Audio Converter Simplified Transfer Function
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing models of acoustic environments require high processing power and memory to simulate complex sound propagation paths, leading to increased computational demands without a corresponding reduction in sound image quality.
Innovation Solution
Selecting a subset of local maxima in the intensity envelope to create a simplified transfer function that reduces processing and memory requirements while maintaining perceptible sound components, allowing for faithful simulation of the acoustic environment through convolution or simplified time domain operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex transfer functions representing a large number of sound propagation paths are processed for each reverberation, then the accuracy of acoustic environment simulation is improved, but processing power and memory requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and identifies only the significant reverberation components from the complex transfer function by detecting local maxima in the impulse response. These significant components are then used to construct a simplified transfer function, discarding the less important paths while maintaining perceptual accuracy of the acoustic simulation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation of the transfer function by selecting a limited number of discrete time delays corresponding to local maxima positions. This transforms the complex continuous transfer function into a simplified discrete representation with fewer parameters, reducing computational complexity while preserving essential acoustic characteristics
2Reliability
If a large number of sound propagation paths are modeled, then the fidelity of sound image reproduction is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the significant propagation paths by identifying local maxima in the impulse response intensity envelope. This extraction process filters out redundant or insignificant paths, creating a simplified model that maintains sound image fidelity while reducing the number of components that need to be processed and stored
3Measurement precision
If all reverberation components are included in the simulation, then the accuracy of acoustic environment modeling is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes only the significant reverberation components identified by local maxima detection, rather than processing all possible reverberation paths. This selective approach maintains modeling accuracy for perceptible components while significantly reducing the time and computational resources required for processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by processing only a subset of reverberation components (those corresponding to local maxima) rather than all components. This partial processing approach is sufficient to achieve perceptual accuracy while avoiding the excessive computational cost of processing every possible reverberation path
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 method effectively reduces processing power and memory needs while preserving sound quality, enabling the simulation of a larger number of audio channels with minimal degradation in perception, and can convert 2D or mono audio into 3D audio by decoupling channels and adjusting transfer functions.
Implementation Method 1
convolving audio signals with the transfer functions forming this model of an acoustical environment
Data Source
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AI summary
A converter and conversion method are disclosed for converting N channel audio input channels into M channel audio output channels, wherein a processor is used for applying a transfer function to a signal received on an input channel to obtain reverberation components of a calculated output channel, wherein said transfer function is a simplified transfer function matching a selected subset of a set of local maxima of a measured reverberation when applied to a corresponding stimulus.