Remote Control Microphone Calibration for Room-Corrected TV Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media playback systems face challenges in achieving consistent audio playback across different environments due to varying acoustic characteristics, and the use of mobile device microphones for calibration is hindered by the wide variability in microphone sensitivity and capabilities across devices.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing a remote control with consistent microphones for calibration, capturing audio while in motion and at stationary positions to determine calibration settings that offset environmental acoustics and microphone differences, ensuring accurate audio playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mobile device microphones are used for calibration, then calibration can be performed, but microphone sensitivity and capabilities vary widely across devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a remote control device as an intermediary calibration tool. Instead of relying on the variable microphones in mobile devices, the system uses the standardized microphones in the remote control to capture calibration audio. This intermediary device provides consistent, reliable measurements while still being compatible with multiple playback systems, resolving the contradiction between versatility and measurement precision.
2Ease of operation
If audio calibration is performed in real-world environments, then calibration is practical, but environmental acoustics vary and affect playback consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by capturing audio at multiple distinct locations and adjusting the calibration process to account for spatial variations in acoustics. The system records calibration audio at different positions, analyzes the differences in acoustic characteristics between locations, and uses this information to generate location-specific calibration settings. This allows the system to maintain high audio playback consistency across varying environmental conditions while keeping the calibration process practical and accessible.
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
The solution provides consistent audio playback by accounting for environmental acoustics and microphone variations, enhancing audio quality across diverse listening environments.
Implementation Method 1
capturing, via a microphone of the remote control, first audio played back by one or more playback devices
Data Source
AI summary
Example technologies described herein relate to calibration of playback devices using a remote control (such as for a television or streaming video set-top box or stick). Any environment has certain acoustic characteristics (“acoustics”) that define how sound travels within that environment. Example calibration processes for a playback device may involve the playback device outputting audio content while in a given environment (e.g., a room). Then, one or more microphones in the remote control detect the played back audio content to facilitate determining an acoustic response of the room (also referred to herein as a “room response”). Calibration settings for the playback device are then determined that, when applied to future playback by the playback device, at least partially offset the acoustic characteristics of the environment so as to reduce or eliminate the effect of the environment on output of the playback device.