Audio System Tuning via Depth Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional audio system tuning is time-consuming and requires a minimum noise environment, often resulting in users skipping the tuning process due to its cumbersome nature, especially since it needs to be done at each user-specified location and assumes static locations.
Innovation Solution
An audio system that utilizes a sensor, such as a camera or depth field sensing device, to capture depth data and determine acoustic characteristics of the area, allowing for automated configuration of speaker output based on the room's sound profile, eliminating the need for manual microphone testing at each location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional audio system tuning is performed using a special microphone and pre-made recordings at each speaker location, then accurate acoustic analysis can be achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and cumbersome requiring minimum noise environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/acoustic measurement system (special microphone and pre-made recordings) with an optical sensing system (camera or depth field sensing device). Instead of using acoustic waves to measure room characteristics, the system uses light to capture depth data and visually determine acoustic characteristics, thereby eliminating the time-consuming manual tuning process while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual model or representation of the room's acoustic characteristics based on depth data from imaging. Rather than directly measuring acoustic properties with microphones, the system captures the room geometry and objects through imaging, then uses this visual information to determine acoustic characteristics, replacing complex acoustic measurements with simpler optical observations.
2Ease of operation
If manual tuning is performed at each user-specified location, then optimal audio output can be configured for that location, but the process requires minimum noise environment and cannot accommodate dynamic user locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the audio system to automatically configure itself without requiring user presence or manual intervention at each speaker location. The camera captures depth data of the room, and the processor automatically determines acoustic characteristics and configures audio output, making the system self-tuning and eliminating the need for users to physically present at each location during tuning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from static location-based tuning to dynamic location adaptation. Instead of requiring fixed user positions and manual tuning at each spot, the system uses room geometry and object detection to dynamically adapt audio configuration to any user location, making the tuning process flexible and location-independent.
3Extent of automation
If depth field sensing is used to capture room characteristics, then automated audio configuration can be achieved, but the system requires processing complex depth data to determine acoustic characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that translates complex depth field data into simplified acoustic characteristics. Rather than directly using raw depth data for audio configuration, the system first processes the depth information to determine room geometry, object locations, and surfaces, then uses this intermediate representation to infer acoustic properties, thereby simplifying the overall processing complexity while maintaining automation.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment provides a system, including: a sensor; a processor operatively coupled to the sensor; and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to: capture, using the sensor, depth data related to at least one position within an area; determine characteristics associated with the at least one position based on the depth data; and configure audio output to one or more speakers of an audio system based on the acoustic characteristics. Other aspects are described and claimed.