Sensors (May 2024)

Flexible Self-Powered Low-Decibel Voice Recognition Mask

  • Jianing Li,
  • Yating Shi,
  • Jianfeng Chen,
  • Qiaoling Huang,
  • Meidan Ye,
  • Wenxi Guo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/s24103007
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 10
p. 3007

Abstract

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In environments where silent communication is essential, such as libraries and conference rooms, the need for a discreet means of interaction is paramount. Here, we present a single-electrode, contact-separated triboelectric nanogenerator (CS-TENG) characterized by robust high-frequency sensing capabilities and long-term stability. Integrating this TENG onto the inner surface of a mask allows for the capture of conversational speech signals through airflow vibrations, generating a comprehensive dataset. Employing advanced signal processing techniques, including short-time Fourier transform (STFT), Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCC), and deep learning neural networks, facilitates the accurate identification of speaker content and verification of their identity. The accuracy rates for each category of vocabulary and identity recognition exceed 92% and 90%, respectively. This system represents a pivotal advancement in facilitating secure and efficient unobtrusive communication in quiet settings, with promising implications for smart home applications, virtual assistant technology, and potential deployment in security and confidentiality-sensitive contexts.

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