Loudspeaker Array Acoustic Filter Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The setup and calibration of loudspeaker arrays in various environments are complex due to the need for precise adjustments in speaker types, angles, positions, and sound pressure levels, which can be challenging without proper training, and existing methods struggle to predict directivity functions and achieve uniform sound distribution.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a processor to identify venue geometry, select loudspeaker types and positions, and apply digital or passive acoustic filters to optimize sound coverage, including a simulator that calculates and ranks filter permutations to achieve optimal uniform sound distribution based on venue geometry and target sound pressure levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual feedback and calibration methods are used to tune speakers, then acoustic optimization can be achieved, but the process becomes complex and difficult for untrained personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs pre-installation analysis of the environment anatomy using a modeling algorithm to identify fundamental design considerations before actual speaker installation. This preliminary modeling step provides a blueprint for optimization that guides subsequent automated tuning, eliminating the need for complex manual calibration by untrained personnel.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses automated algorithms that self-adjust speaker configurations based on environmental feedback and acoustic measurements. The calibration process becomes self-service as the system automatically identifies optimal settings without requiring trained personnel to perform manual tuning adjustments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single loudspeaker is used, then the system is simple, but it cannot sustain a usable frequency response over a desired range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple loudspeakers into an array configuration where individual speakers work together to achieve a unified frequency response. By merging multiple simple speaker units with consistent directivity characteristics, the system sustains usable frequency response across a desired range while maintaining relative simplicity through standardized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The loudspeaker array employs dynamic adjustment of magnitude and phase for each element based on frequency. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt its directivity function across different frequency ranges, maintaining consistent frequency response characteristics without requiring complex static hardware designs.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual analysis of array configurations is performed, then acoustic performance can be evaluated, but tremendous permutations must be calculated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical analysis methods with computational algorithms that automatically evaluate acoustic performance. Instead of physically measuring and calculating each permutation manually, the system uses computer-based modeling to rapidly assess countless configuration variations, dramatically reducing analysis time while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system systematically varies key parameters such as speaker orientation, location, splay angle, magnitude, and phase to evaluate different configurations. By changing these parameters in a structured manner through automated computation rather than manual analysis, the system efficiently navigates through tremendous permutations to identify optimal acoustic performance.
Data Source
AI summary
An example method of operation includes identifying a loudspeaker array profile defining characteristics of a loudspeaker array stored in memory, identifying a three-dimensional venue geometry value stored in the memory, defining virtual receivers to simulate acoustic characteristics within the venue geometry, defining a number of passive acoustic filter permutations to perform within a range of passive acoustic filter settings, and each passive acoustic filter setting is unique and has one or more passive acoustic filters to apply to one or more loudspeakers in the loudspeaker array, selecting performance criteria to apply to the loudspeaker array to represent its sound coverage uniformity at a given location throughout the venue geometry, calculating the performance criteria of the loudspeaker array via a passive acoustic filter setting selected from one or more of the passive acoustic filter permutations by performing a simulation with the passive acoustic filter settings, identifying an optimized passive acoustic filter setting from a specific permutation, with which the loudspeaker array achieves optimal uniform sound coverage in the venue geometry, and applying the optimized passive acoustic filter setting to the loudspeaker array.