Zoom Microphone Gain Control via Camera Zoom Level
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mobile terminals, the distance between the camera and the sound source affects microphone input gain, leading to reduced signal quality due to increased noise when trying to compensate for volume reduction, as the user must manually adjust mic input volume, which does not effectively improve video communication quality.
Innovation Solution
A mobile terminal apparatus and method that includes multiple microphones with different directional characteristics, where the controller adjusts the gain of each microphone based on the camera's zoom level, optimizing voice input by associating zoom-in/zoom-out with specific microphone configurations to enhance voice quality and minimize noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the user increases the mic input gain to compensate for reduced mic input volume caused by increased distance, then the voice from far away sound source can be received at desired volume, but neighbor noises increase together causing Signal-to-Noise Ratio to not change or even reduce
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different directional characteristics to different microphones in the array. Each microphone is optimized for specific spatial directions, allowing the system to selectively capture sound from the target direction while rejecting noise from other directions. This directional selectivity enables voice capture from distant sources without proportionally increasing ambient noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the audio capture function by dividing the microphone array into multiple independent microphones with distinct directional patterns. Rather than using a single omnidirectional microphone, the system partitions the capture task across multiple specialized microphones, each handling specific spatial zones. This segmentation enables selective amplification of desired voice signals while suppressing noise from other directions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the distance between the camera and the sound source increases, then zooming in the camera is needed, but the mic input gain does not change requiring manual adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the camera's zoom level and automatically adjusting the microphone gain accordingly. The system uses the zoom state as feedback to determine the appropriate mic input volume, eliminating the need for manual adjustment. When the camera zooms in (indicating increased distance to sound source), the system automatically increases mic gain to compensate, maintaining optimal voice capture without user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically coordinating microphone gain adjustment with camera zoom operations. Rather than requiring the user to manually adjust mic volume when zooming, the system autonomously manages the audio parameters based on the visual zoom state, making the entire video communication setup self-adjusting and user-friendly.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple microphones with different directional characteristics are used to improve voice capture, then noise rejection is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a microphone array where multiple microphones serve dual purposes: individual directional capture and collective noise rejection through beamforming. The same hardware configuration that provides directional selectivity also enables spatial noise filtering, allowing one system to achieve multiple audio processing goals simultaneously without requiring separate dedicated components for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus support a zoom microphone function in mobile terminal. The apparatus includes a plurality of microphones, a camera, and a controller. Each of the plurality of microphones has a different directional characteristic. The camera captures an image. And the controller determines a zoom level of the camera, and adjusts gains of the plurality of microphones based on a zoom range to which the zoom level belongs.