Sensor-Based Media Playback for Listener-Adaptive Home Theater Sound
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home theater systems struggle to provide optimal sound adjustment based on the listener's position, leading to inconsistent audio experiences.
Innovation Solution
Implementing systems and methods that use location sensors, such as video and infrared cameras, to triangulate the listener's position and adjust sound fields in real-time, allowing for continuous calibration as the listener moves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If home theater systems use fixed sound field configuration, then system complexity is reduced, but audio quality consistency across different listener positions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic sound field adjustment by using location sensors (video cameras, infrared cameras, microphones) to continuously track listener position and automatically adjusting audio parameters including speaker volume levels, equalization settings, and virtual surround sound positioning in real-time based on detected listener location, thereby maintaining consistent audio quality across different seating positions without requiring complex manual reconfiguration
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where location sensors continuously monitor listener position and feed this information back to the audio processing system, which then adjusts sound field parameters accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that audio quality remains consistent by automatically compensating for position changes, resolving the contradiction between fixed configuration simplicity and position-dependent quality variations
2Reliability
If home theater systems implement real-time sound adjustment based on listener position, then audio quality consistency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a unified system: location detection through video and infrared cameras, acoustic field mapping, real-time audio parameter adjustment, and virtual surround sound processing all work together through a single control system. This multi-functionality approach improves audio consistency while managing complexity by consolidating rather than multiplying separate systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-calibration and automatic adjustment without requiring user intervention. Once the listener's preferred position is detected, the system automatically configures optimal audio parameters including speaker levels, equalization, and virtual positioning, thereby improving reliability while minimizing the operational complexity burden on the user
3Adaptability or versatility
If location sensors are added to detect listener position, then sound field adaptability improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple location detection technologies (video camera, infrared camera, microphones) into an integrated location sensing system that works together to determine listener position. This merging approach improves sound field adaptability while managing complexity by using a unified detection framework rather than separate independent systems for each sensing modality
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary processing layer that receives data from multiple sensor types (video, infrared, acoustic) and synthesizes this information to determine listener position. This intermediary approach enables versatile sound field adaptation while managing complexity by providing a single point of integration rather than requiring direct connections between all sensors and audio processing components
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
Enhances the audio experience by providing an optimized sound field that adapts to the listener's location, improving aesthetics and consistency.
Implementation Method 1
a location sensor such as a video camera and infrared camera detect the position of the listener
Implementation Method 2
the home theater system software adjusts the sound field by first triangulating the position of the listener in the listening zone by processing data gathered by location sensors in real-time
Data Source
AI summary
Example techniques relate to playback based on acoustic signals in a system including a first network device and a second network device. A first network device may detect a presence of a user using a camera and/or infrared sensors. The first network device sends, in response to detecting the presence of the user, a particular signal via the first network interface. The second network device receives data corresponding to the particular signal and plays back an audio output corresponding to the particular signal.