Audio Zooming Headroom Control for Directional Sound Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio zooming technologies struggle to effectively amplify sound sources within a region of interest while maintaining signal levels and distinguishing between wanted and unwanted sound sources.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that determine if sound energy in a first direction (within a region of interest) is different from sound energy in a second direction (outside the region of interest) by a threshold amount, and control the amount of headroom provided to enable or disable audio zooming accordingly, using automatic gain control or compression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If audio zooming is implemented by amplification of wanted sound sources, then sound sources within region of interest are amplified, but headroom is consumed and signal levels may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the audio scene to determine the location and energy levels of sound sources before applying audio zooming. By pre-identifying wanted sound sources within the region of interest and unwanted sound sources outside it, the system can prepare appropriate processing strategies in advance, allowing for efficient amplification of desired sounds while managing headroom consumption through pre-planned attenuation of unwanted sounds.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different processing qualities to different spatial regions: wanted sound sources within the region of interest receive amplification treatment, while unwanted sound sources outside the region receive attenuation treatment. This localized differential processing allows the system to enhance desired audio signals without uniformly consuming headroom across all sound sources, thereby resolving the contradiction between amplification and headroom preservation.
2Illumination intensity
If audio zooming amplifies wanted sound sources, then region of interest sounds are enhanced, but unwanted sound sources may cause distortion or clipping
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the potentially harmful effect of unwanted sound sources into a beneficial outcome by actively identifying and attenuating these sounds. By detecting unwanted sound sources outside the region of interest and applying attenuation processing, the system prevents them from causing distortion or clipping during audio zooming, while simultaneously enhancing the wanted sound sources. This transforms the harmful presence of unwanted sounds into an opportunity for improved audio quality through selective suppression.
3Adaptability or versatility
If headroom is controlled to enable audio zooming, then amplification is possible, but signal levels must be carefully managed to avoid clipping
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the audio scene to detect sound sources, their locations, and energy levels. This feedback information is used to dynamically adjust processing parameters including headroom allocation and gain levels. By implementing feedback-based control, the system can adaptively manage signal levels during audio zooming, ensuring that amplification of wanted sound sources does not lead to clipping while maintaining the versatility of the audio zooming functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples of the disclosure relate to apparatus, methods and computer programs for enabling audio zooming. The apparatus can include circuitry configured for determining, for an audio signal, if sound energy in at least one first direction is different to sound energy in at least one second direction by at least a threshold amount. The circuitry may also be configured for controlling an amount of headroom provided based on whether or not sound energy in at least one first direction is different to the sound energy in at least one second direction by at least a threshold amount.