Audio system

Abstract

The invention relates to an audio system (1) for reproducing amplified output audio signals by means of at least one speaker of the audio system (1). The audio system (1) has a signal processing unit (24) in order to actuate the speaker, said signal processing unit having a digital signal processor (2), at least one digital / analog converter (3), and at least one amplifier (4). The signal processing unit (24) is connected or can be connected to a data source (5) for providing input audio signals to be amplified, or the data source (5) is integrated into the signal processing unit (24), wherein the audio system (1) has a reproduction mode and a hearing test mode and additionally has a data storage device (10) for storing the result of at least one frequency-based hearing test which is carried out using the audio system (1). The speaker is a multi-path speaker (11) with at least two different frequency band tones (12, 13, 14) for reproducing the amplified output audio signal, said at least two different frequency band tones (12, 13, 14) having different useful frequency bands (15, 16, 17).

Description

[0001] Audio system The present invention relates to an audio system for the reproduction of amplified output audio signals by means of at least one loudspeaker of the audio system, wherein the audio system has a signal processing unit for controlling the loudspeaker, which has a digital signal processor and at least one digital / analog converter and at least one amplifier, wherein the signal processing unit is connected or connectable to a data source for providing input audio signals to be amplified or the data source is integrated into the signal processing unit, wherein the audio system has a playback operating mode for reproducing the amplified output audio signals and a hearing test operating mode for carrying out at least one frequency-dependent hearing test with a listening person and additionally a data memory for storing a result of the at least one,frequency-dependent hearing tests conducted with the audio system. Audio systems are available today in a wide variety of designs and for a wide variety of applications. They are used to reproduce music and spoken text as well as a variety of other audio signals. Audio systems are used both in private environments, such as in one's own home, and at smaller and larger events and the like. With age, many people gradually experience a deterioration in their hearing without this being immediately noticed. The onset of hearing loss is one of the most common everyday problems. It often leads to voices and dialogues,For example, when watching television or listening to other audio signals, understanding becomes increasingly difficult. However, this deterioration does not generally occur evenly across the entire audible frequency spectrum. Rather, it is often the case that the hearing ability of different people changes or worsens very individually in different frequency ranges. Nowadays, it is common practice to use hearing aids or similar devices when hearing loss occurs. These are individually adjusted to the individual by a hearing care professional using frequency-dependent hearing tests. However, the individual cannot do this themselves; they must seek the assistance of a specialist. A generic audio system that allows the listener to conduct a frequency-dependent hearing test, which can then be taken into account later when playing back amplified output audio signals,is known, for example, from DE 102006 015 497 B4. The object of the invention is to further improve such audio systems as mentioned above, in which the listener can carry out the frequency-dependent hearing test themselves. To achieve this object, the invention proposes, based on an audio system mentioned above, that the loudspeaker is a multi-way loudspeaker with at least two different frequency band drivers for reproducing the amplified output audio signal, wherein the at least two different frequency band drivers have different useful frequency bands. In contrast to the prior art mentioned above, in which the output audio signals are reproduced across their entire frequency spectrum via a single one-way loudspeaker, the invention now provides that the loudspeaker is a so-called multi-way loudspeaker in which two or more frequency band drivers are provided,which have different usable frequency bands from one another. Different from one another means that the usable frequency bands are not identical. However, they may overlap or be completely separate. The reproduction of the amplified output audio signal via at least two different frequency band drivers, which differ in their usable frequency bands, has the advantage that the output audio signal can be reproduced much better across its entire frequency spectrum than with the prior art, in which the entire frequency spectrum of the output audio signal is reproduced via a single frequency band driver or a single loudspeaker. In this way, the result of the frequency-dependent hearing test conducted by the listener with the audio system itself can be used much better tothat specific hearing impairments in the frequency spectrum are individually compensated for in at least one listener. This allows the listener to optimally adjust the inventive audio system to the current state of their own hearing independently and without the assistance of third parties, and in particular without having to visit a hearing care professional.so that the output audio signals can be reproduced by the audio system in an optimally adapted manner to the individual or to several individuals. By repeating the frequency-dependent hearing test with the audio system according to the invention from time to time, the respective person can also monitor the development of their own hearing ability and detect changes in the individual hearing ability at an early stage. The result of the frequency-dependent hearing test carried out with the audio system, stored in the data memory of the audio system, can also be displayed graphically on a corresponding screen or the like, e.g., of the audio system. Several frequency-dependent hearing tests can also be displayed simultaneously in order to visualize changes and enable the monitoring of the development of the individual hearing ability. It is equally possible for audio systems according to the invention to provide the possibility ofto subsequently manually edit the results of the frequency-dependent hearing test