Multi-Microphone Headset Noise Reduction via Adaptive Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional headsets with dual microphones experience reduced noise reduction performance when worn abnormally due to increased angles between microphones and the target sound source, affecting call quality.

Innovation Solution

A noise reduction headset with multiple microphones (at least three or four) is designed, where a microprocessor selects the closest microphone as the main microphone and the farthest as the auxiliary microphone, using sound signals with amplitude, time, or phase differences to execute a noise reduction algorithm, ensuring optimal noise reduction even in abnormal wearing conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a dual microphone configuration is used with fixed positions, then the noise reduction performance is optimized under normal wearing conditions, but the noise reduction performance deteriorates when worn abnormally due to increased angles between microphones and target sound source

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise reduction performanceVSAvoidadaptability to abnormal wearing positions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the microphone selection adaptive rather than fixed. The system dynamically identifies and selects the closest microphone as the main microphone based on real-time signal analysis, allowing the noise reduction system to adapt to different wearing positions and maintain optimal performance whether worn normally or abnormally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the microphone system by selecting different microphones as the main microphone based on wearing position. Instead of using a fixed microphone configuration, the system varies which microphone is activated as the main microphone, thereby adapting to different spatial relationships between the microphones and the target sound source.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the distance between main microphone and auxiliary microphone is increased to improve noise reduction, then the noise reduction performance is improved, but the device complexity and wearing comfort are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise reduction performanceVSAvoidmicrophone arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the microphone array into multiple independent microphones positioned at different locations on the headset. Instead of using a single complex microphone unit, the system segments the noise reduction function across multiple simpler microphone elements, allowing flexible selection of the optimal microphone based on wearing position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple microphones are added to maintain noise reduction performance in abnormal wearing positions, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to abnormal wearing positionsVSAvoidnumber of microphones

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a microphone system where multiple microphones serve dual purposes: they can all function as main microphones depending on wearing position, and they collectively serve as auxiliary microphones for noise reduction processing. This multi-functional design allows the same set of microphones to adapt to both normal and abnormal wearing positions without requiring separate dedicated microphones for each scenario.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 multi-microphone configuration maintains effective noise reduction performance regardless of normal or abnormal wearing positions, enhancing call quality in various environments by aligning microphone angles with theoretical noise reduction principles.

Implementation Method 1

sound signals picked up by the at least three microphones

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS11350209B2Noise reduction headset having multi-microphone and noise reduction method

Publication Date: 2022.05.31 GOERTEK INC

AI summary

There is provided a noise reduction headset having multi-microphone and a noise reduction method. One embodiment of the headset includes a headband and headset bodies respectively connected to both ends of the headband, wherein the headset further includes a microprocessor and at least three microphones disposed on an outer surface of the headset body; the microprocessor is configured to select the microphone closest to a target sound source as a main microphone according to a comparison of sound signals picked up by respective microphones, select the microphone farthest from the main microphone as an auxiliary microphone according to a preset relative position of respective microphones, and execute a noise reduction algorithm by using a first sound signal picked up by the main microphone and a second sound signal picked up by the auxiliary microphone as inputs of the noise reduction algorithm so as to realize noise reduction. According to the embodiment, the noise reduction performance can be ensured under the condition that the user does not wear the headset normally.