Head-Mounted Audio Processing for SR Reverberation Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Synthesized reality (SR) headsets fail to process real sounds in a way that makes them consistent with the expected acoustic properties of the presented SR setting, leading to an inconsistent and non-immersive experience.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a head-mounted device with processors, microphones, and speakers to record real sounds in a physical setting and transform them based on the acoustic reverberation properties of the SR setting, generating virtual sounds that simulate the expected reverberation of the SR environment, thereby enhancing the immersive experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real sounds are recorded and played back in an SR setting, then the immersive experience is enhanced, but the acoustic properties do not match the virtual environment
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes acoustic parameters of recorded sounds by applying virtual reverberation effects. The sound processor modifies reverberation time, decay rate, and echo characteristics to match the acoustic properties of the virtual SR environment, transforming real-world sounds into virtual-sound-like audio that is consistent with the presented reality.
2Reliability
If acoustic reverberation is added to match SR setting, then the realism is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a sound processor as an intermediary component between the microphone and speaker. This processor includes a virtual acoustic environment generator that acts as a mediator, adding reverberation and acoustic effects to bridge the gap between real recorded sounds and the virtual SR environment without requiring complete redesign of the audio system.
3Device complexity
If real sounds are used without transformation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the acoustic transparency is broken
Solution Approach 1:
The sound processing system operates dynamically, continuously analyzing the virtual SR environment and adjusting acoustic parameters in real-time. The virtual acoustic environment generator adapts reverberation characteristics based on the current SR setting, ensuring acoustic transparency is maintained while allowing the system to respond to changing spatial and environmental conditions.
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
The transformation of real sounds into virtual sounds that match the acoustic properties of the SR setting improves the realism and immersion of the SR experience, making it more consistent with the intended environment.
Implementation Method 1
an image representation of the SR setting having a plurality of surfaces associated with an acoustic reverberation property of the SR setting
Data Source
AI summary
In one implementation, a method of transforming a sound into a virtual sound for a synthesized reality (SR) setting is performed by a head-mounted device (HMD) including one or more processors, non-transitory memory, a microphone, a speaker, and a display. The method includes displaying, on the display, an image representation of a synthesized reality (SR) setting including a plurality of surfaces associated with an acoustic reverberation property of the SR setting. The method includes recording, via the microphone, a real sound produced in a physical setting. The method further includes generating, using the one or more processors, a virtual sound by transforming the real sound based on the acoustic reverberation property of the SR setting. The method further includes playing, via the speaker, the virtual sound.