HRTF Calibration via Head Tracking and Single Speaker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for acquiring head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) are inefficient in terms of time and hardware resources, requiring complex infrastructure and taking over an hour to determine multiple HRTFs for high-quality surround sound experiences.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a head-mounted display to prompt users to align their head with indicators in a virtual reality space, allowing microphones to capture test sounds and determine unique HRTFs for various positions, thereby simplifying the process and reducing the need for multiple speaker locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional methods using speaker arrays in sound dampening chambers are used to determine multiple HRTFs for high-quality surround sound, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and time required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of HRTF measurement from the complex conventional infrastructure (sound dampening chamber, speaker arrays) and implements it using a simplified system with a single speaker and head-mounted display with microphones. This extraction maintains measurement capability while eliminating unnecessary complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the sound field measurement process through head-mounted display and positional tracking, allowing the system to simulate and measure HRTFs without requiring physical speaker arrays in dampening chambers. The virtual indicator system replicates the measurement function with reduced hardware requirements.
2Measurement precision
If multiple HRTFs are determined for many different speaker locations to ensure high quality surround sound, then measurement precision is improved, but time required increases to over an hour
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic positional tracking through head-mounted display, allowing the measurement system to adapt to different head positions and orientations automatically. This dynamic approach enables the system to capture HRTFs for multiple virtual speaker locations without physically moving speakers or requiring manual positioning, significantly reducing measurement time while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameters from physical speaker locations to virtual indicator positions on a display. By mapping head position and orientation to virtual spatial coordinates, the system can efficiently determine HRTFs for multiple locations through computational transformation rather than physical reconfiguration, reducing time requirements.
3Device complexity
If a single fixed speaker is used with head position tracking to determine HRTFs, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical speaker array positioning with an optical/electronic system using head-mounted display and positional tracking. The mechanical movement of speakers is substituted by virtual indicator positioning on a display combined with head position detection, achieving the same measurement function with simpler hardware and automated positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces head position and orientation data as an intermediary parameter that bridges the fixed speaker position and the desired virtual sound source location. This intermediary information allows the system to calculate and compensate for the relationship between the fixed speaker and various virtual positions, maintaining measurement precision despite the simplified hardware configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A system calibrates one or more head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) for a user. An indicator is presented on a head-mounted display, where the indicator prompts the user to turn the user's head to view the indicator and effectively change the user's head orientation. The head orientation corresponds to positions of both ears, thus a position of the indicator prompting to change the user's head orientation is associated with corresponding positions of both ears. Responsive to the indicator being viewed by the user, a sound source at a fixed position transmits a test sound and the test sound is received at microphones coupled to the user's ears. By analyzing the test sound received at the microphones, a unique HRTF associated with a relative position between the sound source and each ear can be obtained.