Reverberation Rendering Using Reflection Filters for Listener Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing immersive audio technologies struggle to accurately render reverberation in virtual and augmented reality environments, particularly when users move within these spaces, as they lack methods for parameterizing and reproducing reverberation characteristics in a perceptually plausible manner.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for obtaining impulse responses, determining early reflections, and generating reflection filters based on direction and sound pressure level information, which are then used to synthesize output audio signals, incorporating material and spatial parameters to enhance spatial audio rendering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed binaural room impulse response (BRIR) filters are used for rendering, then the rendering is computationally simple and stable for a single listening position, but the listener cannot move in the audio scene and the rendering lacks adaptability to user movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the impulse response into multiple reflection filters, each representing a specific reflection path from different acoustic surfaces. This segmentation allows the system to selectively apply appropriate reflection filters based on the listener's position and movement, enabling adaptability while managing computational complexity through modular processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic selection and application of reflection filters based on real-time listener position and movement in the audio scene. The system dynamically adjusts which reflection filters are applied and modifies their parameters according to the listener's location, enabling continuous adaptability to user movement while maintaining rendering efficiency
2Measurement precision
If the full impulse response is used for reverberation rendering, then the reverberation is perceptually accurate, but the computational load and processing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts individual reflection filters from the full impulse response, isolating specific reflection paths from different acoustic surfaces. This extraction process removes unnecessary computational elements while preserving the essential reverberation characteristics, achieving both perceptual accuracy and rendering efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies only the necessary portion of the impulse response by selecting and applying specific reflection filters relevant to the current listener position and scene geometry. This partial application approach avoids the computational burden of processing the entire impulse response while maintaining sufficient reverberation accuracy for the given context
3Manufacturing precision
If early reflections are separated and processed individually, then the spatial impression and directional accuracy are improved, but the device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing characteristics to different reflection filters based on their specific properties, such as the acoustic surface they represent and their spatial characteristics. Each reflection filter is tailored with appropriate parameters matching its local acoustic context, improving spatial rendering precision while managing complexity through localized optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments early reflections into distinct filters representing different acoustic surfaces and paths. This segmentation enables individual processing of each reflection with appropriate spatial and temporal characteristics, improving directional accuracy while organizing complexity into manageable modular components
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus configured to: obtain at least one impulse response, wherein the at least one impulse response is configured with a perceivable timbre during rendering; create a timbral modification filter; obtain at least one audio signal; and render at least one output audio signal based on the at least one audio signal, wherein the at least one output signal is based on an application of the timbral modification filter.