Wireless Speaker Unit Clock Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-end home theater systems with wireless speaker units face economic challenges due to the need for individual power supplies, transceivers, digital-to-analog converters, and amplifiers in each remote speaker unit, which increases costs while maintaining high quality audio reproduction.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a wireless speaker unit design that utilizes the radio transceiver's oscillator for a precise clock signal, combined with delta-sigma modulators and interpolators to enhance audio quality, reduces costs by standardizing electronic circuitry and optimizing audio processing, including the use of a phase locked loop and sample rate controllers to manage sampling rates and noise shaping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless speaker units are used to eliminate wiring in home theater systems, then ease of installation and aesthetics are improved, but system cost increases due to required power supplies, transceivers, DACs, and amplifiers in each speaker unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (oscillator, transceiver, DAC, amplifier) into an integrated wireless speaker unit module, reducing the need for separate components and interconnections, thereby lowering system cost while maintaining wireless operation
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless speaker unit is designed as a universal module that can function as different speaker types (front, center, surround, subwoofer) through software configuration, eliminating the need for separate hardware designs for each speaker type and reducing overall system cost
2Manufacturing precision
If high quality audio reproduction is achieved through individual amplifiers and DACs in each speaker unit, then audio quality is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs delta-sigma modulators and interpolators to transform digital audio signals with high precision, achieving high-quality audio reproduction through sophisticated signal processing algorithms rather than expensive hardware components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional analog amplifiers and DACs with digital signal processing techniques including delta-sigma modulation and interpolation, substituting complex analog hardware with more manufacturable digital circuitry while maintaining or improving audio quality
3Measurement precision
If separate oscillators are used in each speaker unit for precise timing, then audio precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit as an intermediary to synchronize the oscillator frequencies between the audio processor and digital radio, ensuring precise timing without requiring separate high-precision oscillators in each component
Solution Approach 2:
The phase-locked loop employs feedback mechanisms to automatically adjust and synchronize oscillator frequencies, maintaining precise timing relationships through continuous monitoring and correction rather than requiring perfectly matched independent oscillators
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
This approach enables high quality audio reproduction while reducing the overall cost of the system by eliminating the need for separate oscillators and amplifiers in each speaker unit, maintaining precision and minimizing jitter and quantization noise.
Implementation Method 1
an oscillator of the digital radio is synchronized by a phase locked loop to an oscillator of the audio processor so that both oscillators are at the same frequency
Implementation Method 2
two fourth order delta-sigma modulators which minimize quantization noise
Implementation Method 3
sample rate controllers to manage sampling rates and noise shaping
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless speaker unit includes a radio transceiver oscillator which provides timing signals to a pulse width modulator and to a sample rate controller that provides a variable oversampling signal to a delta sigma modulator. The variable oversampling signal determined by a sampling rate of the digital audio signal.