Speaker Calibration Using Microphone Feedback for Audio Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio rendering systems in devices with microphones and speakers often fail to provide high-quality sound due to suboptimal speaker placement and size, leading to challenges in accurate sound reproduction across various environments and interrupting the user's listening experience with the need for predefined test signals for calibration.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that calibrate speakers connected to portable devices with microphones by using original audio signals to compare and correct microphone signals through audio processing functions, employing automated content recognition and metadata processing to optimize sound output without interrupting the user experience, and utilizing databases for device characteristics to inform the tuning algorithm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If external speakers are used to improve sound quality, then audio playback quality is improved, but the system requires calibration that interrupts the user's listening experience
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration actions by capturing test signals during initial system setup or idle periods before the user needs to listen. The calibration profile is established in advance, so when the user wants to listen to audio content, the calibration is already complete and no interruption occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuous calibration by periodically capturing test signals during idle periods or between audio playback sessions. This continuous calibration process ensures the audio system remains optimized without requiring manual intervention or interrupting the user's listening experience, as calibration occurs in the background during non-listening periods.
2Measurement precision
If predefined test signals are used for calibration, then speaker calibration is achieved, but the calibration process requires dedicated tuning periods that interrupt audio playback
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic calibration by capturing test signals at scheduled intervals or during idle periods rather than requiring continuous dedicated tuning sessions. This periodic approach maintains calibration accuracy while minimizing disruption to audio playback, as calibration occurs only when necessary and not during active listening periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous audio playback capability by performing calibration operations during idle periods or between playback sessions. The calibration process continues in the background without requiring the user to stop listening or engage with the calibration process, thus maintaining productivity while achieving measurement precision.
3Volume of moving object
If small portable speakers are used in devices, then device portability is improved, but sound reproduction quality deteriorates due to size and placement constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the acoustic parameters of the small portable speaker through electronic calibration. By capturing test signals and analyzing the speaker's actual frequency response, the system applies equalization filters to adjust the sound output, compensating for the limitations of small speaker size and suboptimal placement. This allows the speaker to produce higher quality sound despite its compact dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from captured test signals to continuously monitor and adjust speaker performance. The microphone captures the actual sound output, and this feedback is used to refine the calibration profile, enabling the small portable speaker to achieve better sound reproduction quality through iterative optimization rather than relying solely on physical design improvements.
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
The system enhances sound quality by optimizing frequency response, gain, and timbre, providing continuous and automatic calibration based on device and environmental changes, ensuring optimal playback without requiring predefined test signals, thus improving user experience and sound fidelity.
Implementation Method 1
receiving playback sound output from the speakers through the microphone to generate a microphone signal
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments are described for calibrating a speaker in a device having a microphone by inputting an original audio signal to a processing component and an output stage of the device for playback through the speakers, receiving playback sound output from the speakers through the microphone to generate a microphone signal, and inputting the microphone signal into the processing component to calibrate the speakers for optimal playback of the original audio signal, wherein the processing component is configured to compare the original audio signal to the microphone signal and correct the microphone signal by one or more audio processing functions in accordance with a refresh schedule.