Microphone Blockage Detection via Signal Energy Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices fail to accurately detect when a microphone is blocked by a user's finger during a voice call and provide timely feedback, leading to interrupted communication.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a block detector within the electronic device that processes sound signals using high-pass and low-pass filters to determine energy changes, comparing these changes with threshold values to identify blockage and provide feedback through visual or auditory means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electronic device uses a single microphone for voice call, then the device structure is simple, but the communication reliability deteriorates when the microphone is blocked by user's finger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sound input function into multiple independent microphones (first sound input device and second sound input device). When one microphone is blocked, the system can switch to or combine signals from the other microphone, ensuring continuous voice call functionality without requiring structural redesign.
2Measurement precision
If the electronic device adds multiple sound input devices to detect blockage, then the detection accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the processor continuously monitors the output signals from multiple microphones, compares their characteristics, and automatically determines blockage status. This feedback loop enables accurate real-time detection without requiring complex additional hardware, as the system uses the existing multiple microphones in a comparative arrangement.
3Measurement precision
If the electronic device processes sound signals with multiple filters and energy calculations, then the blockage detection precision improves, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies selective filtering (high-pass and low-pass filters) and energy calculation only to the sound signals from the first sound input device, not all microphones. This partial processing approach achieves sufficient blockage detection precision by focusing computational resources on the primary microphone signal, thereby reducing overall energy consumption compared to processing all microphone signals equally.
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
Accurately detects microphone blockage and provides user feedback, ensuring uninterrupted communication by switching to alternative sound input devices when blockage is detected.
Implementation Method 1
pass the first signal through a first high-pass filter to produce a first high-frequency signal
Implementation Method 2
determine a first energy value of the first high-frequency signal
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic device according to an embodiment may include: a first sound input device configured to obtain external sound and produce a first signal and a processor operatively connected to the first sound input device. The processor may be configured to: receive the first signal from the first sound input device; produce a first high-frequency signal by passing the first signal through a high-pass filter to; determine a first energy value of the first high-frequency signal; determine a second energy value of the first signal; compare a product of the second energy value of the first signal and the first energy value of the first high-frequency signal with a first threshold value to produce a first result; and determine whether the first sound input device is blocked based on the first result. In addition, various other embodiments may be provided.