Vehicle Ceiling Microphone Array with Insulating Block for Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sound insulation techniques in vehicles fail to maintain a consistent noise suppression state regardless of the direction of the speech source or noise source, leading to suboptimal quality of the desired signal.
Innovation Solution
A speech input apparatus comprising a sound insulating block attached to a vehicle's ceiling, with a first microphone positioned near the passenger to capture sound mixtures and a second microphone positioned further away to capture noise, both outputting signals to a noise suppressor to enhance speech quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a sound insulator with V-shaped or L-shaped section is provided to perform sound insulation between microphones, then noise insulation is improved, but the sound insulation state changes depending on the direction of speech source or noise source
Solution Approach 1:
The sound insulating block is divided into multiple sound insulating portions arranged in different directions. Each portion targets specific noise sources from different directions, allowing the system to maintain effective noise insulation regardless of the direction from which noise or speech originates. This segmentation enables the microphone system to handle omnidirectional noise environments effectively.
2Measurement precision
If microphones are positioned to capture speech and noise, then speech input is improved, but noise contamination in the captured signal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sound insulating block is positioned between the microphones and noise sources to extract and remove noise components from the sound paths reaching the microphones. By placing the insulating block strategically, noise is blocked before reaching the microphones, allowing them to capture speech signals with minimal noise contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the sound insulating block provide different levels of insulation tailored to specific directional noise sources. The insulating portions are configured to provide targeted noise blocking in specific directions while maintaining speech capture capability, creating localized noise protection zones around each microphone.
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 allows for the consistent reduction of noise and enhancement of speech quality, independent of the direction of the speech or noise sources, resulting in a high-quality desired signal.
Implementation Method 1
a sound insulating block attached to a ceiling member in a vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus of this invention is directed to a speech input apparatus for obtaining a piece of high-quality speech with included noise reduced. The speech input apparatus includes a sound insulating block attached to a ceiling member in a vehicle, a first microphone that is attached to a side surface of the sound insulating block or the ceiling member in the vicinity of the sound insulating block on a side close to a passenger of the vehicle, inputs a sound mixture including the voice of the passenger and noise in the vehicle, and outputs a first signal to a noise suppressor configured to output an enhanced speech signal, and a second microphone that is attached to a side surface of the sound insulating block or the ceiling member in the vicinity of the sound insulating block on a side far from the passenger, inputs the noise in the vehicle, and outputs a second signal to the noise suppressor.