Voice Processing System With 3D Microphone Array For Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current voice processing systems for wearable devices face challenges in clearly acquiring user voice due to noise interference from friction, vibration, and environmental sounds, even with existing microphone array processing techniques.

Innovation Solution

A voice processing system with a mounting unit equipped with at least three voice acquisition units configured for beamforming, strategically arranged to reduce noise and enhance user voice clarity, including linear and three-dimensional arrangements to optimize sound acquisition and processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If at least three voice acquisition units are arranged to maximize phase differences and sound volume, then noise reduction and voice enhancement performance are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise reduction performanceVSAvoidarrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from conventional two-dimensional microphone array arrangements to a three-dimensional spatial configuration of voice acquisition units. This dimensional change enables the system to capture sound waves from multiple angles simultaneously, creating complex phase differences that enhance noise reduction capabilities while maintaining voice clarity through sophisticated beamforming processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic adjustment of parameters including the spatial positions, orientations, and sampling frequencies of multiple voice acquisition units. By changing these parameters in real-time based on detected sound sources and environmental conditions, the system optimizes noise reduction performance without requiring a fixed complex physical structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If multiple voice acquisition units are used for beamforming, then user voice clarity is enhanced, but the number of components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoice data accuracyVSAvoidnumber of voice acquisition units
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Each voice acquisition unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a noise reduction tool and as a voice enhancement component. The units perform multiple tasks including ambient noise cancellation, directional voice pickup, and spatial audio mapping, thereby reducing the need for additional specialized components while maintaining high voice data accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the functions of multiple voice acquisition units into a unified beamforming system where the collective output of the units is processed together. This merging approach allows the system to achieve high measurement precision through cooperative processing, effectively reducing the perceived complexity despite having multiple physical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The system effectively reduces noise and enhances user voice clarity by utilizing multiple voice acquisition units arranged to maximize phase differences and sound volume, improving noise reduction and voice enhancement performance.

Implementation Method 1

at least three voice acquisition units configured to acquire voice data for beamforming

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroacoustic transduction:

Implementation Method 2

arranged to maximize phase differences and sound volume, improving noise reduction and voice enhancement performance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase difference:

Data Source

PatentUS11172292B2Voice processing system
Publication Date: 2021.11.09 SONY GROUP CORP
  • US11172292B2 patent drawing
  • US11172292B2 patent drawing
  • US11172292B2 patent drawing

AI summary

There is provided a voice processing system capable of acquiring user voice more clearly, the voice processing system including: a mounting unit configured to be attached to a user. The mounting unit includes at least three voice acquisition units configured to acquire voice data for beamforming.