Dual-Sensitivity Microphone for Noise-Resistant Audio Command Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microphones in electronic devices often fail to accurately receive audio commands due to noise clipping or saturation, especially in environments with loud noise, such as TVs, vehicles, or washing machines, leading to ineffective device operation.
Innovation Solution
A microphone design featuring a substrate with two input holes, a noise barrier, and a signal processor that separates audio signals into two generators with different sensitivities, allowing noise removal and amplification to prevent saturation, enabling accurate command reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single microphone with high sensitivity is used to accurately receive audio commands, then the audio command reception accuracy is improved, but the microphone becomes susceptible to noise clipping and saturation in noisy environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single microphone system into two separate microphones with different sensitivities. The first microphone has high sensitivity for capturing audio commands, while the second microphone has low sensitivity for capturing noise. This segmentation allows the system to process both weak audio signals and strong noise signals simultaneously without mutual interference or saturation.
Solution Approach 2:
Each microphone is assigned a specific local quality characteristic - the first microphone is optimized with high sensitivity for audio command detection, while the second microphone is optimized with low sensitivity for noise detection. This local quality differentiation enables each component to excel at its specific function without being compromised by the other requirement.
2Reliability
If the microphone sensitivity is increased to capture faint audio commands, then the audio command detection capability is improved, but the microphone saturates more easily in noisy environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the detection function into two specialized microphones. The first microphone maintains high sensitivity for reliable audio command detection, while the second microphone maintains low sensitivity for noise detection. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve high reliability for audio detection and high adaptability to noisy environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor acts as an intermediary that receives signals from both microphones, identifies noise components based on the second microphone's input, and removes them from the first microphone's signal. This intermediary processing enables the high-sensitivity microphone to operate in noisy environments without saturation.
3Device complexity
If a single microphone is used to reduce device complexity, then the device structure is simplified, but the system cannot effectively distinguish between audio commands and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio detection function into two specialized microphones with different sensitivities, enabling the system to capture both audio commands and noise simultaneously. This segmentation prevents information loss by ensuring that neither audio signals nor noise signals are missed or distorted, while the added complexity remains manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-microphone system provides multi-functionality by simultaneously performing audio command detection and noise detection/characterization. This universal approach allows a single system to handle both weak audio signals and strong noise signals, extracting useful information from both sources through processor-based noise removal.
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 microphone effectively removes noise and ensures accurate reception of audio commands even in noisy environments, allowing electronic devices to perform intended functions.
Implementation Method 1
a first audio generator configured to convert an audio signal, input through the first hole of the substrate, into an electrical signal, wherein the first audio generator includes a first plate and first membrane spaced apart from each other, a second audio generator configured to convert an audio signal, input through the second hole of the substrate, into an electrical signal
Implementation Method 2
a noise barrier positioned between the first audio generator and the second audio generator, wherein the noise barrier has a first side coupled to the casing and a second side coupled to the substrate and separates the spaces of the first audio generator and the second audio generator
Data Source
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AI summary
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a microphone, an electronic apparatus including the microphone and a method for controlling the microphone, the electronic apparatus comprising: a substrate comprising a first hole and a second hole into which an audio signal is input; a case that has a resonance space formed thereinside as a first side thereof is opened, a second side thereof is closed, and the first side is coupled with the substrate; a first audio generation unit that converts an audio signal input through a first hole of the substrate into an electrical signal, and comprises a first plate and a first membrane spaced apart from each other; a second audio generation unit that converts an audio signal input through a second hole of the substrate into an electrical signal, and comprises a second plate and a second membrane spaced apart from each other; a sound insulation wall that is disposed between the first audio generation unit and the second audio generation unit, and separates spaces of the first audio generation unit and the second audio generation unit as a first side thereof is coupled with the case and the second side thereof is coupled with the substrate; a microphone that is electrically connected to the first audio generation unit and the second audio generation unit, and comprises a signal processing unit for removing a noise signal exceeding a threshold value by analyzing the audio signals transmitted through the first audio generation unit and the second audio generation unit; and a processor that is electrically coupled with the microphone, wherein the sensitivity of the first audio generation unit is configured to be lower than the sensitivity of the second audio generation unit, so that the microphone can correctly receive the user's audio command by removing noise greater than or equal to a predetermined level. Various embodiments other than the various embodiments disclosed in the present invention are possible.