Automatic De-baffling for Acoustic Radiation Pattern Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Achieving high audio quality in environments is challenging due to sub-optimal placement of speakers and listeners, leading to degraded acoustic quality and user satisfaction.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with sensors that determine the environment's boundary location and calculate a modified acoustic radiation pattern to match a target pattern, adjusting sound output to optimize audio quality, including changes in frequency spectrum and beam direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If speakers are placed in sub-optimal positions or listeners are not at ideal positions, then the ease of operation is improved (flexible placement), but the acoustic quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeaker placement flexibilityVSAvoidacoustic quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the acoustic radiation pattern of speakers based on real-time environmental characterization and listener position detection. The radiation pattern is modified to compensate for sub-optimal placements, allowing flexible speaker positioning while maintaining high acoustic quality through continuous adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes acoustic parameters including frequency spectrum, beam direction, and radiation pattern shape to optimize sound quality for different speaker and listener positions. By adjusting these parameters in real-time, the system maintains high acoustic quality regardless of physical placement constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If acoustic reflections from boundaries are present, then the adaptability to environment is improved, but the acoustic quality deteriorates due to degraded sound

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental adaptationVSAvoidacoustic quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system characterizes acoustic boundaries and reflections in the environment and uses this information to modify the acoustic radiation pattern. By converting the harmful effect of reflections into useful information about the environment, the system adjusts its sound output to compensate for boundary effects, thereby maintaining high acoustic quality while adapting to the specific environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Manufacturing precision

If the acoustic radiation pattern is modified to compensate for boundaries, then the acoustic quality is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors to detect listener position and environmental characteristics, then feeds this information back to dynamically adjust the acoustic radiation pattern. This feedback loop enables automatic compensation for sub-optimal placements and boundary reflections without requiring complex manual configuration, balancing improved acoustic quality with manageable system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically characterizes the environment and adjusts its acoustic output without requiring external intervention or complex configuration. By performing environmental characterization and radiation pattern modification autonomously, the system reduces the operational complexity while maintaining high acoustic quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Improves listening experience by correcting acoustic reflections and maintaining high audio quality regardless of speaker or listener position, enhancing user satisfaction and provider revenue.

Implementation Method 1

a microphone that performs sound measurements when the set of drivers is not outputting the sound

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound measurements: Sound

Implementation Method 2

the electronic device calculates a modified acoustic radiation pattern of the electronic device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic radiation: Acoustic Radiation Pressure

Implementation Method 3

a set of drivers that output sound

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound propagation: Sound

Implementation Method 4

acoustic reflections from the boundary

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic reflections: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS10440473B1Automatic de-baffling

Publication Date: 2019.10.08 B & W GRP LTD

AI summary

An electronic device that performs automatic de-baffling is described. Based at least in part on information corresponding to a boundary of an environment (which may be acquired by a sensor, such as a microphone or an image sensor), the electronic device may determine a location of the boundary, which is proximate to the electronic device. Then, based at least in part on the location, the electronic device may calculate a modified acoustic radiation pattern of the electronic device, where a superposition of the modification acoustic radiation pattern and acoustic reflections from the boundary approximately matches a target acoustic radiation pattern of the electronic device. Next, using the modified acoustic radiation pattern, the electronic device may output sound corresponding to audio content from a set of drivers.