Acoustic Parameter Measurement Using Time and Frequency Shift Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring acoustic parameters in environments require complex equipment and synchronized sound signal transmission and reception, limiting their implementation to qualified personnel and specific devices.
Innovation Solution
A method that estimates and corrects for time shift and sampling frequency shift between sound signal transmission and reception devices, allowing for the use of consumer-grade equipment and independent selection of transmission and reception devices, and calculates acoustic parameters using computer program instructions and optimized sound signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex equipment and synchronized transmission/reception devices are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, specialized measurement equipment with inexpensive consumer-grade devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) that have built-in microphones and speakers. These consumer devices perform acoustic measurements without requiring synchronized operation, eliminating the need for complex synchronization hardware while maintaining measurement capability through post-processing of recorded audio signals.
2Measurement precision
If synchronized transmission and reception devices are used, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows independent operation of transmission and reception devices without requiring manual synchronization. The reception device autonomously records the sound signal, and the processing system automatically performs time alignment and impulse response calculation, eliminating the need for operators to coordinate device timing manually.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs time offset and sampling frequency offset estimation and correction as preliminary processing steps before calculating the impulse response. This preliminary alignment of the received signal with the emitted signal template automates the synchronization process, making the measurement system easy to operate while maintaining precision.
3Ease of operation
If consumer-grade equipment is used, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a signal processing intermediary that corrects for the inherent imperfections of consumer-grade recording devices. By estimating and compensating for time offsets and sampling frequency offsets between the emitted and received signals, the system extracts accurate impulse responses despite the lower quality of consumer equipment, thereby maintaining measurement precision while using easy-to-operate devices.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method which comprises the following steps: transmitting a transmitted sound signal; receiving a received sound signal; estimating a sampling frequency shift and a time shift between the transmitting and receiving devices according to impulse responses obtained from portions of the received sound signal and corresponding portions of the transmitted sound signal; obtaining a corrected received sound signal by applying to the received sound signal a sampling frequency shift correction and a time shift correction according to said estimations; determining the impulse response of the environment from portions of the corrected received sound signal and corresponding portions of the transmitted sound signal; and obtaining acoustic parameters of the environment from said impulse response.