Vehicle Speaker Equalization for Spatial Sound Image Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The automotive acoustic environment presents unique challenges due to asymmetric speaker positioning, leading to sound image localization errors and spectral imbalances, which existing amplitude and time delay adjustments cannot adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism is employed to adjust the gain and delay of vehicle speakers, identify symmetric output channel pairs, compute power spectrum equalization transfer functions, and apply these functions to each channel to align amplitudes and times, combined with additional amplitude panning to correct the sound image to a desired location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If amplitude and time delay adjustments are applied to speakers, then sound image localization accuracy is improved, but spectral imbalance between lateral output channels cannot be addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies power spectrum equalization transfer functions to modify the frequency response characteristics of each speaker channel. By computing and applying these transfer functions, the system changes the spectral parameters of the output signals to compensate for imbalances caused by asymmetric speaker positioning, thereby addressing spectral imbalance while maintaining localization accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the audio signal processing into separate channel-specific operations. Each speaker channel receives individual power spectrum equalization processing based on its specific positional characteristics and spectral imbalance profile, allowing targeted correction of each channel's spectral characteristics while maintaining overall sound image coherence
2Ease of manufacture
If asymmetric speaker positioning is used in vehicles, then speaker installation flexibility is improved, but sound image localization errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent explicitly addresses and compensates for asymmetric speaker positioning in vehicles. By computing power spectrum equalization transfer functions specific to each asymmetric channel and applying appropriate amplitude and time delay adjustments, the system corrects the localization errors caused by asymmetry while maintaining the installation flexibility benefits of asymmetric positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts amplitude and time delay parameters for each speaker channel based on its specific asymmetric position relative to the listener. These parameter changes compensate for the geometric asymmetry, ensuring that sound images are correctly localized despite the non-symmetric speaker arrangement
3Loss of time
If gain and delay adjustments are applied to speakers, then sound arrival synchronization is improved, but spectral imbalance between channels remains uncorrected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simultaneously adjusts multiple parameters including gain, time delay, and power spectrum equalization transfer functions for each speaker channel. This multi-parameter adjustment approach ensures both temporal synchronization of sound arrival and spectral balance across channels, addressing both issues comprehensively rather than treating them separately
Data Source
AI summary
Generally disclosed herein is a system and method for correcting an audio spatial image within a vehicle. The gain and the delay of sound sources, such as speakers within a vehicle, are adjusted such that the sound sources arrive at a listener simultaneously and with the same amplitude. Symmetric output channel pairs may be identified from the sound sources, and power spectrum differences between the symmetric output channel pairs may be computed. A power spectrum equalization transfer function may be obtained and applied to each output channel pair. A center image of the sound sources may be detected, and the center image of the sound sources may be adjusted by applying additional amplitude or phase panning such that the center image may be placed in a desired position.