recorded with the audio system and saved in the data memory. The audio system's data memory can also store multiple results from frequency-dependent hearing tests. These can, for example, be hearing tests from different people. It is equally possible to perform one frequency-dependent hearing test with the right ear and another frequency-dependent hearing test with the left ear of a person and to save the results of these hearing tests in the data memory. In addition to the manual or automated post-processing of the results of such frequency-dependent hearing tests, averaging of two or more such frequency-dependent hearing tests can also be performed. This can be used, for example, tothat for several people in the audio system according to the invention, an averaged amplification function is determined and stored and used for the reproduction of amplified output audio signals. However, the results of frequency-dependent hearing tests with the right ear and with the left ear can of course also be averaged for a single person in order to then use this to reproduce amplified output audio signals in the audio system according to the invention. In the frequency-dependent hearing test, the hearing ability of the respective person or of the respective ear of the person is determined over the normally audible frequency range as a function of the various frequencies. The frequency-dependent hearing test thus reflects the hearing ability as a function of frequency. In the frequency-dependent hearing test, the lower limit of hearing ability, i.e. the hearing threshold, is normally determined. For this purpose, as is known,Audio signals at specific frequencies are played one after the other, first quietly and then increasingly loudly. As soon as the person or ear being tested hears the signal at the corresponding frequency and volume, the hearing threshold at that frequency is determined. In order to be able to inform the audio system that this is the case, it is advantageous for the audio system to be connected or connectable to an input unit that can be operated by the listening person for conducting the frequency-dependent hearing test, or for this input unit to be integrated into the audio system. The input unit can be connected to the audio system wirelessly or with a cable. The input unit can, of course, also be integrated directly into the audio system. It can, for example, be a simple wired push button that the person can press.as soon as they hear the signal at the respective frequency. These can also be wireless remote controls or similar devices. Modern communication devices such as telephones, smartphones, tablets, browser-based interfaces, and the like can equally well be integrated into the audio system or work together with them to serve as input devices. Such input devices, which themselves have a screen or similar device, can then, for example, display a menu control for conducting the hearing test for the respective person or the result of the respective hearing test on the screen of this input device. In addition to or instead of the frequency-dependent determination of the hearing threshold, i.e., the lower limit of hearing ability, the individual discomfort threshold can also be determined frequency-dependently in the frequency-dependent hearing test. This indicatesThe maximum volume at which sounds at a certain frequency can be reproduced for the respective person or ear, so that this is not yet perceived as disturbing or too loud by the individual. The input devices mentioned can also be used for this purpose to conduct the frequency-dependent hearing test. The result of the discomfort threshold measurement can, for example, be used to limit the maximum volume when playing back the amplified output audio signals through the audio system. Suitable input devices such as smartphones, tablets, or the like can also be used to ensure that the audio system automatically detectswhich person is currently using the audio system. The audio system can then use a result of the frequency-dependent hearing test stored individually for that person in the data memory to reproduce amplified output audio signals. The stored result of the frequency-dependent hearing test can be a frequency-dependent hearing loss curve per se, but also a frequency-dependent amplification function already calculated from it. Audio systems according to the invention serve to reproduce audio signals amplified as a function of the frequency-dependent hearing tests. The amplified audio signals reproduced by the audio system in playback mode are referred to as output audio signals. The audio system could also be referred to as an audio system or an audio reproduction device or the like. The input audio signal to be amplified by the audio system is an audio signal that the audio system reads in from a data source.amplified depending on the frequency-dependent hearing test and then reproduced as the output audio signal. The input audio signal is therefore the audio signal that is read from the data source by the audio system. The data source can be connected to the audio system or connectable. The type of connection can be either wireless or wired. The data source can also be directly integrated into the signal processing unit of the audio system. The data source is a well-known storage device on which audio signals can be stored as input audio signals. The data source can also be a radio, the audio output of a television, or any other data source.which are connected or connectable to the audio system and from which corresponding audio signals can be downloaded or read in as input audio signals for amplification by the audio system. Audio systems according to the invention always have a playback operating mode in which amplified output audio signals are played back. Furthermore, audio systems according to the invention also have a hearing test operating mode, which serves to carry out at least one frequency-dependent hearing test and then also to store its results. As already mentioned, audio systems according to the invention have at least one so-called multi-way loudspeaker as a loudspeaker. Multi-way loudspeakers are loudspeakers with two or more frequency band drivers, whereby the frequency band drivers differ in their useful frequency bands. Frequency band drivers are sound generators or sound transducers,which are optimized for the reproduction of audio signals in a specifically limited usable frequency band. The usable frequency band is