Loudspeaker Distortion Reduction Using Psychoacoustic Masking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Loudspeakers often exhibit nonlinear behavior, resulting in 'buzzing' artifacts due to harmonic distortion, which existing solutions fail to adequately address without degrading audio quality.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing processing circuitry to dynamically adjust attenuation gains based on the energy ratio between a fundamental frequency band and its harmonic multiples, applying attenuation only to the extent necessary to reduce perceivable harmonic distortion while preserving audio quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If attenuation is applied to reduce harmonic distortion, then distortion is reduced, but audio quality is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the attenuation gain based on real-time analysis of the audio signal's spectral content. The processing circuitry continuously monitors the energy distribution across frequency bands and adapts the attenuation amount accordingly, transitioning from static to dynamic control to optimize both distortion reduction and audio quality preservation
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies attenuation selectively to specific frequency bands containing harmonic distortion while preserving other frequency regions. By identifying and targeting only the problematic harmonic frequencies rather than applying broad-spectrum attenuation, the system reduces distortion locally without degrading overall audio quality
2Manufacturing precision
If dynamic adjustment of attenuation gain is implemented, then audio quality is preserved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The audio frequency spectrum is divided into multiple discrete bands, with specific attention to separating the fundamental frequency band from harmonic frequency bands. This segmentation allows the processing circuitry to independently analyze and process different frequency regions, simplifying the complexity management by breaking down the continuous spectrum into manageable segments
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the processing circuitry continuously monitors the output signal's harmonic content and adjusts the attenuation gain accordingly. This closed-loop control enables automatic adaptation to varying audio content, preserving audio quality while managing complexity through self-regulation
Data Source
AI summary
A processor-based method of reducing loudspeaker-induced harmonic distortion in sound generated by a loudspeaker responsive to a first audio signal, the method including: attenuating a first band in the first audio signal by an attenuation gain, the first band including a fundamental frequency, wherein the attenuating dynamically adjusts the attenuation gain in accordance with, at least, a ratio between: i) an energy of the first band in the first audio signal; and ii) an energy of a second band in the first audio signal, the second band including one or more frequencies that is an integer multiple of the fundamental frequency.