Audio Zone Sound Image Adjustment via Cross-Zone Loudspeaker Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing audio systems with multiple zones face challenges in minimizing sound interference between zones, with conventional noise cancellation techniques being power-consuming and requiring system-specific configuration.

Innovation Solution

A method that records sound in a controlling audio zone, evaluates audio data, selects and adjusts loudspeakers in adjacent zones to optimize the sound image, allowing for volume adjustments without complex configuration, using multiple microphone elements to determine sound direction and volume thresholds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If noise cancelling techniques are applied to improve sound quality in an audio zone, then sound interference from other zones is reduced, but power consumption increases and system configuration becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound interferenceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of applying noise cancellation processing in the audio zone where sound quality is to be improved (the conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by adjusting loudspeakers in other audio zones based on recorded sound images. This reduces computational power requirements while achieving the same goal of minimizing sound interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the sound interference problem from the target audio zone and addresses it by adjusting loudspeakers in source zones. Rather than processing noise cancellation locally, the system identifies and adjusts the source of interference by analyzing recorded sound images and modifying loudspeaker settings in other zones accordingly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If noise cancelling techniques are used to minimize sound interference, then sound quality improves, but system configuration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound interferenceVSAvoidsystem configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically records sound images, evaluates them, and adjusts loudspeaker settings without requiring manual configuration. The audio system self-regulates by having the controller automatically identify interfering zones and adjust loudspeaker parameters based on recorded sound data, eliminating the need for complex user setup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where sound images are recorded by microphone units, evaluated by a controller, and used to automatically adjust loudspeaker settings in other zones. This closed-loop system continuously monitors and adjusts sound distribution based on actual recorded conditions rather than requiring pre-configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Power

If loudspeaker volume is increased in an audio zone, then sound output improves, but sound interference in other zones increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound outputVSAvoidsound interference

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different adjustments to different loudspeakers based on their specific impact on other zones. Rather than uniformly reducing all loudspeaker volumes, the system selectively adjusts only those loudspeakers whose sound images are detected in other zones, maintaining local sound quality while minimizing interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes loudspeaker parameters (volume, bass, treble) based on evaluated sound image data. When a loudspeaker's sound is detected in another zone, the controller automatically adjusts its parameters to reduce interference while attempting to maintain acceptable sound output through selective parameter modification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3179744B1Method, device and system for controlling a sound image in an audio zone

Publication Date: 2018.01.31 AXIS

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AI summary

A method for adjusting an audio zone sound image in an audio system (2, 6, 7) comprising a plurality of audio zones (2A, 2B, 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 7A, 7B, 7C) is disclosed. Each audio zone has one or more loudspeakers (20, 21, 60, 61, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75) located therein. The method comprises recording (101, 802) a sound image of a controlling audio zone; transmitting (102, 803) audio data corresponding to the recorded sound image to a controller; evaluating (103, 103a, 804) the transmitted audio data; selecting (104, 805) an adjusting audio zone, wherein the adjusting audio zone is other than the controlling audio zone; and adjusting (105, 105a, 105b, 807) an adjusting loudspeaker such that the sound image of the controlling audio zone is changed. An audio system (2, 6, 7) and a controlling loudspeaker are also disclosed.