3D Audio Reproduction Using Side Speaker Attenuation Signals
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Miniaturized speakers, such as sound bars and wireless speakers, struggle to provide a wide sound stage and three-dimensional effect due to the short distance between left and right speakers, resulting in a lack of spaciousness and three-dimensional experience for the audience.
Innovation Solution
A stereophonic sound reproduction apparatus that includes a control unit to generate attenuation signals for side speakers, allowing the output acoustic signal to include these signals, which are used to create virtual sound sources by controlling the magnitude, time delay, and output direction of acoustic signals from both side and front speakers, effectively simulating sound reflections from walls to enhance spatial audio experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the distance between left and right speakers is reduced to miniaturize the speaker, then the speaker size is reduced, but the sound stage width and three-dimensional effect deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces side speakers positioned at side surfaces of the speaker enclosure, adding a lateral dimension to sound output. This configuration creates virtual sound sources at extended lateral positions, effectively widening the sound stage without increasing the front-to-back depth of the speaker unit, thus resolving the contradiction between miniaturization and sound stage width.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses reflection from side walls as an intermediary mechanism. By directing sound from side speakers toward side walls to create reflected sound paths, the system generates virtual sound sources that appear to originate from extended lateral positions. This intermediary reflection process enables wide sound stage perception without physically spacing speakers far apart.
2Volume of moving object
If the distance between left and right speakers is reduced to miniaturize the speaker, then the speaker size is reduced, but the three-dimensional effect deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds lateral sound output through side speakers, creating virtual sound sources in the lateral dimension. This dimensional expansion provides three-dimensional spatial audio perception without requiring large physical speaker separation, maintaining compact size while enhancing 3D effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual sound sources as acoustic copies of actual speaker positions. By generating reflected sound paths that appear to originate from virtual sources at extended lateral positions, the system simulates a three-dimensional sound field without physically placing speakers at those distant locations, thus achieving 3D effect in a compact form.
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 effectively generates a three-dimensional audio experience by simulating sound reflections, enhancing the perceived location and depth of sound sources, thereby improving the spatial audio experience for the audience.
Implementation Method 1
a left attenuation signal to be added to a left channel signal output from the left speaker and canceling a left direct sound at a position of an audience, and a right attenuation signal to be added to a right channel signal output from the right speaker and canceling a right direct sound at a position of an audience
Implementation Method 2
generating an attenuation signal that is a signal for attenuating or cancelling an inflow acoustic signal to be directly transferred to an audience in the output acoustic signal output from the side speaker
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a stereophonic sound reproduction apparatus includes: an input unit for receiving an acoustic signal; a control unit for acquiring an output acoustic signal for generating a virtual sound source for the received acoustic signal; and an output unit for outputting the acquired output acoustic signal by using a front speaker and a side speaker, wherein the control unit generates an attenuation signal that is a signal for attenuating or cancelling an inflow acoustic signal to be directly transferred to an audience in the output acoustic signal output from the side speaker, and the generated output acoustic signal includes the attenuation signal.