Sound Field Control Unit Optimizing Transducer Driving Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current personal audio systems for generating sound fields lack flexibility in adapting to changing scenarios and often require a trade-off between directivity and quality, with existing methods either providing fast but inaccurate predictions or slow but accurate calculations.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize a control unit to generate sound fields by optimizing transducer driving signals based on a cost function, allowing for real-time adaptation and control of directivity and quality through a cost function that balances sound pressure and energy distribution across different zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If iterative methods are used to calculate optimal parameters, then measurement precision of final performance is improved, but productivity is worsened due to slower filter calculation
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores transfer functions and impulse responses for all transducer combinations before actual sound field generation. This preliminary preparation allows the iterative optimization algorithm to work with pre-computed data, significantly reducing the calculation time during runtime while maintaining accurate prediction of final performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts between two operational modes: a fast mode using fixed-value parameters for real-time adjustments, and an iterative mode for accurate prediction when scenario changes occur. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by applying the appropriate calculation method based on the operational context.
2Productivity
If fixed-value parameter methods are used, then productivity is improved with faster filter calculation, but measurement precision is worsened with inaccurate prediction of final performance
Solution Approach 1:
Transfer functions and impulse responses are pre-calculated and stored, enabling fast filter calculation during operation without sacrificing prediction accuracy. The preliminary computation of these parameters allows the system to achieve both speed and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects between fixed-value parameter methods for real-time operation and iterative methods for accurate prediction, adapting the calculation approach to the specific operational requirements.
3Device complexity
If systems are designed for a fixed, pre-defined scenario, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability is worsened when users need to rapidly change scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to handle multiple scenarios and configurations through a unified framework. The control unit can rapidly reconfigure transducer driving signals for different sound field scenarios, locations, and numbers of private audio zones, making the system universally applicable without requiring complex redesign for each scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to changing scenarios by allowing users to rapidly modify parameters such as listener position, zone locations, and directivity requirements. The control unit responds in real-time to these changes, adjusting the transducer driving signals accordingly.
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
Enables flexible and real-time adjustment of sound field scenarios, improving directivity and quality trade-offs, allowing for precise control of sound energy distribution across acoustically bright, dark, and grey zones.
Implementation Method 1
each of the plurality of transducers is configured to be driven by a transducer driving signal ql of the respective transducer
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an apparatus for generating a sound field on the basis of an input audio signal. The apparatus comprises a plurality of transducers, wherein each transducer is configured to be driven by a transducer driving signal ql of the respective transducer; a plurality of filters configured to generate for each transducer the transducer driving signal ql of the respective transducer; and a control unit configured to provide or receive a first transducer driving signal vector q0 of dimension L such that the gradient of J(q;ψ) with respect to q is zero in (q0;ψ0), the control unit is further configured to provide a second transducer driving signal vector {tilde over (q)} of dimension L such that the gradient of the cost function J(q;ψ) with respect to q is [approximately] zero in ({tilde over (q)}; {tilde over (ψ)}), the control unit is configured to provide the second transducer driving signal vector {tilde over (q)}.