Microphone Array Beamforming with Precomputed Directional Filters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fixed-beamforming technology in electronic devices is limited by its fixed direction, requiring adaptive filters for real-time beam adjustment, which increases computation and power consumption, and struggles to track fast-moving speakers effectively.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with multiple microphones that adjusts the delay time of input signals to arbitrarily change the signal incident angle, allowing for virtual beam formation in different directions without changing the microphone array structure or filter values.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If adaptive filters are used to adjust beam direction in real-time, then the beam can track moving speakers, but computation and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam tracking capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-calculates and stores beamformer filters for multiple predetermined directions before operation. During runtime, the system only needs to select from these pre-computed filters based on the detected speaker direction, avoiding real-time filter computation while maintaining the ability to track moving speakers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If adaptive filters are used to adjust beam direction in real-time, then the beam can track moving speakers, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam tracking capabilityVSAvoidcomputation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-calculates and stores beamformer filters for multiple predetermined directions before operation. During runtime, the system only needs to select from these pre-computed filters based on the detected speaker direction, avoiding real-time filter computation while maintaining the ability to track moving speakers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by moving object

If fixed beamforming is used, then computation and power consumption are reduced, but the beam direction cannot be adjusted for moving speakers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidbeam direction flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-calculates and stores beamformer filters for multiple predetermined directions before operation. During runtime, the system only needs to select from these pre-computed filters based on the detected speaker direction, avoiding real-time filter computation while maintaining the ability to track moving speakers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a dynamic system that can switch between different predetermined beam directions based on the detected speaker location. By combining pre-computed filters with real-time direction detection and filter selection, the system achieves adaptive beam tracking without the computational burden of real-time filter adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Measurement precision

If real-time filter updates are performed, then beam tracking accuracy is improved, but power consumption and computation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeaker tracking accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-calculates and stores beamformer filters for multiple predetermined directions before operation. During runtime, the system only needs to select from these pre-computed filters based on the detected speaker direction, avoiding real-time filter computation while maintaining the ability to track moving speakers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

5Measurement precision

If real-time filter updates are performed, then speaker tracking accuracy is improved, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeaker tracking accuracyVSAvoidcomputation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-calculates and stores beamformer filters for multiple predetermined directions before operation. During runtime, the system only needs to select from these pre-computed filters based on the detected speaker direction, avoiding real-time filter computation while maintaining the ability to track moving speakers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10299034B2Electronic device and input/output method thereof
Publication Date: 2019.05.21 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • US10299034B2 patent drawing
  • US10299034B2 patent drawing
  • US10299034B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a plurality of microphones, a memory configured to store a first specified time set to form a beam in a first direction using the plurality of microphones, and a processor connected to the plurality of microphones and configured to receive a sound using the plurality of microphones, determine a direction corresponding to the received sound, and if the direction is equivalent to a second direction, associate a second specified time to the received sound as if a beam is formed in the second direction using the plurality of microphones.