Wireless Microphone Clock Synchronization via Common Radio Signal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for recording live performances using multiple microphone devices often result in poor audio quality due to unsynchronized audio signals, as each device typically operates with its own sampling clock, leading to timing inaccuracies and displaced stereo images.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a wireless communication network among microphone devices to select a common radio signal and derive synchronized sampling clocks, ensuring that all devices record audio signals in sync, thereby improving playback quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If each microphone device operates with its own independent sampling clock, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but audio signal synchronization deteriorates and manufacturing precision worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sampling clock sources of multiple independent microphone devices by having them all synchronize to a single master sampling clock signal. This centralizes the timing function, ensuring all devices sample audio signals at the same rate and phase, thereby achieving precise synchronization across the distributed audio system while maintaining operational simplicity through automatic clock derivation.
2Manufacturing precision
If a common sampling clock is used across all microphone devices, then synchronization precision is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the clock synchronization function into two distinct roles: a master device that generates and broadcasts the sampling clock signal, and slave devices that receive and derive their clocks from the master. This segmentation allows the complex synchronization task to be distributed, with each device having a simplified, dedicated function, thereby reducing individual device complexity while maintaining system-wide precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The master sampling clock signal acts as an intermediary that mediates between the independent operation of individual microphone devices and the requirement for synchronized audio recording. By introducing this common timing reference that all devices must follow, the system achieves precise synchronization without requiring complex inter-device coordination or modification of each device's internal clock architecture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple radio signals are available in the environment, then adaptability is improved, but selecting a common radio signal increases device complexity and loss of time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having microphone devices perform signal strength measurements and evaluate candidate radio signals during the initialization or setup phase before actual audio recording begins. This advance evaluation allows the system to pre-select an optimal common radio signal for clock synchronization, avoiding time-consuming signal selection during live recording operations and ensuring adaptability to different environmental radio conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless audio system includes microphone devices that are established as part of a wireless communication network. A common radio signal is selected by the microphone devices from radio signals available in the environment. Respective sampling clocks are derived by the microphone devices based on the common radio signal. Audio signals are recorded by the microphone devices based on the respective sampling clocks that were derived. Related sampling microphone methods, devices and systems are described.