AR Audio Acoustic Simulation via 3D Visual Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing augmented reality (AR) technologies face challenges in accurately simulating acoustic environments without the need for expensive impulse response-based techniques, especially when users rapidly change locations, as these methods require costly equipment and are ineffective in dynamic settings.
Innovation Solution
An AR device that uses image data to generate a 3D map and modify audio signals to simulate acoustic characteristics, such as reverberation, absorption, and attenuation, by detecting objects and materials within the environment, allowing for real-time adjustment of audio signals to match the user's surroundings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If impulse response based techniques are used to determine acoustic characteristics, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual data (images and video) to create a digital representation of the physical environment, which is then used to infer acoustic characteristics. Instead of using complex acoustic measurement equipment, the system copies visual information and processes it to determine acoustic properties, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/acoustic measurement systems (microphones, speakers, impulse response equipment) with an optical-based system (cameras, image processing). By substituting the mechanical acoustic measurement approach with optical sensing and computational analysis, the system reduces hardware complexity while achieving acoustic characteristic determination
2Measurement precision
If impulse response based techniques are used, then acoustic accuracy is improved, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by using visual data capture and 3D mapping to pre-establish the environmental model. By capturing visual information and creating a spatial representation in advance, the system prepares the data structure needed for acoustic simulation, enabling faster audio adjustment when conditions change without requiring time-consuming impulse response measurements each time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent copies visual environmental data to represent acoustic properties, eliminating the need for repeated acoustic measurements. By maintaining a visual copy of the environment that can be quickly updated and processed, the system achieves both accuracy and speed in audio adjustment
3Measurement precision
If impulse response based techniques are used, then acoustic characteristic accuracy is improved, but adaptability to rapid location changes worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by enabling the system to continuously update the environmental model as the user moves. The visual data capture and 3D mapping system can dynamically track location changes and update the acoustic simulation in real-time, making the system adaptable to rapid movements between rooms or spaces without being constrained by static impulse response measurements
Solution Approach 2:
By maintaining a copy of the environmental geometry from visual data, the system can quickly recalculate acoustic characteristics for new locations without performing new measurements. The visual copy serves as a reusable model that adapts to location changes through computational processing rather than physical remeasurement
Data Source
AI summary
An augmented reality (AR) device includes a memory configured to store instructions of an augmented reality (AR) application. The AR device further includes a processor configured to initiate a first image capture operation to generate first image data and to determine a three-dimensional (3D) map based on the first image data. The 3D map represents a set of locations including a first location. The processor is further configured to initiate a second image capture operation to generate second image data and to execute the instructions to identify, based on the second image data, a second location of the set of locations. The processor is further configured to modify an audio signal to synthesize one or more acoustic characteristics associated with audio sent from the first location to the second location.