Automatic Loudspeaker Delay Settings via Time Differential
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining sound delays in a listening environment are often inaccurate or require manual user input, leading to suboptimal spatial sound quality, as they fail to reliably calculate the distance from each loudspeaker to the primary listening location.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that receives a trigger sound synchronously at multiple speakers, determining relative delays using a time differential function to ensure all sound arrives simultaneously at the primary listening location, improving sound quality by calculating and setting correct delays for each speaker.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual user input is used to determine sound delays, then user control is maintained, but accuracy and reliability of delay settings deteriorate due to user error and inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic delay measurement and calculation without requiring user intervention. The audio device autonomously generates test signals, captures microphone inputs, calculates time-of-flight delays, and configures speaker delays automatically, eliminating manual measurement errors while maintaining ease of setup
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement processes with automated electronic systems. Instead of users physically measuring distances with tapes or estimators, the system uses electronic signal generation, digital audio capture, and computational algorithms to determine precise delay values
2Extent of automation
If automated microphone systems are used to equalize loudspeakers, then installer intervention is reduced, but ability to determine distance to primary listening location deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated microphone positioned at the primary listening location as an intermediary measurement point. This microphone serves as the reference for time-of-flight calculations, enabling the system to automatically determine both equalization parameters and precise distance measurements to the primary listening location
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces physical distance measurement tools with acoustic time-of-flight measurement. By generating test signals and measuring the time for sound to travel from each speaker to the microphone at the primary listening location, the system calculates precise distances and corresponding delay values through digital signal processing
3Device complexity
If conventional delay determination methods are used, then system complexity is minimized, but spatial sound quality deteriorates due to inaccurate delay settings
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the microphone capture to automatically adjust and optimize speaker delays. By capturing actual sound arrival times at the primary listening location and comparing them against target synchronization, the system calculates and applies precise delay corrections to achieve optimal spatial sound quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes the delay parameters of each speaker based on measured time-of-flight data. The system calculates optimal delay values from acoustic measurements and applies these parameter adjustments automatically, transforming the system from static manual configuration to dynamic optimized performance
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
Automatically calculates and sets correct sound delays for all loudspeakers, significantly enhancing spatial sound quality by ensuring synchronized sound arrival at the primary listening location, even in complex speaker configurations.
Implementation Method 1
measure 'the time of flight' from each loudspeaker to the primary listening location
Implementation Method 2
the sound from all of the loudspeakers arrives at the primary listening location at the same time
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method that includes receiving a trigger sound from a primary listening location. The trigger sound being received at multiple speakers in a synchronous network at different times. The trigger sound is recognized at the multiple speakers. A respective relative delay is determined based on a time differential function that determines time differences. Sound quality for the multiple speakers is improved based on the respective relative delay for each of the multiple speakers.