Loudspeaker Cross-Talk Cancellation for Individualized Sound
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies cannot provide individualized sound signals for multiple users in a room without the use of headphones, limiting the ability to create user-specific soundfields using loudspeakers.
Innovation Solution
A method using a pair of loudspeakers for each user, where the head position is tracked to generate user-specific binaural sound signals and perform cross talk cancellation, allowing one user to listen to desired music while suppressing sound signals for the other user, achieved through binaural room impulse responses and cross soundfield suppression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If headphones are used for individualized sound signals, then user-specific soundfields can be provided, but the need for headphones limits accessibility and convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces loudspeakers as an intermediary device to deliver personalized soundfields without requiring headphones. By using loudspeakers positioned at specific locations and combining them with acoustic beamforming and cross-talk cancellation techniques, the system achieves individualized audio delivery through the shared acoustic medium (air) rather than through direct ear contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical headphone system with an acoustic field-based system. Instead of using physical headphones to deliver audio directly to ears, the system uses loudspeakers to generate directed acoustic fields that converge on the user's ear, substituting mechanical delivery with acoustic wave manipulation.
2Ease of operation
If loudspeakers are used to provide sound signals for multiple users, then accessibility is improved, but cross-talk between users occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the acoustic field delivery by assigning dedicated loudspeaker pairs to each user. The first loudspeaker pair is designated for the first user and the second loudspeaker pair for the second user, allowing independent control of acoustic fields for each user and preventing cross-talk between them.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates locally optimized acoustic fields by adjusting the phase and amplitude of sound waves from specific loudspeaker pairs targeted at specific users. The cross-talk cancellation filter is adapted to the individual acoustic characteristics and head position of each user, providing localized quality control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If binaural sound signals are reproduced via loudspeakers, then spatial audio experience is achieved, but head position variations affect sound quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptation by continuously tracking the user's head position and adjusting the binaural sound signal parameters in real-time. The cross-talk cancellation filter is updated based on current head position data, allowing the system to maintain optimal sound quality despite changes in user orientation or head movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses head position tracking as feedback to continuously adjust the acoustic field delivery. By monitoring where the user is facing and adjusting the loudspeaker signal accordingly, the system maintains consistent spatial audio experience regardless of head position variations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables each user to experience a personalized soundfield without disturbance from the other user's audio, simulating the original sound location, even when using loudspeakers instead of headphones, with effective suppression of cross soundfields.
Implementation Method 1
a user-specific sound signal is generated for a first user of two users in a room... the head position of the first user is tracked and a user-specific binaural sound signal for the first user is generated
Implementation Method 2
a cross talk cancellation for the first user is performed based on the tracked head position for the first user in order to generate a cross talk cancelled user-specific sound signal. In the cross talk cancellation the user-specific binaural sound signal is processed in such a way that the cross talk cancelled user-specific sound signal, if it was output by one loudspeaker of the pair of loudspeakers of the first user for a first ear of the first user, is suppressed for the second ear of the first user
Implementation Method 3
a user-specific binaural sound signal for the first user is generated based on a set of predetermined binaural room impulse responses determined for the first user for a set of possible different head positions of the first user in the room
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for providing a user-specific sound signal for a first user of two users in a room, a pair of loudspeakers (1R, 1L; 2R, 2L) being provided for each of the two users, the method comprising the steps of: - tracking the head position of said first user, - generating a user-specific binaural sound signal for said first user from a user-specific multi-channel sound signal for said first user based on the tracked head position of said first user, - performing a cross talk cancelation for said first user based on the tracked head position of said first user for generating a cross talk cancelled user-specific sound signal, in which the user-specific binaural sound signal is processed in such a way that the cross talk cancelled user-specific sound signal, if it was output by one loudspeaker of the pair of loudspeakers of said first user for a first ear of said first user, is suppressed for the second ear of said first user and that the cross talk cancelled user specific sound signal, if it was output by the other loudspeaker of said pair of loudspeakers for a second ear of said first user, is suppressed for the first ear of said first user, and - performing a cross soundfield suppression in which the sound signals output for the second user by the pair of loudspeakers provided for the second user are suppressed for each ear of the first user based on the tracked head position of said first user.