AVR Beam-Forming for Flexible Surround Speaker Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumer audio systems face challenges in providing flexible surround sound configurations, as traditional surround sound installations require costly and complex setups, limiting speaker placement options and requiring consumers to choose between simulated and actual surround sound systems.
Innovation Solution
An audio-video receiver (AVR) system that allows selectable operation between normal and simulated surround sound modes, using beam-forming technology to diffuse surround channel information away from the listener, enabling flexible speaker placement without the need for costly arrays or complex tuning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional surround sound installation is used, then surround sound performance is achieved, but installation cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the surround sound system into two independent parts: (1) a beam-forming system using front speakers to generate directional sound fields, and (2) a traditional surround speaker system. This allows the beam-forming component to be added separately without requiring complete system replacement, reducing installation complexity while maintaining surround sound performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic beam-forming capability that can adaptively direct sound fields based on listening position and room characteristics. The system dynamically adjusts the beam-forming parameters to optimize surround sound experience, providing flexible installation options without requiring rigid speaker placement configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If beam-forming technology is added to traditional surround sound, then speaker placement flexibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges beam-forming technology with traditional surround sound processing by combining the beam-forming module with the existing surround sound decoder and amplifier. This integration allows the system to provide both traditional surround sound and beam-forming capabilities through a unified architecture, adding placement flexibility without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam-forming system is designed to work universally with various speaker configurations and room environments. The system can adapt to different listening positions and room sizes by adjusting beam-forming parameters, providing versatile speaker placement options without requiring complex custom configurations for each scenario.
3Adaptability or versatility
If simulated surround sound is used, then speaker placement flexibility is improved, but surround sound performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic beam-forming that adaptively directs sound fields based on the listener's position and room characteristics. The system dynamically adjusts beam parameters to create accurate spatial audio representation, providing both placement flexibility and high surround sound performance by making the simulated surround sound adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters such as beam direction, width, and time delay based on listening position and room acoustics. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system maintains accurate surround sound performance while allowing flexible speaker placement, bridging the gap between simulated and actual surround sound experiences.
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 flexible surround speaker placement, providing high-quality surround sound performance with reduced installation costs and complexity, allowing for both traditional and simulated surround sound configurations using the same device.
Implementation Method 1
the surround channel information is propagated by speaker connected to the surround and main channel outputs in a directivity pattern differing substantially from that of the main channel outputs, thus directing the surround channel information away from the listening area so that the surround channel information is diffused by reflection before reaching a listener
Implementation Method 2
directing the surround channel information away from the listening area so that the surround channel information is diffused by reflection before reaching a listener
Data Source
AI summary
A reconfigurable audio-video surround sound receiver (AVR) and method provide flexible surround speaker placement and a low cost simulated surround sound implementation. A processing circuit within an audio device or audio/visual (AV) device such as an audio-video receiver (AVR) generates signals for surround and main channel speakers that provide selectable operation between speaker placement in ordinary surround sound installation, or in a simulated surround sound installation with speakers placed at one end of a listening room. An electronic network within the audio device selects between a normal surround sound mode, in which the surround information is provided to surround channel outputs and main channel information is supplied to main channel outputs, or a simulated surround mode in which the main and surround channel outputs receive surround channel information in a phase-controlled relationship, directing the surround information away from a direct path toward the listening area, to diffuse the surround information.