Multi-Speaker Audio Balancing With Dynamic Crossover Shifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
In media playback systems, synchronized audio output from multiple devices often results in volume mismatches due to differing acoustic limits and limiter settings, leading to suboptimal audio quality when playback volumes exceed the limits of individual devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where one playback device adjusts its output based on the limiting function of another device, determining a balancing limiter to ensure synchronized playback across devices, potentially shifting crossover frequencies to maintain balanced audio output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple playback devices operate with their own independent limiter settings and acoustic limits, then each device can maintain its own optimal playback characteristics, but volume mismatches occur during synchronized playback when playback volumes exceed individual device limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a balancing limiter as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between multiple playback devices with different acoustic limits. The balancing limiter receives audio signals from multiple devices, applies limiting functions based on each device's acoustic characteristics, and outputs balanced audio signals that prevent volume mismatches while preserving individual device playback characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the crossover frequency parameter based on playback volume levels. When playback volume exceeds individual device acoustic limits, the system changes the crossover frequency to redistribute audio content across devices, ensuring balanced output. This parameter change allows the system to adapt to different playback conditions while maintaining audio balance.
2Power
If playback volume is increased to exceed individual device acoustic limits, then louder audio output is achieved, but audio quality deteriorates due to volume mismatches and distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the balancing limiter and crossover frequency based on real-time playback conditions. When playback volume increases and approaches or exceeds individual device acoustic limits, the system dynamically modifies the limiting function and crossover frequency to redistribute audio content, preventing distortion and maintaining audio quality across the full volume range.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where each playback device monitors its own acoustic limit compliance and communicates this information to the balancing limiter. The balancing limiter uses this feedback to adjust its limiting function, ensuring that no device exceeds its acoustic limits even at high playback volumes, thereby preventing distortion and maintaining audio quality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If synchronized playback is implemented across multiple devices, then audio coverage and immersion are improved, but volume mismatches occur due to differing acoustic limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the audio outputs from multiple playback devices through the balancing limiter, which combines the limiting functions of all devices into a unified output. This merging process ensures that audio signals are distributed across devices in a balanced manner, maintaining synchronized playback while eliminating volume mismatches caused by different acoustic limits.
Data Source
AI summary
An example implementation involves a first playback device receiving audio content to be played by the first playback device and a second playback device. The first playback device may be configured to play respective portions of the audio that are respectively below and above a first crossover frequency. The playback device determines a first limiting result that represents playback of the second portion of the audio content by applying, to the second portion of the audio content, a pre-determined volume-limiting function that is associated with the second playback device, where the first limiting result indicates frequencies at which a playback volume of the second playback device is limited. The playback device determines a second crossover frequency based on the indicated frequencies at which the playback volume of the second playback device is limited and plays a third portion of the audio content that is below the second crossover frequency.