Image Forming Apparatus Voice Input Noise Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses struggle with accurately recognizing voice instructions due to noise interference, particularly when devices like finishers with significant driving sounds are operational.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus includes a voice input device, a receiver, and a controller that prevents the execution of predefined jobs causing large sounds when voice input is detected, thereby minimizing noise interference during voice instruction input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a finisher or other devices causing large driving sounds are operated, then productivity is improved, but voice recognition accuracy deteriorates due to noise interference
Solution Approach 1:
The controller determines in advance whether a predefined job is scheduled to be executed during the voice input period, and if so, cancels or postpones the job before the voice input occurs. This preliminary intervention prevents noise from affecting voice recognition accuracy in the first place.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes counter-action by canceling or postponing jobs that would generate noise during voice input periods. This anti-action is taken in advance to prevent the harmful effect of noise on voice recognition, rather than attempting to mitigate it after the fact.
2Ease of operation
If voice instructions are allowed during finisher operation, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inaccurate voice input recognition
Solution Approach 1:
The controller proactively identifies and cancels or postpones jobs that would create noise during voice input periods, ensuring that voice instructions can be reliably captured without interference from finishing operations.
3Measurement precision
If noise-reducing control is implemented during voice input, then voice recognition accuracy is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to job execution delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts job execution timing based on voice input detection. Jobs are canceled or postponed only when necessary (during voice input periods), and the controller continuously monitors to resume normal operation when voice input ends, optimizing the balance between voice recognition accuracy and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller periodically checks for voice input and adjusts job execution accordingly. During voice input periods, jobs are suspended; when voice input ends, jobs resume. This periodic adjustment ensures voice accuracy is maintained while minimizing disruption to overall productivity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(A)
AI summary
An image forming apparatus (1) includes: a receiver (103) that receives a manual input operation via an operation device (47) and a voice instruction via a microphone (22); and a controller (100) that executes a job on the basis of setting received by the receiver (103). The controller (100) performs control of not executing a predefined job of the image forming apparatus (1) when the microphone (22) is brought into a state where voice is input and executing the predefined job when the microphone is not in the state where voice is input.