Stereo Speaker Center Channel Extraction for Transducer Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stereo pairing of multi-transducer speakers often results in opposing firing patterns, diminishing performance and failing to provide clear separation between left and right channel content due to misaligned transducer orientations.
Innovation Solution
A speaker system with a controller that extracts a center channel signal from left and right channel audio input signals and provides audio output to transducers, allowing for enhanced stereo output by aligning audio directionality and synchronizing playback across paired speakers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional stereo pairing is used with multi-transducer speakers, then the system can output stereo audio, but the transducer orientations create opposing firing patterns that diminish performance and fail to provide clear channel separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the center channel signal from the stereo pair configuration and processes it separately through a dedicated center channel extractor. This separates the problematic opposing firing patterns of the stereo pair from the center channel content, allowing the center channel to be reproduced without the performance-dimining opposing patterns while maintaining stereo capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the audio output into distinct stereo pair output and center channel output paths. The stereo pair continues to provide left and right channel separation, while the extracted center channel is processed independently, allowing each path to be optimized separately and avoiding the performance issues caused by combining them in conventional stereo pairing.
2Ease of operation
If stereo paired speakers are used, then audio playback is provided, but inter-channel delays and opposing firing patterns reduce audio quality and channel delineation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a center channel extractor as an intermediary component between the stereo pair and the audio output. This mediator extracts and processes the center channel signal separately, preventing the inter-channel delays and opposing firing patterns from degrading the center channel content, thereby preserving channel separation clarity while maintaining audio playback functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transducers are used in stereo pairs, then stereo audio output is enabled, but the transducer orientations create opposing firing patterns that diminish performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the center channel signal from the multi-transducer stereo pair configuration and processes it through a dedicated extraction path. This removes the problematic opposing firing patterns from the center channel reproduction while preserving the stereo audio output capability of the multi-transducer system, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
Various implementations include speaker systems. In some particular cases, a speaker system includes: at least two distinct loudspeakers each capable of outputting stereo audio on its own, wherein each loudspeaker comprises: a plurality of transducers, and a controller coupled with the plurality of transducers, where the controller in each loudspeaker is configured to: receive a left channel audio input signal and a right channel audio input signal; extract a center channel signal from the left channel audio input signal and the right channel audio input signal; and provide an audio output signal to at least one of the plurality of transducers for outputting the center channel signal.