Audio Mixing Gain Control for Smooth Priority Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio mixing devices may delay the output of important audio information, leading to potential delays in user treatment, especially when both earlier and later audio information require urgency.
Innovation Solution
An audio mixing device with a gain setting circuit that sets gains in a stepwise manner and a mixing circuit that outputs a mixing signal by multiplying audio data with gains, ensuring smooth transitions and prioritization of audio playback based on priority settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If gain is changed abruptly to prioritize audio output, then responsiveness is improved, but audio quality deteriorates due to sudden volume changes and abnormal sounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the gain change process adaptive rather than static. The gain change section dynamically adjusts the number of steps based on the absolute value of gain change amount, creating a responsive yet controlled transition that adapts to different audio scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of gain transition by dividing a single abrupt gain change into multiple incremental steps. This parameter transformation converts a sudden volume jump into a gradual progression, preventing abnormal sounds while maintaining responsiveness
2Reliability
If gain transitions are made smoothly through multiple steps, then audio quality is improved, but responsiveness deteriorates due to extended transition time
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of gain change steps based on the absolute value of the gain change amount. When the gain change amount is large, more steps are used for smoother transitions; when it is small, fewer steps are used for faster response, creating an optimized balance between quality and speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the fixed gain change process into a variable one by changing the number of steps based on the gain change amount. This parameter change allows the system to automatically optimize the transition smoothness versus speed trade-off for different audio scenarios
3Loss of time
If audio information is prioritized for urgent output, then timeliness is improved, but other audio information may be delayed causing treatment delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic priority management where the gain change section adjusts the number of steps based on the absolute value of gain change amount, which reflects the urgency level. This dynamic adjustment allows urgent audio information to receive faster processing while less urgent information maintains adequate delivery timing
Data Source
AI summary
An audio mixing device includes a gain setting circuit configured to set first to n-th gains based on a command input from the outside, n being an integer of two or more, and a mixing circuit configured to output a mixing signal obtained by mixing two or more of first to n-th multiplication data obtained by respectively multiplying first to n-th audio data by the first to n-th gains. In a case where the j-th gain of the first to n-th gains is set to a first value, when the j-th gain is to be set to a second value different from the first value, the gain setting circuit transitions the j-th gain from the first value to the second value in a stepwise manner in a j-th gain change section of first to n-th gain change sections.