Loudspeaker Spread Factor Control for Spatial Audio Timbre
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spatial audio systems, such as wavefield synthesis, are limited in generating a perceptually well-balanced timbre of the soundfield, often requiring a large number of loudspeakers and resulting in imbalanced frequency reproduction depending on the listener's position, and may involve high computational complexity leading to inaccuracies.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that determine a loudspeaker-dependent spread factor based on individual loudspeaker specifications, controlling loudspeaker outputs to generate virtual sound sources, allowing for improved timbre balance and frequency distribution by adjusting gain and delay according to the distance and position of the sound source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large number of loudspeakers are used to reproduce the sound field exactly, then the accuracy of sound field reproduction is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different spread factors to different loudspeakers based on their individual specifications and positions. Each loudspeaker is optimized locally rather than using a uniform approach, allowing accurate sound field reproduction with fewer total loudspeakers. The spread factor for each loudspeaker is calculated considering its specific characteristics, creating localized optimization that collectively achieves global accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of spread factor from a fixed or uniform value to a loudspeaker-dependent variable. By calculating and applying different spread factors for each loudspeaker based on its specifications and position, the system achieves more accurate sound field reproduction with reduced hardware complexity. This parameter optimization allows the system to compensate for the reduced number of loudspeakers.
2Manufacturing precision
If the listener is placed in a centered area to achieve balanced timbre, then the timbre balance is improved, but the ease of operation and listener freedom are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the sound field reproduction system universally effective across multiple listener positions by using loudspeaker-dependent spread factors. The system is designed to maintain balanced timbre not just at a centered position but throughout the listening area. This multi-position effectiveness eliminates the restriction of requiring listeners to be in a specific centered area, providing both timbre balance and listener freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment of spread factors for each loudspeaker based on its specifications and position. This dynamic optimization allows the system to maintain balanced timbre across different listener positions and orientations, rather than being static and position-dependent. The spread factors are calculated to ensure consistent quality throughout the listening space.
3Measurement precision
If wavefield synthesis is used to recreate the sound field physically, then the accuracy of sound field reproduction is improved, but the computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential element needed for accurate sound field reproduction - the spread factor - and applies it in a simplified manner. Rather than implementing the full complexity of wavefield synthesis calculations, the patent extracts and applies only the necessary spread factor adjustments for each loudspeaker. This extraction approach maintains reproduction accuracy while significantly reducing computational complexity.
4Device complexity
If monopole synthesis with approximations is used, then the computational complexity is reduced, but the accuracy of the generated wavefield decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spread factor parameter for each loudspeaker based on its individual specifications and position, rather than using a uniform approximation. This parameter optimization allows the system to achieve accurate wavefield reproduction with simplified monopole synthesis calculations. The loudspeaker-dependent spread factors compensate for the approximations inherent in monopole synthesis, maintaining accuracy while keeping computational complexity low.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure pertains to an apparatus comprising circuitry configured to: determine a loudspeaker dependent spread factor for at least one individual loudspeaker of a loudspeaker arrangement, wherein the loudspeaker dependent spread factor depends on a specification of the at least one individual loudspeaker; and 5 control the outputs of the loudspeakers of the loudspeaker arrangement based on the loudspeaker dependent spread factor for the at least one individual loudspeaker to generate at least one virtual sound source.