Dynamic Speech Equalization for Loudspeaker Intelligibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing loudspeaker systems, particularly in applications like speakerphones and teleconferencing, face challenges with suboptimal frequency content in incoming speech signals due to poor microphone design, noisy environments, and bandwidth limitations, leading to reduced listening comfort and speech intelligibility.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that dynamically corrects the frequency response of incoming speech signals by analyzing them using a speech analysis block, comparing against ideal speech characteristics, and applying adaptive frequency adjustments through a combination of filters to enhance intelligibility and quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If dynamic speech equalization is applied to improve speech intelligibility, then speech intelligibility and listening comfort are improved, but device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The speech signal is divided into multiple frequency bands using filter banks, allowing independent processing of different spectral regions. This segmentation enables targeted equalization of specific frequency ranges affected by channel impairments without requiring complex full-spectrum processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts equalization parameters (filter coefficients, gain values) based on real-time analysis of the speech signal characteristics and estimated channel conditions. This adaptive parameter adjustment optimizes speech intelligibility for varying input conditions while maintaining computational efficiency through parameter optimization.
2Reliability
If frequency-dependent processing is applied to correct suboptimal frequency content, then speech quality is improved, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-computes equalization filter coefficients and stores them for rapid retrieval during speech processing. By preparing processing parameters in advance based on typical speech characteristics and channel models, the system minimizes real-time computational requirements while maintaining high speech quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or analog frequency processing systems with digital signal processing algorithms that can be efficiently implemented using software-based filter banks and spectral manipulation techniques, reducing hardware complexity and processing time.
3Measurement precision
If adaptive filtering is used to compensate for channel impairments, then speech intelligibility is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The equalization processing is applied periodically at optimized intervals rather than continuously, processing speech frames at rates matched to human speech variability. This periodic processing approach maintains speech intelligibility while significantly reducing computational power consumption compared to continuous real-time processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies equalization processing selectively to only those frequency bands and time periods where channel impairments are detected, rather than uniformly processing the entire speech signal. This partial processing approach reduces overall computational load and power consumption while maintaining effectiveness where needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for speech equalization, comprising the steps of receiving an input audio signal, processing said input audio signal in dependence on frequency and to providing an equalized electric audio signal according to an equalization function, wherein said equalization function comprises at least an actuator part configured to dynamically applying a compensation filter to the received input signal and dynamically applying a transparent filter to the received input signal, and further transmitting an output signal perceivable by a user as sound representative of said electric acoustic input signal or a processed version thereof.