Switchable Microphone Output Modes for Low-Power Always-On Listening
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to reduce power consumption in electronic devices with embedded microphones while maintaining performance, particularly in portable battery-powered devices, as they often require both analog and digital processing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A switchable microphone device that can switch between digital and analog output modes, allowing for power-saving by deactivating digital processing components during analog mode operation, and vice versa, using a controller to manage this switching based on control signals or clock frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If digital processing components are always active to provide digital output signals, then digital signal processing capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching between digital and analog output modes based on system requirements. The microphone device can transition from always-on analog mode (low power) to digital processing mode (high performance) when needed, resolving the contradiction by making the system adaptable rather than static
Solution Approach 2:
The microphone device is designed to provide both analog and digital output capabilities through a single device. The analog-to-digital converter and output stage can serve dual purposes, allowing the same hardware to support both low-power analog always-on listening and high-accuracy digital processing requirements
2Use of energy by moving object
If analog output mode is used for always-on listening, then power consumption is reduced, but digital processing capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between analog and digital modes based on operational requirements. During always-on listening, analog mode provides low power consumption, while digital mode can be activated when enhanced processing is needed, maintaining adaptability without sacrificing power efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The analog-to-digital converter serves as an intermediary component that enables transition between analog and digital domains. This mediator allows the system to maintain analog output capability for power-saving operations while providing a pathway to digital processing when required
3Adaptability or versatility
If both analog and digital processing components are always active, then hybrid processing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges analog and digital processing capabilities into a single integrated microphone device. By combining the analog output stage, analog-to-digital converter, and digital output stage in one device, the patent reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate analog and digital microphone devices while maintaining hybrid processing capability
Data Source
AI summary
There is described a switchable microphone device which may be switched between a digital output mode and an analog output mode. There is further described a system for use of such a device, which allows for the switching between analog and digital computing modes.