Sound System

Abstract

An audio system (1) for reproducing an amplified output audio signal by means of at least one loudspeaker, the audio system (1) having a signal processing unit (24) having a digital signal processor (2), at least one digital / analog converter (3) and at least one amplifier (4) for driving and controlling the loudspeaker, the signal processing unit (24) being connected or connectable to a data source (5) providing an input audio signal to be amplified or the data source (5) being integrated within the signal processing unit (24), the audio system (1) being connected or connectable to a data source (5) providing an input audio signal to be amplified, The sound system (1) has a playback mode of operation and a hearing test mode of operation, and further has an additional data memory (10) for storing the results of at least one frequency-related hearing test performed by the sound system (1), and the speaker is a multi-way speaker (11) including at least two mutually distinct frequency band toners (12, 13, 14) for reproducing an amplified output sound signal, the at least two mutually distinct frequency band toners (12, 13, 14) having mutually distinct effective frequency bands (15, 16, 17).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an audio system for reproducing an amplified output audio signal by means of at least one speaker, the audio system having a signal processing unit with a digital signal processor, at least one digital / analog converter and at least one amplifier for driving and controlling the speaker, the signal processing unit being connected or connectable to a data source providing an input audio signal to be amplified or the data source being integrated within the signal processing unit, the audio system having a playback operating mode in which the amplified output audio signal is reproduced, and a hearing test operating mode in which at least one frequency related hearing test is performed on a listener, and further having an additional data memory for storing results of the frequency related hearing tests performed by the audio system. [Background technology]

[0002] Audio systems are known today in many embodiments and for many applications. They can reproduce not only music and dictated text, but also a variety of other audio signals. Audio systems are used both in private surroundings, e.g. in homes, but also at small or large events, etc.

[0003] Many elderly people gradually lose their hearing ability without any direct attention from each individual. The onset of hearing loss is a common everyday problem, which leads to difficulty in hearing voices and conversations, for example, while watching TV or listening to other acoustic signals. However, this loss of function does not usually occur essentially uniformly across the entire audible frequency spectrum. Rather, the hearing ability of different individuals often changes or decreases quite individually in different frequency regions.

[0004] Nowadays, when hearing loss is significant, it is common to use hearing aids or similar devices that are individually adjusted by a hearing therapist using frequency-related hearing tests, but these devices cannot be adjusted by individuals themselves and must be assisted by a specialist.

[0005] An audio system according to the generic concept of the present invention, which enables a listener to perform a frequency-related hearing test himself and which is then taken into account when the amplified output audio signal is reproduced, is known, for example, from DE 10 2006 015 497 C1. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The object of the invention is to further improve the initially mentioned sound system in such a way that the listener can carry out a frequency-related hearing test himself. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the invention proposes, starting from the initially mentioned audio system, that the loudspeaker is a multi-way loudspeaker comprising at least two mutually distinct frequency band toners reproducing an amplified output audio signal, the at least two mutually distinct frequency band toners having mutually distinct effective frequency bands.

[0008] In contrast to the prior art mentioned at the outset, in which an output sound signal is reproduced over its entire frequency spectrum via individual one-way loudspeakers, in the present invention the loudspeaker is configured as a so-called multi-way loudspeaker, which is provided with two or more frequency band toners having mutually different effective frequency bands, where different means that the effective frequency bands are not the same, and which may possibly overlap or be completely separated from one another.

[0009] Reproducing the amplified output sound signal via at least two frequency band toners, each differing from the other in terms of the effective frequency band, has the advantage that the output sound signal can be reproduced over its entire frequency spectrum much better than in the prior art, where the entire frequency spectrum of the output sound signal is reproduced via only one frequency band toner or only one loudspeaker. In this way, the results of frequency-related hearing tests carried out by the listeners themselves with the sound system can be used much better to compensate individually for a particular hearing loss in the frequency spectrum of at least one listener. This allows the listeners to optimally adapt the sound system according to the invention autonomously and without third-party assistance, in particular without consulting a hearing therapist, so that the output sound signal can be reproduced by the sound system in an adapted manner to one or more individuals.

[0010] By repeating the frequency-related hearing tests from time to time with the sound system according to the invention, each person can monitor the evolution of his / her specific hearing ability and detect changes in his / her individual hearing ability at an early stage. For this purpose, the results of the frequency-related hearing tests carried out by the sound system and stored in the data memory of the sound system can be displayed graphically, for example via a corresponding screen of the sound system. It is also possible to display several frequency-related hearing tests simultaneously, so that the changes are visualized and the evolution of the individual hearing ability can be monitored. Equally well, the sound system according to the invention can provide means for a subsequent manual processing of the results of the frequency-related hearing tests recorded by the sound system and stored in the data memory. It is also possible to store the results of several frequency-related hearing tests in the data memory of the sound system. This can be, for example, hearing tests of different persons. Equally well, it is also possible to carry out a frequency-related hearing test with the right ear of one person and another frequency-related hearing test with the left ear and to store the results of these hearing tests in the data memory. In addition to a manual or automatic post-processing of the results of such frequency-related hearing tests, an averaging of two or more such frequency-related hearing tests can also be carried out. Said averaging can for example be used to calculate and store an average amplification function for several persons in the sound system according to the invention and to use it for reproducing the amplified output sound signal. Of course also for an individual person the results of frequency-related hearing tests using the right and left ear can be averaged and these results can then be used for reproducing the amplified output sound signal in the sound system according to the invention.

