Microphone Array Orientation Control for Voice Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices with multiple microphone units face challenges in maintaining voice quality and reliability when positioned on a floor or at varying angles, leading to impaired performance.
Innovation Solution
A system that employs a combination of first, second, and third microphone units strategically placed on the front, back, and lateral sides of an electronic device, along with sensors to detect orientation and position, selectively activates or deactivates these units to optimize voice reception and noise reduction based on the device's usage condition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple microphone units are installed in fixed positions (front and back sides), then voice recognition function is provided, but voice quality deteriorates when the device is positioned on a floor or horizontally
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects and activates different microphone units based on the detected usage condition (device orientation and position). The processor determines which microphones to operate by sensing the device's physical state through sensors, enabling the microphone system to adapt its configuration in real-time rather than relying on fixed microphone positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the microphone units by selectively activating different subsets of microphones based on usage conditions. When the device is detected to be in a suboptimal position (e.g., on a floor), the system switches to an alternative microphone configuration that maintains voice quality despite the unfavorable orientation.
2Measurement precision
If front and back microphones are used for noise attenuation, then voice recognition rate is enhanced, but performance is impaired when device orientation changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts which microphones are active based on real-time sensing of device usage conditions. Instead of relying on a static microphone configuration, the processor continuously monitors device orientation and position through sensors and switches between different microphone subsets to maintain optimal noise attenuation and voice recognition performance across varying orientations.
3Device complexity
If fixed microphone units are installed, then device structure is simple, but voice reception accuracy decreases at varying angles
Solution Approach 1:
While maintaining a relatively simple physical structure with microphones installed at fixed positions, the system introduces dynamic control through sensor-based detection and processor-driven microphone selection. This allows the system to achieve angle-insensitive voice reception by switching between different microphone subsets based on detected usage conditions, without requiring complex mechanical adjustments to the microphone positions themselves.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device manages a plurality of microphones comprising a first microphone unit installed in a front side of the electronic device, a second microphone unit installed in a back side of the electronic device and a third microphone unit installed at a position within the electronic device. At least one sensor installed in the electronic device senses a usage condition of the electronic device comprising a physical orientation of the electronic device relative to a plane. A processor selectively operates at least two of the first, second and third microphone units in response to the sensed usage condition of the electronic device.