Body-Conducted Phoneme Recognition Using Bilateral Vibration Waves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing speech recognition technologies struggle to accurately recognize phonemes in environments where speech is inaudible or spoken in a low voice.

Innovation Solution

A communication device and method utilizing vibration waves transmitted and received at bilaterally symmetrical portions of the body, such as the ears, to recognize phonemes based on the difference wave between input and output vibration waves, facilitated by a speech recognition device that processes these waves to identify intended speech.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional speech recognition is used in environments where speech is inaudible or spoken in low voice, then speech recognition fails or accuracy deteriorates, but the patent uses vibration waves transmitted through body parts to maintain recognition accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeech recognition accuracyVSAvoidinaudible speech environment

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional acoustic wave-based speech recognition with a mechanical vibration wave transmission system. Vibration waves are transmitted through body parts (ear, jaw, neck, etc.) to capture speech signals that are inaudible in the air, thereby maintaining recognition accuracy in environments where traditional microphones fail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces body parts as intermediary transmission media between the speech source and the recognition system. Vibration waves travel through intermediate body structures (ear canal, jawbone, neck tissues) to deliver speech signals that bypass the limitations of air-based acoustic transmission in noisy or quiet environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If vibration waves are transmitted through body parts to recognize phonemes, then recognition accuracy in low voice environments improves, but device complexity increases due to multiple vibration transmitting and receiving units

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephoneme recognition accuracyVSAvoidnumber of vibration units

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs vibration transmitting and receiving units that can be placed at multiple body locations (ear, jaw, neck, etc.) but use the same fundamental vibration transmission mechanism. This multi-functional approach allows the system to adapt to different speech conditions and body positions while maintaining a relatively simple unit design that can be replicated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the speech recognition system into multiple independent vibration units distributed across different body parts. Each unit independently transmits or receives vibration waves, and their results are combined to achieve accurate phoneme recognition. This segmentation allows the complex task to be distributed across simpler, modular components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 accurate recognition of phonemes without actual utterance or in low voice environments, enhancing speech recognition accuracy and sensitivity.

Implementation Method 1

a vibration transmitting unit configured to transmit an input vibration wave to a first portion of a subject

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration transmission: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

a vibration receiving unit configured to receive, at a second portion of the subject, an output vibration wave generated based on the input vibration wave propagated through at least a part of the subject

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration reception: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS12592218B2Communication device, communication method, and non-transitory storage medium

Publication Date: 2026.03.31 JVC KENWOOD CORP

AI summary

A communication device includes: a vibration transmitting unit configured to transmit an input vibration wave to a first portion of a subject; a vibration receiving unit configured to receive, at a second portion of the subject, an output vibration wave generated based on the input vibration wave propagated through at least a part of the subject; and a speech recognition device configured to recognize a phoneme which is uttered by the subject based on a difference wave between the input vibration wave and the output vibration wave, wherein the first portion and the second portion are arranged on right and left of the subject.