Wireless Microphone Receiver Control for Seamless Audio Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional public address systems require frequent re-assignment of frequency channels for wireless microphones and receiver devices when switching receiver devices, leading to disruptions in sound output.

Innovation Solution

A control device that acquires quality information from multiple receiver devices and determines which device to mute based on sound signal quality, allowing seamless switching without altering the wireless communication frequency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If different frequency channels are assigned for each wireless microphone and receiver device combination, then each receiver can be associated with its transmitter, but the system requires frequent re-assignment of frequency channels when switching receiver devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassociation between wireless microphone and receiver deviceVSAvoidtime for re-assigning frequency channels

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the frequency channel assignment into two independent segments: (1) wireless microphone to receiver device connection, and (2) receiver device to speaker output. This segmentation allows the first segment to remain fixed while the second segment is dynamically controlled, enabling receiver switching without frequency re-assignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic control at the output stage rather than at the transmission stage. The control device dynamically determines which receiver device should output sound based on quality information, while the frequency channel assignment remains static. This dynamic control at the output stage resolves the contradiction by allowing flexible switching without affecting the stable frequency assignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If frequency channels are re-assigned when switching receiver devices, then the correct receiver can be paired with the wireless microphone, but sound output is disrupted during the switching process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswitching receiver deviceVSAvoidcontinuity of sound output

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs preliminary determination of the optimal receiver device based on quality information before switching is needed. By pre-evaluating which receiver should be the output device, the system can switch seamlessly without disruption, as the decision is made in advance rather than during the switching action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device acts as an intermediary between the receiver devices and the final sound output. It receives quality information from all receiver devices, determines the optimal output receiver, and controls the switching without requiring frequency channel changes. This intermediary function maintains sound output continuity while enabling receiver switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If the same frequency is used for wireless communication between wireless microphone and multiple receiver devices, then frequency re-assignment is avoided, but a method is needed to control which device outputs sound

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime for frequency re-assignmentVSAvoidcontrol mechanism for sound output

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by having each receiver device transmit quality information about the received sound signal to the control device. The control device uses this feedback to determine which receiver device should output sound, creating a closed-loop control system that manages output selection without frequency re-assignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Each receiver device autonomously evaluates the quality of the sound signal it receives and reports this information to the control device. The receiver devices self-assess their reception quality and participate in the decision-making process, reducing the complexity of centralized control while maintaining efficient sound output management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11445314B2Control apparatus, computer readable medium and microphone system

Publication Date: 2022.09.13 AUDIO TECHNICA CORP

AI summary

A control device is a control device for controlling a plurality of receiver devices for receiving a sound signal transmitted from a wireless microphone by radio, the control device includes an information acquisition part that acquires quality information indicating a quality of the sound signal received by the plurality of receiver devices, and a determination part that determines, on the basis of the quality of the sound signal indicated by the quality information, a non-output receiver device that does not cause a speaker to output the sound based on the sound signal out of the plurality of receiver devices.