AV Synchronization via Handheld Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Audio and video signals in entertainment systems often become desynchronized due to different propagation mediums and processing schemes, leading to a degraded viewing and listening experience.
Innovation Solution
A handheld device with a camera and microphone performs a calibration process to determine synchronization errors between audio and video signals by detecting a test frame and test tone, providing synchronization correction values to other devices to adjust delays and achieve synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If audio and video signals are transmitted through different wired and wireless mediums and processed by different devices, then the system becomes more flexible and adaptable, but the audio and video signals become desynchronized
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a calibration process before normal operation to determine the propagation time differences between audio and video signals. This preliminary measurement allows the system to pre-calculate compensation values that are stored and applied during subsequent content playback, ensuring synchronization without requiring real-time adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the calibration process where the measured propagation time differences are used to adjust the playback timing of audio or video signals. The synchronization controller continuously monitors and applies compensation based on the calibrated values, creating a closed-loop system that maintains AV sync across different transmission mediums
2Adaptability or versatility
If different hardware and software capabilities are used in devices, then the system becomes more versatile, but processing durations vary causing AV desynchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the timing parameters of audio or video playback based on measured propagation differences. During calibration, the system determines specific time offset values that compensate for varying processing durations across different devices. These parameter adjustments are applied dynamically to ensure that signals with different processing times remain synchronized
3Ease of operation
If synchronization correction is not applied, then the system operates simpler, but the viewing and listening experience degrades due to AV desynchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-calibration by automatically measuring the propagation time differences between audio and video signals without requiring manual intervention. The synchronization controller autonomously determines the timing offsets and applies corrections, making the system self-adjusting and eliminating the need for complex manual synchronization setup while maintaining high-quality AV playback
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for performing a calibration process for synchronizing audio signals with video signals. The calibration process may be performed between one or more devices of an entertainment system and a handheld device. Device(s) (e.g., a television and speaker(s)) of the entertainment system are configured to playback video signal(s) and audio signal(s), respectively. The handheld device is configured to determine an amount of synchronization error between the audio signal and the video signal, determine a synchronization correction value based on the determined amount, and provide the synchronization correction value to device(s) of the entertainment system. The device(s) may use the synchronization correction value to correct the delay between the video signal and the audio signal such that the video signal and the audio signal are synchronized.