Flexible Self-Powered Low-Decibel Voice Recognition Mask

• Published in: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 24; no. 10; p. 3007
• Main Authors: Li, Jianing, Shi, Yating, Chen, Jianfeng, Huang, Qiaoling, Ye, Meidan, Guo, Wenxi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 09-05-2024
• Subjects: Algorithms; Artificial intelligence; Biocompatibility; Biometry; Communication; Data processing; Electric generators; Electrodes; Fourier transforms; Friction; human-computer interaction; Internet of Things; Neural networks; Sensors; Signal processing; silent communication; Smart houses; Speech; speech recognition; triboelectric nanogenerators; Vibration; vibration sensors; Voice recognition; triboelectric nanogenerators; silent communication; human-computer interaction; speech recognition; vibration sensors
• ISSN: 1424-8220; 1424-8220
• DOI: 10.3390/s24103007

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.