Spatial Audio Apparatus Resolving Monophonic Mixing Flatness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spatial audio capture technologies fail to accurately represent the orientation and location of remote microphones in multi-device audio capture systems, leading to poor audio-visual experiences by mixing remote microphone signals as monophonic signals centered on the host device, which does not correspond to the actual location of the remote device, resulting in a 'flat and narrow' audio scene.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus that determines the relative orientation and location difference between host and remote devices, processes audio signals based on this difference, and combines them to create a spatially accurate audio representation, allowing users to visually and audibly position remote microphone signals correctly, using a combination of orientation sensors, audio processors, and visual representations on a user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If remote microphone signals are mixed as monophonic signals centered on the host device, then the mixing process is simple, but the audio scene becomes flat and narrow without accurate spatial representation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from monophonic (1D) mixing to spatial (3D) mixing by incorporating orientation and location data. Remote microphone signals are no longer collapsed to a single center point but are distributed across multiple audio channels with specific spatial coordinates, creating an immersive audio scene that reflects the actual physical arrangement of devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing stage between signal reception and final mixing. An audio processor receives raw signals from remote microphones, applies spatial transformation based on orientation data, and outputs processed signals that are then combined with host device signals. This intermediary step enables accurate spatial representation without overwhelming complexity in the final mixing stage.
2Measurement precision
If remote microphone signals are spatialized based on relative orientation and location, then the audio-visual experience is enhanced, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing of remote microphone signals by determining their orientation and location relative to the host device before final mixing. The audio processor pre-calculates spatial parameters and transforms signals accordingly, so that when signals are combined with host device signals, the spatial arrangement is already established, reducing the complexity of the final mixing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio processor serves multiple functions: it receives signals from remote microphones, determines their spatial orientation using sensor data, transforms the signals according to relative position, and outputs processed signals ready for mixing. This multi-functional approach consolidates processing complexity into a single versatile component rather than requiring separate specialized modules for each function.
3Loss of information
If visual representation of remote apparatus orientation is provided, then users can identify audio sources better, but the user interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual indicators on the display to represent the orientation and location of remote apparatus. graphical icons or indicators are positioned and oriented to match the actual spatial arrangement of remote devices, providing users with an intuitive visual map of audio sources. This visual feedback system uses familiar graphical elements and positioning rather than complex controls or configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprising: an input configured to receive at least one audio signal from a further apparatus; an input configured to receive at least one audio signal associated with the apparatus; an orientation/location determiner configured to determine a relative orientation/location difference between the apparatus and the further apparatus; an audio processor configured to process the at least one audio signal from the further apparatus based on the relative orientation/location difference between the apparatus and the further apparatus; and a combiner configured to combine the at least one audio signal from the further apparatus having been processed and the at least one audio signal associated with the apparatus.