the frequency band in which the respective frequency-band driver can optimally reproduce sound or tones due to its design. Such frequency-band drivers are also referred to in the prior art, depending on the position of their usable frequency band, as tweeters, midrange drivers, or woofers. A multi-way loudspeaker according to the invention can have two, three, four, or even more frequency-band drivers with different usable frequency bands. A minimal variant, for example, consists in a multi-way loudspeaker having a tweeter and a woofer as the frequency-band driver. In preferred variants, the multi-way loudspeaker has three frequency-band drivers, namely a tweeter, a midrange driver, and a woofer. The frequency-band drivers are in any case the parts of the multi-way loudspeaker,which convert corresponding electrical signals into sound or tones and thus reproduce the amplified output audio signal. Audio systems according to the invention can be designed as so-called all-in-one systems, which, apart from a corresponding connection to a data source for the input audio signals and a power connection, require no further external connections for their operation. In such variants, intranet or internet connections or the like can be dispensed with, so that no external transmission of individual data, such as the results of frequency-dependent hearing tests, occurs. Furthermore, such systems have the advantage that they can be operated independently of other connections. Alternatively, it is of course also possible to design audio systems according to the invention with corresponding interfaces to the internet, an intranet, or other audio systems.in order to allow targeted data exchange with external systems. What is specifically desired here can be individually adapted to the needs. Audio systems according to the invention can be assembled from various components. Alternatives, however, also provide for the audio systems according to the invention to be designed in a single housing as an individual, self-contained device. Thus, even the multi-way loudspeaker and / or the data source for providing the input audio signal to be amplified can be integrated into the one housing in which the entire audio system is located. The at least one multi-way loudspeaker can, however, also be arranged in its own separate housing, for example. In addition to the at least one multi-way loudspeaker, the audio system can also provide further output options via headphones,Structure-borne sound transducers and additional loudspeakers and / or devices. Suitable interfaces are known per se in the prior art. It is also possible for the audio system to be equipped to determine and take into account the room acoustics. The measurement of room acoustics is known per se in the prior art and can be integrated in this way into audio systems according to the invention. In addition to the audio system itself, the invention also relates to an inventive method for operating such an audio system. This providesthat the audio system, when reproducing the output audio signal, controls the at least two mutually different frequency band speakers only in their respective useful frequency bands. In the hearing test operating mode, audio systems according to the invention can also use the multi-way loudspeaker to carry out the at least one frequency-dependent hearing test. In this sense, a method for operating an audio system according to the invention can provide that, when carrying out the at least one frequency-dependent hearing test with the listening person, the audio system emits hearing test audio signals via the at least two mutually different frequency band speakers, wherein the respective hearing test audio signal is emitted via the frequency band speaker in whose useful frequency band this respective hearing test audio signal lies. However, it is also possible to use a different loudspeaker to carry out the frequency-dependent hearing test in the hearing test operating mode.For example, a one-way loudspeaker can also be used. For example, headphones or bone conduction headphones can be used as one-way loudspeakers to conduct the frequency-dependent hearing test. The use of headphones is particularly suitable for conducting frequency-dependent hearing tests when independent frequency-dependent hearing tests are to be conducted with the left and right ears of the listener. In this case, too, the result of the respective frequency-dependent hearing test can then be used according to the invention when reproducing the amplified output audio signals via the multi-way loudspeaker of the audio system according to the invention. In audio systems according to the invention, it is advantageously provided that each frequency band driver in the audio system is preceded by a separate amplifier with its own level control. It is particularly preferred that each level control is preceded by a separate digital / analog converter.The digital / analog converters are controllable by the digital signal processor. The respective digital / analog converters, level controllers, and amplifiers can be implemented as separate components in the signal processing unit of the audio system according to the invention and connected in series. However, it is also conceivable to use so-called adjustable digital amplifiers with a digital input, which have the functionality of a digital / analog converter, a level controller, and also an amplifier, and thus, as an integrated embodiment of these components, directly control the respective frequency band speaker. The respective amplifier can be a pure analog amplifier. However, it can also be a digital amplifier that receives and amplifies an analog audio signal in order to output it as an amplified signal to the frequency band speaker. It could also be a so-called hybrid amplifier.which combines analog and digital amplification technology. Audio systems according to the invention can be configured such that the digital signal processor controls the respective frequency band speaker via its own digital / analog converter, its own level controller, and its own amplifier only in the useful frequency band of the respective frequency band speaker. In the sense of the method according to the invention, it is then provided that the respective frequency band speaker is controlled by the digital signal processor via its own digital / analog converter, its own level controller, and its own amplifier only in the useful frequency band of the respective