In-Car End-Fire Microphone Array for Noise and Echo Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio systems in vehicles fail to effectively separate voice signals from background noises and echoes in high-noise, reverberant environments, compromising hands-free audio performance.
Innovation Solution
An array of microphones in an end-fire configuration, combined with a dual-mode digital signal processor, employs beamforming modules for noise and echo cancellation, and adaptive noise reduction to enhance signal processing in both automatic speech recognition and phone call modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single microphone is used in a vehicle, then the device complexity is low, but the ability to separate voice signals from background noises and echoes is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the audio capture task into multiple independent microphone channels, with each microphone positioned at different locations (e.g., front, rear, left, right of the vehicle). This segmentation allows the subsequent signal processor to analyze and separate voice signals from different directions, improving voice signal separation accuracy while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular microphone placement.
2Reliability
If multiple microphones are arranged to improve voice signal separation, then the signal-to-noise ratio enhancement is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple microphones into a unified microphone array that works together with an integrated signal processor. By merging the functionality of multiple microphones and the signal processing capabilities into a coordinated system, the patent achieves improved hands-free audio performance through enhanced voice signal separation and noise cancellation, while managing device complexity through unified system architecture.
3Measurement precision
If conventional microphone arrangements are used, then the device complexity is low, but the echo cancellation performance is insufficient in reverberant environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple microphones to capture both the original voice signal and the reflected echo signals from the vehicle's reverberant environment. The signal processor analyzes these feedback signals and generates cancellation signals that are subtracted from the original input, improving echo cancellation accuracy. This feedback-based approach manages signal processing complexity by using the existing microphone inputs for both voice capture and echo analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application discloses exemplary arrangements of an end-fire microphone array inside a vehicle and exemplary digital signal processors configured for the end-fire in-car microphone array. The exemplary digital signal processors may be configured in two modes, a phone call mode and an automatic speech recognition mode. In each mode, the exemplary digital signal processors are improved for enhanced SNR. Different end-fire microphone array arrangements are also disclosed.