Location-Aware Speaker Beamforming for Personalized Audio Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio devices struggle to provide personalized and efficient audio experiences based on the location and movement of users within a local environment, often leading to suboptimal sound quality and unnecessary energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing millimeter-wave radar technology to precisely locate users relative to audio-output devices and adjust audio parameters such as beam direction, synchronization, activation/deactivation, and equalization based on their position and orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If speakers continuously broadcast audio signals to all potential listeners, then audio coverage is maximized, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts audio beam direction and activation state based on real-time user location detection. Speakers transition between active beamforming mode and inactive state, adapting their operation to current user presence rather than continuous broadcasting
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses automatic user detection and tracking to control speaker activation, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The audio system serves itself by automatically adjusting beam direction and activation based on detected user positions
2Reliability
If directional speakers beam audio signals to localized regions, then audio immersion is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A controller serves as an intermediary between the mmWave radar system and the speaker array. The controller processes user location data from the radar and automatically adjusts speaker beamforming parameters, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining directional audio capability
Solution Approach 2:
The mmWave radar system serves multiple functions: detecting user presence, tracking user location, and providing this data to the audio system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate sensing systems and integrates location awareness into the audio delivery mechanism
3Reliability
If audio parameters are adjusted based on user location, then audio quality is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system adjusts audio parameters such as beam direction, delay, and equalization based on user location data. By changing these audio parameters in response to detected position variations, the system maintains audio quality without requiring extremely precise location measurement
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
Enhances audio quality by ensuring synchronized audio streams and seamless user experiences while conserving energy by activating speakers only when users are present, using non-intrusive and cost-effective mmWave radar technology.
Implementation Method 1
devices are disclosed that use millimeter-wave (mmWave) radar technology to precisely locate at least one person
Implementation Method 2
the mmWave radar can transmit an indication of a user's location
Data Source
AI summary
In general, a user-location device is configured to receive, from an audio-output device, an ultra-wideband (UWB) signal; determine, based on the UWB signal, a first relative location of the audio-output device; determine, based on a detected millimeter-wave (MMW) signal, a second relative location of one or more persons; determine, based on the first relative location and the second relative location, a relative orientation between the audio-output device and the one or more persons; and transmit, to the audio-output device, an indication of the relative orientation.