Multi-Band Audio Compression for Better Speech Intelligibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio streaming systems for cinemas and theaters lack user control over playback quality, particularly for individuals with hearing impairments, leading to inadequate speech intelligibility and overall volume issues.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that utilize a filter bank to split audio signals into frequency bands, with individually adjustable audio compressors and a user interface to set parameters for improving speech intelligibility, allowing users to control overall volume and frequency-dependent gain, enhancing low-volume signal amplification while dampening low frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If audio signals are amplified evenly across all frequency ranges to increase overall volume, then the overall volume increases, but the speech intelligibility does not improve and hearing may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The audio signal is divided into multiple frequency bands using a filter bank (e.g., low, mid, high frequencies). Each frequency band is processed independently by separate compressors, allowing different gain adjustments for speech-relevant frequencies versus other frequencies. This segmentation enables targeted amplification of speech intelligibility without uniformly amplifying all frequencies.
Solution Approach 2:
Different compression characteristics and gain settings are applied to different frequency bands based on their specific requirements. Speech-critical frequency ranges receive enhanced gain and compression processing, while non-critical frequencies receive different treatment. This local optimization improves speech intelligibility without requiring uniform amplification across the entire spectrum.
2Reliability
If special equipment is used to provide individual audio correction for users with hearing impairments, then speech intelligibility can be improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The audio processing device performs multiple functions using a unified architecture: it provides speech intelligibility enhancement, frequency-dependent volume control, and hearing impairment compensation all through the same filter bank and compressor system. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized equipment while achieving comprehensive audio correction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows users to independently adjust compression parameters and gain settings for different frequency bands through a user interface. Users with hearing impairments can self-correct their audio experience without requiring operator intervention or specialized equipment setup, making the system both simpler and more adaptable to individual needs.
3Reliability
If frequency-dependent gain control is implemented to improve speech intelligibility, then speech intelligibility improves, but the overall volume control becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges overall volume control with frequency-dependent gain control into a unified compression framework. The compressors process each frequency band while maintaining coherent overall volume management through coordinated parameter adjustment. This integration allows users to control both overall volume and speech intelligibility through interconnected but manageable parameters.
Data Source
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AI summary
There are numerous applications for streaming audio data to a plurality of receivers at the same time, in which case playback is typically effected using headphones or earphones. A streaming system according to the invention provides a user with the possibility of individually correcting or adjusting the audio data, in particular improving speech intelligibility. This allows particular personal preferences or individual slight hearing damage to be taken into account. An apparatus for processing audio signals with an adjustable improvement in speech intelligibility contains a filter bank (31) for splitting an input signal into at least three signal components of different frequencies, at least three individually adjustable audio compressors (33L, 33M, 33H) which each process one of the signal components from the filter bank, a summation unit (35) for summing the output signals from the audio compressors, and a user interface for inputting at least two independent parameters: one parameter controls the overall volume and the second parameter adjusts an improvement in speech intelligibility by virtue of an increase in the second parameter in the compressor for high frequencies particularly increasing the gain for audio signals with a low volume level. Normal WLAN networks and smartphones can be used.