Hybrid Horn Microphone Array for Spatial Aliasing Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microphone arrays require sophisticated and costly hardware, significant computing performance, and may lack adequate sound quality, especially due to high-frequency spatial aliasing issues, and are undesirable in audio and video conferencing applications where multiple microphones are needed to achieve better sound quality.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid horn microphone array that combines horn technology with beamforming signal processing, reducing processing power and high-frequency spatial aliasing, allowing for a single microphone installation with improved signal-to-noise ratio and longer critical distance, eliminating the need for multiple microphones and complex cable management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional microphone arrays are used to improve sound quality, then sound quality may be improved, but hardware complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines horn acoustic structures with microphone elements to create a hybrid horn microphone. The horn portion physically captures and directs sound waves to the microphone capsule, providing directional sensitivity and improved sound quality while reducing the need for complex microphone arrays. This merging of acoustic engineering with electret microphone technology resolves the contradiction by achieving reliable sound quality through a single integrated device rather than multiple separate microphones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for complex mechanical microphone array systems with a single hybrid horn microphone that uses acoustic wave guidance through the horn structure. The beamforming signal processing electronically achieves directional sensitivity that would otherwise require complex physical microphone positioning, substituting mechanical complexity with acoustic and electronic solutions.
2Reliability
If conventional microphone arrays are used to improve sound quality, then sound quality may be improved, but processing requirements and computing power increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The horn structure performs preliminary acoustic processing by physically directing and concentrating sound waves onto the microphone capsule before the electrical signal is generated. This pre-processing of sound waves in the acoustic domain reduces the burden on digital signal processing, as the directional information and sound quality are partially established before electronic processing begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes complex digital beamforming processing with acoustic beamforming through the horn structure. The horn's physical geometry provides directional sensitivity and spatial filtering, replacing the need for sophisticated computational algorithms to achieve the same effect, thereby reducing processing power and energy requirements.
3Reliability
If multiple microphones are placed throughout a room to improve sound quality, then sound quality improves, but installation complexity and cable management increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple microphones into a single hybrid horn microphone unit. The horn structure with its directional sensitivity and the electret capsule work together as an integrated system, eliminating the need for multiple separate microphone installations, extensive cabling, and complex spatial positioning that would otherwise be required to achieve comparable sound quality.
4Measurement precision
If conventional microphone arrays are used, then directional sensitivity may be achieved, but high-frequency spatial aliasing artifacts occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of spatial aliasing into a benefit by using the horn's acoustic wave guidance to naturally filter and direct sound waves. The horn's physical structure prevents the spatial aliasing artifacts that plague conventional microphone arrays by guiding sound waves through acoustic principles rather than relying solely on electronic processing of closely-spaced microphone elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes electronic beamforming with acoustic beamforming through the horn structure. The horn's geometry provides inherent spatial filtering and directional sensitivity without the high-frequency spatial aliasing artifacts that occur in conventional microphone arrays, replacing problematic electronic processing with acoustic wave guidance.
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 hybrid horn microphone array provides high-sensitive and anti-aliasing performance with increased sound quality and reduced processing requirements, capable of processing audio signals to create high-quality sound without the need for multiple microphones or complex hardware setups.
Implementation Method 1
The horn portion is configured to receive sound waves and direct the sound waves to the instrument
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed technology relates to a microphone array. The array comprises a plurality of microphones with each microphone having a horn portion. Each microphone of the array further comprises an instrument disposed at a distal end of the horn portion. Each instrument of the array is configured to convert sound waves into an electrical signal. The microphone array further comprises a beamforming signal processing circuit electrically coupled to each instrument and configured to create a plurality of beam signals based on respective electrical signals.