Pocket Audio Transducer Adjustment for Textile Noise Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices face challenges in maintaining effective audio signal transmission and reception when placed in enclosed conditions, such as pockets or purses, due to acoustic signal degradation and interference from textile materials, which can overwhelm microphones and hinder voice recognition and hands-free functions.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of sensors and processors that detect when an electronic device is in an enclosed condition, adaptively select the least affected microphone, and apply an audio signal adjustment function through amplitude compensation and spectral equalization to enhance audio signal reception and transmission, mitigating noise and attenuation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the electronic device is placed in an enclosed condition (pocket or purse), then the device can be conveniently carried and accessed, but the audio signal transmission and reception are degraded due to textile material interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of carrying and accessing deviceVSAvoidaudio signal transmission quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts audio processing parameters based on the detected enclosed condition. The processor monitors sensor data to determine when the device is in a pocket or purse, and automatically applies appropriate audio signal adjustment functions to maintain reliable audio transmission despite the changing acoustic environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes audio processing parameters (amplitude compensation, spectral equalization) in response to the enclosed condition. By modifying these parameters dynamically, the system compensates for the acoustic degradation caused by textile materials while preserving the convenience of pocket carrying.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If standard microphones are used in enclosed conditions, then the device structure remains simple, but the microphones are overwhelmed by noise from textile materials and cannot effectively capture voice signals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrophone system structureVSAvoidvoice signal detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary audio processing layer between the standard microphones and the voice recognition system. This intermediary layer applies noise filtering and signal enhancement algorithms that specifically address textile-induced noise, allowing standard microphones to effectively capture voice signals without requiring specialized hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of replacing the mechanical microphone system with specialized enclosed-condition microphones, the system substitutes a software-based audio processing approach. The processor applies digital signal processing techniques (amplitude compensation, spectral equalization) to achieve the same effect as specialized hardware would provide, thereby maintaining structural simplicity while improving measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If audio signal adjustment functions are applied to compensate for enclosed condition degradation, then audio signal reception is enhanced, but the processing complexity and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio signal reception qualityVSAvoidprocessor energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of the enclosed condition using sensors before applying complex audio processing. By pre-identifying when the device is in a pocket or purse, the system can selectively activate audio signal adjustment functions only when needed, avoiding continuous processing and reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable audio reception during enclosed conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial processing by focusing computational resources on the specific frequency ranges and signal characteristics most affected by textile materials. Rather than processing the entire audio spectrum uniformly, the system targets the most degraded components with amplitude compensation and spectral equalization, achieving effective signal enhancement with reduced processing overhead and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10425055B2Electronic device with in-pocket audio transducer adjustment and corresponding methods

Publication Date: 2019.09.24 MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC

AI summary

An electronic device includes one or more microphones, one or more sensors, and one or more processors operable with the one or more microphones and the one or more sensors. The one or more processors, upon the one or more sensors detecting the electronic device is disposed within a repository container, such as a pocket, apply an audio signal adjustment function to signals received from the one or more microphones, thereby mitigating noise in the signals caused by the repository container.