Audio Signal Processing Apparatus Dynamic Channel Contribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing audio signal processing technologies fail to optimize sound field effects for sound image localization methods, particularly when objects move, and often incorrectly distribute audio signals based on listening environments, leading to suboptimal sound field formations and increased sound effects during positional changes.

Innovation Solution

An audio signal processing apparatus dynamically adjusts the contribution rate of each channel based on the object's position, using position information to set optimal gain ratios for sound field effects, ensuring a consistent and immersive sound experience by altering channel contributions as the object moves within the listening environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If sound field effects are applied using fixed channel contribution rates based on listening environment, then the sound field effect can be generated, but the sound field effect is not optimized for sound image localization and may drastically increase when objects move

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound field effect optimizationVSAvoidchannel contribution rate control
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the channel contribution rates variable rather than fixed. The rendering unit dynamically adjusts the contribution rate of each channel based on the sound source position information, allowing the sound field effect to adapt as objects move within the listening environment. This resolves the contradiction by enabling optimization for sound image localization while managing the complexity through systematic control based on position data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of channel contribution rates from fixed values to position-dependent values. By modifying the contribution rates according to the sound source position in the listening environment, the system optimizes sound field effects for different object locations. This parameter change enables the system to prevent drastic increases in sound field effects when objects move, while maintaining adaptability to different positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If channel distribution is based on listening environment (speaker arrangement mode), then the audio signals can be distributed to channels, but the position information of the original object cannot be obtained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio signal distributionVSAvoidobject position information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by obtaining sound source position information from the object information before performing channel distribution. The rendering unit uses this position information to determine the appropriate contribution rates for each channel, ensuring that object position information is preserved and utilized in the channel distribution process. This prevents loss of position information while maintaining ease of operation through systematic rendering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If sound field effect of large concert hall is set for content recorded in small concert hall, then the listening environment can be changed, but the indirect sound is spread while the position of direct sound is not changed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelistening environment settingVSAvoidsound image localization accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by applying different processing to direct sound and indirect sound components. The rendering unit adjusts the contribution rates of channels based on sound source position information, which affects how the sound field effect is applied to different sound components. This enables the system to maintain accurate sound image localization for direct sound while appropriately spreading indirect sound according to the selected listening environment, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3048818B1Audio signal processing apparatus
Publication Date: 2018.10.10 YAMAHA CORP
  • EP3048818B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3048818B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3048818B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An audio signal processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to receive input of audio signals of a plurality of channels, an obtaining unit configured to obtain position information of a sound source, a sound field effect sound generating unit configured to generate a sound field effect sound by individually imparting a sound field effect to an audio signal of each of the channels, and a control unit configured to control the sound field effect to be imparted in the sound field effect sound generating unit, based on the position information.