[0011] In a frequency-related hearing test, the hearing ability of each person or each of his / her ears is determined depending on the respective different frequencies over the normally audible frequency range. Thus, the frequency-related hearing test reproduces the hearing ability as a function of frequency. In this case, the lower limit of the hearing ability, i.e. the hearing threshold, is usually determined in a frequency-related hearing test. For this purpose, as known per se, in a hearing test, a series of sound signals with a certain frequency are first played at a low volume and then at gradually higher volumes. In this case, the hearing threshold at the corresponding frequency is determined as soon as the person to be tested or the ear to be tested hears a signal at the corresponding frequency and at the corresponding volume. In order to be able to inform the sound system of the determination, the sound system is advantageously connected or connectable to an input unit operable by the person listening to perform the frequency-related hearing test, or the input unit is configured to be integrated into the sound system. The input unit can be connected to the sound system wirelessly or by wire. It is also possible, of course, to directly integrate the input unit into the sound system. This can be, for example, a simple cable-connected push button that the person can press as soon as he / she hears the signal at the respective frequency. But it may also be a wireless remote control, etc. Furthermore, modern communication devices such as telephones, smartphones, tablets, browser-based interfaces, etc. can equally well be integrated into or cooperate with the sound system for use as input units, i.e. if these input units themselves are equipped with a screen, for example a menu control for carrying out a hearing test for each person or the results of the respective hearing test can be displayed on the screen of the input unit.

[0012] However, in addition to or instead of determining the frequency-dependent hearing threshold, i.e. the lower limit of hearing capacity, an individual discomfort threshold can also be determined in frequency-dependent manner during the frequency-related hearing test, which indicates at what maximum volume a tone at a given frequency can be reproduced for the respective person or for the respective ear without being perceived as annoying or too loud by the person. In this case too, the input unit described above can be used to carry out the frequency-related hearing test. The result of the measurement of the discomfort threshold can be used, for example, to limit the maximum volume during reproduction of the amplified output sound signal by the sound system.

[0013] Corresponding to a suitable input unit, e.g. a smartphone, a tablet, etc., the sound system can also be used to automatically identify which person is currently using the sound system, so that the sound system can in this case also use the results of a frequency-related hearing test stored in a data memory individually for the person for reproducing the amplified output sound signal.

[0014] The stored frequency-related hearing test result may be the frequency-dependent hearing loss curve itself or may be a frequency-dependent amplitude function already calculated therefrom.

[0015] The audio system according to the invention is used for reproducing an audio signal which is amplified in dependence on a frequency-related hearing test. The amplified audio signal reproduced by the audio system in the reproduction operating mode is called an output audio signal. The audio system may also be called an audio system or an audio reproducer etc. The input audio signal to be amplified by the audio system is an audio signal which the audio system reads from a data source, amplifies in dependence on a frequency-related hearing test and then reproduces as an output audio signal. In other words, the input audio signal is an audio signal which the audio system reads from a data source.

[0016] The data source may be connected or connectable to the sound system. The connection here may be in the form of a wireless connection or a connection via a cable. The data source may also be directly integrated in the signal processing unit of the sound system. The data source is a memory known per se, capable of storing an audio signal here as an input audio signal. The data source may also be a radio, an audio output of a TV or any other data source connected or connectable to the sound system, from which a corresponding audio signal for amplifying the sound system may be downloaded or read as an input audio signal. The sound system according to the invention has in each case a playback mode of operation, in which the amplified output audio signal is played back. Furthermore, the sound system according to the invention also has a hearing test mode of operation, which is used to carry out a hearing test related to at least one frequency and then to store the results.

[0017] As already mentioned, the sound system according to the invention has as loudspeakers at least one so-called multi-way loudspeaker. A multi-way loudspeaker is a loudspeaker with two or more frequency band toners that differ in terms of their effective frequency range. A frequency band toner is a sound generator or sound transducer optimized for reproducing sound signals in a specifically restricted effective frequency range. The effective frequency range is a frequency range in which the respective frequency band toner can optimally reproduce a sound or tone based on its construction type. Such frequency band toners are also called in the prior art, for example, high toner, middle toner or low toner, depending on the location of the effective frequency range. A multi-way loudspeaker according to the invention can have two, three, four or more frequency band toners, each with a different effective frequency range. One minimal variant consists, for example, in the multi-way loudspeaker having a high toner and a low toner as frequency band toners. In a preferred variant, the multi-way loudspeaker is configured to have three frequency band toners, namely a high toner, a middle toner and a low toner. In either case, these frequency band toners are the part of the multi-way speaker that converts the corresponding electrical signals into sounds or tones, thereby reproducing the amplified output audio signal.

