Dual Microphone Voice Coder for Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional communication devices face challenges in enhancing signal quality and reducing background noise, particularly in environments with substantial ambient noise, leading to suboptimal voice-to-background signal-to-noise ratios, which increases device complexity, cost, and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A two-microphone system is employed in communication devices, where the first microphone is positioned to collect the voice signal and the second microphone is placed to capture background noise with a lower signal-to-noise ratio, allowing for effective noise reduction and cancellation, thereby improving the voice-to-background signal-to-noise ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If digital signal processing techniques are applied within the device to enhance signal quality, then voice to background signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second microphone as an intermediary element that captures background noise separately. This mediator allows the system to obtain noise information without requiring complex processing of the primary microphone signal, thereby improving SNR while avoiding increased device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the audio capture function into two separate microphones: one dedicated to capturing voice signals and another dedicated to capturing background noise. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each microphone's position and characteristics, improving overall signal quality without increasing processing complexity
2Measurement precision
If digital signal processing techniques are applied within the device to enhance signal quality, then voice to background signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary noise capture using the second microphone before the noise cancellation processing occurs. By pre-capturing the background noise signal in a dedicated microphone positioned optimally for noise detection, the system reduces the computational burden during actual processing, thereby lowering power consumption while maintaining SNR improvement
Solution Approach 2:
The second microphone acts as an intermediary that provides ready-made noise information to the processing system. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for complex real-time noise analysis of the primary signal, reducing computational power requirements while achieving noise reduction
3Device complexity
If a single microphone is used for voice capture, then device simplicity is maintained, but signal quality deteriorates in noisy environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the audio capture task into two separate functions performed by two microphones: voice capture and noise capture. This segmentation allows each microphone to be optimized for its specific purpose, with the first microphone positioned for voice and the second for noise, thereby improving signal quality while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the communication device multi-functional by adding noise capture capability alongside voice capture. The second microphone provides universal noise information that can be used for both noise cancellation and environmental awareness, enhancing signal quality without significantly increasing device complexity
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 enhances signal quality and reduces background noise, increasing the voice-to-background signal-to-noise ratio while maintaining compatibility with existing digital signal processing techniques, thus improving overall communication performance without increasing complexity or power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a first microphone positioned in a first location to provide a first signal having a first signal-to-noise ratio
Implementation Method 2
a second microphone positioned in a second location to provide a second signal having a second signal-to-noise ratio
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a voice coder for voice communication that employs a multi-microphone system as part of an improved approach to enhancing signal quality and improving the signal to noise ratio for such voice communications, where there is a special relationship between the position of a first microphone and a second microphone to provide the communication device with certain advantageous physical and acoustic properties. In addition, the communication device can have certain physical characteristics and design features. In a two microphone arrangement, the first microphone is located in a location directed toward the speech source, while the second microphone is located in a location that provides a voice signal with significantly lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).