Spatial Audio Rendering in AR/VR Headsets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wearable headsets struggle to provide accurate and realistic sound effects in immersive reality environments due to the challenging implementation of multiple sensing devices, data processing, and three-dimensional calculation of multiple acoustic sources, leading to a lack of immersive experiences for users.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a computer-implemented method and system that includes multiple microphones and speakers in smart glasses, which receive and process audio waveforms to determine the direction and amplitude of acoustic sources, applying time delays and amplitude adjustments to create a realistic spatial audio experience, allowing for audio beam steering, tracking, and various audio effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sensing devices and data processing are implemented to achieve accurate spatial audio rendering, then the immersive experience is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio processing system into distinct functional modules: multiple microphones capture audio from different spatial positions, signal processing circuits analyze directional information separately for each microphone, and individual speakers render audio channels independently. This modular segmentation enables accurate spatial audio rendering while managing system complexity through organized functional divisions.
2Reliability
If three-dimensional calculation and rendition of multiple acoustic sources is implemented, then the immersive experience is improved, but the computational requirements and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing transfer functions that represent acoustic paths between microphones and speakers. During runtime, the system retrieves and applies these pre-computed spatial parameters rather than performing complex three-dimensional acoustic calculations in real-time, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining immersive audio spatial rendering quality.
3Reliability
If audio beam steering and tracking features are added to enhance immersion, then the audio realism is improved, but the device complexity and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical beam steering mechanisms with electronic signal processing. Instead of physically moving acoustic elements, the system uses digital signal processing to dynamically adjust audio transfer functions based on tracked acoustic source directions, achieving beam steering and tracking effects through computational methods that reduce mechanical complexity while maintaining audio realism.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for audio beam steering, tracking, and audio effects for an immersive reality application is provided. The method includes receiving, from an immersive reality application, a first audio waveform from a first acoustic source to provide to a user of a headset, identifying a perceived direction for the first acoustic source relative to the headset based on a location of the first acoustic source, and providing, to a first speaker in a client device, an audio signal including the first audio waveform, wherein the audio signal includes a time delay and an amplitude of the first audio waveform based on the perceived direction. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause a system to perform the above method, and the system, are also provided.