Audio Processing System Using Non-Acoustic Sensor Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing noise reduction systems in communication devices are inadequate in terms of quality and responsiveness to changes in environmental conditions, as they rely solely on acoustic information and can be slow to adapt to changes in device position or environmental noise sources.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating non-acoustic sensor information, such as motion, proximity, or spatial data, to process and modify acoustic signals, allowing for improved noise reduction and increased positional robustness in audio processing systems, including noise cancellation and suppression techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If noise reduction systems rely solely on acoustic information, then the system complexity is reduced, but the quality and responsiveness to environmental changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines acoustic sensors (microphones) with non-acoustic sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, proximity sensors) into an integrated noise reduction system. The processor fuses data from both sensor types to improve noise classification accuracy and environmental adaptability, resolving the contradiction by merging multiple information sources while maintaining manageable system complexity through integrated processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor acts as an intermediary that receives and integrates information from both acoustic and non-acoustic sensors. It processes sensor data to determine device position, motion state, and environmental conditions, then uses this integrated information to control noise reduction parameters, serving as a mediator that harmonizes multiple data sources into coherent noise reduction decisions.
2Speed
If acoustic signal processing uses only acoustic information, then the response time to environmental changes is slow, but the system is simpler to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors non-acoustic sensor data (accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor readings) in advance to detect changes in device position, orientation, or environmental conditions before they significantly impact acoustic quality. This preliminary detection allows the processor to proactively adjust noise reduction parameters, improving response time by anticipating environmental changes rather than merely reacting to them.
Solution Approach 2:
The noise reduction system dynamically adapts its parameters based on real-time non-acoustic sensor information. The processor continuously updates noise reduction settings according to detected device motion, position changes, or environmental conditions, making the system flexible and responsive to dynamic environmental variations rather than relying on static acoustic analysis alone.
3Measurement precision
If non-acoustic sensor information is integrated, then the classification accuracy of speech and noise is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the noise reduction task into distinct processing stages: non-acoustic sensor data acquisition, acoustic signal acquisition, integrated data processing for environmental state determination, and noise reduction parameter control. This segmentation allows each module to specialize in specific functions, improving classification accuracy through comprehensive analysis while managing device complexity through modular, organized processing architecture.
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
Enhances the quality and responsiveness of noise reduction systems by providing more accurate classification of speech and noise, reducing ambiguity and improving response time, leading to better audio signal processing in dynamic environments.
Implementation Method 1
The first microphone transduces an acoustic signal
Data Source
AI summary
An audio processing system processes an audio signal that may come from one or more microphones. The audio processing system may use information from one or more non-acoustic sensors to improve a variety of system characteristics, including responsiveness and quality. Those audio processing systems that use spatial information, for example to separate multiple audio sources, are undesirably susceptible to changes in the relative position of any audio sources, the audio processing system itself, or any combination thereof. Using the non-acoustic sensor information may decrease this susceptibility advantageously in an audio processing system.