[0018] The audio system according to the invention can be configured as a so-called all-in-one system, in which case the system does not require any further connections to the outside, except possibly corresponding connections to a data source for the input audio signal and current connections for its function. In such a variant, an intranet connection or an internet connection to the outside can be omitted, so that no transfer of individual data to the outside, for example the results of a frequency-related hearing test, takes place. Furthermore, such a system has the advantage that it can also be operated independently of other connections. However, instead of this, it is of course also possible to configure the audio system according to the invention with corresponding interfaces to the internet, intranet or other audio systems, so that data exchange with external systems can take place in a targeted manner. What is specifically desired here can be individually adapted to the requirements.

[0019] The sound system according to the invention can be assembled from various components. Alternatively, however, the sound system according to the invention can be constructed as a separate vessel enclosed in a single casing. Furthermore, the multi-way speaker and / or the data source providing the input sound signal to be amplified can also be integrated together in the casing in which the entire sound system is present. However, the at least one multi-way speaker can also be arranged, for example, in its own separate casing. The sound system can also have further output means via headphones, structure-borne sound transducers and additional speakers and / or devices in addition to the at least one multi-way speaker. Suitable interfaces are known per se in the prior art.

[0020] It is also possible to equip the acoustic system in order to determine and take into account the spatial acoustics. Measurement of spatial acoustics is known per se in the prior art and can be integrated into the acoustic system according to the invention in a conventional manner.

[0021] Besides the sound system itself, the invention also relates to a method according to the invention for operating such a sound system, which is configured such that when the output sound signal is reproduced by the sound system, at least two mutually different frequency band toners are respectively activated and controlled only in their respective effective frequency bands. In a hearing test operating mode, the sound system according to the invention can also use a multi-way loudspeaker for performing at least one frequency-related hearing test. In this sense, in the method for operating the sound system according to the invention, when at least one frequency-related hearing test is performed for a listener, hearing test sound signals are emitted from the sound system via at least two mutually different frequency band toners, each hearing test sound signal being emitted via the frequency band toner in whose effective frequency band the respective hearing test sound signal is located. However, it is also possible to use another loudspeaker, for example a one-way loudspeaker, in the hearing test operating mode for performing the frequency-related hearing test. For example, a headphone or a bone conduction phone can be used as the one-way loudspeaker here for performing the frequency-related hearing test. The use of headphones also contributes when frequency-related hearing tests are to be performed, in particular when mutually independent frequency-related hearing tests are to be performed for the left and right ear of the listener, the results of the respective frequency-related hearing tests still being able to be used according to the invention when reproducing the amplified output sound signal via the multi-way loudspeaker of the sound system according to the invention.

[0022] In the sound system according to the invention, it is advantageously arranged that in the sound system, each frequency band toner is preceded by its own amplifier with its own level control circuit. Particularly preferably, in this case, each level control circuit is further preceded by its own digital / analog converter, where the digital / analog converter can be controlled by a digital signal processor. The respective digital / analog converter, the level control circuit and the amplifier can be implemented as separate components in the signal processing unit of the sound system according to the invention and can be connected in series. It is also conceivable to use so-called controllable digital amplifiers with digital inputs, which have the functions of a digital / analog converter, a level control circuit and an amplifier in themselves and thus directly control each frequency band toner as an integrated embodiment of these components. The respective amplifiers can be purely analog amplifiers. However, the amplifiers can also be digital amplifiers which receive an analog audio signal, amplify it and output it as an amplified signal to the frequency band toner. The amplifiers can also be so-called hybrid amplifiers, which combine analog and digital amplification technologies in themselves.

[0023] The sound system according to the invention can be configured such that the digital signal processor drives each frequency band toner via its own digital / analog converter, its own level control circuit and its own amplifier only in its effective frequency band, so that in this case, within the framework of the method according to the invention, each frequency band toner is driven by the digital signal processor via its own digital / analog converter, its own level control circuit and its own amplifier only in its effective frequency band.

