Passive Headphone Calibration for Neutral Frequency Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passive headphones lack an amplifier and power source, requiring connection to an audio controller, but existing systems fail to ensure consistent audio quality and balance due to manufacturing variations, leading to unwanted sound coloration and balance issues.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a passive headphone and an audio controller that uses factory calibration data, specific to each headphone, to adjust impedance, sensitivity, and phase, ensuring consistent frequency response and neutral sound output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If passive headphones are manufactured without individual calibration, then manufacturing cost and complexity are reduced, but audio quality consistency and frequency response accuracy deteriorate due to manufacturing variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing factory calibration during the manufacturing process. Each passive headphone is calibrated individually at the factory, and the calibration data is stored in the audio controller before the product reaches the consumer. This preliminary calibration compensates for manufacturing variations in impedance, sensitivity, and phase characteristics, ensuring consistent audio quality without requiring complex user-side calibration procedures.
2Measurement precision
If factory calibration data is stored in the audio controller, then audio quality and frequency response accuracy are improved, but memory requirements and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by creating a digital representation of each headphone's acoustic characteristics through calibration measurements. The factory calibration data, which includes impedance, sensitivity, and phase information across frequency ranges, is stored in the audio controller's memory. This digital copy allows the audio controller to apply precise compensation algorithms that correct for manufacturing variations, achieving accurate frequency response without requiring physical modifications to the headphones.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If individual calibration is performed for each passive headphone, then sound coloration and balance issues are eliminated, but manufacturing time and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by implementing automated calibration systems that perform measurements and store calibration data without requiring manual intervention for each headphone. The system automatically measures impedance, sensitivity, and phase characteristics, processes the data through compensation algorithms, and stores the calibration parameters in the audio controller. This automation eliminates sound coloration and balance issues while minimizing the impact on manufacturing productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a system comprising a passive headphone and an audio controller, where the passive headphone is connected to the audio controller. The audio controller is configured to get factory calibration data, which is specific for the passive headphone and associated to an identifier of the passive headphone, and the audio controller is configured to apply the factory calibration data to an electrical signal inputted to the passive headphone.