Cordless Telephony Microphone Speaker Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cordless telephony systems, particularly in the DECT standard, fail to provide consistent and high-quality hands-free calling experiences, especially in environments where users move freely or multiple individuals are at different distances from the microphone, leading to echo and noise issues.
Innovation Solution
The system separates the microphone and loudspeaker into distinct handsets connected via a wireless communication network, allowing for 'associated resources' to manage communication channels efficiently, enabling hands-free calls and conferences without the need for users to hold the phone, and allowing voice data to be transmitted to a portable handset or a wall device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users are required to hold the phone to their ear for clear communication, then communication quality is maintained, but hands are not free for other activities
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the telephony functions by separating the microphone (A/E converter) and loudspeaker (I/O converter) into different mobile parts. The first mobile part contains the microphone while the second mobile part contains the loudspeaker, allowing users to hold only the microphone to their ear while having hands free for other activities, thus resolving the contradiction between hands-free capability and communication quality
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed part acts as an intermediary that coordinates communication between the two mobile parts. It manages the association between the first and second mobile parts, routes voice data appropriately, and ensures that the loudspeaker in the second mobile part receives clear audio signals from the microphone in the first mobile part, maintaining communication quality while enabling hands-free operation
2Ease of operation
If an additional loudspeaker is added to the handset for hands-free mode, then hands-free calling is enabled, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding a loudspeaker to every handset, the system segments the loudspeaker function into a separate second mobile part. This allows the first mobile part (handset) to remain simple and portable, while the loudspeaker capability is distributed to the second mobile part, reducing device complexity while enabling hands-free functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The second mobile part serves multiple functions: it acts as a standalone communication device when associated with the first mobile part for hands-free calling, and can also function independently or be associated with different first mobile parts. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components in each device
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple microphones are added to cover different positions in the room, then coverage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the microphone coverage function by allowing the first mobile part (containing the microphone) to be moved to different positions in the room. Instead of adding multiple microphones to a single device, the portable first mobile part can be repositioned by the user to achieve comprehensive room coverage, maintaining adaptability while reducing device complexity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
In order to be able to carry out a telephone conversation with a telephone (TF), e.g. a cordless telephone, and without utilizing the hands, i.e. hands-free, it is suggested that the unity of the speaker and/or earpiece (EAW) and the microphone (AEW) in one device is abandoned, and the microphone and speaker are separated from one another, i.e. separate mobile parts (MT1, MT1', MT2) are provided which are each connected to a fixed part (FT, BS, GW) by wireless communication for the purpose of cordless telephony, wherein both mobile parts, that is, the microphone (AEW) and the speaker/earpiece (EAW), function according to the principle of an 'associated resource', and form the same with respect to the fixed part (FT, BS, GW). In other words: the microphone remains in use as a portable first mobile part (MT1, MT1') during the telephone conversation, and the speaker remains as a second mobile part (MT2) at the receiver device.