frequency band speaker. Favorable variants of audio systems according to the invention also provide for the audio system to have a master processor for controlling the digital signal processor and the level controller. Such audio systems can then be configured such thatthat the control processor controls the respective amplifiers via the respective level controls using a level that is uniform in the respective usable frequency band of the respective frequency band speaker. In the sense of the method for operating the audio system, it is then provided that the respective amplifiers are controlled by the control processor via the respective level controls using a level that is uniform in the respective usable frequency band of the respective frequency band speaker. In this context, it is also advantageous if the control processor and / or the digital signal processor determines the uniform level in the respective usable frequency band depending on the stored result of the frequency-dependent hearing test in the respective usable frequency band. The uniform level in the respective usable frequency band can, for example, be determined as an average value of the amplification function in this frequency band determined from the hearing test. Advantageous variants of the invention provide, in any case,that a coarse adjustment is carried out via the amplifiers and level controllers connected upstream of the respective frequency band speaker, and a fine adjustment is carried out via the upstream digital signal processor, whereby the coarse adjustment and fine adjustment together result in the amplification function. Further features and details of preferred embodiments of the invention are explained below using exemplary embodiments according to the invention. They show: Fig. 1 shows a first schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of an audio system according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a representation,in which the components from Fig. 1 are shown in more detail; Fig. 3 shows an example of a measured frequency-dependent hearing loss curve; Fig. 4 shows a representation of a frequency-dependent gain function determined from the hearing loss curve according to Fig. 3 and a coarse adjustment determined therefrom; Fig. 5 shows the fine adjustment associated with the gain function and the coarse adjustment from Fig. 4; Fig. 6 shows a representation with two different frequency-dependent hearing loss curves; Fig. 7 shows the frequency-dependent gain functions determined from the hearing loss curves according to Fig. 6 and a gain function averaged therefrom; Fig. 8 shows an extended form of the audio system from Fig. 1; Fig. 9 shows an example of an audio system according to the invention,which can be used in conjunction with a home theater; Fig. 10 shows an audio system according to the invention integrated into a vehicle; Figs. 11 and 12 show audio systems according to the invention for supplying different zones in a house. Fig. 1 shows a highly schematic representation of an audio system 1 according to the invention. The signal processing unit 24 is connected in this embodiment to an external data source 5. According to the invention, the audio system 1 has a multi-way loudspeaker 11. In this embodiment, this comprises three frequency band drivers 12, 13, and 14. The frequency band driver 12 is a tweeter, the frequency band driver 13 is a midrange driver, and the frequency band driver 14 is a woofer. The frequency band drivers 12, 13, and 14 thus have different usable frequency bands 15, 16, and 17 according to the invention. The multi-way loudspeaker 11 can be integrated directly into a housing 40 of the audio system 1.in which the signal processing unit 24 is also located. However, the dashed line in Fig. 1 indicates that the multi-way loudspeaker 11 can also be arranged in its own housing, i.e., detached from the housing 40 of the audio system 1, as shown in Fig. 2. As already explained, the data source 5 could, of course, also be an internal data source integrated into the signal processing unit 24. Several different data sources 5 can also be connected to the signal processing unit 24 or integrated into it. To carry out the frequency-dependent hearing test in the hearing test operating mode, the audio system 1 according to Fig. 1 has an input unit 23 that can be operated by the listening person 6. This input unit 23 can, as explained above, be connected or connectable to the audio system 1 wirelessly or by wire. It is equally possibleto integrate the input unit 23 directly into the housing 40 of the audio system 1. The fact that there are various possibilities for the input unit 23 has already been explained at the beginning. Reference is therefore made to this at this point. Fig. 2 shows the structure of the signal processing unit 24 of the audio system 1 from Fig. 1 in more detail. The signal processing unit 24 comprises a digital signal processor 2, several digital / analog converters 3, several level controllers 18, and several amplifiers 4. It can be clearly seen that in this exemplary embodiment, each frequency band speaker 12, 13, and 14 is preceded by its own amplifier 4 with its own level controller 18. In any case, a separate digital / analog converter 3 is then preceded by the respective level controller 18. The digital / analog converters 3 are controlled by the digital signal processor 2. Thus, it is possible for the digital signal processor 2 to control each frequency band speaker 12,13 and 14 via their own digital / analog converter 3, their own level controller 18, and their own amplifier 4, only in the useful frequency band 15, 16, 17 of the respective frequency band loudspeaker 12, 13, and 14. The digital signal processor 2 thus ensures that each of the frequency band loudspeakers 12, 13, and 14 is only controlled in the frequency band that corresponds to the useful frequency band 15, 16, and 17 predetermined by its design. In order to control the signal processor 2 and the level controller 18, the audio system 1 or its signal processing unit 24 preferably has a master processor 19, which is also implemented in this exemplary embodiment. This control processor 19 controls the respective level controllers 18 of the respective amplifiers 4 advantageously by means of a uniform level 20 in the respective useful frequency band 15, 16, 17 of the respective frequency band speaker 12, 13, 14,21 and 22. This will be explained in more detail later with reference to