[0024] In a preferred variant of the sound system according to the invention, the sound system is further configured to have a main processor which drives and controls the digital signal processor and the level control circuit. Such a sound system can then be configured such that the main processor drives and controls each amplifier via the respective level control circuit with a uniform level in each effective frequency band of each frequency band toner. In this case, i.e. in the sense of a method of operating the sound system, each amplifier is configured to be driven by the main processor via the respective level control circuit with a uniform level in each effective frequency band of each frequency band toner. In this respect, it is advantageous for the main processor and / or the digital signal processor to determine the uniform level in each effective frequency band as a function of the stored frequency-related hearing test results in each effective frequency band. The uniform level in each effective frequency band can be determined, for example, as the average value of the amplification function calculated from the hearing test in the frequency band in question. In both cases, in a preferred variant of the invention, coarse adaptation is performed via the amplifier and the level control circuit connected upstream of the respective frequency band toner, and fine adaptation is performed via the digital signal processor connected upstream. In this case, the coarse and fine adaptations together result in an amplification function.

[0025] Further features and details of preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in the following, by way of example, with reference to examples according to the invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a first schematic diagram of an embodiment of an audio system according to the invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 illustrates the components of FIG. 1 in more detail. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 shows an example of a measured frequency-dependent hearing loss curve. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 shows a frequency-dependent amplitude function calculated from the hearing loss curve of FIG. 3 and a coarse adaptation calculated therefrom. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 illustrates the amplification function of FIG. 4 and the fine adaptation associated with the coarse adaptation. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 shows two different frequency-dependent hearing loss curves. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows frequency-dependent amplitude functions calculated from the hearing loss curves of FIG. 6 and amplitude functions averaged therefrom. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an expanded form of the audio system of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 shows an example of an audio system according to the present invention that can be used in combination with a home theater. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 shows an audio system according to the invention installed in a vehicle. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 shows an audio system according to the invention supplying different zones in a house. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 shows an audio system according to the invention supplying different zones in a house. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] In Fig. 1, an audio system 1 according to the invention is shown in a highly schematic manner. A signal processing unit 24 is connected in this example to an external data source 5. The audio system 1 comprises, according to the invention, a multi-way loudspeaker 11, which in this example comprises three frequency band toners 12, 13, 14. The frequency band toner 12 is a high toner, the frequency band toner 13 is a mid toner and the frequency band toner 14 is a low toner. The frequency band toners 12, 13, 14 therefore have mutually different effective frequency bands 15, 16, 17 according to the invention. The multi-way loudspeaker 11 can be directly integrated into a housing 40 of the audio system 1, in which the signal processing unit 24 is also present. It is also shown by the dashed lines in Fig. 1 that the multi-way loudspeaker 11 can also be arranged in its own housing, as shown in Fig. 2, i.e. separate from the housing 40 of the audio system 1.

[0028] However, as already explained, the data source 5 may of course be an internal data source integrated within the signal processing unit 24. Also, a number of different data sources 5 may be connected to the signal processing unit 24 or may be integrated within the signal processing unit 24.

[0029] In order to carry out a frequency-related hearing test in the hearing test operating mode, the sound system 1 according to Fig. 1 has an input unit 23 which can be operated by the listener 6. Said input unit 23 can be connected or connectable to the sound system 1 wirelessly or by wire, as explained at the beginning. It is equally well possible for the input unit 23 to be integrated directly into the casing 40 of the sound system 1. It has already been explained at the beginning that there are various possibilities for the input unit 23, so reference is made therein in this regard.

[0030] 2 shows in more detail the structure of the signal processing unit 24 of the sound system 1 of FIG. 1. The signal processing unit 24 comprises a digital signal processor 2, digital / analog converters 3, level control circuits 18 and amplifiers 4. It can be seen that in this embodiment too, each frequency band toner 12, 13, 14 is preceded by its own amplifier 4 with its own level control circuit 18. In this case, each level control circuit 18 is always preceded by its own digital / analog converter 3. The digital / analog converters 3 are controlled by the digital signal processor 2. The digital signal processor 2 can thus control each frequency band toner 12, 13, 14 only in the useful frequency bands 15, 16, 17 of the frequency band toners 12, 13, 14 via a respective respective digital / analog converter 3, a respective respective level control circuit 18 and a respective respective amplifier 4. Thus, by means of the digital signal processor 2, each of the frequency band toners 12, 13, 14 is driven only in a frequency band corresponding to the useful frequency band 15, 16, 17 set by its construction type. To drive the signal processor 2 and the level control circuit 18, the sound system 1 or its signal processing unit 24 preferably comprises a main processor 19, which is also realized in this embodiment. The main processor 19 drives each level control circuit 18 of each amplifier 4 with a uniform level 20, 21, 22 in each useful frequency band 15, 16, 17 of each frequency band toner 12, 13, 14. This will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 4. Additionally, the sound system 1 or its signal processing unit 24 also comprises a data memory 10, in which the results of one or more frequency-related hearing tests carried out by the sound system 1 can be recorded. Here, the components of the signal processing unit 24 shown individually in FIG. 2 can be configured as shown diagrammatically here. However, it is also possible to combine the various components together into an integrated module.Thus, for example, the digital signal processor 2 and the main processor 19 can be assembled into one common processor, which can also assume the memory function of the data memory 10. The external data source 5 can also be integrated into the signal processing unit 24 or the main processor 19 or the digital signal processor 2, as already mentioned. It should also be noted that the chain of the digital / analog converter 3, the level control circuit 18 and the amplifier 4, which is connected from the digital signal processor 2 to each of the frequency band toners 12, 13, 14, can each be configured as a module. Each chain of the digital / analog converter 3, the level control circuit 18 and the amplifier 4 can also be configured as a digital amplifier with a digital input that is controllable in phase, which digital amplifier assumes the functions of the digital / analog converter 3, the level control circuit 18 and the amplifier 4 individually. Such a controllable digital amplifier with a digital input is then driven accordingly by the main processor 19.

