Spectral Management System for Multichannel Audio Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern audio systems face challenges in spectral management, as they often require dividing and routing audio signals to optimize speaker transducer characteristics, but existing methods either lose or add audio content, failing to adapt frequencies effectively to the capabilities of different loudspeakers.

Innovation Solution

A spectral management system that processes multichannel audio signals by separating high and low frequency parts based on tunable center frequencies, rerouting them among audio channels to optimize loudspeaker operation without losing or adding content, using components like bass converters, treble routers, and subwoofer routers to adapt audio content for specific loudspeakers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If audio content is separated into high and low frequency parts and routed to different channels, then audio system operation is optimized and distortion is minimized, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio system operation optimizationVSAvoidspectral management system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The audio spectrum is segmented into multiple frequency bands (high, low, and mid frequencies) using filter banks. Each band is independently processed and routed to appropriate audio channels based on loudspeaker capabilities, allowing optimization of audio reproduction without requiring complete system redesign

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Frequency separation and routing decisions are made in advance before audio playback. The system pre-configures which frequency bands should be routed to which channels based on loudspeaker characteristics, eliminating the need for real-time complex processing during playback

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If frequency routing is adjusted to match loudspeaker capabilities, then power consumption is minimized, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidspectral management system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different frequency bands are routed to different audio channels based on the local capabilities of each loudspeaker. Each loudspeaker receives only the frequency ranges it is optimized to reproduce, preventing wasted power consumption from attempting to reproduce frequencies outside its capability range

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts routing parameters based on detected loudspeaker capabilities and operational conditions. By changing which frequency bands are routed to which channels, the system optimizes power efficiency without requiring hardware modifications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If audio content is lost or added during processing, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing simplicityVSAvoidaudio content fidelity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The spectral management system maintains continuous audio content throughout processing by ensuring that separated frequency bands are preserved and recombined without loss. The filter banks and routing mechanisms are designed to maintain signal integrity, preventing degradation of audio fidelity while still enabling frequency-based optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP2425636B1Spectral management system
Publication Date: 2014.10.01 HARMAN INT IND INC
  • EP2425636B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2425636B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2425636B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A spectral management system may be used in an audio system to receive and process audio signals having multiple distributed audio channels, such as a right, left, center, right side, left side, right rear and left rear channels. The spectral management system may separate and route a frequency range of audio content included in one or more of the distributed audio channels to other distributed audio channels. The separated and routed frequency range of audio content may be combined with audio content present on the other distributed audio channels to which the separated frequency range of audio content is routed. Separation, routing and combination may include bass audio content routing, mid-bass audio content routing, subwoofer audio content routing and treble audio content routing.