AV Amplifier Server Switching for Multi-Channel Audio Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
AV amplifiers supporting multiple audio channels require complex configurations and are expensive, leading to a financial burden on users who need to replace them frequently to accommodate increasing channel numbers, resulting in resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
An AV amplifier design that includes an input unit, operation unit, server interface unit, audio reproduction unit, output unit, and control unit, allowing users to switch between processing digital data locally or remotely through a server, eliminating the need for a dedicated processing unit for multi-channel signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an AV amplifier is provided with a DSP for processing multi-channel digital signals, then multi-channel audio reproduction capability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex DSP processing function from the AV amplifier and relocates it to a server system. The AV amplifier retains only basic audio processing capabilities, while multi-channel signal processing is performed remotely by the server, thereby simplifying the amplifier's configuration and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining multi-channel reproduction capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the digital signal source and the AV amplifier. The server acts as a remote processing unit that handles complex multi-channel DSP operations, allowing the AV amplifier to maintain simplicity while still supporting multi-channel audio reproduction through the intermediary processing step
2Adaptability or versatility
If an AV amplifier supports a larger number of audio channels, then adaptability to new audio formats is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the channel processing logic from the hardware configuration and moves it to software-based server processing. This allows the same physical amplifier to support varying numbers of channels through software configuration on the server side, eliminating the need to manufacture different hardware configurations for different channel counts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the server system universal by designing it to handle multiple channel configurations (5.1, 7.1, etc.) through software. This single universal server can serve multiple amplifiers with different channel requirements, reducing the need for manufacturers to produce multiple specialized amplifier models
3Adaptability or versatility
If users frequently replace AV amplifiers to support new channel configurations, then adaptability to new audio formats is improved, but resource wastage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptability through software-based channel processing on the server. Instead of requiring static hardware changes for new channel configurations, the system dynamically adjusts processing parameters through software updates, allowing existing amplifiers to support new formats without replacement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring the server with processing capabilities for multiple channel formats. When a user wants to support a new audio format, the server is already prepared to handle it through software, eliminating the need for users to proactively replace their equipment
Data Source
AI summary
An AV amplifier contains an input unit to input digital data and an operation unit that receives a reproduction instruction. A switching unit switches whether to output the digital data input to a server interface unit or DSP in response to the reproduction instruction. The DSP processes the digital data output to obtain and output a two-channel signal, which the server interface unit transmits by the switching unit to a server and receives an audio signal from the server. An audio reproduction unit reproduces the server interface unit received audio signal and an audio signal output by the DSP. An output unit outputs the reproduced audio signal to each speaker and a control unit controls the switching unit and the server interface unit in response to the reproduction instruction from the user. The control unit controls the switching unit, when two-channel audio reproduction is instructed from the user.