Home Theater Speaker Calibration Using Distance and Angle Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Home theater systems with non-optimal speaker placements or fewer than the recommended 5.1 or 7.1 speaker setups often result in a degraded surround sound experience, and existing solutions require professional intervention or expensive room tuning, which is not feasible for all users.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for determining distances and angles between speakers and other home theater components using sweep signals and a capture device, allowing for calibration operations to improve audio quality in non-ideal setups, even with fewer speakers, through the use of a wireless audio transmitter, receivers, and a display device with a reference speaker.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If speakers are placed in non-optimal positions or fewer than 5.1/7.1 speakers are used, then the setup is easier to install and adapts to various living room configurations, but the surround sound quality degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically adjusts audio parameters including distance, angle, and level compensation based on the actual speaker configuration. By measuring and calculating these parameters dynamically, the system adapts the audio output to compensate for non-optimal speaker placements or reduced speaker counts, maintaining surround sound quality despite configuration variations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual measurement and adjustment mechanisms with electronic sensing and automated processing. Microphones capture audio signals from speakers, and processors automatically calculate distances and angles, eliminating the need for manual positioning and measurement while maintaining optimal sound quality
2Reliability
If professional technicians perform room tuning and speaker calibration, then optimal audio quality is achieved, but the cost and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-calibration by automatically measuring speaker positions, calculating distances and angles, and adjusting audio parameters without requiring professional technicians. The microphones capture speaker signals, the processor computes the necessary calibration data, and the system automatically applies corrections, enabling users to achieve optimal audio quality independently
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an automated calibration system as an intermediary between the speaker setup and the audio output. This intermediary system uses microphones to capture speaker signals, processes the data to determine speaker positions and room characteristics, and automatically adjusts the audio parameters, replacing the need for manual professional intervention
3Measurement precision
If manual measurement and adjustment of speaker parameters is performed, then some calibration is achieved, but measurement precision and accuracy are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual measurement tools and methods with electronic sensing and automated calculation. Microphones precisely capture audio signals from each speaker, and processors automatically calculate distances, angles, and positions with high precision, eliminating the inaccuracies inherent in manual measurement while maintaining ease of operation
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 users to achieve optimal audio experience without professional assistance by accurately determining and calibrating speaker placements, enhancing sound quality in various room acoustics and speaker configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a reference speaker (110) configured to play back the sweep signal in the acoustic space
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for determining distances and angles between speakers and other home theater components for performance of calibration operations and functions. Distances are determined through timing playback of sweep signals from a reference speaker to the speakers, and also by timing playback the sweep signals between the speakers and a capture device at a desired listening position. Angles between the speakers and other theater components are determined based on the distances, and locations or mappings of the speakers and other theater components are determined from the angles and distances. The locations/mappings are utilized to perform different calibration operations. The calibration operations improve the user audio experience for speakers that are located in non-optimal positions for speaker configurations.