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 clock, leading to timing inaccuracies and displacement of the stereo image.
Innovation Solution
A wireless audio system that synchronizes the sampling clocks of multiple microphone devices by selecting a common radio signal from the environment, using a common clock divider to derive synchronized sampling clocks, and aligning audio signals to produce a high-quality composite audio track.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If each microphone device operates with its own independent 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 clock sources of multiple independent microphone devices by having them all synchronize to a single master clock signal. This combines the timing function from individual device-level operations to system-level coordination, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and synchronization precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The master clock acts as an intermediary element that mediates between multiple microphone devices. Instead of devices directly coordinating with each other (complex), the master clock serves as a central reference that all devices follow, simplifying operation while ensuring precise synchronization.
2Manufacturing precision
If a central clock system is implemented to synchronize all microphone devices, then synchronization precision is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the clock synchronization function into two parts: a master clock that generates the reference signal, and slave clocks in each microphone device that simply follow the master. This segmentation allows precise synchronization without requiring complex inter-device coordination logic in each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The master clock serves as a universal time reference for all microphone devices in the system. This multi-functional clock source provides synchronization to multiple devices simultaneously, reducing overall system complexity compared to pairwise synchronization methods.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple radio signals are scanned to select a common clock source, then adaptability to different environments is improved, but loss of time increases due to scanning and selection processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scanning and selection of available radio signals for clock synchronization before the audio recording process begins. This preliminary action ensures that the common clock source is established in advance, avoiding time losses during actual operation while maintaining adaptability to different environmental signal conditions.
Data Source
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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.