3PASS lab – Fully-automated background noise simulation for testing smartphones and other communication devices

The fully-automated software 3PASS lab exactly reproduces background noises in different... 

The fully-automated software 3PASS lab exactly reproduces background noises in different test rooms in terms of level, frequency as well as spatial and temporal distribution in the area of the device under test. Application-specific microphone arrays (MSA I or MSA II) allow to record sound fields and to equalize the multi-channel background noise simulation system. Here, the equalization of the whole system is digital and fully-automated – one of the main advantages of 3PASS lab.

In addition to test smartphones and other communication and audio devices like smart speakers, (ANC) headphones and headsets in the presence of background noise and reverberation, 3PASS lab is perfectly suited for developing and optimizing complex noise reduction algorithms.

3PASS lab meets the requirements of the standard ETSI TS 103 224.

In conjunction with the microphone arrays MSA I or MSA II (recording, equalization), the hardware platform labBGN (equalization, playback) as well as loudspeakers and power amplifiers, 3PASS lab is a powerful complete system for background noise simulation.

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The fully-automated software 3PASS lab exactly reproduces background noises in different test rooms in terms of level, frequency as well as spatial and temporal distribution in the area of the device under test. Application-specific microphone arrays (MSA I or MSA II) allow to record... 

The fully-automated software 3PASS lab exactly reproduces background noises in different test rooms in terms of level, frequency as well as spatial and temporal distribution in the area of the device under test. Application-specific microphone arrays (MSA I or MSA II) allow to record sound fields and to equalize the multi-channel background noise simulation system. Here, the equalization of the whole system is digital and fully-automated – one of the main advantages of 3PASS lab.

In addition to test smartphones and other communication and audio devices like smart speakers, (ANC) headphones and headsets in the presence of background noise and reverberation, 3PASS lab is perfectly suited for developing and optimizing complex noise reduction algorithms.

3PASS lab meets the requirements of the standard ETSI TS 103 224.

In conjunction with the microphone arrays MSA I or MSA II (recording, equalization), the hardware platform labBGN (equalization, playback) as well as loudspeakers and power amplifiers, 3PASS lab is a powerful complete system for background noise simulation.

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Background noise

Background noise impairs speech intelligibility during phone conversations or the quality of voice recognition systems. In order to evaluate these devices qualitatively, they should be tested with realistic and reproducible background noise. Corresponding systems for background noise simulation consist of hardware components for recording, equalization, and playback as well as a main control software covering the functionalities.

Highlights

  • 3PASS lab enables reproducible simulation of true-to-reality background noise scenarios in different test rooms
  • The software allows to test the voice quality of telecommunication devices and the quality of voice recognition systems in the presence of realistic background noise
  • 3PASS lab allows fast and automated digital equalization of the whole system
  • 3PASS lab complies with the ETSI standard TS 103 224

 

Applications

  • Tests of the voice quality in the presence of background noise of communication devices like e.g.:
    • Mobile phones
    • Smartphones (with / without display speaker)
    • ANC headphones and headsets
    • Voice-controlled smart home devices like smart speaker
    • Vehicle hands-free terminals
    • Voice-control systems in the vehicle
    • In-car communication systems (ICC)
  • Evaluation of voice recognition performance in the presence of background noise in communication devices like e.g.:
    • Mobile phones
    • Smartphones (with / without display speaker)
    • ANC headphones and headsets
    • Voice-controlled smart home devices like smart speaker
    • Voice-control systems in the vehicle
  • Precise sound field reproduction at the location of the device under test
  • Equalized playback of background noise in the laboratory
  • Development, optimization and quality control of communication devices in the presence of background noise
  • Development, Evaluation and Optimization of complex noise reduction algorithms in communication device

Features

  • 3PASS lab provides excellent reproduction accuracy in terms of level, frequency, temporal characteristics of background noise and, above all, their spatial characteristics
  • The software enables fully automated equalization of the whole background noise simulation system
  • 3PASS lab has an integrated recording function for creating individual audio files with background noises depending on the use case
  • Playback with other systems  (e.g. ACQUA, VoCAS) can be sample-accurately synchronized via a trigger signal
  • The simulation of background noise with the 3PASS lab software requires:
    • A microphone array (MSA I or MSA II) for recording and system equalization
    • The hardware platform labBGN plus loudspeakers and power amplifiers for automated digital equalization and playback of signals generated in 3PASS lab as well as connection of the microphone array (MSA I or MSA II)
  • The software option 3PASS reverb additionally allows to reproduce reverberation to evaluate voice quality in reverberant environments
  • 3PASS lab includes a noise database for all use cases as specified by ETSI TS 103 224
  • Users are able to remote control 3PASS lab in ACQUA and VoCAS via a specific FTDI cable or via TCP/IP connection

Relevant Products

Background Noise Simulation
3PASS reverb
(6996)
Background Noise Simulation
labBGN
(6486)
Background Noise Simulation
MSA I and MSA II
(6487,6487.2)
Telecom & Audio
ACQUA
(6810)
Telecom & Audio
ACQUA Options
(6811,6812,6819,6820,6821,6822,6836,6839,6840,6842,6843,6844,6848,6849,6852,6853,6854,6855,6856,6857,6858,6859,6865,6866,6867,6869)
Telecom & Audio
ACQUA Standards
(60000,60003,60004,60005,60009,60010,60013,60014,60018,60019,60020,60021,60023,60026,60028,60030,60032,60033,60035,60036,60038,60039,60041,60043,60044,60046,60047,60049,60055,60057,60058,60060,60062,60063,60064,60065,60066,60067,60068,60069,6711,6741,6742,6750,6770,6772,6777,6783,6788,6789,6794,6795,6796,6797,6798)
Telecom & Audio
HEAD acoustics Quality Standards (HQS)
(60025,60054,60051,60052,60015,6769,6786,6787,60011,60012,60001)
Telecom & Audio
VoCAS
(7970,7971,7972,7973,7974,7975,7976,9164,9164.1,9164.2,9164.3)
Modular & Scalable
labCORE
(7700)
Artificial Heads
HMS II.3
(1703,1750,1574,1357,1967)
Artificial Heads
HMS II.6
(1706,1574,1967,1750)
Background Noise Simulation
3PASS flex
(6695)