Binaural Audio Localization via Loudspeaker-Headphone Hybrid Reproduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surround sound systems struggle to accurately localize sounds for listeners in various positions within a room, as they typically localize sound at a specific 'sweet spot' and fail to place sound correctly relative to listeners in different locations, limiting the number of acceptable seating positions.

Innovation Solution

The system separates audio signals to reproduce sounds using a combination of loudspeakers and headphones, where loudspeakers handle general room audio and headphones provide binaural representation for location-specific sounds, allowing for accurate sound localization at any listener position without additional speakers, using techniques like head-related transfer functions and digital signal processing to create virtual speakers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If surround sound systems use traditional speaker arrangements to localize sound at a sweet spot, then sound localization accuracy is improved at that specific position, but the number of acceptable listener positions is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound localization accuracyVSAvoidnumber of acceptable listener positions

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The audio signal is segmented into two distinct components: scene sound (environmental audio) and object sound (specific localized sounds). This segmentation allows each component to be processed and reproduced through different channels - scene sound through traditional loudspeakers and object sound through binaural rendering to headphones - thereby achieving both precise localization and listener position independence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that separates and routes different audio components to different output devices. The scene sound component is routed to loudspeakers for spatial ambiance, while the object sound component is routed through binaural rendering to headphones for precise localization, allowing the listener to experience accurate sound positioning regardless of their physical position in the room

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional speakers are added to improve sound localization for multiple listener positions, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of acceptable listener positionsVSAvoidnumber of speakers

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding physical speakers to extend the listening area, the patent creates a virtual copy of the sound field through binaural rendering. By processing object sound through head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) and delivering it to headphones, the system replicates the experience of having speakers positioned around the listener, achieving multi-position adaptability without additional hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical solution of adding more physical speakers with a digital signal processing approach. By using binaural rendering algorithms and HRTF processing, the system achieves spatial sound localization that would traditionally require additional speakers, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining or improving adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10575094B1Combination of immersive and binaural sound

Publication Date: 2020.02.25 DTS INC(US)

AI summary

The present subject matter provides a technical solution to the technical problems facing sound localization by separating sounds and reproducing the separated sounds using a set of loudspeakers and a set of headphones. A general soundtrack that is meant to be experienced throughout the room would play through the loudspeakers, and specific sounds that are meant to be experienced near the listener would be played through a binaural representation in the headphones. The headphones may be selected to avoid occluding the ear, allowing sound produced at the loudspeakers to be heard clearly. This separation and reproduction of sounds using a combination of a loudspeaker and headphone provides a technical solution to the technical problem facing typical surround sound systems by localizing sounds for listeners in any location within a room. This improves reproduction accuracy of location-specific audio objects, including audio objects above or below a coplanar speaker configuration.