HMD Sound Channel Assignment for Simultaneous Audio Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Head mounted display devices lack effective sound management capabilities, limiting their usability by not allowing simultaneous and controlled output of multiple sound signals, particularly in environments where both guided and ambient sounds are relevant.
Innovation Solution
A head mounted display device equipped with a sound output unit for both channels, a communication unit for receiving sound signals, and a control unit that assigns and manages sound signals from both internal and external sources, enabling users to listen to and control sound signals associated with displayed images and received communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a head mounted display device reproduces multiple sound signals simultaneously, then usability is improved, but sound management capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The sound output unit is divided into multiple independent channels (first channel and second channel), allowing different sound signals to be processed and output separately. This segmentation enables simultaneous reproduction of multiple sound signals while maintaining individual control over each channel, resolving the contradiction between improved usability and insufficient sound management capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit dynamically assigns different sound signals to different channels based on operational mode. In first operational mode, the first sound signal is assigned to the first channel and the second sound signal to the second channel. In second operational mode, the assignment can be changed. This dynamic assignment capability allows flexible sound management while supporting multiple simultaneous sound outputs, thereby improving usability without overwhelming complexity.
2Ease of operation
If volume control is provided for each channel, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Volume control functionality is provided locally for each sound channel independently. The control unit can adjust the volume of the first channel and the second channel separately, allowing users to optimize audio output for each specific sound source. This local quality approach improves ease of operation by giving users precise control over individual channels without requiring complex global control mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An HMD including an image display unit mounted on a user's head to display an image, a right earphone and a left earphone to be installed in the user's right and left ears to output sound based on a sound signal of a right channel for a right ear and a sound signal of a left channel for a left ear, a second communication unit configured to receive a sound signal, and a control unit configured to assign a sound signal for sound associated with a displayed image displayed by the image display unit and the sound signal received by the second communication unit to the left channel and the right channel to output the sound signals as sound.