IC Tag Channel Assignment for Multichannel Audio Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing channel assignment devices for multichannel audio systems require time-consuming and complex measurement processes to correctly assign channels to speakers, making the process cumbersome and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

The use of IC tags attached to audio devices that store channel information, allowing for easy identification and assignment of channels through proximity communication, eliminating the need for manual operation and reducing measurement complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If automatic channel assignment is performed using measurement sound and microphones, then channel assignment accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the assignment process increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel assignment accuracyVSAvoidassignment process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses IC tags that store channel information as a simplified copy or representation of the speaker's intended channel assignment. Instead of performing complex acoustic measurements to determine channel assignment, the system directly copies the pre-stored channel information from the IC tag attached to each speaker, dramatically simplifying the assignment process while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If multiple measurement processes are performed to identify speaker positions, then channel assignment accuracy is improved, but the time required for setup increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeaker position identification accuracyVSAvoidsetup time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing channel information in IC tags before the actual speaker setup. The channel assignment information is prepared in advance and attached to each speaker, eliminating the need for time-consuming measurement processes during setup. When a speaker is connected, the system simply reads the pre-prepared channel information from the IC tag, dramatically reducing setup time while maintaining accurate channel assignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If manual channel assignment is performed without automated measurement, then setup time is reduced, but the likelihood of user error increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetup speedVSAvoidassignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling speakers to automatically provide their own channel identification information through IC tags. Each speaker independently carries its channel assignment information, and the system automatically reads and assigns channels based on this self-provided information. This eliminates the need for manual assignment by users (improving reliability) while maintaining fast setup times (preserving productivity).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3606088B1Acoustic device, acoustic system, and channel distribution method
Publication Date: 2024.04.17 YAMAHA CORP
  • EP3606088B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3606088B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3606088B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An audio device includes: a reading portion (22) that, from a medium (51, 52, 53, 54, 55) that stores channel information, reads the channel information; an obtaining portion (23) that obtains individual identification information of an own device (11, 12, 13, 14, 15); a transmitting portion (241) that transmits the channel information read from the medium (51, 52, 53, 54, 55) and the individual identification information to a content output device (3) that outputs content including a plurality of channels; and a receiving portion (241) that receives at least one channel in the content.