Spatial Audio Rendering With Acoustic Coupling for VR/AR Realism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio processing technologies for virtual and augmented reality applications often fail to provide a realistic and consistent audio experience that matches the visual experience, leading to suboptimal quality and immersion.
Innovation Solution
An audio apparatus and method that incorporates acoustic coupling data to convert audio energy into vibration and vice versa, generating new audio sources based on acoustic objects to enhance the audio scene, thereby improving the realism and consistency of the audio-visual experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional audio processing is used for VR/AR applications, then device complexity is reduced, but audio realism and immersion deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The audio processing is segmented into multiple independent components: acoustic scene generation, acoustic object processing with coupling data, and spatial audio rendering. Each component handles specific aspects of audio realism, allowing complex processing to be broken down into manageable segments that can be optimized independently.
Solution Approach 2:
Acoustic coupling data and acoustic object properties are pre-calculated and prepared before real-time audio rendering. This preliminary processing of acoustic characteristics allows the system to achieve high audio realism without requiring all processing to occur in real-time, reducing computational complexity during actual playback.
2Reliability
If acoustic coupling processing is added to generate object audio sources, then audio scene realism is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the audio scene data and acoustic object properties that are already present in the VR/AR application to generate the coupling effects. Rather than requiring separate external processing, the acoustic objects in the scene automatically generate their own coupling-based audio sources based on their physical properties and the surrounding acoustic environment.
3Reliability
If acoustic objects are incorporated into audio processing, then audio-visual consistency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic object data structure merges visual scene information with acoustic properties into a unified representation. This allows the same object data to drive both visual rendering and audio generation, ensuring that audio-visual consistency is maintained without requiring separate processing pipelines for each modality.
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 approach provides a more realistic and natural audio experience by considering the impact of acoustic objects on sound propagation, enhancing the overall immersion and consistency of the audio-visual scene.
Implementation Method 1
incorporates acoustic coupling data to convert audio energy into vibration and vice versa
Data Source
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AI summary
A first audio apparatus generates a data signal comprising data for an audio scene, the data comprising input audio source data for at least a first audio source and acoustic object data for at least one acoustic object in the audio scene, the acoustic object data comprising acoustic coupling data and spatial property data for the acoustic object. A second audio apparatus comprises a receiver (201) for receiving the signal. A generator (205) generates object audio source data for an object audio source representing audio emitted in the audio scene by the acoustic object from coupling of audio from the first audio source. The generator (205) is arranged to generate the object audio source data in response to the acoustic coupling data, the spatial property data, and the input audio source data. A renderer (203) renders the audio scene, the rendering including rendering the object audio source data.