Mobile Speaker Equalization for Placement-Dependent Sound Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile device speaker performance varies significantly based on placement, leading to inconsistent sound quality due to obstruction or orientation, which existing technologies have not adequately addressed.

Innovation Solution

A context-aware speaker equalization system that uses sensors like cameras, ambient light sensors, accelerometers, and gyroscopes to determine the mobile device's placement and adjust the speaker's frequency output accordingly, applying predetermined equalization configurations to optimize sound quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If speaker equalization is fixed for a specific placement, then sound quality is optimized for that placement, but sound quality deteriorates when the device is placed differently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound quality consistencyVSAvoidplacement flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the speaker equalization configuration changeable based on detected placement conditions. The system dynamically adjusts equalization parameters according to the device's orientation and speaker obstruction status, transitioning between different pre-configured equalization profiles to maintain optimal sound quality across varying placements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes speaker equalization parameters (frequency response characteristics) based on detected placement conditions. By modifying these acoustic parameters according to the device's orientation and environment, the system maintains consistent sound quality whether the device is held upright, placed face-up, or positioned face-down

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If multiple sensor types are used to detect placement, then placement detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplacement detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple sensor types (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor) into an integrated placement detection system. By merging these sensors and processing their data together, the system achieves high placement detection accuracy while managing complexity through unified sensor management and coordinated data processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2957109B1Speaker equalization for mobile devices
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2957109B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2957109B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2957109B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for speaker equalization in a mobile device. In one embodiment, placement of a mobile device including a speaker is determined and speaker equalization is performed in accordance with the determined placement.