Head-Diameter ITD Reconstruction for Accurate Sound Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional HRTF-based sound localization schemes in personal and near-field audio systems often fail to accurately account for individual listener's head geometry, leading to inconsistent sound localization and reduced audio quality due to mismatched interaural time differences.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves determining a user's head geometry to calculate a personalized interaural-time-delay (ITD) value, generating modified HRTFs, and applying these to audio signals to improve sound localization accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If generic HRTFs with embedded ITD values are used, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but sound localization accuracy deteriorates for individual listeners
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically capturing head geometry data using a camera, calculating the ITD value, and generating personalized HRTFs before audio playback begins. This eliminates the need for manual measurement and input by the listener, resolving the contradiction by preparing the personalized audio profile in advance without adding operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically extracting head geometry information from camera images, computing the ITD value, and generating personalized HRTFs without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously adapting to each listener's anatomy, improving sound localization accuracy while maintaining ease of operation.
2Measurement precision
If manual measurement and input of head size and ear location are required, then listener-specific accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical manual measurement process with an optical system. A camera captures images of the listener's head, and software automatically extracts geometric features to calculate ITD values. This substitution eliminates the need for physical measuring tools and manual data entry, maintaining high measurement accuracy while dramatically improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary computational process between the physical head geometry and the audio processing. Head geometry information captured by the camera serves as an intermediary that is automatically transformed into ITD values and personalized HRTFs, eliminating the need for direct manual measurement and input by the user.
3Reliability
If headrest audio systems are used, then personal and near-field audio experience is improved, but sound pressure level variability worsens when listeners move their heads
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by making the audio processing adaptive to each listener's unique head geometry. Personalized HRTFs are generated based on individual head measurements, allowing the system to dynamically adjust sound localization to match the listener's anatomy. This improves audio quality consistency while accommodating natural head movements and positions.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for producing user-specific sound localization are described. In some embodiments, the techniques include: receiving head geometry information for a user, determining a calculated interaural-time-delay (ITD) value for the user based on the head geometry information, generating a first modified head-related transfer function (HRTF) with the calculated ITD value and a second modified HRTF with the calculated ITD value, generating a first modified audio signal with the first modified HRTF and a second modified audio signal with the second modified HRTF, and transmitting the first modified audio signal and the second modified audio signal to one or more loudspeakers.