USB Type-C Pin Multiplexing for Headset Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Active noise cancellation (ANC) headsets that support USB Type-C are larger, heavier, and more expensive than conventional headsets due to the need for additional components and power supplies for noise reduction processing.
Innovation Solution
The method involves multiplexing USB Type-C interface pins to connect noise reduction microphones in the headset to DMIC modules in the terminal device, eliminating the need for extra audio processing chips and power supplies in the headset, thereby reducing size, weight, and cost while improving user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional components and power supplies are added to the headset for noise reduction processing, then noise reduction capability is improved, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the audio processing functions (noise reduction processing) from the headset and relocates them to the terminal device. The headset retains only the essential audio components while the terminal device's audio processor handles noise reduction, eliminating the need for additional power supplies and processing chips in the headset.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal device's audio processor is designed to handle multiple functions including both standard audio processing and noise reduction processing. This multi-functional approach allows the same hardware resources in the terminal device to serve dual purposes, eliminating the need for dedicated noise reduction hardware in the headset.
2Reliability
If additional components and power supplies are added to the headset for noise reduction processing, then noise reduction capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the audio processing functions (noise reduction processing) from the headset and relocates them to the terminal device. The headset retains only the essential audio components while the terminal device's audio processor handles noise reduction, eliminating the need for additional power supplies and processing chips in the headset.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal device's audio processor is designed to handle multiple functions including both standard audio processing and noise reduction processing. This multi-functional approach allows the same hardware resources in the terminal device to serve dual purposes, eliminating the need for dedicated noise reduction hardware in the headset.
3Device complexity
If USB Type-C interface pins are multiplexed to connect noise reduction microphones, then device complexity is reduced, but interface reliability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The USB Type-C interface pins are designed to support multiple functions including both standard audio transmission and noise reduction microphone connections. The interface can dynamically switch between different communication protocols and signal types, allowing the same physical pins to serve multiple purposes without compromising reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal device acts as an intermediary that manages the multiplexed USB Type-C interface connections. It handles protocol switching, signal routing, and coordination between the headset's noise reduction microphones and its own audio processor, ensuring reliable communication despite the shared interface.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides a noise reduction operation control method for a headset and an audio processor in a terminal device. A pin of a USB Type-C interface is multiplexed. During implementation of the solutions in this application, a switch module corresponding to the pin of the USB Type-C interface is switched, to ensure that a normal function of the pin of the USB Type-C interface is not affected. In addition, a DMIC module in a terminal device and a noise reduction microphone in a headset are connected by using the pin of the USB Type-C interface, so that a noise reduction signal sent by the noise reduction microphone in the headset is received by using the DMIC module in the terminal device, thereby implementing noise reduction processing for the headset by using the terminal device. An extra audio processing chip and power supply do not need to be added to the headset, so that headset costs and a headset size and weight are effectively reduced, and user experience is effectively improved.