Automated Room Audio Tuning with Sequential Speaker Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large-scale networked audio systems in environments like conference rooms face challenges in tuning due to complexity, requiring expert teams and advanced test signal strategies to accurately configure and optimize multiple speakers and microphones across various locations.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that automatically identify and tune speakers and microphones by providing test signals, detecting operational channels, establishing background noise levels, and applying infinite impulse response filters to equalize frequency responses, allowing for automated setup and optimization of audio systems without the need for expert teams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple speakers are tested simultaneously with different test signals, then tuning accuracy for all speakers is improved, but system complexity and measurement coordination become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measurement process into sequential segments where each speaker is tested individually with unique test signals at different time intervals. This segmentation allows accurate measurement of each speaker's impulse response without interference from other speakers, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and system complexity by maintaining accuracy while simplifying the measurement coordination through structured sequencing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic action by cycling through each speaker in sequence, playing a test signal to one speaker at a time while others remain silent. This periodic measurement approach ensures that each speaker's response can be accurately captured without overlap, achieving high tuning precision while managing system complexity through regular, predictable measurement cycles.
2Loss of time
If automated tuning procedures are implemented, then setup time and expertise requirements are reduced, but measurement accuracy and system optimization may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service automation where the controller automatically generates test signals, captures microphone responses, processes the data through impulse response analysis, and applies tuning parameters without human intervention. This automated self-service approach dramatically reduces setup time while maintaining measurement precision through algorithmic processing of the acoustic measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated system incorporates feedback loops where the controller continuously monitors the acoustic environment through microphones, analyzes the measured impulse responses, and automatically adjusts speaker parameters based on the feedback data. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that automated tuning achieves accurate results by iteratively optimizing speaker performance based on real measurements.
3Measurement precision
If test signals are played sequentially through each speaker, then individual speaker measurement accuracy is improved, but total tuning time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by quickly identifying and characterizing each speaker's basic acoustic properties using rapid test signals before conducting more detailed measurements. This preliminary characterization allows the system to establish baseline tuning parameters efficiently, reducing the total time required while maintaining measurement precision through subsequent refined measurements only where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated system rushes through the measurement process by playing test signals sequentially through each speaker in rapid succession, capturing responses with short integration times. This rushing through the sequential measurement process minimizes total tuning time while maintaining individual speaker measurement accuracy through efficient data capture and processing algorithms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and accurate automated tuning of audio systems, optimizing sound pressure levels and speech intelligibility across multiple locations, reducing the complexity and expertise required for setup and configuration.
Implementation Method 1
providing test signals to play sequentially from each amplifier channel of the amplifier and the plurality of speakers, monitoring the test signals from the one or more microphones simultaneously to detect operational speakers and amplifier channels
Data Source
AI summary
An example method of operation may include identifying, in a particular room environment, a number of speakers and one or more microphones on a network controlled by a controller and amplifier, providing test signals to play sequentially from each amplifier channel of the amplifier and the speakers, monitoring the test signals from the one or more microphones simultaneously to detect operational speakers and amplifier channels, providing additional test signals to the speakers to determine tuning parameters, detecting the additional test signals at the one or more microphones controlled by the controller, and automatically establishing a background noise level and noise spectrum of the room environment based on the detected additional test signals.