Orientation-Sensitive Microphone Selection for Spatial Selectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio recording technologies struggle to maintain effective spatial selectivity and directional sound capture in varying orientations, such as when devices are rotated between landscape and portrait positions, leading to a loss of spatial directivity and inconsistent audio recording quality.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize orientation sensors to detect changes in device orientation and selectively switch between different microphone pairs based on gravitational axis orientations, ensuring continuous spatial selectivity and directional sound capture by applying appropriate beam patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed microphone pair is used for recording, then the device structure is simple, but spatial selectivity is lost when device orientation changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects between different microphone pairs based on the detected device orientation. The microphone channel selector changes the active microphone pair from a first pair to a second pair when orientation changes are detected, ensuring spatial selectivity is maintained regardless of whether the device is in portrait or landscape mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation sensor continuously monitors device orientation and provides feedback to the microphone channel selector. This closed-loop system ensures that the appropriate microphone pair is selected based on real-time orientation data, maintaining consistent spatial selectivity across different device orientations.
2Reliability
If microphone pairs are switched based on orientation, then spatial selectivity is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The orientation sensor serves multiple functions: it detects device orientation for microphone selection, and can also provide orientation data for other device functions. The microphone channel selector universally handles different microphone pairs based on orientation, creating a multi-functional system that maintains directional sound capture without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation sensor acts as an intermediary between the physical device orientation and the electronic microphone selection. It translates physical orientation into electrical signals that the microphone channel selector can process, providing a clean interface between the mechanical and electronic systems.
3Ease of operation
If the device is rotated between landscape and portrait positions, then ease of operation is improved, but spatial directivity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to device rotation by detecting orientation changes and switching microphone pairs accordingly. This allows the device to be rotated freely between landscape and portrait positions while maintaining spatial directivity through automatic microphone pair selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the audio recording system by switching between different microphone pairs based on device orientation. This parameter change ensures that spatial directivity is maintained regardless of whether the device is in landscape or portrait mode.
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
Maintains consistent spatial selectivity and directional sound capture across different device orientations, enhancing audio recording quality and immersive experiences in diverse environments.
Implementation Method 1
indicating, within a portable device and at a first time, that the portable device has a first orientation relative to a gravitational axis
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
Systems, methods, apparatus, and machine-readable media for orientation-sensitive selection and/or preservation of a recording direction using a multi-microphone setup are described.