Multi-Core Microphone Beamforming for Vehicle Voice Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microphone configurations in vehicles for handsfree functions are inefficient due to directivity issues, requiring multiple microphones to optimize voice input for different positions and passenger physiques, which complicates beamforming and reduces sound reception sensitivity in non-directed areas.
Innovation Solution
A microphone system with multiple cores that generates and searches for optimal sound beams across different directions, using a digital converter and controller to select and transmit the strongest signal to an external device via a Bluetooth module, allowing for efficient voice input from any position within a vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple microphones are separately arranged for each passenger position to optimize voice input, then voice input quality for specific positions is improved, but device complexity and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple microphone functions into a single microphone by implementing a multi-core microphone structure where one microphone unit contains multiple independent sound receiving cores, each capable of independent beamforming. This merging approach maintains the ability to optimize voice input for different positions while reducing the total number of microphone units required in the vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The single microphone with multiple cores is designed to serve multiple passenger positions simultaneously. Each core can independently form beams toward different directions, allowing the same microphone unit to function for driver, front passenger, and rear passengers, making the system universal across different seating positions.
2Device complexity
If a single microphone is used for all positions, then device complexity is reduced, but voice input quality for specific positions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The single microphone is segmented into multiple independent sound receiving cores within its structure. Each core can independently process sound signals and form beams in specific directions, allowing the microphone to maintain high voice input quality for different positions while remaining a single physical unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-directional microphone to a multi-directional microphone by adding spatial dimensionality through multiple cores arranged to receive sounds from different directions. This dimensional expansion allows the microphone to capture and process voice inputs from multiple positions simultaneously without compromising quality.
3Measurement precision
If microphones are directed toward specific seats to achieve beamforming, then receive sensitivity for that position is improved, but receive sensitivity for other directions is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects and activates specific beamforming cores based on the current user's position and speaking direction. The controller determines which core should receive the sound signal based on real-time conditions, allowing the microphone to adapt its directional sensitivity dynamically rather than being fixed to a single direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the microphone by switching between different active cores and adjusting beamforming parameters based on the detected user position. This parameter adaptation allows the system to optimize receive sensitivity for the current user while maintaining the capability to serve different positions.
Data Source
AI summary
A sound signal processing system for achieving a handsfree function irrespective of positions of passengers using one microphone includes a microphone including a plurality of cores, and a head unit for generating a plurality of beams using a plurality of analog signals inputted from each of the plurality of cores, searching for a sound signal through each of the plurality of beams to select one beam, and outputting a sound signal corresponding to the selected beam.