Wearable Beamforming Speaker Array Position Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional audio output methods, such as headphones, obstruct external sounds and can be displaced during user movement, disrupting audio experience, while existing solutions for audio distribution in environments lack adaptability and design flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A wearable beamforming speaker array system comprising multiple speakers and sensors, with a processor that predicts speaker positions and generates directional sound components to maintain a consistent acoustic field despite speaker position changes, allowing for flexible design and uninterrupted audio delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If headphones are used for private audio listening, then audio privacy and quality are improved, but external sound perception is blocked and device stability during movement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses bone conduction as an intermediary mechanism to transmit audio signals through the skull bone directly to the inner ear, bypassing the need to occlude the ear canal. This mediator approach allows audio delivery without blocking external sound perception, resolving the contradiction between private audio listening and external sound awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the traditional mechanical headphone structure that relies on ear canal occlusion with a bone conduction transducer system. This substitution uses vibrational mechanical energy transmitted through bone tissue instead of air conduction through the ear canal, eliminating the harmful occlusion effect while maintaining audio delivery.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional speaker arrays are used for audio output, then design flexibility is improved, but adaptability to user movement and position changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic beamforming that automatically adjusts the acoustic beam direction and focus based on real-time detection of user head position and orientation. The system continuously adapts to position changes without requiring manual reconfiguration, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and system complexity by using sensor feedback and automated control algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention incorporates sensors that detect user head position and orientation, providing feedback to the beamforming control system. This feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically adjust acoustic beam parameters in response to position changes, achieving high adaptability without increasing operational complexity for the user.
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
Enables high-quality audio delivery without obstructing external sounds, maintaining a consistent acoustic field across various positions and orientations of the speakers, enhancing user experience and design flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
The audio transducers emit soundwaves reproducing an audio signal that represents the audio portion of the media content. When the soundwave reaches the ears of the user, the user is able to hear the audio portion of the media content.
Implementation Method 2
determine, based on the predicted future positions of the speakers included in the speaker array, a first set of directional sound components. Each directional sound component included in the first set of directional sound components is defined between a corresponding speaker and the target location.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure set forth a system comprising a speaker array, one or more sensors configured to produce sensor data, and a processor coupled to the one or more sensors and the speaker array. The processor is configured to determine, based on the sensor data, for each speaker included in the speaker array, a position of the speaker relative to at least one of a target location, and one or more other speakers included in the speaker array, determine, based on the positions of the speakers included in the speaker array, a first set of directional sound components. The processor is further configured to generate a first set of speaker signals for the speaker array based on the first set of directional sound components, where, when outputted by the speaker array, the first set of speaker signals produces an acoustic field at the target location.