Intelligent Rearview Mirror Voice Pickup via Dynamic Beamforming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing intelligent rearview mirrors face inaccuracies in voice signal pickup due to uniform microphone settings, leading to suboptimal voice interaction and potential safety issues during vehicle operation.

Innovation Solution

A voice pickup method and apparatus that acquire an image of the vehicle interior to determine the position of a person and adjust the beamforming direction of a microphone array accordingly, ensuring accurate voice signal capture while suppressing ambient noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If uniform microphone settings are used in the intelligent rearview mirror, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the voice pickup accuracy deteriorates and voice interaction quality worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice pickup accuracyVSAvoidmicrophone control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic beamforming direction adjustment based on real-time detection of person positions in the vehicle. The microphone array's beamforming direction is no longer fixed but dynamically adapts to the detected positions of drivers and passengers, allowing the system to optimize voice pickup accuracy for different seating configurations and occupied positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the beamforming direction parameter of the microphone array based on detected person positions. By adjusting this key parameter dynamically, the system achieves adaptive voice pickup optimization without requiring complex manual configuration, resolving the contradiction between accuracy and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the microphone array uses fixed beamforming direction, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different person positions deteriorates and voice pickup accuracy worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to person positionsVSAvoidbeamforming control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting person positions and autonomously adjusting the beamforming direction without requiring manual intervention. The intelligent rearview mirror itself provides the adaptation service, eliminating the need for complex external control systems while achieving high adaptability to different seating configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where the detected positions of persons in the vehicle continuously inform the beamforming direction adjustment. This closed-loop control enables the microphone array to adapt to changing positions of drivers and passengers, improving versatility while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated feedback-driven adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If uniform voice pickup settings are used regardless of vehicle conditions, then the ease of operation is improved, but the voice interaction quality deteriorates and driving safety is influenced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving safetyVSAvoidvoice interaction operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of person positions and pre-adjusts the beamforming direction before voice interaction occurs. By proactively configuring the optimal pickup direction based on detected positions, the system ensures high-quality voice recognition is ready when needed, improving reliability for safety-critical operations without requiring complex real-time adjustments during interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Improves the accuracy of voice pickup by directing the microphone array's beam towards the speaker, enhancing voice interaction and driving safety by reducing noise interference.

Implementation Method 1

adjusting a beamforming direction of a microphone array according to the position of the person in the vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBeamforming:

Data Source

PatentEP3916727B1Voice pickup method and apparatus for intelligent rearview mirror
Publication Date: 2023.05.03 APOLLO INTELLIGENT CONNECTIVITY (BEIJING) TECH CO LTD
  • EP3916727B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3916727B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3916727B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

It is disclosed a voice pickup method and apparatus for an intelligent rearview mirror, an electronic device and a computer readable storage medium which relates to the technical field of vehicle-mounted equipment, and may be used in the field of automatic driving technologies. A voice pickup implementation of the intelligent rearview mirror according to some embodiments includes: acquiring an image of the interior of the vehicle; determining the position of a person in the vehicle with the image of the interior of the vehicle; and adjusting a beamforming direction of a microphone array according to the position of the person in the vehicle. With the present application, the accuracy of voices picked up by the intelligent rearview mirror may be improved.