Knowles introduces the world's first "real-time listening" smart microphone

     Knowles has launched VoiceIQ, the world's first "real-time listening" smart microphone product. The product automatically adjusts its performance according to the surrounding acoustic environment, enabling voice interaction on the phone and significantly reducing the phone's power consumption.

     There is an increasing demand for "real-time" features such as voice digital assistants and hands-free interfaces. However, traditional real-time functions generally require continuous power consumption, which can lead to a large battery drain on the mobile device or the need for an external power supply. VoiceIQ gives manufacturers the freedom to provide these real-time features with minimal impact on battery life and no need for an external power supply.

     To develop the industry's first smart microphone for mobile devices and wearables, Knowles engineers designed a new architecture for the audio system channel. The new architecture integrates audio processing algorithms with acoustic activity detection capabilities in a multi-mode digital microphone. By embedding algorithms directly into the microphone, this intelligent solution automatically recognizes the working state of the audio, deciding when it should be awakened and when it should be in sleep mode. This adaptive technology helps improve the battery life of mobile devices.

     In response to the increasing demand for voice digital assistants and hands-free interfaces on mobile devices, VoiceIQ automatically recognizes the environment of the audio chain and decides whether it should be awakened or maintained in sleep mode. In the near future, consumers will be able to wake up their portable device and activate a specific function with a simple command no matter where they are in the room, without touching a button or screen to activate a digital assistant or open a specific interface. In addition, VoiceIQ can also predict the environment of the electronic device based on the noise in the environment, such as a crowded restaurant or a quiet library, and adjust the threshold accordingly to better accept the user's voice signal.

     Thibault Kassir, Vice President of Consumer Electronics at Knowles Mobile, said: "Our deep knowledge of the industry and close collaboration with our customers have enabled us to develop innovative products like VoiceIQ. This is another milestone in Lou's transformation from a manufacturer of acoustic products to a supplier of audio solutions."

     In order to expand the application range of voice control interface and simplify the product design process, Lou cooperated with Qualcomm Technologies International Limited, a subsidiary of Qualcomm, to create the CSR8670 and CSR8675 Bluetooth audio system chip solutions for VoiceIQ. The CSR8670 and CSR8675 products from Qualcomm Technologies International integrate an advanced audio digital signal processor, an application processor with embedded flash memory, a high-performance stereo decoder, a power management subsystem, and provide up to six digital microphone inputs to enable manufacturers to achieve high-quality audio output. Build feature-rich electronic devices.

     "For consumers connected to the Internet of Things, a seamless and intuitive application experience is particularly important." "By combining our advanced Bluetooth audio technology with Lou's smart microphone solutions, we are able to provide customers with a unique platform to build truly real-time devices, including smart headphones, smart speakers and smartwatches," said Anthony Murray, senior vice president and general manager, Qualcomm Technologies International.

     This new solution changes the way consumers interact with their electronic devices - instead of manipulating their smartphone to activate a voice or digital assistant interface, they can issue simple commands to a Bluetooth-connected device for a seamless hands-free control experience.

     Bertrand Renaud, product line Manager, Mobile Consumer Electronics, Knowles, added: "VoiceIQ's solution with automatic adjustment and real-time listening is another major innovation in the consumer electronics space that redefines the system architecture of mobile consumer electronics devices. Lou is committed to revolutionizing the way consumers interact with mobile devices, and we are eager to share VoiceIQ's technology with electronics designers and application engineers."