[0031] The amplifiers 4 may each be a purely analog or digital amplifier and they output corresponding analog signals to respective frequency band toners 12, 13, 14.

[0032] 1 and 2 also show the means for constructing the sound system 1 according to the invention as an independent system functioning on its own. Thus, for example, the signal processing unit 24 and its components shown in FIG. 2 can be integrated in a single common casing 40. In addition, the multi-way speaker 11, the data source 5 and also the input unit 23, if desired, can be integrated in said casing 40 of the sound system 1. Based on the data memory 10, such a sound system 1 can operate completely autonomously, both in the playback operating mode and in the hearing test operating mode, without connection to the Internet or an intranet or other networks. However, this does not of course exclude that the sound system 1 according to the invention can communicate with other sound systems 1 or other devices, such as, for example, TVs, theater systems, etc., via a corresponding network for the purpose-specific data exchange.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows, by way of example, a hearing loss curve 25 that can be calculated in the course of a frequency-related hearing test for a listener 6 in the hearing test operating mode of the sound system 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 shows the hearing loss HV [dB] against the frequency f [Hz]. The crosses here indicate the measurement points, i.e. the measurement frequencies at which the actual hearing threshold, i.e. the lower limit of the hearing ability, was calculated in the course of the frequency-related hearing test. For this purpose, the sound system 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 outputs, at each of these measurement frequencies, an acoustic signal with a very low volume at first, via the multi-way speaker 11 or, as will be further described, via headphones 30 or bone conduction phones 31, etc., with a gradually increasing volume. When the listener 6 hears the signal, he outputs a corresponding signal via the input unit 23 to the signal processing unit 24. The values ​​shown by each cross in FIG. 3 are stored in the data memory 10, and then the same process is carried out at the other measurement frequencies, so that a sequence of measurement points, shown by crosses in FIG. 3 as a whole, is obtained. From this, a hearing loss curve 25 is formed via corresponding interpolation between the measurement points, which hearing loss curve 25 is stored by the sound system 1 in the data memory 10 as a result of a frequency-related hearing test. From such a frequency-dependent hearing loss curve 25, a frequency-dependent amplification function 26, exemplarily shown in Fig. 4, is then calculated in the digital signal processor 2, which amplification function 26 is determined in order to compensate for the hearing loss contained in the hearing loss curve 25 recorded individually for each person 6. The frequency-dependent amplification function 26 can also be stored in the data memory 10 as a result of a frequency-related hearing test.

[0034] 3 and 4 already show the effective frequency bands 15, 16, 17 of the frequency band toners 12, 13, 14 used in the multi-way loudspeaker 11 of the sound system 1. In the example shown here, the high toner 12 has the effective frequency band 17, the middle toner 13 has the effective frequency band 16 and the low toner 14 has the effective frequency band 15. The main processor 19 or the digital signal processor 2 then calculates a uniform level 20, 21, 22 for each effective frequency band 15, 16, 17 respectively depending on the stored results of the hearing test related to the frequencies in each effective frequency band 15, 16, 17. Preferably, to determine the levels 20, 21, 22, the sections of the amplification function 26 in each effective frequency band 15, 16, 17 are respectively averaged, as shown in FIG. 4. However, instead of averaging, other calculation rules can also be used to calculate the levels 20, 21, 22 in the effective frequency bands 15, 16, 17 based on the amplification function 26. In both cases, the coarse adaptation 27 is obtained from the ordering of the levels 20, 21, 22. The coarse adaptation 27 here is performed in the analog domain, in that the main processor 19 controls the respective level control circuits 18 with the respective levels 20, 21, 22, so that the respective amplifiers 4 perform the corresponding level amplification in the respective useful frequency bands 15, 16, 17. In contrast, the fine adaptation 28 is performed in the digital domain by the digital signal processor 2. FIG. 5 shows the course of the fine adaptation 28 by way of example. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the respective amplifications V [dB] as a function of the frequency f [Hz] are shown. By the sum of the coarse adaptation 27 performed analogically and the fine adaptation 28 performed digitally, the amplification function 26 required for the compensation of the hearing loss curve 25 is obtained as shown in FIG. 4.

