Clapping Signal Isolation in Voice-Controlled Appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic appliances controlled by clapping sounds face issues with erroneous operations due to sound interference from the appliance's main body and surrounding noise, limiting the functionality and accuracy of clapping-based control methods.
Innovation Solution
An electronic appliance and voice signal processing method that includes a microphone for detecting clapping sounds, amplification, A/D conversion, and signal processing to isolate and enhance the clapping signal, removing noise and main body sound components through offset removal, absolute value formation, and waveform shaping to accurately detect clapping inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If clapping sound control is implemented, then hands-free operation is achieved, but erroneous operations occur due to sound interference from main body and surrounding noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful main body sound from the detected sound signal by generating a reference signal from the speaker output and subtracting it from the microphone input, isolating only the clapping sound for control operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system including waveform generation, waveform shaping, and subtraction circuits that mediate between the raw sound detection and control execution, filtering out noise and main body sounds before control decisions are made
2Adaptability or versatility
If clapping sound detection is performed during power-on state, then control functionality is expanded, but main body sound buries the clapping sound causing detection failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary sound signal processing by generating the main body sound reference signal in advance from the speaker output and pre-subtracting it from the microphone signal before clapping detection, enabling accurate detection even when power is on and main body sound is present
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful main body sound into a useful reference signal by capturing it from the speaker output and using it for subtraction, transforming the interference into an enabling factor for accurate clapping detection during power-on state
3Ease of operation
If clapping sound threshold is lowered to detect softer claps, then ease of operation improves, but surrounding noise is more likely to trigger erroneous operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful noise components from the sound signal by subtracting the main body sound reference and shaping the waveform to isolate only the characteristic clapping sound pattern, allowing lower thresholds without noise-triggered erroneous operations
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
The method effectively reduces erroneous operations by isolating clapping sounds from main body and noise signals, allowing for reliable control of electronic appliances even when the power is on, and expands the range of clapping-based control operations.
Implementation Method 1
a speaker (122) which subjects a first voice signal generated from the electronic appliance to electricity-sound conversion to output the converted first voice signal
Implementation Method 2
a sound detector (101) which detects a second sound wave where a sound wave generated for control of the electronic appliance is superimposed on a first sound wave based on the first voice signal emitted from the speaker and which subjects the second sound wave to sound-electricity conversion to output a second voice signal
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic appliance includes a speaker which outputs a first sound wave based on a first voice signal generated from the electronic appliance, and a microphone to detect a second sound wave on which a sound wave generated for control of the electronic appliance is superimposed to output a second voice signal. A first waveform generator generates a first waveform signal based on the first voice signal, and a second waveform generator generates a second waveform signal based on the second voice signal. A waveform shaping unit outputs a third waveform signal in which the first waveform signal is enlarged in a time axis direction, and a subtracter subtracts the third waveform signal from the second waveform signal.