Joint Optical Acoustic Microphone Signal Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio processing technologies face challenges in accurately detecting and isolating speech signals from users in adverse acoustic conditions, such as high ambient noise and wind, due to the limitations of both acoustic and optical microphones, which affect the Signal-to-Sensor-Noise-Ratio (SSNR) and directionality.
Innovation Solution
The joint processing of optical and acoustic microphone signals, where optical microphones are used to select and time-align portions of acoustic microphone signals, improving microphone performance by leveraging the directionality of optical microphones and the SSNR of acoustic microphones, and adjusting the orientation of microphones to align with the source of interest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If acoustic microphones are used to capture sound signals, then the Signal-to-Sensor-Noise-Ratio (SSNR) is improved, but the directionality deteriorates in adverse acoustic conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines acoustic microphones and optical microphones into a unified system. The acoustic microphones capture sound signals with high SSNR, while optical microphones provide directionality information through light-based detection. The processor integrates signals from both microphone types to achieve improved speech detection and isolation in adverse conditions, resolving the contradiction between SSNR and directionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor acts as an intermediary that receives and integrates signals from both acoustic and optical microphones. It processes the acoustic signals to extract speech components while using optical signal information to enhance directionality, thereby mediating between the high SSNR capability of acoustic microphones and the directionality requirements.
2Reliability
If optical microphones are used to detect sound signals, then the directionality is improved, but the SSNR deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the directional capabilities of optical microphones with the high SSNR capability of acoustic microphones. The optical microphones provide accurate directionality information for speech source localization, while the acoustic microphones simultaneously capture the sound signals with high signal-to-noise ratio, eliminating the SSNR deterioration issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor serves as an intermediary that processes optical microphone signals to extract directionality information while separately processing acoustic microphone signals to maintain high SSNR. It then integrates these processed signals, allowing the system to achieve both improved directionality and maintained SSNR.
3Measurement precision
If joint processing of optical and acoustic microphone signals is implemented, then speech detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing system is segmented into distinct functional modules: an acoustic signal processing module that handles acoustic microphone inputs, an optical signal processing module that handles optical microphone inputs, and an integration module that combines the processed signals. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently while working together to improve speech detection accuracy without overwhelming complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor is designed with multi-functionality to handle both acoustic and optical signal processing tasks. It performs speech detection, noise suppression, and signal integration functions that apply to both microphone types, reducing overall system complexity through universal processing capabilities rather than separate dedicated processors for each microphone type.
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
This approach enhances speech detection and isolation in adverse conditions, reducing noise interference and improving audio quality by combining the strengths of both microphone types and aligning them with the sound source.
Implementation Method 1
a light sensor configured to detect vibrations of the source of sound by receiving a reflected portion of the projected light
Implementation Method 2
acoustic microphone configured to capture sound
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject technology provide for joint processing of signals from acoustic microphones and signals from vibration sensors that directly or remotely sense vibrations of the source of the sound itself. The vibration sensors may include remote vibration sensors such as a light-based microphone, which may be implemented as an optical microphone. Joint processing of the signals may include detecting a sound from the source in the signals from the acoustic microphone by selecting a portion of the signals from the acoustic microphone based on the signals from the vibration sensor.