Moving Microphone Calibration for Multi-Room Audio Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media playback systems face challenges in accurately calibrating playback devices due to varying acoustical characteristics of different environments, leading to potential errors in sound transmission and synchronization across multiple devices.
Innovation Solution
A calibration process that involves a recording device detecting sound waves emitted by playback devices while moving through the listening environment, analyzing acoustic data to determine sufficient translation, and applying a calibration profile to offset environmental acoustics, while identifying and addressing error conditions such as insufficient motion or background noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a recording device remains stationary during calibration, then the calibration process is simple to operate, but the acoustic measurement precision is insufficient due to inability to capture environmental variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the stationary microphone setup into a dynamic moving microphone system. The recording device is instructed to move through the listening environment during calibration, capturing acoustic data at multiple positions. This dynamic approach enables comprehensive environmental acoustic characterization while maintaining operational simplicity through automated motion guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the spatial dimension to the calibration process by requiring the recording device to move through three-dimensional space. Instead of measuring from a single point, the system captures acoustic characteristics across multiple spatial coordinates, enabling more accurate environmental compensation through spatial averaging of acoustic measurements.
2Measurement precision
If the recording device moves insufficiently during calibration, then the operation is simpler, but the calibration accuracy deteriorates due to inadequate environmental acoustic sampling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system monitors the calibration process and provides real-time guidance to the user about movement sufficiency. Error conditions are detected and communicated to the user, who can then adjust their movement accordingly. This feedback loop ensures adequate environmental sampling without requiring excessive calibration time or complex predetermined motion paths.
3Reliability
If multiple error conditions are monitored during calibration, then the reliability of calibration results is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensing and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs the existing microphone and processor of the recording device to perform error condition monitoring, rather than adding dedicated specialized sensors. The system uses the same acoustic measurement capabilities to both calibrate the playback device and validate the calibration process itself, reducing additional hardware requirements while improving reliability through comprehensive error detection.
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
Enhances the accuracy of playback device calibration by ensuring adequate environmental acoustic compensation, improving sound quality and synchronization across multiple devices.
Implementation Method 1
recording, via the microphone, sound data that includes the emitted calibration sound
Data Source
AI summary
Examples described herein involve validating motion of a microphone during calibration of a playback device. An example implementation involves a mobile device detecting, via one or more microphones, audio signals emitted from one or more playback devices as part of a calibration process. After the one or more playback devices emit the audio signals, the mobile device determines whether the detected audio signals indicate that sufficient horizontal translation of the mobile device occurred during the calibration process. When the detected audio signals indicate that insufficient horizontal translation occurred, the mobile device displays a prompt to move the mobile device more while the one or more playback devices emit one or more additional audio signals as part of the calibration process. When the detected audio signals indicate that sufficient horizontal translation occurred, the mobile device calibrates the one or more playback devices with a calibration based on the detected audio signals.