Multi-Microphone SOC Architecture for Consolidated SPI Audio Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing SOC modules waste computing power and fail to effectively utilize multiple audio input devices for enhanced audio quality due to limited connectivity and configuration, necessitating a solution for multiple SOCs to communicate through SPI and connect to multiple audio input devices simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A SOC module design that includes an audio data I/O interface unit, processing unit, and SPI unit, allowing multiple audio input devices to connect to a first SOC, which then transmits data via SPI to a second SOC, with one SOC acting as a master and the others as slaves, optimizing computing power and reducing circuit area and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple slave devices are connected to a master device to enhance audio quality, then audio quality is improved, but device complexity and circuit area increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple audio input devices into a single slave device that can handle multiple audio inputs internally. This allows the master device to communicate with only one slave device via SPI, reducing the number of SPI interfaces and circuit connections while still achieving enhanced audio quality through multiple microphones.
Solution Approach 2:
The slave device is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple audio input devices through a single interface. It can process audio data from multiple microphones and manage multiple I2S interfaces internally, making one slave device equivalent to multiple slave devices in terms of audio quality while reducing circuit complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If one SOC is connected to multiple audio input devices, then connectivity is improved, but computing power is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the processing responsibilities between master and slave SOCs. The slave SOC handles the computationally intensive tasks of processing audio data from multiple input devices, while the master SOC focuses on coordination and data aggregation. This segmentation allows the slave SOC to utilize its computing power effectively rather than wasting it.
Solution Approach 2:
The slave SOC acts as an intermediary between multiple audio input devices and the master SOC. It receives, processes, and manages audio data from multiple microphones, then communicates with the master SOC through a single SPI interface. This intermediary role enables the slave SOC to fully utilize its computing capabilities while reducing the master SOC's processing burden.
3Reliability
If multiple SOCs are used for audio data transmission, then audio quality is enhanced, but SPI interface requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple audio data streams from multiple input devices into a single SPI communication channel. Instead of requiring separate SPI interfaces for each audio input device, the system merges all audio data transmission through one SPI bus between the master and slave SOCs, significantly reducing the number of SPI interfaces needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The single SPI interface is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple audio data streams simultaneously. It can transmit audio data from multiple microphones, control signals for multiple I2S interfaces, and coordination information between SOCs, making one SPI interface equivalent to multiple SPI interfaces in terms of functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A system on chip (SOC) module has a first SOC for audio data transmission, and the first SOC has an audio data input/output (I/O) interface unit, a processing unit and a serial peripheral interface (SPI) unit. The audio data I/O interface unit is electrically connected to multiple audio input devices so as to receive multiple pieces of first audio data generated by the multiple audio input devices. The processing unit is used to store the multiple pieces of the first audio data. The SPI unit is electrically connected to a second SOC via a first SPI, so as to transmit the multiple pieces of the first audio data to the second SPI.