Acoustic Signal Correction for Spatial Sound Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
When listening to music with earphones, external information sounds such as calls or warnings are often masked by high-level background noise, making it difficult to distinguish and respond to important sounds.
Innovation Solution
An acoustic control apparatus that acquires an acoustic signal, detects information sounds, and corrects the signal using stored acoustic transfer characteristics to localize the sound image along a specific direction, allowing the listener to focus on both music and important sounds simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If background noise is amplified along with the information sound, then the information sound can be heard, but the background noise becomes extremely high level making it hard to listen to the music
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the acoustic signal processing into two independent paths: one for detecting information sounds and another for processing music. The information sound detection path identifies important sounds, while the music processing path applies acoustic transfer characteristics to create spatial separation. This segmentation allows the system to enhance information sounds without amplifying background noise, as each path is processed independently with different objectives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension by using acoustic transfer characteristics to position the information sound in a different spatial location from the music. By convolving the information sound with acoustic transfer characteristics corresponding to a specific direction, the system creates a three-dimensional audio experience where information sounds appear to come from a different direction than the music, allowing the listener to distinguish between them even when both are present.
2Ease of manufacture
If the listener focuses on music with earphones, then music quality is improved, but external information sounds are masked and difficult to detect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that sits between the earphone output and the listener's ear. This intermediary system detects information sounds in the ambient environment and processes them through acoustic transfer characteristics before presenting them to the listener. The intermediary processor enables the listener to perceive information sounds without removing the earphones, maintaining music listening quality while enabling information sound detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a spatial separation between music and information sounds by positioning them in different acoustic directions. The music continues to play through the earphones as before, while detected information sounds are convolved with acoustic transfer characteristics to create a spatially distinct audio image. This dimensional separation in the auditory space allows the listener to focus on music while simultaneously detecting information sounds from a different perceived direction.
3Measurement precision
If acoustic transfer characteristics are used to localize sound image, then sound directionality is improved, but device complexity increases due to signal processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent stores multiple acoustic transfer characteristics in advance, each corresponding to different spatial directions. Instead of calculating acoustic transfer characteristics in real-time during operation, the system pre-computes and stores these characteristics for various directions. When an information sound is detected, the system simply retrieves the appropriate pre-stored characteristic and applies it through convolution, significantly reducing the computational complexity and processing requirements during actual operation.
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
Enables the listener to easily detect and respond to information sounds while listening to music by shifting the sound image of the music along a direction that does not overlap with the information sound, improving the ability to hear important sounds amidst background noise.
Implementation Method 1
a correction unit (30) to correct the acoustic signal to a corrected acoustic signal by convolving the acoustic signal with a first function when the detection unit (20) detects the information sound, the first function representing an acoustic transfer characteristic from a virtual position to a listening position
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an acoustic control apparatus includes an acquisition unit, a detection unit, a correction unit, and an output unit. The acquisition unit acquires a first acoustic signal. The detection unit detects an information sound. When the detection unit detects the information sound, the correction unit corrects the first acoustic signal to a second acoustic signal by convoluting the first acoustic signal with a first function. The first function represents an acoustic transfer characteristic from a virtual position to a listening position. The virtual position is located along a first direction from the listening position. The output unit outputs the second acoustic signal.