Fig. 4. In addition, the audio system 1 or its signal processing unit 24 also has a data memory 10. The results of the one or more frequency-dependent hearing tests carried out with the audio system 1 can be recorded in this data memory. The components of the signal processing unit 24 shown individually in Fig. 2 can be designed as shown schematically here. However, it is also possible to combine various components into one integrated component. For example, the digital signal processor 2 and the control processor 19 could be combined into a common processor. This could also take over the storage function of the data memory 10. The external data source 5 could also, as already explained, be integrated into the signal processing unit 24.or be integrated into the master processor 19 or the digital signal processor 2. Furthermore, it should also be noted that the chain leading from the digital signal processor 2 to each of the frequency band speakers 12, 13, and 14, consisting of the digital / analog converter 3, level controller 18, and amplifier 4, could each be implemented as a single component. The respective chain consisting of the digital / analog converter 3, level controller 18, and amplifier 4 could also be implemented as a correspondingly adjustable digital amplifier with a digital input, which assumes the functionalities of the digital / analog converter 3, the level controller 18, and the amplifier 4 in one. Such adjustable digital amplifiers with a digital input would then be controlled accordingly by the master processor 19. The amplifiers 4 can each be pure analog amplifiers or digital amplifiers that supply a corresponding analog signal to the respective frequency band speaker 12,13 and 14. Figs. 1 and 2 also illustrate the possibility of designing audio systems 1 according to the invention as stand-alone, self-functioning systems. For example, the signal processing unit 24 and its components shown in Fig. 2 can be integrated into a single, common housing 40. In addition, the multi-way loudspeaker 11, the data source 5 and, if desired, also the input unit 23 can be integrated into this housing 40 of the audio system 1. Due to the data memory 10, such audio systems 1 can be operated completely independently, both in playback mode and in hearing test mode, without a connection to the Internet or an intranet or other networks. However, this does not, of course, preclude the possibility of audio systems 1 according to the invention also being connected via corresponding networks with other audio systems 1 or other devices, such as televisions, for targeted data exchange.Cinema systems can communicate. Fig. 3 now shows an example of a hearing loss curve 25, as it could be determined in the hearing test operating mode of the audio system 1 according to Figs. 1 and 2 during a frequency-dependent hearing test with the listening person 6. In Fig. 3, the hearing loss HV in decibels is plotted against the frequency f in Hertz. The crosses indicate the measurement points, i.e., the measurement frequencies at which the hearing threshold, i.e., the lower limit of hearing ability, was actually determined during the frequency-dependent hearing test. For this purpose, the audio system 1 according to Figs. 1 and 2 emits an initially very quiet audio signal at each of these measurement frequencies via the multi-way loudspeaker 11 or, as explained further below, via headphones 30 or bone conduction headphones 31 or the like, becoming increasingly louder. As soon as the listening person 6 hears the signal,It transmits a corresponding signal to the signal processing unit 24 via the input unit 23. The value marked with the respective cross in Fig. 3 is stored in the data memory 10, and the same process is then carried out with the other measurement frequencies, resulting in the sequence of measurement points shown by the crosses in Fig. 3. From this, the hearing loss curve 25 can then be generated via appropriate interpolation between the measurement points and stored as such by the audio system 1 in the data memory 10 as the result of the frequency-dependent hearing test. From this frequency-dependent hearing loss curve 25, the frequency-dependent gain function 26 shown as an example in Fig. 4 is then calculated in the digital signal processor 2. This gain function is intended toto compensate for the hearing losses contained in the hearing loss curve 25 recorded individually for each person 6. The frequency-dependent gain function 26 could also be stored in the data memory 10 as a result of the frequency-dependent hearing test. Figures 3 and 4 already show the useful frequency bands 15, 16, and 17 of the frequency band drivers 12, 13, and 14 used in the multi-way loudspeaker 11 of the audio system 1. In the example shown here, the tweeter 12 has the usable frequency band 17, the midrange speaker 13 has the usable frequency band 16 and the woofer 14 has the usable frequency band 15. The control processor 19 or the digital signal processor 2 then calculates a uniform level 20, 21 and 22 for the respective usable frequency band 15, 16 and 17 depending on the stored result of the frequency-dependent hearing test.21 and 22, the sections of the gain function 26 in the respective useful frequency bands 15, 16 and 17 are each averaged, as shown in Fig. 4. However, other calculation rules can also be used instead of averaging to calculate the levels 20, 21 and 22 in the useful frequency bands 15, 16 and 17 based on the gain function 26. In any case, the coarse adjustment 27 results from the sequence of levels 20, 21 and 22. This coarse adjustment 27 is carried out in the analog domain with reference to Fig. 2, in that the control processor 19 controls the respective level controllers 18 with the respective levels 20, 21 and 22, so that the respective amplifiers 4 achieve the corresponding level gain in the respective useful frequency band 15,16 and 17. The fine adjustment 28, however, is carried out in the digital domain by means of the digital signal processor 2. Fig. 5 shows an example of the course of the fine adjustment 28. Figs. 4 and 5 show the respective gain V in decibels as a function of the frequency f in Hertz. The sum of the analog coarse adjustment 27 and the digital fine adjustment 28 results in the gain function 26 required to compensate for the hearing loss curve 25, as shown in Fig. 4. For the sake of completeness, it should be noted with regard to Figs. 3 to 5 that this is, of course, only a single example intended