[0035] For completeness, it should be pointed out that, with regard to Figures 3 to 5, these are of course merely examples for explaining the functional scheme of the sound system 1. The approach described here is used only to illustrate, by way of example, a basic scheme which can be realized in the framework of the invention in many different configurations. For the sake of clarity, therefore, Figures 4 and 5 do not show the rising and falling edges of the amplifier 4 and the level control circuit 18, which in practice are often located on the periphery of the useful frequency bands 15, 16, 17 due to the construction style. This also applies to the entire concept of amplification in the sound system 1 according to the invention.

[0036] FIG. 6 shows, by way of example, that the sound system 1 according to the invention can generate not only one hearing loss curve 25 or a hearing test related to one frequency, but also several hearing loss curves 25. FIG. 6 furthermore plots the hearing loss HV [dB] against the frequency f [Hz]. It can be seen that the hearing loss curves 25 here are homologous in the mid-frequency range, but significantly different from each other at low and high frequencies. Here, the hearing loss curves 25 can be, for example, hearing loss curves 25 recorded for different persons 6, 7, 8, 9, respectively. Equally well, the hearing loss curve 25 can be the hearing loss curve 25 of only one person, in which case, for example, the hearing loss curve 25 shown by the cross was recorded for the left ear of the person, and the hearing loss curve 25 shown by the circle was recorded for the right ear of the same person.

[0037] 7 shows first the amplification function 26 calculated from the two hearing loss curves 25 of FIG. 6 and the average amplification function 29 calculated by averaging these two amplification functions 26. Also in FIG. 7 the amplification V [dB] is shown against the frequency f [Hz]. Such an averaging can be used, for example, to calculate the average amplification function 29 for different hearing losses in the right and left ear of the individual persons 6, 7, 8, 9. Similarly, the average amplification function 29 can be used when the subject is to obtain an amplification pattern in the form of an average for the persons 6, 7, 8, 9 with different hearing losses by the acoustic system 1. The division into the coarse adaptation 27 and the fine adaptation 28 and the amplification of the input acoustic signal based thereon takes place under the average amplification function 29 in the same manner as described for the amplification function 26 shown by way of example in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0038] The audio system 1 according to the invention shown in Fig. 8 is an extension of the audio system 1 of Fig. 1. Therefore, reference is first made to the description of Fig. 1. Here, Fig. 8 shows, by way of example, that the audio system 1 is connected or connectable to a number of data sources 5 providing input audio signals to be amplified. Of course, contrary to the selected illustration of Fig. 8, a number of such data sources 5 can also be integrated in the signal processing unit 24.

[0039] Additionally, FIG. 8 shows that the sound system 1 can have multiple input units 23 and also various output units for reproducing the amplified output sound signal. Furthermore, in FIG. 8, in addition to the multi-way speaker 11 already present in FIG. 1, headphones 30 and bone conduction phone 31 are provided, which can additionally supply the persons 7, 8. The headphones 30 and bone conduction phone 31 can be used both for the hearing test operating mode and for the reproduction operating mode. Thus, a frequency-related hearing test can be performed both via the multi-way speaker 11, and also via the headphones 30 and via the bone conduction phone 31. When output sound signals are supplied to multiple persons 6, 7, 8 as shown in FIG. 8, a unique frequency-related hearing test can be performed by the sound system 1 for each person 6, 7, 8 and stored in the data memory 10. In particular, the headphones 30 also allow for a hearing test to be performed separately for the left and right ear of a person, here for example for person 7, so that each hearing test can be stored in the data memory 10 and serve as the basis for amplification for reproducing the amplified output sound signal in the reproduction operating mode. The performance of the frequency-related hearing test and the calculation of the gain function 26 from the hearing loss curve 25 are each performed as described above, in which case the reproduction of the amplified output sound signal can be performed in the present embodiment by, for example, a multi-way loudspeaker 11. The gain functions 26 can be averaged, for example, to form an average gain function for the different persons 6, 7 and / or 8, or an average gain function 29 for the case of performing mutually separate frequency-related hearing tests for the right and left ear for each person 6, 7, 8, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

[0040] In the playback operating mode, the output sound signal amplified according to the invention can be played back via the multi-way speaker 11, while the playback of the amplified output sound signal via the headphones 30 and the bone conduction phone 31 can also take place according to the prior art for the time being. However, even in this case, modifications according to the invention are possible, in that for example the persons 7, 8 receive the amplified output sound signal with special amplification via the frequency band toners 12, 13, 14 of the multi-way speaker 11 and additionally via the effective frequency band of the headphones 30 and / or the bone conduction phone 31. Here, the headphones 30 and / or the bone conduction phone 31 can be used, so to speak, as additional frequency band toners of the multi-way speaker 11, for example, to specially amplify the output sound signal in the high effective frequency band for each person 7, 8 via the headphones 30 and / or the bone conduction phone 31, and to supply low frequency or structure-borne sound for the same persons 7, 8 additionally via the multi-way speaker 11 and the frequency band toner 14, which is particularly configured as a low toner. Similarly, provision of structure-borne sound, for example via a chair or couch with an integrated structure-borne sound transducer or toner, may also be an option.

