Wireless Earbud Audio Synchronization via Master-Slave Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless earbuds operate independently, limiting their ability to effectively utilize conventional speech enhancement methods and noise cancellation techniques due to lack of synchronization between the two earpieces.
Innovation Solution
A wireless audio system comprising wirelessly connected earbuds with synchronized components such as microphones, asynchronous sampling rate converters, timers, and audio clocks, along with a control circuit and synchronizer to synchronize sound signal input and processing, enabling coordinated noise cancellation and speech enhancement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If each earpiece operates independently to perform active noise control and noise cancellation, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but speech enhancement effectiveness deteriorates due to inability to utilize conventional speech enhancement methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the operations of multiple earpieces by implementing a master-slave architecture where the slave earpiece synchronizes its microphone sampling and audio processing with the master earpiece. This allows the system to function as a unified audio processing unit, enabling effective speech enhancement methods that require coordinated operation across multiple earpieces while maintaining independent manufacturing capabilities.
2Device complexity
If earpieces operate independently without synchronization, then device complexity is reduced, but audio processing quality deteriorates due to lack of synchronization between earpieces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an audio clock signal as an intermediary mechanism that mediates synchronization between the master and slave earpieces. The audio clock provides a common timing reference that coordinates microphone sampling and audio processing operations across both earpieces without requiring complex direct communication protocols, thus achieving precise synchronization with minimal added complexity.
3Reliability
If synchronization components and circuits are added to coordinate earpiece operations, then speech enhancement and noise cancellation effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality in the audio clock and control circuit components. The audio clock serves multiple purposes: it synchronizes microphone sampling timing, coordinates audio processing operations, and provides a common reference for noise cancellation algorithms. This multi-functional approach achieves effective speech enhancement and coordinated operation without proportionally increasing device complexity, as single components perform multiple critical functions.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the present technology comprise a method and system for wireless audio. In various embodiments, the system comprises a set of wirelessly connected ear buds, each ear bud suitable for placing in a human ear canal. Each ear bud comprises a microphone, an asynchronous sampling rate converter, a timer, and an audio clock. One ear bud from the set further comprises a control circuit and a synchronizer to synchronize the input of sound signals captured by the microphones and/or synchronize the processing and output of the sound signals.