Dual Speaker Audio Channel Switching for Seamless Stereo

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices with dual speakers experience sound dropouts or significant volume changes when reoriented from landscape to portrait orientation, disrupting the delivery of stereoscopic sound effects.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device employs a method to fade in or out specific frequency components of audio data as it changes orientation, ensuring seamless stereoscopic sound by switching audio channels smoothly between speakers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the electronic device changes orientation from landscape to portrait while playing audio data, then the speaker configuration changes, but sound dropouts occur during reorientation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorientation adaptabilityVSAvoidaudio playback continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by detecting orientation changes in advance and proactively managing audio channel switching before sound dropouts can occur. The processor monitors orientation sensor data and pre-coordinates the fading out of current channel audio data with fading in of switched channel audio data, ensuring seamless transitions during reorientation events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies dynamics by making the audio channel assignment dynamic rather than static. When orientation changes are detected, the system dynamically switches which speaker outputs which audio channel (left or right), adapting the audio configuration to match the new device orientation while maintaining continuous playback through crossfading techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If audio channels are switched between speakers during reorientation, then stereoscopic sound effects are maintained, but volume changes disrupt the listening experience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestereoscopic sound deliveryVSAvoidvolume fluctuation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system ensures continuity of useful action by implementing crossfading during channel switches. While one audio channel is fading out from its current speaker, the corresponding channel is fading in to the switched speaker, maintaining continuous audio output without gaps or abrupt volume changes. This overlapping transition preserves the listening experience during orientation changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies parameter changes by smoothly transitioning the volume parameter of audio channels during speaker switching. Instead of abrupt on/off switching, the volume of outgoing channel audio data is gradually reduced while the volume of incoming channel audio data is gradually increased, maintaining stable overall volume levels and preventing disruptive fluctuations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3677052B1Method and electronic device for playing audio data using dual speaker
Publication Date: 2023.05.03 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3677052B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3677052B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3A
  • EP3677052B1 patent drawingFigure 3B~3C

AI summary

An electronic device, method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium are provided. Electronic device includes first speaker and second speaker arranged in electronic device, processor operatively connected with first speaker and second speaker, and memory operatively connected to the processor, wherein the memory is configured to store instructions executed to enable the processor to detect an orientation or attitude of the electronic device while playing first channel audio data and second channel audio data via the first speaker and the second speaker, and based on at least part of the detected orientation or attitude of the electronic device, keep outputting a first frequency component of the first channel audio data and a second frequency component of the second channel audio data via the first speaker and the second speaker and switch a second frequency component of the first channel audio data and a first frequency component of the second channel audio data.