Haptic Feedback Element as Bone Conduction Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Classical noise reduction algorithms fail to effectively suppress wind noise due to its dominant low frequency components and low correlation across microphones, making it difficult to improve speech quality in noisy environments.
Innovation Solution
A controller for a haptic feedback element that senses external vibrations and uses the haptic feedback element as a vibration sensor to detect speech via bone conduction, combining the induced signal with microphone signals after filtering and equalization to enhance speech quality by increasing the effective passband and reducing noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If classical noise reduction algorithms are used, then speech processing is simple, but wind noise cannot be effectively suppressed due to dominant low frequency components and low correlation across microphones
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic feedback element is made multi-functional by enabling it to operate both as a vibration actuator (generating haptic feedback) and as a vibration sensor (detecting external vibrations and speech via bone conduction). This allows the system to use the same hardware component for both actuation and sensing purposes, improving speech quality in noisy environments without adding separate sensor hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using microphones to detect speech and vibrations in the traditional manner, the patent inverts the approach by using the haptic feedback element (designed for generating vibrations) to sense vibrations through bone conduction. This inverted usage allows the system to capture speech signals directly through the user's bone structure, effectively bypassing wind noise and other environmental acoustic interference that plague traditional microphone-based systems.
2Measurement precision
If the haptic feedback element is used as a vibration sensor, then speech detection via bone conduction is achieved, but the effective passband is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines signals from multiple sources: the haptic feedback element detecting vibrations via bone conduction and microphones capturing acoustic speech. By merging these complementary signal sources, the system achieves both precise speech detection (through the reliable bone conduction path) and extended frequency response (by incorporating microphone data that captures a broader passband).
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a composite signal by combining the output from the haptic feedback element (sensing vibrations) with output from microphones (sensing acoustic waves). This composite approach leverages the strengths of both sensing modalities to achieve both precise speech detection and extended effective passband, overcoming the limitations of either method alone.
3Ease of operation
If traditional microphone-based methods are used, then speech capture is straightforward, but noise contamination particularly from wind noise reduces signal-to-noise ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic feedback element acts as an intermediary sensing path that bypasses the noisy acoustic environment. By detecting vibrations through bone conduction, it provides a clean signal path that is immune to wind noise and other environmental acoustic interference, thereby improving signal-to-noise ratio while maintaining ease of operation through integrated hardware.
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 solution effectively improves speech quality by reducing noise contamination, particularly from wind noise, resulting in a better signal-to-noise ratio and improved intelligibility compared to traditional microphone-based methods.
Implementation Method 1
sense a signal induced on at least one terminal of the haptic feedback element in response to an external vibration source
Implementation Method 2
the speech signal may be transmitted via bone conduction. These speech vibrations may be detected and processed
Data Source
AI summary
A controller for a haptic feedback element is described, the haptic feedback element being configured to generate haptic vibrations, wherein the controller comprises a sense input and is configured to sense a signal induced on at least one terminal of the haptic feedback element in response to an external vibration source. The controller may sense vibrations induced one or more terminals of a haptic feedback element. The external vibration source may for example be due to speech transmitted via bone conduction which can be detected and subsequently processed.