Steering Wheel Vibration Sensing for In-Car Voice Command Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing speech recognition systems in vehicles face challenges in accurately identifying the speaker and isolating voice commands from ambient noise, leading to inefficiencies in controlling onboard systems.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of vibration sensors within the vehicle, coupled with processors and microphones, allows for the detection and matching of voice commands to specific passenger zones, enabling accurate identification and prioritization of commands, and the use of machine learning to update match criteria for improved recognition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple microphones or steerable arrays are used to allow multiple occupants to provide commands, then the system can receive voice commands from multiple users, but the accuracy of identifying the speaker and isolating voice commands from ambient noise deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-user command receptionVSAvoidspeaker identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the vehicle interior into multiple passenger zones, each equipped with its own vibration sensor. This segmentation allows the system to identify which zone the speaker occupies by detecting vibrations in that specific zone, thereby improving speaker identification accuracy while maintaining multi-user capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Vibration sensors are introduced as intermediary devices between the speaker and the voice recognition system. These sensors detect vibrations caused by speech in specific passenger zones, serving as a mediator to identify the speaker's location and improve voice command isolation from ambient noise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If vibration sensors are added to detect and match voice commands to passenger zones, then speaker identification accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeaker identification accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces purely acoustic detection with vibration-based detection using vibration sensors. This substitution allows for more accurate speaker identification through physical vibration detection, which is less susceptible to ambient noise interference than acoustic methods alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The vibration sensors serve multiple functions: they detect speaker location, identify passenger zones, and help isolate voice commands from ambient noise. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If vibration sensors are used to isolate voice commands from ambient noise, then voice command recognition accuracy improves, but the cost and complexity of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoice command recognition accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary vibration detection and speaker identification before processing the voice command. By pre-identifying the speaker's passenger zone using vibration sensors, the system can focus audio processing resources on the relevant zone, improving recognition accuracy while reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments audio processing by passenger zone based on vibration sensor data. This segmentation allows the system to process and analyze audio signals from specific zones where vibrations are detected, rather than processing all audio signals uniformly, thereby improving recognition accuracy with reduced computational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enhances the accuracy of voice command recognition and implementation, ensuring that commands are properly executed while minimizing interference from ambient noise, and allows for the prioritization of driver commands for safety.

Implementation Method 1

A vibration sensor in a steering wheel detects vibrations generated by speech of the driver

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS20240185863A1Vibration sensing steering wheel to optimize voice command accuracy

Publication Date: 2024.06.06 TOYOTA MOTOR ENG & MFG NORTH AMERICA INC

AI summary

A system and method employ vibration sensors on board a vehicle to effectively identify and implement voice commands. The vibration sensors provide vibration signals corresponding to the speech of vehicle occupants to a controller. The controller may verify the content of the voice commands and identify a speaker of the voice commands with the vibration signals. The voice command may be implemented by operating a controlled device in a specific passenger zone of the vehicle. In some implementations, the speech of a specific occupant may be designated as voice commands to be transmitted over a videoconference or voice call and the speech of surrounding vehicle occupants may be designated as noise to be excluded from transmission. Further, driver voice commands may be given priority when conflicting commands are given by other vehicle passengers.