[0041] In Fig. 9, a sound system 1 for a home theater 32 is shown in a schematic diagram. The screen and the projector for reproducing the images are not shown here. In the example shown in Fig. 9, the sound system 1 has a total of seven multi-way speakers 11, each with two frequency band toners 12 and 14, i.e. one high toner and one low toner. Three of the multi-way speakers 11 are arranged to the left of the person 6, and three more multi-way speakers 11 are arranged to the right of the person 6. Additionally, there is also a seventh multi-way speaker 11 in the center in front of the person 6. In such a configuration, for example, the person 6 uses the input unit 23 to carry out a frequency-related hearing test with each individual multi-way loudspeaker 11 in succession, storing all seven frequency-related hearing tests in the data memory 10 of the sound system 1, so that for each of these multi-way loudspeakers 11 a unique amplification function 26 with corresponding coarse adaptation 27 and fine adaptation 28 is formed essentially in the manner described above, so that the amplified output sound signal is reproduced via each of the seven multi-way loudspeakers 11 taking into account the respectively stored amplification function 26. Of course, it is also possible, alternatively, to group the multi-way loudspeakers 11 into several groups, so that each group of multi-way loudspeakers is driven using the same amplification function 26. By way of example, FIG. 9 shows a left group 41 with three multi-way loudspeakers 11 and a right group 42 with similarly three multi-way loudspeakers 11. The seventh multi-way loudspeaker 11, which is located centrally in front of the person 6, can for example be driven by an average gain function 29 and also by a specific gain function 26. There are now numerous possibilities for adapting the system shown in FIG. 9 accordingly.The structure and operation of the signal processing unit 24 of the sound system 1 of FIG. 9 basically corresponds to that shown in FIG. 2 with a corresponding number of digital / analog converters 3, level control circuits 18 and amplifiers 4, so that each of the frequency band toners 12 and 14 of the multi-way speaker 11 can be individually driven and controlled accordingly in each useful frequency band.

[0042] FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of the sound system 1 according to the invention, which can be used in a vehicle 33 by way of example. The structure of the signal processing unit 24 and its mode of operation again basically correspond to the variants described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7, with an increased number of the respective components. The structure of the sound system 1 in FIG. 10 is similar to that of the sound system 1 in FIG. 9, but here, for example, a total of four persons 6, 7, 8, 9 are present in the acoustic space in which the reproduction of the amplified output sound signal is performed, i.e. in the vehicle 33. In contrast to FIG. 9, several input units 23 are provided here, so that each person 6, 7, 8, 9 can perform a hearing test related to one or more specific frequencies, and the amplification function 26 formed from said hearing test can be used for amplification in the sound system 1, with its own coarse adaptation 27 and fine adaptation 28, or the corresponding average amplification function 29, with similar coarse adaptation 27 and fine adaptation 28. Various variants are conceivable here. In a simple variant, for example, only the driver 6 of the vehicle 33 performs a frequency-related hearing test, and all multi-way loudspeakers 11 in the vehicle 33 are driven by the same amplification function 26. However, it is also possible for all persons 6, 7, 8, 9 to each perform at least one frequency-related hearing test, from which an average amplification function 29 with coarse and fine adaptations 27 and 28 for all multi-way loudspeakers 11 is formed. Similarly, for each person 6, 7, 8, 9, only the multi-way loudspeakers 11 in the respective direct vicinity can be driven by a corresponding amplification function 26 formed on the basis of at least one corresponding hearing test for each person 6, 7, 8, 9. Here too, the multi-way loudspeakers 11 can be grouped together, for example into a left group 41 and a right group 42.

[0043] FIG. 11 shows a schematic representation of a variant of the sound system 1 according to the invention, in which a central signal processing unit 24 of the sound system 1 is used to output correspondingly amplified output sound signals via different multi-way loudspeakers 11 into different spaces 35, 36, 37, 38. The people 6, 7, 8 or 9 staying in the spaces 35, 36, 37 or 38, respectively, can carry out a frequency-related hearing test by means of the respective multi-way loudspeakers 11 present in each space via the respective input units 23 present in each space, the results of which can be stored in the data memory 10 in the form already described above and called up for correspondingly forming the output sound signals in each space 35, 36, 37 or 38. Here too, a plurality of data sources 5 can be used to supply the respective different input sound signals to the sound system 1 and correspondingly amplify them at the respective locations. The structure and mode of operation of the signal processing unit 24 corresponds to an increased number of components and procedures described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. Of course, it is also possible to operate differently from this by an average amplification function 29 and / or to amplify the output sound signals for the different spaces 35, 36, 37, 38 in a similar manner. In this case too, of course, there are various ways of applying the basic scheme according to the invention.

