Smart Speaker Digital Room Correction via Ambient Audio Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sound reproduction systems, such as smart speakers, face challenges in optimizing audio output due to varying room environments, leading to issues like room resonances, misalignment of drivers, early and late reflections, and reverberation, which affect the listening experience and require manual measurement or quiet conditions for digital room correction (DRC).
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that captures audio from the environment using microphones to recognize sound categories like speech, music, and human activities, and uses this information to adjust the digital room correction and sound steering, allowing for adaptive audio processing to improve sound reproduction and user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital room correction is performed using traditional methods, then acoustic characteristics can be corrected, but the process requires manual measurement and quiet conditions which reduces ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs room acoustic measurement and correction without requiring manual user operation. The smart speaker autonomously captures ambient audio, analyzes room characteristics, and applies digital room correction filters, eliminating the need for users to manually measure or configure acoustic parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary acoustic measurement and analysis during idle periods or when ambient noise is detected, preparing correction parameters in advance. This allows the actual audio playback to benefit from pre-computed room correction without requiring real-time user intervention or quiet conditions during playback.
2Reliability
If digital room correction is performed continuously, then acoustic characteristics are consistently corrected, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous operation, the system performs acoustic measurement and correction periodically or triggered by specific conditions such as detection of ambient noise or user presence. This reduces energy consumption while maintaining effective correction when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its operation mode based on environmental conditions. When ambient noise is detected or user presence is confirmed, the system activates measurement and correction modes. During idle periods or when conditions are unfavorable, the system enters low-power states, optimizing the balance between correction consistency and energy consumption.
3Reliability
If sound is reproduced at high volume to overcome background noise, then audio output is improved, but unnecessary energy is consumed when not needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors ambient acoustic environment and user presence through microphones. Based on this feedback, it dynamically adjusts speaker output volume and activation state. When ambient noise is high or user presence is detected, the system increases volume or activates playback. When conditions indicate no user presence or low ambient noise, the system reduces or suspends playback, eliminating unnecessary energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, and system, of digital room correction for a device, such as a smart speaker, including a loudspeaker. The method comprises capturing audio from an environment local to the device, for example from one or more microphones of a smart speaker. The captured audio is then processed to recognize one or more categories of sound. A digital room correction procedure may then be controlled dependent upon recognition and/or analysis of at least one of the categories of sound.