HRTF Measurement Control Apparatus for Personalized Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods struggle to accurately measure an individual's head-related transfer function (HRTF) for stereophony, often relying on average HRTF databases or equipment that is not suited for equal interval measurements, leading to reduced reproducibility and presence in audio experiences.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus comprising a sound collection unit, a detection unit, and a compensation unit that measures and compensates HRTFs based on the positional relationship between a sound output device and the user's head, allowing for precise HRTF measurement and compensation using a small speaker and cameras for image capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a dummy head microphone is used to measure HRTF, then the measurement can be performed without special equipment for each listener, but the reproducibility and presence are reduced compared to using the listener's own HRTF
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the listener's own head as the measurement subject to obtain their personal HRTF, rather than relying on average HRTF databases or dummy heads. The listener wears headphones and performs simple head movements according to instructions, allowing their own head to serve as the measurement target for obtaining accurate personal acoustic characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems (conventional large speaker-traverse apparatus) with a simplified system using smartphones and head movements. Instead of requiring large physical apparatus to measure HRTF, the system uses the listener's head movements and smartphone sensors to capture acoustic information, making the measurement process more accessible while maintaining accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If a conventional large speaker-traverse apparatus is used to measure HRTF, then HRTFs can be measured at equal intervals, but the measurement process is complex and not easily adaptable to individual listeners
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the measurement process based on the listener's head movements rather than requiring fixed equal interval positions. The smartphone captures acoustic information at various positions as the listener moves their head, and the system processes this dynamic data to obtain accurate HRTF, replacing the static equal interval requirement with flexible dynamic measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the measurement system universal by using smartphones that everyone carries, eliminating the need for specialized large speaker-traverse apparatus. The same smartphone can be used to measure HRTF for any listener, making the system widely applicable while maintaining measurement accuracy through software processing rather than complex hardware.
3Adaptability or versatility
If HRTF measurement is performed using conventional methods, then the measurement can be conducted with standard equipment, but the presence and audio experience quality are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the measurement parameters by capturing acoustic information at multiple positions during head movements rather than at fixed equal intervals. The smartphone records sound at various positions as the listener moves their head, and the system processes these variable-position measurements to obtain accurate HRTF, improving presence while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A control apparatus comprises a first obtaining unit configured to obtain a result of sound collection performed by a sound collection apparatus that collects a measurement signal as a sound, the measurement signal being output from an output apparatus; a detection unit configured to detect a position of the output apparatus or the sound collection apparatus relative to a measurement-subject person; and a second obtaining unit configured to obtain a head-related transfer function of the measurement-subject person based on the result of sound collection obtained by the first obtaining unit and the position detected by the detection unit.