Multizone Acoustic Loudness Control for Shared Listening Spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multizone acoustic systems lack effective methods for independently controlling and balancing audio output across different zones in shared acoustic spaces, leading to potential interference and imbalanced listening experiences.
Innovation Solution
A multizone acoustic control system that automatically adjusts and filters sound in one zone based on the sound levels of another zone, using a loudness filter to cap the maximum volume levels and ensure balanced audio output across multiple zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single loudspeaker is used to provide audio to multiple zones, then device complexity is reduced, but sound quality and volume control precision deteriorate in each zone
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the acoustic space into multiple zones, each with its own loudspeaker. The acoustic processor segments the audio signal into zone-specific streams, allowing independent volume and audio source control for each zone while maintaining overall system simplicity through shared processing hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
Each acoustic zone is equipped with dedicated loudspeaker and control parameters, allowing customized audio characteristics, volume levels, and source selections for each zone. This enables tailored sound quality optimization for specific listening areas without affecting other zones.
2Manufacturing precision
If separate loudspeakers are used for each acoustic zone, then sound quality and volume control precision improve, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic processor serves multiple functions: it processes audio signals for all zones, performs cross-talk cancellation, manages multiple audio sources, and controls volume for each zone independently. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate processing hardware in each zone, offsetting the cost of multiple loudspeakers.
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic processor acts as an intermediary that coordinates between multiple loudspeakers and control systems. It implements cross-talk cancellation algorithms to prevent audio leakage between zones, enabling precise volume control without requiring physical isolation or additional hardware in each zone.
3Device complexity
If audio signals are played simultaneously across all zones, then system simplicity is maintained, but cross-talk between zones increases
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic processor serves as an intermediary that coordinates between multiple loudspeakers and control systems. It implements cross-talk cancellation algorithms to prevent audio leakage between zones, enabling precise volume control without requiring physical isolation or additional hardware in each zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and removes cross-talk components from the audio signal through active cancellation algorithms. By identifying and subtracting the portions of audio that would leak into adjacent zones, the system eliminates cross-talk without requiring physical barriers or complex zone isolation infrastructure.
Data Source
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AI summary
An acoustic system can include an acoustic processor that is configured to analyze and output acoustic signals to each of first and second loudspeakers corresponding to each of first and second acoustic zones of a shared acoustic space. The system can determine a first measure of loudness associated with a first acoustic signal. The system can be configured to output the first acoustic signal as sound on the first loudspeaker in the first acoustic zone. The system can determine a second measure of loudness associated with a second acoustic signal. The system can be configured to output the second acoustic signal as sound on the second loudspeaker in the second acoustic zone. The system can also modify the second acoustic signal based on the first acoustic signal.