Camera Noise Cancellation Using Vibration-Based Audio Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current noise removal systems in mobile devices rely on static models and struggle to accurately estimate camera noise due to variability over time, component wear, and differences in calibration, leading to ineffective noise reduction from internal non-audio components like cameras.
Innovation Solution
The system employs an accelerometer or contact microphone to measure structural vibrations from camera components, which are then used to estimate and subtract noise from air microphone signals, eliminating the need for additional hardware and reducing processing power by tuning filters in quiet environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a static single constant model of noise is used, then the noise removal system is simple, but the accuracy of noise estimation deteriorates due to variability over time and component wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a static noise model to a dynamic adaptive model that continuously updates noise characteristics in real-time. The system monitors noise profiles and adjusts the noise model accordingly, allowing it to adapt to changes over time, component wear, and calibration variations, thereby maintaining high measurement precision without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously measures actual noise characteristics and compares them against the current model. This feedback loop enables the system to detect deviations and update its noise model, ensuring accurate noise estimation while keeping the system manageable through iterative refinement rather than requiring overly complex initial models
2Reliability
If traditional multi-microphone systems are used for noise cancellation, then noise reduction effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and processing power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the noise measurement function from the audio processing path by using a dedicated noise microphone positioned close to the camera component. This separation allows the noise to be captured independently without interfering with the audio signal, enabling effective noise cancellation while reducing overall system complexity compared to traditional multi-microphone approaches
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary noise measurement channel that captures camera-generated noise separately from the audio channel. This intermediary path allows the system to estimate and subtract noise without requiring complex interactions between multiple audio microphones, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining noise reduction effectiveness
3Measurement precision
If additional hardware is added to improve noise measurement, then noise estimation accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the noise microphone serve multiple functions: it captures camera-generated noise for subtraction, and can also be used to detect camera operation status and trigger noise removal processing. This multi-functionality improves measurement precision without requiring separate dedicated components, thereby avoiding increased hardware complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing microphone infrastructure to capture noise, allowing the noise measurement function to serve itself using available hardware resources. The noise microphone leverages the same basic mic technology as the audio microphones, eliminating the need for specialized expensive sensors while maintaining accurate noise estimation capability
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
This approach provides a reliable and efficient method for noise removal from camera operations, such as AutoFocus and Optical Image Stabilization, improving audio quality by accurately estimating and canceling camera noise without requiring extra hardware or complex correlation calculations.
Implementation Method 1
The system employs an accelerometer or contact microphone to measure vibrations from camera operations
Implementation Method 2
generate a signal from at least one sound transducer of an apparatus, where the signal is generated based upon sound received at the at least one sound transducer
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus including at least one processor; and at least one non-transitory memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to generate a signal from at least one sound transducer of an apparatus, where the signal is generated based upon sound received at the at least one sound transducer, where the sound includes acoustic noise generated by a component of the apparatus; and remove a noise component from the signal, where the noise component at least partially corresponds to the acoustic noise generated by the component.