Audio Mixing Circuit for Multi-Channel Speaker Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Blu-ray disc players fail to provide optimal audio playback for multi-channel speaker systems as they mix effect sound data incorrectly, resulting in the center channel not receiving the audio, and lack the ability to post-process audio inputs individually.
Innovation Solution
An audio mixing method and apparatus that performs individual audio processing operations on multiple audio inputs, allowing for separate mixing and post-processing of audio signals for different output interfaces, such as analog and HDMI, ensuring correct channel allocation and optimized sound quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If effect sound data is mixed with primary and secondary audio bitstreams using a single mixing configuration, then the mixing operation is simple, but the center channel does not receive effect sound in multi-channel speaker systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the audio mixing operation into separate processing paths for different output interfaces. The audio processing apparatus performs first audio processing on the audio signal for a first output interface and second audio processing for a second output interface, allowing independent mixing configurations for each interface. This segmentation enables the center channel to receive effect sound in multi-channel systems while maintaining simple stereo mixing for analog interfaces.
2Device complexity
If post-processing is performed after all audio inputs are mixed, then the processing sequence is simple, but individual audio inputs cannot be post-processed separately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements separate processing stages where effect sound data and other audio inputs are processed independently before being mixed. The audio processing circuit performs first audio processing on the audio signal and second audio processing on the effect sound data separately, then combines them. This allows individual post-processing of each audio input while maintaining a clear processing sequence.
3Device complexity
If a single audio mixing configuration is used for all output interfaces, then the system design is simple, but multi-channel speaker systems cannot achieve optimal audio playback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the audio processing configuration dynamic by allowing different processing operations for different output interfaces. The audio processing apparatus determines whether to perform first audio processing or second audio processing based on the output interface type. For HDMI interfaces connected to multi-channel systems, it applies processing that routes effect sound to the center channel, while for analog stereo interfaces, it applies standard stereo mixing.
Data Source
AI summary
An audio mixing method includes: performing an audio processing operation upon a first audio input derived from at least one decoded audio input to generate a processed audio output, and generating a mixed audio signal by mixing at least a second audio input and the processed audio output. An audio mixing apparatus includes an audio processing circuit and an audio mixing circuit. The audio processing circuit is utilized for performing an audio processing operation upon a first audio input derived from at least one decoded audio input and accordingly generating a processed audio output. The audio mixing circuit is coupled to the audio processing circuit, and utilized for generating a mixed audio signal by mixing at least a second audio input and the processed audio output.