What is good, better, and the best audio?

What is good, better, and the best audio?
For WinHEC Cortana Workshop, Shenzhen, 11 August 2015
2.0 Laptop as a Speakerphone
 Enterprise Class Full Duplex
Speakerphone Experience
 Optimized for MS Lync/Skype
 Flawless Cortana Accuracy
 Audio Output >2X Louder
 No Risk to Speakers
 Better Media Consumption
experience
CONEXANT AudioSmartTM Software



SSP Input Noise Reduction
Output Enhancement
SoftAware Speaker Control
mHD-Audio
or
I2 S / I 2 C
CONEXANT
CODEC
with Integrated
AudioSmart Amp
Sound Pressure Level at 1m
Original System
AudioSmart System
65dB
81dB
USB Speakerphone (benchmark)
76dB
No other solution can deliver full duplex conference speakerphone experience while
concurrently delivering this level of loudness from laptop or tablet form factor
Company Confidential and Proprietary
2
AUDIOSMART
TM
INPUT TECHNOLOGY
Conexant Confidential and Proprietary
3
Conexant Smart Source Pickup (SSP)
SSP: Conexant proprietary noise suppression algorithm. The one easy solution.
• Based on a Blind Source Separation technique, modified for real-world robustness.
• NOT Beamforming ; SSP uses spatial representation of target speech and noise
sources to reduce stationary and semi non-stationary interference (i.e., babble noise).
• Speech can be at any angle relative to the microphones.
• Noise can be at any angle relative to the microphones, even in the same direction as
the speech.
Full-Sphere
“User”
“Noise”
Conexant Confidential and Proprietary
4
SSP Voice + Speech Algorithm Value Proposition
Conexant’s Smart Source Pickup Input Pre-Processing Solution
with 5M Technology Enables:
• High resolution VoIP + class-leading Automatic Speech Recognition
from up to 5 meters (16 feet) away!
• Clear voice quality calls and videoconferencing in real-world
conditions (i.e., across a large, noisy room).
Increased
VoIP
Clarity
Conexant
Voice/Speech Input
Pre-Processing
Speech
Recognition
Engine
Speech + Interference
Intelligible
Voice
Calls
Decreased
Word
Error Rate
Clear Speech
Conexant Confidential and Proprietary
5
SSP Versatility
Supports all device orientations and use-cases with only 2 MICs, NO
holes drilled in glass, and ZERO user input!
Clamshell
Company Confidential and Proprietary
Stand
Tent
6
Tablet
Lay-Flat
AUDIOSMART
TM
OUTPUT TECHNOLOGY
Conexant Confidential and Proprietary
7
Class-D Power Optimization
 Constantly delivers DSP-optimized signal to speakers at maximum safe
power level, independent of software
 Actual output power of H-bridge is monitored at chip pins (closed loop!)
and intelligently averaged 100% in hardware
 Closed-loop system actively monitors speaker power consumption
 Output RMS is compared to a programmable threshold matching exact speaker
capabilities
 RMS measurements drive intelligent gain control
 Adjustments are time-windowed to avoid false triggers by spikes in audio content
PGA
DAC
Class-D Speaker Amplifier
decrement gain
during excess
RMS output
RMS
Conexant Confidential and Proprietary
8
AUDIOSMART
TM
IOT EXAMPLE
Conexant Confidential and Proprietary
9
2.0 Speaker Performance Comparison
•
•
•
Amazon Echo
Seven Microphones
Amazon Voice Processing
Amazon voice trigger engine
Company Confidential and Proprietary
•
•
•
10
Conexant Smart Speaker
Two Microphones
Conexant Far-Field Voice Processing
Sensory voice trigger engine
(embedded in Conexant SOC)
Conexant Noise Suppression Performance vs Amazon
~40% Hit Rate improvement in
noisy conditions
(Noise 5dB lower than speech)
No Hit Rate degradation in
“clean” conditions
(Noise 10dB lower than speech)
30% Hit Rate improvement in
extremely noise conditions
(Noise same level as speech)
With Conexant processing, user
will be understood one in three
attempts
With Amazon processing, user will
almost never be understood
Company Confidential and Proprietary
11
AUDIOSMART
TM
ABOUT CONEXANT
Conexant Confidential and Proprietary
12
History of Conexant Audio
20+ years of Audio Signal Processing Expertise
20+ years of Audio Hardware Expertise
<2000
2006
2010
Company Confidential and Proprietary
2014
Windows APO
USB codec in
Library complements
production headsets,
HW portfolio
speakers and
speakerphones
DSP codec with
AudioSmartTM Class-D
DSP
Codec
for
high
integrated Class D in
Integrated with Codec
quality Voice Input
production systems
and Communication
Expanded PC audio
in Tier 1 TVs
portfolio (ADI
acquisition)
Low-power PC audio
codec in production
computers
Acoustic Echo
Cancellation enables
speakerphone in
production
Fax/Modems
2012
13
Summary
• Single supplier providing Silicon & Software optimized to work “better
together”
–
–
–
–
–
Silicon – High Performance ADC, DAC, CODEC’s, DSP & Smart AMP
Software – Input Processing, Playback Processing & Awareness
Ecosystems – Driving end user use cases with Industry leaders
Partnerships – partners telling OEM’s – “Conexant’s solutions work better”
Applications – support Audio for PC/Tablets/Headset/Docks/Smart Home/IoT
Company Confidential and Proprietary
14
Worldwide, World-Class Support
• Highest concentration of
computer audio systems
knowledge in the industry
• Expert Support AND
Engineering staff in every major
time zone
• Proven track record enabling
on-time shipment of Tier-1
OEM products
France
Korea
Japan
China
Taiwan
India
Singapore
Headquarters
Waltham
Design Centers
Sales Offices
Design & Sales
Headquarters
Irvine
Austin
*Supported through a network of 20 Distributors and 13 Rep Firms
Company Confidential and Proprietary
15