Audio Pattern Matching for Standby Device Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric devices in standby power mode consume significant energy, and existing solutions do not provide a simple and efficient method to activate them from this mode, especially at reduced power levels like 0.5 Watts.

Innovation Solution

A system within electric devices that uses microphones and a standby activation unit with a processor and non-volatile memory to detect and match pre-recorded or user-selected audio phrases, allowing activation to full power mode using minimal power available in standby mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If devices run in standby power mode to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but device activation becomes complex and power-hungry

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestandby power consumptionVSAvoidactivation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the activation process into distinct phases: audio detection phase (microphone only, ultra-low power), audio pattern recognition phase (processor + memory, still low power), and full device activation phase (complete system). This segmentation allows the device to perform activation functions using minimal power while maintaining simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing audio signals into patterns and pre-loading activation phrases into memory before full device activation. The microphone continuously monitors and converts audio to patterns in advance, so when activation is needed, the comparison can happen quickly with minimal power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If standby power is reduced to 0.5 Watts to meet energy goals, then energy efficiency is improved, but the ability to detect and process activation phrases deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestandby power consumptionVSAvoidactivation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by allocating different power levels to different components based on their specific needs: the microphone receives just enough power to detect audio and convert to patterns, the processor receives minimal power for pattern comparison, and memory is kept in a low-power state. This targeted power allocation maintains activation reliability while achieving 0.5 Watt standby consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters dynamically: the microphone operates in a low-gain mode during standby to reduce power, the processor uses simplified pattern matching algorithms with reduced computational complexity, and the comparison threshold is adjusted to maintain reliability at lower power levels. These parameter changes enable reliable activation at 0.5 Watts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If continuous audio monitoring is performed in standby mode to enable voice activation, then ease of operation is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoice activation convenienceVSAvoidstandby power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous full-power audio monitoring, the system uses periodic sampling at ultra-low power levels. The microphone takes intermittent readings of the audio environment and converts them to patterns for comparison, rather than continuously processing audio streams. This periodic approach maintains voice activation convenience while keeping standby power at 0.5 Watts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces traditional mechanical audio processing (analog signal processing, continuous amplification) with electronic/digital methods: the microphone output is directly converted to digital patterns through ADC, and pattern comparison is performed using digital logic and simple algorithms. This substitution eliminates the need for continuous high-power analog processing while maintaining activation functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 efficient activation of electric devices from standby power mode with minimal energy consumption, allowing devices to switch to full power mode using audio patterns, thus reducing overall energy usage.

Implementation Method 1

one or more microphones for detecting an audio stream in a vicinity of the one or more microphones

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrophone transduction:

Data Source

PatentUS8666751B2Audio pattern matching for device activation

Publication Date: 2014.03.04 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A system and method are disclosed for activating an electric device from a standby power mode to a full power mode. The system may include one or more microphones for monitoring audio signals in the vicinity of the electric device, and a standby power activation unit including a low-power microprocessor and a non-volatile memory. Audio captured by the one or more microphones is digitized and compared by the microprocessor against predefined activation pattern(s) stored in the non-volatile memory. If a pattern match is detected between the digital audio pattern and a predefined activation pattern, the electric device is activated.