to illustrate the functioning of the audio system 1. The procedure described above serves merely as an example to illustrate the principle,which can be realized in numerous different embodiments within the scope of the invention. For the sake of clarity, the leading and trailing edges of the amplifiers 4 and the level controllers 18, which in practice are usually present at the edges of the useful frequency bands 15, 16, and 17 due to their design, have also been omitted from Figs. 4 and 5. However, these do not change the overall amplification concept in audio systems 1 according to the invention. Fig. 6 now shows, by way of example, that audio systems 1 according to the invention can be used not only with a single hearing loss curve 25 or with a single frequency-dependent hearing test, but also with multiple hearing loss curves 25. In Fig. 6, the hearing loss HV in decibels is again plotted against the frequency f in Hertz. It is clearly visible that the hearing loss curves 25 are congruent in the mid-frequency ranges.in the lower and higher frequencies, however, they differ significantly from one another. These could, for example, be hearing loss curves 25 that were recorded with different persons 6, 7, 8, 9. They could just as well be hearing loss curves 25 for a single person, where, for example, the hearing loss curve 25 marked by the crosses was recorded with the person's left ear and the hearing loss curve 25 marked by the circles was recorded with this person's right ear. Fig. 7 now shows the gain functions 26 calculated from the two hearing loss curves 25 from Fig. 6, as well as an averaged gain function 29 calculated by averaging these two gain functions 26. Fig. 7 again shows the gain V in decibels against the frequency f in Hertz. Such averages can, for example, be used to calculate an average gain function 29 for different hearing losses in the right and left ear of a single person 6, 7, 8,9. Averaged amplification functions 29 can also be used equally well when it is a question of achieving an averaged type of amplification for persons 6, 7, 8, 9 with different hearing losses using the audio system 1. The division into coarse adjustment 27 and fine adjustment 28 and the resulting amplification of the input audio signals takes place with averaged amplification functions 29 in the same way as is explained by way of example with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 for the amplification function 26 shown there. The audio system 1 according to the invention, which is shown in Fig. 8, is an extension of the audio system 1 from Fig. 1. Therefore, reference is first made to the description of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 now illustrates, by way of example,that the audio system 1 can also be connected or connectable to multiple data sources 5 for providing input audio signals to be amplified. Of course, deviating from the representation chosen here in Fig. 8, multiple such data sources 5 can also be integrated into the signal processing unit 24. In addition, Fig. 8 also illustrates that the audio system 1 can have multiple input units 23 and also various output units for reproducing amplified output audio signals. Thus, in Fig. 8, in addition to the multi-way loudspeaker 11, which is also already present in Fig. 1, a headphone 30 and a bone conduction transducer 31 are provided, with which the additional persons 7 and 8 can be supplied. The headphone 30 and also the bone conduction transducer 31 can be used for both the hearing test operating mode and the playback operating mode. This makes it possibleto conduct the frequency-dependent hearing test via the multi-way loudspeaker 11 as well as via the headphones 30 and also via the bone conduction transducer 31. If, as shown in Fig. 8, several people 6, 7 and 8 are to be supplied with output audio signals, a separate frequency-dependent hearing test can be conducted for each person 6, 7 and 8 using the audio system 1 and stored in the data memory 10. It is also possible, especially with the headphones 30, to conduct a hearing test for the left and right ear of a person, here, for example, person 7, separately, in order to then store this test in the data memory 10 and use it as the basis for the amplification in playback mode for reproducing the amplified output audio signals. The frequency-dependent hearing tests are carried out and the amplification function 26 is calculated from the hearing loss curve 25 as previously described, with the reproduction of the amplified output audio signal in the form according to the invention,e.g., via the multi-way loudspeaker 11. The amplification functions 26 can be averaged, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. E.g., to generate an averaged amplification function for different persons 6, 7 and / or 8 or an averaged amplification function 29 for one person 6, 7 and / or 8, for whom separate frequency-dependent hearing tests were carried out with the right and left ears. In playback mode, amplified output audio signals can be reproduced via the multi-way loudspeaker 11 according to the invention; the reproduction of the amplified output audio signals can initially also be carried out via the headphones 30 and the bone conduction device 31 in accordance with the prior art. Here, too, a modification according to the invention is possible, for example, in that the persons 7 and 8 receive the amplified output audio signals via the frequency band speakers 12, 13,14 of the multi-way loudspeaker 11 and additionally in the useful frequency band of the headphones 30 and / or the bone conduction transducer 31. The headphones 30 and / or the bone conduction transducer 31 can then be used as an additional frequency band transducer of the multi-way loudspeaker 11. For example, it would be possibleto specifically amplify the output audio signals in higher useful frequency bands for the respective person 7 and 8 via the headphones 30 and / or the bone conduction transducer 31, and to additionally supply these persons 7 and 8 with the low frequencies or with structure-borne sound via the multi-way loudspeaker 11 and in particular the frequency band transducer 14 designed as a woofer. In the same way, the supply of structure-borne sound, for example via a piece of seating or reclining furniture with an integrated structure-borne sound transducer or structure-borne sound transducer, can also be an option. Fig. 9 shows a schematic representation of an audio system 1 for a home