Audio Speaker Power Management via Time-Resolved Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Audio devices with limited power, such as those powered via Power over Ethernet (PoE), often experience quenched playback or shutdowns due to insufficient power resources, leading to a poor listening experience.
Innovation Solution
A time-resolved power analysis is conducted to determine the power requirements of the audio signal, allowing adjustments to the dynamic range, frequency range, and output gain of the digital signal processor to ensure that the available power from the PoE source and short-term energy storage is optimally utilized, preventing shutdowns and enhancing the listening experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the speaker uses limited power from PoE source, then the device can be powered without external power supply, but the audio playback becomes quenched and listening experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary power analysis on the audio signal before playback to predict power requirements. Based on this analysis, the DSP pre-adjusts settings such as equalizer curves, compressor thresholds, and gain levels to ensure sufficient power is available during actual playback, preventing quenched audio while maintaining the simplicity of PoE power supply
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes DSP parameters including equalizer frequency responses, compressor ratios, and overall gain based on the analyzed audio content and available power budget. This allows the speaker to optimize audio quality within power constraints without requiring external power supplies
2Reliability
If the speaker increases power output to improve audio quality, then the listening experience enhances, but the device may shut down due to insufficient power resources
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors actual power consumption during playback and compares it against the available power budget from the PoE source. Based on this feedback, the DSP dynamically adjusts settings in real-time to prevent power exhaustion and shutdowns while maintaining optimal audio quality
Solution Approach 2:
By analyzing the audio signal beforehand and predicting its power requirements, the system can proactively adjust DSP settings to ensure the available power from PoE is sufficient for the intended playback, preventing shutdowns before they occur
3Power
If high pass frequency filter is applied to reduce power consumption, then the speaker can operate within power limits, but the audio playback becomes quenched and listening experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying a fixed high pass filter, the system dynamically adjusts equalizer curves and frequency responses based on the analyzed audio content and available power. This allows selective power management that preserves important audio characteristics while staying within power limits
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different processing characteristics to different frequency bands and time segments of the audio signal. Rather than uniformly filtering all frequencies, it selectively manages power consumption in specific frequency ranges based on the audio content analysis, preserving quality where possible
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for controlling a speaker (118), which is electrically powered with a low-power source (104) and connected to a short-term energy storage (112). Audio is received for playback on the speaker (118). A time-resolved power analysis of the audio is acquired and a time-resolved speaker power requirement required by a speaker playing back the audio is calculated. The time-resolved speaker power requirement is compared with a combined capacity of the low-power source (104) and the short-term energy storage (112). One or more of: a dynamic range, a frequency range, and an output gain of a digital signal processor (110) are adjusted such that the speaker power requirement meets the combined capacity of the low-power source (104) and the short-term energy storage (112) for the duration of a playback of the received audio on the speaker (118).