Virtual Resonator Mapping for Acoustic Incidence Angle Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing acoustic wave direction sensing systems require substantial distances between microphones, making them unsuitable for compact designs and applications that benefit from small size.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing virtual resonator mapping functions to modify signals from transducers, allowing the determination of acoustic wave incidence angles without the need for physical resonators, thereby avoiding strong resonance disturbances and enabling compact designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If phase-difference acoustic direction sensing systems use spaced-apart microphones to measure arrival time differences, then incidence angle sensing accuracy is improved, but the distance between microphones becomes substantial, making compact design difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a virtual resonator mapping function to create a virtual copy of the resonator chamber environment. Instead of physically placing transducers far apart to achieve accurate incidence angle measurement, the system processes signals through a mathematical model that replicates the acoustic behavior of a resonator chamber, enabling accurate sensing with closely spaced transducers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical arrangement of widely spaced physical transducers with a signal processing system. The virtual resonator mapping function substitutes the physical distance requirement with computational processing, transforming the raw signals into equivalent responses that would occur in a resonator chamber without requiring the actual physical configuration.
2Measurement precision
If physical resonators are used to enhance amplitude sensitivity for incidence angle determination, then sensing sensitivity is improved, but strong resonance disturbances occur that can disturb sound sensing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual resonator mapping function as an intermediary between the physical transducers and the incidence angle determination process. This mathematical model provides the benefits of resonator-based amplitude sensitivity enhancement without requiring actual physical resonators, thereby avoiding the harmful resonance disturbances that would otherwise interfere with sound sensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the resonator chamber's acoustic response through signal processing. By applying the virtual resonator mapping function, the system replicates the amplitude sensitivity characteristics of physical resonators while avoiding their harmful resonance effects, as the mapping function processes signals computationally rather than relying on physical resonance.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for virtually coupled resonators to determine an incidence angle of an acoustic wave are described herein. In one example, a system includes a processor and first and second transducers in communication with the processor. The first transducer produces a first signal in response to detecting an acoustic wave, while the second transducer produces a second signal in response to detecting the acoustic wave. The system may also include a memory in communication with the processor and having machine-readable instructions that cause the processor to modify the first signal and the second signal using a virtual resonator mapping function to generate a modified first signal and a modified second signal. The virtual resonator mapping function changes the first signal and the second signal to be representative of signals produced by transducers located within a hypothetical chamber of a hypothetical resonator.