Audio Signal Rebalancing via Intermediary Channel Boosting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio balancing methods fail to effectively rebalance multi-channel audio signals while maintaining overall loudness and robustness against highly unbalanced signals, particularly when one channel has a very low or no signal, leading to noise floor elevation and reduced signal-to-noise ratio.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using a strong channel signal to boost a weak or no-input channel signal, maintaining total power through specific gain adjustments and noise management, employing weighting functions to approximate perceived loudness, and using filters to improve signal-to-noise ratio, with equations defining boost, reduce, and mix factors to achieve balanced outputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If one channel signal is boosted to match the loudness of another channel, then balance between channels is improved, but noise floor is elevated and signal-to-noise ratio is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that detects when one channel has insufficient signal and automatically supplements it with signal from another channel. This mediator approach allows the system to achieve balance without simply boosting the weak channel, thereby avoiding noise floor elevation while maintaining signal-to-noise ratio integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the parameter of signal source selection based on channel conditions. When a channel is detected to have insufficient signal, the system switches from using that channel's own signal to using signal from another channel, thereby adapting the balancing approach to avoid noise elevation
2Manufacturing precision
If one channel signal is boosted to match the loudness of another channel, then balance between channels is improved, but overall signal-to-noise ratio is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that detects when one channel has insufficient signal and automatically supplements it with signal from another channel. This mediator approach allows the system to achieve balance without simply boosting the weak channel, thereby avoiding noise floor elevation while maintaining signal-to-noise ratio integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the parameter of signal source selection based on channel conditions. When a channel is detected to have insufficient signal, the system switches from using that channel's own signal to using signal from another channel, thereby adapting the balancing approach to avoid noise elevation
3Ease of operation
If traditional balancing methods are used, then simple balance adjustment is achieved, but robustness against highly unbalanced signals is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static balancing approach into a dynamic system that continuously monitors channel signal conditions and automatically adjusts its behavior. The system can switch between different operating modes (normal balancing vs. signal supplementation) based on real-time channel conditions, providing robustness against highly unbalanced signals while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms that monitor channel signal levels and automatically trigger signal supplementation when unbalance exceeds thresholds. This feedback loop ensures the system responds adaptively to highly unbalanced conditions, improving robustness while requiring no manual intervention
Data Source
AI summary
Rebalancing of an audio signal refers to achieving a balance of perceived loudness, typically of right and left channels, given an unbalanced input. A flexible method to automatically rebalance an audio input signal is robust against noise in extreme cases through the individual channels combined in various ways as a function of the loudness ratio between input channels.