Speaker Audio Delay Control for Smooth Sound Image Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing signal delay adjustment devices in vehicles cause distortion and abnormal sounds when changing delay times, leading to discomfort for users as they cannot perceive the change in sound image localization without muting the sound.

Innovation Solution

Gradually changing the delay time applied to audio signals over a predetermined period to suppress phase rotation speed changes, preventing distortion and abnormal sounds, while maintaining continuous sound output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the delay time is changed abruptly to adjust sound image localization, then the adjustment speed is improved, but the audio signal becomes distorted and abnormal sounds are generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelay time adjustment speedVSAvoidaudio signal distortion

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the delay time changeable over time rather than fixed or abruptly changed. The delay time is dynamically adjusted from a first value to a second value over a predetermined period, allowing the system to adapt smoothly to new settings while maintaining audio signal integrity and preventing distortion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of delay time gradually over a predetermined period rather than making abrupt changes. This controlled parameter transition suppresses phase rotation speed changes in the audio signal, preventing distortion and abnormal sounds while still achieving the desired sound image localization adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the delay time is changed gradually to prevent distortion, then the audio quality is improved, but the adjustment time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio signal distortionVSAvoiddelay time adjustment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by changing the delay time only partially over a predetermined period rather than making complete abrupt changes. This gradual transition is sufficient to suppress distortion and abnormal sounds while minimizing the adjustment time, achieving an optimal balance between audio quality and response speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the sound is muted to prevent abnormal sounds during delay time change, then the distortion is suppressed, but the user cannot perceive the change in sound image localization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabnormal soundsVSAvoidsound image localization perception

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent maintains continuity of useful action by keeping the audio signal output continuous during delay time adjustment. The delay time is changed gradually over a predetermined period while the audio signal continues to be output, allowing users to perceive the change in sound image localization in real-time without interruptions or muting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP3684082B1Signal delay adjustment device, signal delay adjustment method, and signal processing device

Publication Date: 2023.08.30 FAURECIA CLARION ELECTRONICS CO LTD

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AI summary

A signal delay adjustment device for individually setting delay times of audio signals supplied to a plurality of speakers and individually delaying the audio signals supplied to the plurality of speakers with set delay times to adjust output timings of sounds among the plurality of speakers is configured to include a setting part to set a delay time applied to the audio signal for each speaker, and a delay part for individually delaying the audio signal to be supplied to the plurality of speakers based on the delay time set by the setting part. The delay part gradually changes the delay time to be applied to the audio signal over a predetermined time so that the delay time to be applied to the audio signal reaches the delay time set by the setting part over the predetermined time.