Rotating Microphone Arrays for Noise-Saturated Audio Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio capture systems face challenges in effectively reducing noise, particularly when noise saturation occurs, leading to the inability to detect additional signals beyond the noise, especially in environments like windy conditions.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that dynamically adjust the physical rotation angles and configurations of multiple microphones to find optimal settings that minimize noise, using a combination of microphone sets and rotation angles to capture audio scenes with acceptable noise levels, while also considering visual scene prioritization and noise reduction algorithms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If noise reduction algorithms are used to process the audio scene, then noise can be reduced in some cases, but the algorithms are not effective when noise saturation occurs and cannot detect additional signals beyond the noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the microphone arrangement movable and adjustable in real-time. The system dynamically changes the physical rotation angles of multiple microphones to find optimal orientations that minimize noise saturation, transitioning from static to dynamic noise avoidance strategies
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters by adjusting the rotation angles of microphones in three-dimensional space. By varying the spatial orientation parameters of the microphone arrangement, the system identifies configurations where noise levels fall below saturation thresholds, enabling effective signal detection
2Quantity of substance
If the dynamic response of the microphone is saturated by noise, then the microphone can capture the noise signal, but the additional signal beyond the noise cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts microphone orientations to prevent noise-induced saturation. By continuously or periodically changing the physical rotation angles, the system maintains operation below the saturation threshold, preserving measurement precision for detecting additional signals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the audio capture function across multiple microphones with different orientations. By dividing the capture task among several microphones at various angles, the system can select or combine signals from microphones that are not saturated, maintaining detection precision
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple microphones are used to capture the audio scene, then more options are available for noise reduction, but the complexity of determining optimal microphone combinations and rotation angles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs self-service by using automated algorithms to evaluate different microphone combinations and rotation angles. The control system independently determines optimal configurations based on detected noise levels, eliminating the need for manual configuration and reducing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the detected noise levels from multiple microphones are used to guide the selection of optimal microphone combinations and rotation angles. This closed-loop approach simplifies control by using real-time performance data to automatically adjust the system configuration
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprising means for:capturing an audio scene using multiple microphones;determining that the captured audio scene has unacceptable detected noise;in dependence upon determining that the captured audio scene has unacceptable detected noise,searching both different sets of one or more microphones and different physical rotation angles of the microphones to find a combination of a first set of one or more microphones and a first physical rotation angle of the microphones that captures the audio scene with acceptable detected noise; andcontrolling the physical rotation angle of the microphones to be the first physical rotation angle of the microphones and capturing the audio scene using the combination of the first set of one or more microphones and the first physical rotation angle of the microphones.