Variable Noise Masking for Vehicular Audio Silence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Audio signals in communications devices, such as cellular telephones, are susceptible to interference noise, particularly during periods of substantial silence, which can be distracting and affect audio quality, especially in vehicular systems where alternator whine is a common issue.
Innovation Solution
A noise masking system that includes a silence detector to identify periods of silence, a masking noise source to generate noise signals like additive white Gaussian noise, and combining devices to integrate these noise signals with the audio signal, adjusting amplitude and frequency to match the interference, thereby masking the interference noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If noise masking is applied continuously, then interference noise is masked, but audio quality during speech periods deteriorates due to added noise
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies noise masking periodically rather than continuously by detecting silence periods and only activating masking noise during those intervals. This resolves the contradiction by masking interference noise during silence (improving parameter 30) while preserving audio quality during speech periods when masking is inactive (maintaining parameter 27).
Solution Approach 2:
The masking system dynamically adjusts its operation based on real-time audio analysis. The silence detector continuously monitors the audio signal and dynamically switches masking on/off or adjusts masking level based on whether speech is present, thereby resolving the contradiction between noise masking effectiveness and audio quality preservation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If masking noise amplitude is increased, then interference noise masking improves, but distortion during silent periods increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the amplitude parameter of masking noise based on the detected interference noise level. By dynamically adjusting masking noise amplitude to match the interference noise characteristics, the system achieves effective masking (improving parameter 30) without excessive distortion (controlling parameter 31).
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the silence detector and interference noise analyzer to continuously adjust masking noise parameters. This closed-loop control ensures masking noise amplitude is optimized for each silence period, resolving the contradiction between masking effectiveness and distortion control.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for masking audio noise are disclosed. One apparatus includes a silence detector configured to detect a period of substantial silence in an audio signal; a masking noise source operably coupled to the silence detector, the masking noise source configured to generate a noise signal in response to the silence detector detecting the period of substantial silence; and at least one combining device operably coupled to the masking noise source, the at least one combining device configured to contribute to combining the audio signal and the noise signal. A method includes detecting a period of substantial silence in an audio signal; and combining masking noise with the audio signal during the period of substantial silence.