Soundbar Parametric Audio Rendering Without Intermediate Formats

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for reproducing parametric spatial audio using soundbars are suboptimal, as they often require intermediate formats like 5.1 multichannel signals, leading to directional and timbral artefacts, and necessitate decorrelation for ambience rendering, which can deteriorate audio quality.

Innovation Solution

Direct reproduction of parametric spatial audio using soundbars without intermediate formats, by obtaining spatial metadata to divide audio signals into direct and ambient parts, and employing amplitude panning and beamforming based on direction parameters for accurate positioning and ambience rendering via ambient beams, respectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If intermediate formats like 5.1 multichannel signals are used for soundbar reproduction, then compatibility with existing audio systems is improved, but directional and timbral artefacts occur and audio quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with existing audio systemsVSAvoiddirectional and timbral accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the intermediate 5.1 multichannel conversion step from the audio processing chain. By directly processing parametric spatial audio data (position, size, timbre parameters) and rendering it directly to soundbar drivers, the system eliminates the artefacts introduced by intermediate format conversion while maintaining compatibility through direct parameter-based control of the soundbar's multiple drivers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the processing approach from format-based conversion to parameter-based rendering. Instead of converting to 5.1 format, the system directly uses spatial parameters (position, size, timbre) to control the soundbar drivers, thereby maintaining audio quality while achieving compatibility through flexible parameter-driven output

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If decorrelation is applied for ambience rendering in soundbars, then spatial envelopment is improved, but audio quality deteriorates due to artefacts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial envelopment and ambience renderingVSAvoidaudio quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a virtual ambience source as an intermediary element. Instead of applying decorrelation processing to existing ambience signals, the system creates a virtual sound source representing the ambience with specific spatial parameters, which is then rendered through the soundbar's beamforming capability. This intermediary approach provides spatial envelopment without the quality-degrading artefacts of decorrelation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the signal-processing-based decorrelation mechanism with a spatial-rendering-based approach. Instead of using digital signal processing to create artificial spatial effects, the system uses parametric spatial audio rendering with beamforming to achieve natural-sounding ambience envelopment, substituting mechanical/spatial methods for electronic signal manipulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If parametric spatial audio is directly reproduced using soundbars, then directional and timbral accuracy is improved, but the complexity of spatial parameter processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirectional and timbral accuracyVSAvoidspatial parameter processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal parametric spatial audio rendering framework that can handle multiple types of spatial audio content (mono, stereo, surround, ambisonics) through a single direct-rendering process. The system uses a unified set of spatial parameters (position, size, timbre) that work across different input formats, reducing processing complexity compared to format-specific conversion chains

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent simplifies processing by changing from format-based processing to parameter-based processing. The system directly interprets spatial parameters (position, size, timbre) from various input formats and renders them uniformly to the soundbar, eliminating the need for complex format-specific processing paths and reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10848869B2Reproduction of parametric spatial audio using a soundbar

Publication Date: 2020.11.24 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY

AI summary

Method, apparatus and computer program product of direct reproduction/rendering of parametric spatial audio with sound-field related parametrization using a soundbar. The parametric spatial audio is reproduced directly with the soundbar without intermediate formats. Positioning of the audio is performed directly based on metadata associated with audio signals. Audio signals are received, metadata associated with those signals are obtained, and the signals are divided into direct and ambient parts based on the metadata. The direct part can be reproduced using panning and beamforming. The ambience is reproduced by creating ambient beams that radiate the sound in multiple directions using reflection. As a result, the listener receives the sound via multiple reflections and perceives the sound as enveloping. The soundbar signals reproduce the direct and ambient parts by merging to produce an output.