Binaural Audio Encoding via Far-Field Beam Channels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current AR/VR technologies fail to provide immersive and accurate binaural audio experiences due to limitations in capturing and rendering three-dimensional audio signals, particularly in environments with multiple sound sources and user head movements.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a microphone array for encoding audio signals through far-field array processing to generate beam channels associated with specific angles, and a headset with head tracking sensors to apply head-related transfer functions, ensuring accurate binaural audio rendering by rotating beam angles and combining signals into a single channel for immersive playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional audio encoding methods are used, then the encoding process is simple, but the binaural audio experience is not immersive or accurate
Solution Approach 1:
The audio signal is segmented into multiple beam channels, each associated with a specific beam angle, allowing independent processing and encoding of spatial information for different directions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds spatial dimension information by encoding beam angles alongside audio signals, transforming traditional mono/stereo audio into multi-dimensional binaural audio with precise spatial orientation
2Productivity
If beam channels are selected from the first plurality of channels, then the data transmission efficiency is improved, but the spatial audio quality may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of transmitting all beam channels, the patent selectively transmits a subset of channels that are most relevant to the current listening scenario, achieving adequate spatial audio quality with reduced data transmission
3Measurement precision
If head tracking sensors are used to track head movements, then the binaural audio accuracy during head movement is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The head tracking sensors provide continuous feedback about head position and orientation, which is used to dynamically adjust the beam angle rotations and maintain accurate binaural audio rendering during head movements
4Measurement precision
If far-field array processing is applied to generate beam channels, then the spatial orientation of sound sources is accurately captured, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The far-field array processing and beam channel generation are performed in advance during the encoding phase, so that when decoding occurs, the spatial processing is already completed and only rotation and rendering are needed
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for providing binaural audio for a headset is provided. In one embodiment, a method includes encoding audio signals to provide binaural audio to a headset. The method includes receiving audio signals from a microphone array comprising a first plurality of elements and applying far-field array processing to the audio signals to generate a first plurality of channels. The channels can be beam channels and each channel is associated with a particular beam angle. The method further includes selecting a second plurality of channels from the first plurality of channels that is a subset of the first plurality of channels. The method includes encoding the audio signals from the selected second plurality of channels with information associated with the particular beam angle for each of the selected second plurality of channels. The encoded audio signals are configured to provide binaural audio to a headset.