Detachable Loudspeaker Audio Filtering for Head-Mounted Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
In virtual reality and augmented reality applications, headphones block external sounds and prevent users from hearing audio provided to others, complicating communication between users and their colleagues or teammates.
Innovation Solution
A system with a head-mounted device and detachable loudspeakers that uses processors to detect positions and orientations, applying different filters to audio signals based on the loudspeaker's connection status to ensure immersive audio experiences both when the loudspeakers are attached as headphones and detached as speakers, allowing for communication and improved sound quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If headphones are used to provide immersive binaural audio effects, then audio immersion is improved, but communication with others deteriorates because external sounds are blocked and others cannot hear the audio
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the audio output into two separate paths: one through the headphone loudspeaker for immersive personal audio, and another through the external microphone for communication. This segmentation allows both functions to operate simultaneously without interfering with each other, resolving the contradiction between audio immersion and communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor acts as an intermediary that receives audio signals and selectively routes them to different output devices. It mediates between the immersive audio function (through headphones) and the communication function (through external microphone), enabling both to coexist by processing and directing audio signals appropriately based on the operational mode.
2Ease of operation
If the loudspeaker is detached from the head-mounted device to enable communication, then communication capability is improved, but audio immersion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts its audio processing based on the connection status of the loudspeaker. When detached, it automatically switches to a mode optimized for communication with appropriate audio signal processing. When connected, it switches to a mode optimized for immersive audio. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize for whichever function is currently needed.
3Reliability
If different filters are applied based on loudspeaker connection status, then audio quality is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes audio signal parameters (filtering characteristics) based on the loudspeaker connection status. Different filter parameters are applied when the loudspeaker is connected versus detached, optimizing audio quality for each scenario. This parameter-based adaptation allows the system to maintain high audio quality while using a unified processing framework, managing complexity through parameter variation rather than structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system with sound adjustment capability is provided. The system includes a head-mounted device, a first loudspeaker and a processor. The first loudspeaker is detachable from the head-mounted device. The processor is configured to detect a plurality of positions and a plurality of orientations of the head-mounted device and the first loudspeaker to determine whether the first loudspeaker is detached from the head-mounted device. The processor is further configured to modify a first audio signal by at least one first filter or at least one second filter to generate a filtered first audio signal. The at least one first filter is used when the first loudspeaker is coupled to the head-mounted device, and the at least one second filter is used when the first loudspeaker is detached from the head-mounted device. The filtered first audio signal is configured to drive the first loudspeaker.