Responsive Speaker Volume Control for Noise and Occupancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voice integration devices lack the ability to dynamically adjust their output volume based on environmental conditions, leading to potential disturbance of other users due to loud responses or failure to accommodate additional audio inputs.
Innovation Solution
An audio device that intelligently adjusts its volume based on ambient noise level, user proximity, and environmental changes, using sensors to detect occupancy and interruptions, allowing for dynamic volume control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the audio device responds to user requests with a fixed volume level, then the user can always hear the response clearly, but other users in the space may be disturbed by loud responses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic volume adjustment by continuously monitoring environmental conditions (ambient noise levels, occupancy, user proximity) and automatically adapting the output volume accordingly. This resolves the contradiction by making the volume responsive to real-time conditions rather than fixed, ensuring clear responses when needed while preventing disturbance when users are absent or ambient noise is high.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from sensors (microphones for ambient noise, occupancy sensors, proximity sensors) to continuously adjust the output volume. The device monitors the environment and adjusts its response volume based on this feedback, creating a closed-loop control system that balances response clarity with consideration for other users.
2Power
If the audio device maintains a high output volume, then the user can hear the response clearly even in noisy environments, but the device may disturb other users when they are present
Solution Approach 1:
The output volume is made dynamic rather than static. The device continuously adjusts its power level based on real-time detection of occupancy and ambient noise conditions, ensuring high volume when appropriate while reducing volume to prevent disturbance when other users are detected nearby.
Solution Approach 2:
The system directs audio output preferentially toward the direction of the requesting user while reducing overall volume levels when occupancy sensors detect other users in the space. This creates localized audio quality that serves the intended user without broadly disturbing others.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the audio device reduces output volume to accommodate additional audio inputs, then conversations can be heard more easily, but the primary user's response may become inaudible
Solution Approach 1:
The device dynamically adjusts volume based on the type and source of audio input. When detecting conversational audio from additional users, it temporarily reduces volume to accommodate the conversation. When detecting wake words or direct user requests, it ensures sufficient volume for clear response delivery, creating context-aware volume management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous monitoring of audio inputs and adjusts volume continuously rather than in discrete steps. This allows smooth transitions between different volume states, ensuring that conversational clarity and response audibility are both maintained through continuous adaptation rather than abrupt changes.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is an audio device with a microphone which may adapt the audio output volume of a speaker by either increasing or decreasing output volume based on an audio input volume from a user and a distance from the user to the audio device. The audio device may also adapt its output volume to lower the audio output based on detecting one or more interruptions including occupancy and acoustic sounds.