cinema 32. The screen and the projector for displaying the images are not shown here. In the example shown in Fig. 9, the audio system 1 has a total of seven multi-way loudspeakers 11, each with two frequency band transducers 12 and 14.i.e., each with a tweeter and a woofer. Three of the multi-way loudspeakers 11 are arranged to the left of person 6. Three further multi-way loudspeakers 11 are located on the right side of person 6. In addition, there is a seventh multi-way loudspeaker 11 located centrally in front of person 6. In this configuration, it is now possible, for example, for person 6 to use the input unit 23 to conduct a frequency-dependent hearing test with each individual multi-way loudspeaker 11 in succession, and for these seven frequency-dependent hearing tests to be stored in the data memory 10 of the audio system 1 in order to generate a separate amplification function 26 with corresponding coarse adjustment 27 and fine adjustment 28 for each of these multi-way loudspeakers 11 in the manner basically described above.so that the amplified output audio signals are reproduced via each of the seven multi-way loudspeakers 11, taking into account the respective stored amplification function 26. Alternatively, it would of course also be possible to combine the multi-way loudspeakers 11 into groups in order to control the respective group of multi-way loudspeakers using the same amplification function 26. As an example, Fig. 9 shows a group on the left 41 with three multi-way loudspeakers 11 and a group on the right 42, also with three multi-way loudspeakers 11. The seventh multi-way loudspeaker 11, located centrally in front of the person 6, could, for example, be controlled with an averaged amplification function 29, but also with its own amplification function 26. There are numerous possibilities for adapting the system shown in Fig. 9 accordingly. The structure and operation of the signal processing unit 24 of the audio system 1 from Fig. 9 basically corresponds to that,as depicted in Fig. 2, with a corresponding number of digital / analog converters 3, level controllers 18, and amplifiers 4, so that each of the frequency band drivers 12 and 14 of the multi-way loudspeakers 11 can be individually controlled in its respective useful frequency band. Fig. 10 now shows, by way of example, an embodiment of an audio system 1 according to the invention, such as can be used in a vehicle 33. The structure of the signal processing unit 24 and its mode of operation fundamentally correspond to the variants described with reference to Figs. 2 to 7, with a corresponding duplication of the components. The structure of this audio system 1 in Fig. 10 is similar to the structure of the audio system 1 in Fig. 9, except that here, for example, a total of four people 6, 7, 8, and 9 are in the room to be sound-provided, i.e., in the vehicle 33.in which the reproduction of amplified output audio signals takes place. In contrast to Fig. 9, several input units 23 are present here, so that each person 6, 7, 8 and 9 can carry out one or more of their own frequency-dependent hearing tests and the resulting amplification functions 26 with their coarse adjustment 27 and fine adjustment 28 or correspondingly averaged amplification functions 29, also with coarse adjustment 27 and fine adjustment 28, can be used for the amplification in the audio system 1. Various variants are conceivable here. A simple variant, for example, consists in only the driver 6 of the vehicle 33 carrying out a frequency-dependent hearing test and all multi-way loudspeakers 11 in the vehicle 33 being controlled with the same amplification function 26. However, it is also possible to carry out a test with all persons 6, 7,8 and 9 each carry out at least one frequency-dependent hearing test and from this generate an averaged gain function 29 with coarse adjustment 27 and fine adjustment 28 for all multi-way loudspeakers 11. It is equally possible to control only the multi-way loudspeakers 11 located in the immediate vicinity for each of the persons 6, 7, 8 and 9 with the corresponding gain function 26 generated for this person 6, 7, 8, 9 on the basis of at least one corresponding hearing test. Here, too, the multi-way loudspeakers 11 can be combined into groups, e.g. into a left group 41 and a right group 42. Fig. 11 shows a schematic of a variant of an audio system 1 according to the invention, in which a central signal processing unit 24 of the audio system 1 is used to output appropriately amplified output audio signals via various multi-way loudspeakers 11 in different rooms 35, 36, 37 and 38. Which are located in room 35, 36,A person 6, 7, 8, or 9 staying in room 37 or 38 can conduct a frequency-dependent hearing test via the input unit 23 provided there with the multi-way loudspeaker 11 present there, so that the result can be stored in the data memory 10 in the manner already described and retrieved to generate the corresponding output audio signal in this room 35, 36, 37, or 38. Here, too, several data sources 5 can be used to feed various input audio signals into the audio system 1 and amplify them there accordingly. The structure and functioning of the signal processing unit 24, with a corresponding duplication of the components, again corresponds to the procedure described above with regard to Figs. 1 to 7. Here, too, it is of course possible to work with averaged amplification functions 29 and / or to generate the output audio signals for different rooms 35, 36,37 and 38 in the same way. Here, too, there are of course various ways of applying the inventive principle. Fig. 12 is a modification of Fig. 11. This also concerns a multi-room variant for different rooms 35, 36, 37 and 38. In this inventive application as a decentralized audio system 1 for a multi-room 34 configuration, two or more audio systems 1 registered in a network 39 can exchange the respectively stored frequency-dependent hearing tests of one or more persons 6, 7, 8 and 9 with each other, preferably without access to external databases, in order to determine the frequency-dependent amplification functions 26 or correspondingly averaged amplification functions 29 and the resulting coarse adjustment 27 and fine adjustment 28 for several rooms 35, 36,37 or 38 and audio systems 1. For example, an additional audio system 1 can access the parameters of a previously existing audio system 1 as needed. The network 39 can be a wired or wireless network, such as a LAN, WLAN, or Bluetooth.