[0044] Fig. 12 is a variant of Fig. 11. Here again, a multi-space configuration with different spaces 35, 36, 37, 38 is the subject. When the sound system according to the invention is applied as a distributed sound system 1 for a multi-space 34 configuration, two or more sound systems 1 registered in a network 39 can exchange frequency-related hearing tests stored respectively for one or more persons 6, 7, 8, 9 with each other, preferably without access to an external database, in order to calculate the frequency-dependent amplification function 26 or the corresponding average amplification function 29 and the resulting coarse adaptation 27 and fine adaptation 28 for the multiple spaces 35, 36, 37 or 38 and sound system 1, respectively. Thus, for example, an additionally supplemented sound system 1 can use the parameters of an existing sound system 1 if necessary. The network 39 can be a wired or wireless network, for example a LAN, a WLAN or Bluetooth. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1. Sound system 2 Digital Signal Processor 3 Digital / Analog Converter 4. Amplifier 5. Data Sources 6,7,8,9 people 10 Data Memory 11 Multi-way speaker 12,13,14 Frequency Band Toner 15,16,17 Effective frequency band 18 Level control circuit 19 Main Processor 20, 21, 22 levels 23 Input Unit 24 Signal Processing Unit 25 Hearing Loss Curve 26 Amplification Function 27 Coarse Adaptation 28 Micro-adaptation 29 Average Amplification Function 30 Headphones 31 Bone conduction phone 32 Home Theater 33 Vehicles 34 Multispace 35,36,37,38 space 39 Network 40 Casing 41 Left Group 42 Right Group

Claims

1. An audio system (1) for reproducing an amplified output audio signal using at least one speaker, comprising: The sound system (1) comprises a signal processing unit (24) having one digital signal processor (2), at least one digital-to-analog converter (3), and at least one amplifier (4) for driving and controlling the speakers; the signal processing unit (24) is connected or connectable to a data source (5) that provides an input acoustic signal to be amplified, or the data source (5) is integrated within the signal processing unit (24); the sound system (1) has a playback operating mode for playing back an amplified output sound signal and a hearing test operating mode for performing at least one frequency-related hearing test on a listener (6, 7, 8, 9), and further has an additional data memory (10) for storing the results of the at least one frequency-related hearing test performed by the sound system (1); the speaker is a multi-way speaker (11) including at least two mutually distinct frequency band toners (12, 13, 14) for reproducing an amplified output sound signal; The at least two mutually different frequency band toners (12, 13, 14) have mutually different effective frequency bands (15, 16, 17). Sound system (1).

2. In the sound system (1), each frequency band toner (12, 13, 14) is preceded by its own amplifier (4) having its own level control circuit (18). An acoustic system (1) according to claim 1.

3. Each level control circuit (18) is preceded by its own digital-to-analog converter (3), The digital / analog converter (3) can be driven and controlled by the digital signal processor (2). An acoustic system (1) according to claim 2.

4. The digital signal processor (2) drives and controls each frequency band toner (12, 13, 14) only in the effective frequency band (15, 16, 17) of each frequency band toner (12, 13, 14) via its own digital / analog converter (3), its own level control circuit (18), and its own amplifier (4). An acoustic system (1) according to claim 3.

5. The sound system (1) has a main processor (19) that drives and controls the digital signal processor (2) and the level control circuit (18). An acoustic system (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

6. The main processor (19) drives and controls each amplifier (4) via each level control circuit (18) to use a uniform level (20, 21, 22) in each effective frequency band (15, 16, 17) of each frequency band toner (12, 13, 14). An acoustic system (1) according to claim 5.

7. the main processor (19) and / or the digital signal processor (2) determine a uniform level (20, 21, 22) in each of the effective frequency bands (15, 16, 17) depending on the stored results of a hearing test related to frequencies in each of the effective frequency bands (15, 16, 17); An acoustic system (1) according to claim 6.

8. the sound system (1) is connected or connectable to an input unit (23) operable by a listener (6, 7, 8, 9) to perform a hearing test related to the frequencies, or the input unit (23) is integrated within the sound system (1); An acoustic system (1) according to claim 1.

9. 2. A method for operating an audio system (1) according to claim 1, comprising: When an output acoustic signal is reproduced by the acoustic system (1), at least two frequency band toners (12, 13, 14) different from each other are driven and controlled only in their respective effective frequency bands (15, 16, 17). method.

10. When the audio system (1) performs an audio test related to at least one frequency on a listener, audio test audio signals are transmitted via the at least two frequency band toners (12, 13, 14) that are different from each other; Each auditory test acoustic signal is sent through a frequency band toner (12, 13, 14) within whose useful frequency band (15, 16, 17) each auditory test acoustic signal is located; 10. The method of claim 9.

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