Dynamic Volume Steps for Background Noise Adaptive Audio Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of devices like earbuds, smartphones, and smartwatches often need to provide numerous input commands to adjust the volume from minimum to maximum or vice versa due to fixed increments between volume levels, which can be cumbersome, especially in environments with varying background noise levels.
Innovation Solution
The system dynamically adjusts the quantity of volume levels and loudness delta based on the background noise level, determined by microphones, allowing for more efficient volume adjustments by changing the number of increments and the difference between volume levels in response to noise thresholds, thereby reducing the number of user inputs required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the quantity of volume levels is increased to provide finer volume control in quiet environments, then the precision of volume adjustment is improved, but the number of user inputs required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the quantity of volume levels based on detected background noise conditions. In noisy environments, fewer volume levels are provided to reduce the number of adjustment steps needed. In quiet environments, more volume levels are available for precise control. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the volume level quantity context-dependent rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of volume level quantity based on noise detection. When background noise exceeds a threshold, the system reduces the number of volume levels and increases the loudness delta between levels. When noise is low, it increases the number of levels and decreases the delta, optimizing both precision and adjustment speed for different acoustic environments.
2Productivity
If the loudness delta between volume levels is increased to reduce the number of adjustment commands needed, then the speed of volume adjustment is improved, but the precision of volume control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The loudness delta between adjacent volume levels is dynamically adjusted based on background noise conditions. In noisy environments, a larger loudness delta is applied to enable faster volume adjustment with fewer commands. In quiet environments, a smaller delta provides finer control precision. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between adjustment speed and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the loudness delta parameter in response to noise level detection. When background noise is high, the delta is increased to reduce the number of adjustment commands needed. When noise is low, the delta is decreased to maintain precise volume control. This parameter adaptation allows the system to optimize for either speed or precision based on environmental conditions.
3Device complexity
If a fixed quantity of volume levels is used across all environments, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different noise conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own microphone to detect background noise and automatically adjusts volume level parameters without requiring user intervention. The processor analyzes the acoustic environment and autonomously modifies the quantity of volume levels and loudness delta, enabling the device to adapt to different environments while maintaining simple user interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The volume control system serves multiple functions: it provides fine-grained control in quiet environments, rapid adjustment in noisy environments, and automatic adaptation without user input. By making the volume level parameters adaptive to environmental conditions, the system achieves versatility across different usage scenarios while maintaining a unified control interface.
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 solution allows for more intuitive volume control by dynamically adjusting the number of volume levels and loudness delta, reducing the number of user inputs needed to achieve desired volume levels, whether in noisy or quiet environments, enhancing user experience.
Implementation Method 1
determining a background noise level may, for example, be based on at least one audio signal generated by one or more microphones listening to the background noise
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
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AI summary
A system and method for dynamically adjusting the quantity of volume levels and/or the loudness delta are disclosed. The quantity of volume levels may the number of increments between a minimum and maximum volume. The loudness delta may be the difference between adjacent volume levels. The device may one or more microphones to determine a background noise level. Based on the determined background noise level, and after receiving a user input to adjust the volume, the device may adjust the quantity of volume levels and/or the loudness delta depending on if the background noise level is increased or low.