Multipurpose Microphone Gain Control for ANR and Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Acoustic devices face challenges in efficiently processing acoustic signals for multiple features like communication and active noise reduction (ANR) using separate microphones, which increases cost, power consumption, and size due to different signal-level requirements for each feature.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multipurpose microphone that can produce acoustic signals for both communication and ANR features, with an amplifier and digital signal processors (DSPs) that adjust gain based on operational modes to optimize signal processing and reduce the need for separate microphones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate microphones are used for communication and ANR features, then each feature can be optimized independently, but the component count, cost, and device size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multipurpose microphone that can serve both communication and ANR functions. The microphone is configured to provide acoustic signals to multiple digital signal processors (DSPs), allowing a single component to fulfill multiple roles in the acoustic device, thereby reducing component count while maintaining feature optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the functions of separate microphones into a single multipurpose microphone. By merging the audio capture function for both communication and noise reduction into one component, the system reduces the number of parts while maintaining the ability to optimize each feature independently through software-based signal processing
2Reliability
If separate microphones are used for communication and ANR features, then each feature can be optimized independently, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multipurpose microphone reduces power consumption by eliminating the need for multiple separate microphones. A single microphone provides acoustic signals to multiple DSPs that handle different features, reducing the total power required for audio capture while maintaining independent optimization of communication and ANR functions
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies of the microphone signal through digital signal processing. Instead of using multiple physical microphones, the single microphone's output is digitally replicated and processed by multiple DSPs to serve different functions, reducing hardware power consumption while maintaining functional separation
3Device complexity
If a multipurpose microphone is used for both communication and ANR, then component count and cost are reduced, but different signal-level requirements for each feature become challenging to meet
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts signal processing parameters based on the operational mode. The multipurpose microphone's output is routed to different DSPs that apply mode-specific gain and processing characteristics, allowing the system to adapt to different signal-level requirements for communication versus ANR functions in real-time
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes processing parameters such as gain levels and signal routing based on the active operational mode. When in communication mode, one set of parameters is applied; when in ANR mode, different parameters are applied to the same microphone signal, enabling the multipurpose microphone to meet different signal-level requirements through software configuration
Data Source
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AI summary
This document describes a method that includes receiving an input signal representing audio captured by a sensor disposed in an active noise reduction (ANR) device, determining, by one or more processing devices, that the ANR device is operating in a first operational mode, and in response, applying a first gain to the input signal to generate a first amplified input signal. The method also includes determining, by the one or more processing devices, that the ANR device is operating in a second operational mode different from the first operational mode, and in response, applying a second gain to the input signal to generate a second amplified input signal, wherein the second gain is different from the first gain. The method further includes processing the first or second amplified input signal to generate an output signal, and generating, by an acoustic transducer, an audio output based on the output signal.