Remote Microphone Volume Limiting for Quiet Media Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Media devices often produce audio output volumes that can disturb others, particularly in unsupervised settings like children watching cartoons early in the morning or late-night movie viewing, leading to annoyance and disturbance for household members or neighbors.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses a remotely located microphone to detect audio output levels from media devices, compares them to a predefined maximum volume limit, and generates a command to reduce the volume during specified periods, such as early mornings or late nights, ensuring that the volume does not exceed a set limit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If user controls volume freely without supervision, then ease of operation is improved, but harmful noise disturbance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a microphone to detect audio output levels and provides feedback to a controller, which automatically generates volume limit commands when detected levels exceed predefined thresholds during restricted periods, creating a closed-loop control system that monitors and adjusts volume without user intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The volume limitation system operates autonomously by automatically detecting audio levels, comparing them against thresholds, generating limit commands, and enforcing volume restrictions without requiring continuous user supervision or manual intervention
2Object-generated harmful factors
If automatic volume limiting is implemented, then noise disturbance is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The media device integrates multiple functions including audio output, microphone input for detection, processing logic for comparison and decision-making, and command generation for volume control, allowing a single device to perform both media presentation and automatic volume limitation
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines the volume detection microphone, processing controller, and volume control command generation into an integrated system within the media device, merging previously separate functions into a unified automatic volume limitation mechanism
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
Effectively limits audio output during designated times, allowing users to control noise levels and prevent disturbance, enabling parents to sleep in or neighbors to rest without excessive noise from media devices.
Implementation Method 1
An exemplary embodiment detects a sound using a microphone, wherein the sound corresponds to an audio output of at least one controlled media presentation device
Data Source
AI summary
Volume limiting systems and methods are operable to limit volume output from media presentation devices. An exemplary embodiment detects a sound using a microphone, wherein the sound corresponds to an audio output of at least one controlled media presentation device, and wherein the microphone is remotely located from the at least one controlled media presentation device; compares a level of the detected sound with a predefined maximum volume limit; generates a volume output limit command in response to the detected sound exceeding the predefined maximum volume limit; and communicates the volume output limit command to the media presentation device. The media presentation device then reduces a volume level of its audio output. In some instances, volume may be limited during user specified periods.