Automatic Call Volume Control With Howling Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices face challenges in recognizing voice signals during calls due to surrounding noise, and automatic volume adjustment services can inadvertently increase volume due to howling, leading to continuous volume increases.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device identifies a correlation between input and output signals to determine if howling is present, and selectively provides automatic volume adjustment based on this correlation, preventing continuous volume increases by distinguishing between surrounding noise and howling signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If automatic volume adjustment service is provided based on surrounding noise, then the output signal can be recognized in noisy environments, but howling causes continuous volume increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput signal recognitionVSAvoidhowling-induced volume increase

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (howling detection module) that analyzes the relationship between output signals and microphone input to identify howling conditions. This intermediary detection system acts as a mediator between the automatic volume adjustment service and the actual volume control, preventing harmful feedback loops while maintaining beneficial noise compensation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If volume is increased to overcome surrounding noise, then call clarity improves, but howling is amplified causing continuous volume increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoice signal clarityVSAvoidhowling noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors microphone input during volume adjustment. By analyzing whether microphone signals contain howling components (correlated with output signals), the system provides feedback to the volume control algorithm, enabling it to distinguish between beneficial surrounding noise compensation and harmful howling amplification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If automatic volume adjustment is always active, then noise compensation is continuous, but false detection of howling prevents proper adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolume adjustment efficiencyVSAvoidnoise vs howling detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamic control by adjusting the automatic volume adjustment service based on detected conditions. The system dynamically switches between active volume adjustment (when no howling is detected) and suspended adjustment (when howling is detected), optimizing performance for each specific acoustic environment rather than using a static always-on approach

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9444423B2Method for adjusting volume and electronic device thereof

Publication Date: 2016.09.13 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An apparatus and method for selectively provide an automatic volume adjustment service considering an audio output signal in an electronic device. A method for adjusting a volume includes identifying a second signal which is output through a speaker while a first signal is input through a microphone, and determining whether a volume of an audio signal to be output through the speaker is increased, based on a correlation between the first signal and the second signal.