[0002] Key to the reference numbers: 1 Audio system 28 Fine adjustment 2 Digital 29 Averaged signal processor Gain function 3 Digital / analog converter 30 Headphones 4 Amplifier 31 Bone conduction transducer 5 Data source 32 Home theater 6 Person 33 Vehicle 7 Person 34 Multi-room 8 Person 35 Room 9 Person 36 Room 10 Data storage 37 Room 11 Multi-way loudspeaker 38 Room 12 Frequency band transducer 39 Network 13 Frequency band transducer 40 Housing 14 Frequency band transducer 41 Group left 15 Useful frequency band 42 Group right 16 Useful frequency band 17 Useful frequency band 18 Level control 19 Master processor 20 Level 21 Level 22 Level 23 Input unit 24 Signal processing unit 25 Hearing loss curve 26 Gain function 27 Coarse adjustment

Claims

Claims 1. Audio system (1) for playing back amplified output audio signals by means of at least one loudspeaker of the audio system (1), wherein the audio system (1) comprises a signal processing unit (24) for controlling the loudspeaker, which comprises a digital signal processor (2) and at least one digital-to-analog converter (3) and at least one amplifier (4), wherein the signal processing unit (24) is connected or connectable to a data source (5) for providing input audio signals to be amplified, or the data source (5) is integrated into the signal processing unit (24), wherein the audio system (1) has a playback operating mode for playing back the amplified output audio signals and a listening test operating mode for performing at least one frequency-dependent listening test with a listener (6, 7, 8, 9), and additionally a data storage device (10) for storing a result of the at least onewith the audio system (1) exhibits frequency-dependent hearing tests, characterized in that the loudspeaker is a multi-way loudspeaker (11) with at least two different frequency band drivers (12, 13, 14) for reproducing the amplified output audio signal, wherein the at least two different, 1. Frequency band drivers (12, 13, 14) have different usable frequency bands (15, 16, 17).

2. Audio system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the audio system (1) each frequency band driver (12, 13, 14) has its own amplifier (4) with its own level control (18) connected upstream.

3. Audio system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that each level control (18) has its own digital-to-analog converter (3) connected upstream, wherein the digital-to-analog converters (3) are controllable by the digital signal processor (2).

4. Audio system (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the digital signal processor (2) controls the respective frequency band tweeter (12, 13, 14) via its own digital-to-analog converter (3), its own level control (18) and its own amplifier (4) only in the usable frequency band (15, 16, 17) of the respective frequency band tweeter (12, 13, 14). 5.Audio system (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the audio system (1) comprises a control processor (19) for controlling the digital signal processor (2) and the level controls (18).

6. Audio system (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the control processor (19) controls the respective amplifiers (4) via the respective level controls (18) by means of a signal in the respective operating frequency band (15, 16, 17) of the respective amplifier.

7. Audio system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the control processor (19) and / or the digital signal processor (2) determines the uniform level (20, 21, 22) in the respective use frequency band (15, 16, 17) depending on the stored result of the frequency-dependent hearing test in the respective use frequency band (15, 16, 17).

8. Audio system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the audio system (1) is connected or connectable to an input unit (23) operable by the listener (6, 7, 8, 9) for performing the frequency-dependent hearing test, or this input unit (23) is integrated into the audio system (1). 9.A method for operating an audio system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, when playing back the output audio signal, the audio system (1) controls the at least two different frequency band transducers (12, 13, 14) only in their respective operating frequency bands (15, 16, 17). A method according to claim 9, characterized in that, when performing at least one frequency-dependent hearing test with the listener, the audio system (1) emits hearing test audio signals via the at least two different frequency band transducers (12, 13, 14), wherein the respective hearing test audio signal is emitted via the frequency band transducer (12, 13, 14). 14) is emitted, in whose usable frequency band (15, 16, 17) this respective hearing test audio signal lies.

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