Frequency-Domain Audio Processing for Selective Quantization Noise Attenuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques for removing quantization noise inadvertently remove original sound components along with the quantization noise, degrading sound quality.

Innovation Solution

A signal processing device that determines quantization noise control based on sound data level and frequency, attenuating noise selectively to preserve original sound components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If uniform removal of quantization noise is applied, then quantization noise is reduced, but original sound components are also removed together with the noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantization noiseVSAvoidsound quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different attenuation amounts to different frequency components based on their individual characteristics. Specifically, it calculates an attenuation amount for each frequency component by comparing the signal level with the quantization noise level at that frequency, thereby selectively removing noise while preserving original sound components. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between noise removal and sound quality preservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the attenuation parameter dynamically based on the signal characteristics at each frequency. By calculating the attenuation amount as a function of signal level and noise level at each frequency component, the system adapts the noise removal strength to local conditions, achieving effective noise reduction without uniformly degrading sound quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If quantization noise is attenuated selectively based on sound data level and frequency, then original sound components are preserved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound qualityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the frequency spectrum into discrete frequency components and processes each component independently. By segmenting the signal processing into frequency-domain components, the system can apply different attenuation strategies to different frequencies based on their noise characteristics, achieving selective noise removal without requiring complex time-domain processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex time-domain noise removal mechanisms with frequency-domain processing using Fourier transform. This substitution simplifies the processing by transforming the problem into a more manageable frequency domain where noise and signal can be separated and processed independently, reducing overall processing complexity while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3651365B1Signal processing device, control method, program and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 PIONEER IP
  • EP3651365B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3651365B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3651365B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A converter 2 includes a time window cut-out block 21, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) block 22, an attenuation amount limitation block 23, a quantization noise attenuation block 24, an overtone generation block 25, an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) block 26, and a time window resynthesis block 27. The attenuation amount limitation block 23 determines the maximum attenuation amount of quantization noise to be attenuated in the quantization noise attenuation block 24 based on the magnitude of a signal level of sound data supplied from the time window cut-out block 21. The quantization noise attenuation block 24 adjusts amplitude in a frequency domain based on the maximum attenuation amount determined by the attenuation amount limitation block 23, to attenuate the quantization noise.