Transverse Planar Microphone Arrays for Voice Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices face challenges in detecting voice commands in noisy or dynamic environments, such as kitchens or outdoor settings, due to ambient noise and multiple sound sources, making it difficult to distinguish wake words and voice commands.
Innovation Solution
The use of transverse planar microphone arrays mounted on display devices, with one set oriented to capture sound from the top surface and another from the front surface, improves beamforming and accurately detects user utterances by determining the direction and location of the sound source, enhancing wake word detection and voice command recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If transverse planar microphone arrays are used, then voice command detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from traditional single-plane microphone arrays to transverse planar arrays that span multiple dimensions (front surface and top surface of the display device). This multi-dimensional configuration enables the system to capture sound waves from different spatial angles simultaneously, improving voice command detection accuracy in noisy environments through enhanced spatial filtering and beamforming capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The microphone array is segmented into multiple independent microphone elements positioned at specific locations on the front and top surfaces of the display device. Each microphone element functions as an independent sensor, and their signals are processed separately before being combined through beamforming algorithms. This segmentation allows for flexible positioning and optimization of each element's contribution to overall detection accuracy.
2Reliability
If multiple microphone arrays are mounted on different surfaces, then beamforming capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse planar microphone array configuration serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides beamforming capability for noise suppression, enables spatial localization of sound sources, and maintains aesthetic integration with the display device design. By combining these functions into a single multi-surface array structure, the system achieves enhanced reliability without requiring separate systems for each function, thereby simplifying the overall manufacturing process.
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 configuration enables accurate detection of voice-based requests and commands in various environments, allowing for effective control of other devices and presentation of audio or visual information, even in noisy conditions.
Implementation Method 1
improves beamforming and accurately detects user utterances by determining the direction and location of the sound source
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for display devices with transverse planar microphone arrays. In one embodiment, an example voice-activated device may include a housing, and a display assembly coupled to the housing, where a first vertical axis associated with the display assembly is at an acute angle relative to a second vertical axis associated with the housing. Example devices may include a number of microphone openings disposed in a front face of the display assembly, a speaker coupled to the housing and oriented to direct a portion of sound towards a rear portion of the device, and a fabric disposed over the housing, the fabric comprising an aperture disposed along the rear portion of the device.