoustic transmission holes forming centrosymmetric openings on the shell, allowing for improved signal-to-noise ratio and directivity while maintaining an attractive appearance by separating microphones from loudspeakers and utilizing boundaries for enhanced audio signal reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a microphone array is placed at the top or outer side of the device to avoid acoustic interference, then the microphones can maintain consistent responses, but the appearance is affected and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional placement of the microphone array from the top or outer side to the bottom surface of the device. This inversion allows the microphones to be positioned away from the loudspeaker while maintaining acoustic isolation, thus preserving appearance quality without compromising microphone response consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds the microphone array within the bottom surface structure of the device, integrating the microphones into the housing rather than placing them on the exterior. This nesting approach maintains a flat outer surface while providing acoustic transmission holes for the microphones to function effectively
2Reliability
If the loudspeaker is placed at the lower portion of the device to avoid overload distortion, then the microphone array can be positioned away from it, but the sound playing effect is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal separation of loudspeaker and microphone array to vertical separation by placing the microphone array on the bottom surface and the loudspeaker on the top or side surface. This dimensional change allows both components to be positioned optimally without compromising either signal quality or sound output
3Ease of operation
If big acoustic transmission holes are arranged on the top surface for the microphone array, then the microphones can receive sound signals, but the appearance is affected and the microphones are easily accidentally touched
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the bottom surface of the device as an intermediary location for the microphone array, separating the sound reception function from the user-accessible surfaces. The acoustic transmission holes are positioned on the bottom surface where they do not affect appearance or accessibility, while still allowing sound signals to reach the microphones effectively
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 the signal-to-noise ratio and directivity of the microphone array, improves the aesthetic appeal of the device, and reduces noise interference from accidental touch, while maintaining effective sound output without increasing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the shell is provided with multiple first acoustic transmission holes, each hole corresponding to each microphone of the multiple microphones
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4A
Figure 4B~5
AI summary
The embodiments provide an audio interaction device. The device includes a shell, multiple microphones (13) located in multiple accommodation portions of the shell, at least one processor (11) and a memory (12) configured to store a computer program capable of running on the processor (11). The processor (11) is configured to run the computer program to execute the following operations. Audio signals obtained by the multiple microphones (13) are identified, and the audio signals are processed. The multiple microphones (13) are boundary microphones and arranged at positions close to a first surface of the shell of the audio interaction device, and the first surface is attached or close to a placement surface on which the audio interaction device is located.