Sound Detection-Based Power Control for Voice Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voice recognition systems face challenges in efficiently managing power consumption without compromising their operational capabilities, particularly in scenarios where continuous listening is not required, leading to unnecessary energy usage when no sound is detected.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a sound detection mechanism that transitions devices between high and low power modes based on the presence or absence of sound events, allowing computing components to conserve energy by reducing processing functionalities when no sound is detected and reinstating them when sound is present.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the device operates in high power mode continuously to ensure full functionality, then operational capabilities are maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device dynamically transitions between high power mode and low power mode based on sound detection. The computing components are activated to high power mode when sound events are detected and deactivated to low power mode when no sound is present, making the power consumption adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound detector autonomously monitors the environment and automatically triggers power mode transitions without requiring user intervention. The system self-regulates its power consumption by detecting sound events and independently switching between operational states.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the device transitions to low power mode to conserve energy, then power consumption is reduced, but operational responsiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sound detector continuously monitors the environment even when the computing components are in low power mode. This preliminary detection ensures that when a sound event occurs, the system can immediately transition to high power mode without detection delay, maintaining responsiveness while conserving energy during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sound detection as feedback to control power mode transitions. The sound detector provides real-time information about the acoustic environment, which feeds back to the power management system to determine when to activate or deactivate computing components, ensuring appropriate responsiveness to user needs.
3Reliability
If continuous sound monitoring is implemented to detect sound events, then operational capabilities are maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The audio processing functionality is segmented into two parts: a lightweight sound detector that continuously monitors with minimal power consumption, and full audio processing capabilities that only activate when sound events are detected. This segmentation allows continuous monitoring without the power cost of continuous full processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial audio processing through the sound detector in low power mode, detecting only basic sound events rather than performing complete audio analysis. This partial action is sufficient for power management purposes and avoids the excessive power consumption of continuous full audio processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for improving the power consumption of a device without impacting or with minimal impact to operations of the device are described. In an example, the device includes a processor. The device receives, while the processor is operating in a first power mode, first input data corresponding to first audio detected by a microphone. Based at least in part on the first input data, the device detects a sound event or ambient noise. Based at least in part on a detection of the ambient noise only, the device causes processor to operate in a second power mode in which the processor consumes less power than in the first power mode.