3D Spatial Audio Processing with Active Noise Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing active noise control systems fail to enhance playback quality of sound source signals and provide immersive 3D sound effects, as they primarily focus on noise suppression without improving sound localization and spaciousness.

Innovation Solution

A device and method integrating 3D sound effect processing and active noise control using digital signal processing, which generates anti-noise signals to counteract external noise, employing a digital signal processor, sound player, and noise controller with a sensor to provide immersive spatial sound, and replacing digital circuits with analog circuits for real-time noise cancellation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If active noise control systems use digital signal processing for noise suppression, then noise interference is reduced, but time delay occurs between input and output signals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise interferenceVSAvoidtime delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces digital signal processing circuits with analog signal processing circuits for active noise control. The analog controller directly processes noise signals and generates anti-noise signals without digital conversion, eliminating processing time delay while maintaining noise suppression effectiveness. This substitution of digital systems with analog systems resolves the contradiction between noise reduction and time delay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If separate systems are used for active noise control and sound effect processing, then each function is specialized, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional specializationVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates active noise control and sound effect processing into a single unified system. The controller simultaneously performs noise cancellation and spatial audio processing functions, merging two separate systems into one. This integration reduces device complexity while maintaining the reliability of both specialized functions through unified signal processing architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller is designed as a multi-functional device that can perform both active noise control and sound effect processing. By making the controller universal and capable of handling multiple functions, the system avoids the complexity of having separate dedicated systems while preserving the effectiveness of each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional noise control methods are used, then noise suppression is achieved, but playback quality and sound localization are not improved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise suppressionVSAvoidsound quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines noise control processing with sound effect processing in a unified system. The controller simultaneously generates anti-noise signals and applies spatial audio effects to the audio output, ensuring that noise suppression does not compromise sound quality. This merging allows both noise suppression and high-fidelity sound reproduction to be achieved together.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reduces external noise interference, enhances sound localization, spaciousness, and reverberation, providing an immersive quality spatial sound experience while reducing operational complexity and time delays, applicable to various sound playback devices.

Implementation Method 1

an anti-noise is used to counteract the interference of external noise

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic interference: Interference

Implementation Method 2

A sensor in the sound player is then used to detect an external noise

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic detection:

Data Source

PatentUS7889872B2Device and method for integrating sound effect processing and active noise control

Publication Date: 2011.02.15 NAT CHIAO TUNG UNIV

AI summary

A device and a method for integrating 3D sound effect processing and active noise control are proposed. A digital signal processor incorporates an artificial reverberator and a 3D spatial audio processor into an audio module. The audio signal is presented via an earphone. Next, a microphone embedded in the vicinity of the loudspeaker inside the headset is used to sense an external noise while playing, and feed it back to an active noise controller, which generates an anti-noise to eliminate the external noise. Therefore, the signal to noise ratio can be increased and the 3D sound field effect can be significantly enhanced. In addition, a head-related transfer function is more efficiently implemented on the basis of an interaural transfer function in the spatial audio processing to reduce the filter order lower and hence the computation loading.