Audio Mixing Techniques for Perceptual Differentiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional audio processing techniques fail to effectively combine multiple audio signals, such as music and phone calls, without causing perceptual interference, especially in devices like radio telephones where music output is often preempted by incoming calls.
Innovation Solution
The described audio mixing techniques apply specific gain adjustments and processing methods, including low-pass filtering and channel combination, to differentiate between audio signals, allowing music to be perceived as background audio while phone calls are in the foreground, using scalar functions and delays to create a seamless transition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If music output is preempted by incoming telephone calls, then phone call audio quality is improved, but music playback continuity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines phone call audio and music audio into a single mixed output signal, allowing both audio sources to be played simultaneously through the same audio output channel. This merging approach enables the device to maintain music playback continuity while ensuring phone call audio quality by mixing both signals together rather than preempting one with the other.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple audio signals are combined without processing, then audio signal diversity is improved, but perceptual interference deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing operations to different audio signals within the mixture. Specifically, it applies a first set of processing operations (including first gain, first filtering, and first scaling) to the phone call audio signal, and a second set of processing operations (including second gain, second filtering, and second scaling) to the music audio signal. This local differentiation allows both signals to coexist without perceptual interference, maintaining audio signal diversity while eliminating harmful interference effects.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes audio mixing techniques that intelligently combine two or more audio signals into an output signal. The techniques allow audio to be combined, yet create perceptual differentiation between the different audio signals. The result is that a user is able to hear both audio signals in a combined output, but the different audio signals do not perceptually interfere with one another. The techniques are relatively simple to implement and are well suited for radio telephones.