Virtual Audio Tuning Using Recorded Cabin Noise and Transfer Functions

Solution Overview

Problem

Audio systems in noisy environments, such as vehicle cabins, require extensive and costly tuning under various operating conditions to effectively compensate for changing noise levels and engine sounds, necessitating repeated exposure to actual use conditions.

Innovation Solution

The method involves recording sounds and non-acoustic signals at sensor and evaluation locations within the listening environment, virtualizing transfer functions, and feeding these back to the acoustic compensation system controller, allowing for remote tuning without operating the vehicle, using sensors like microphones and non-acoustic inputs like engine RPM to dynamically adjust audio parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the audio system is tuned under actual vehicle operating conditions, then the system performance is optimized, but the time and cost required for tuning increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio system performanceVSAvoidtuning time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates virtual copies of the actual vehicle listening environment by recording acoustic signals and non-acoustic signals during vehicle operation, then reproducing these recorded signals in a controlled environment. This allows the tuning process to be replicated without needing the actual vehicle, thereby reducing tuning time and cost while maintaining system performance optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary recordings of acoustic and non-acoustic signals during vehicle operation under various conditions before the actual tuning process. These pre-recorded signals are then used to create virtual listening environments, allowing the tuning to be performed in advance or in different locations without needing to repeat the actual vehicle operation during tuning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the audio system is tuned under actual vehicle operating conditions, then the system performance is optimized, but the cost of tuning increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio system performanceVSAvoidtuning cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates virtual copies of the actual vehicle listening environment by recording acoustic signals and non-acoustic signals during vehicle operation, then reproducing these recorded signals in a controlled environment. This allows the tuning process to be replicated without needing the actual vehicle, thereby reducing tuning time and cost while maintaining system performance optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of recording devices, signal processors, and virtualization software that mediates between the actual vehicle environment and the tuning process. This intermediary allows the complex vehicle operating conditions to be captured and reproduced without requiring direct access to the vehicle during tuning, reducing overall cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the audio system is tuned under actual vehicle operating conditions, then the system performance is optimized, but the complexity of the tuning process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio system performanceVSAvoidtuning process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates virtual copies of the actual vehicle listening environment by recording acoustic signals and non-acoustic signals during vehicle operation, then reproducing these recorded signals in a controlled environment. This allows the tuning process to be replicated without needing the actual vehicle, thereby reducing tuning time and cost while maintaining system performance optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical complexity of physically operating the vehicle during tuning with electronic and software-based systems. Instead of manually operating the vehicle under various conditions during tuning, the system uses automated recording devices, signal processors, and virtualization software to capture and reproduce the acoustic and non-acoustic signals, simplifying the overall tuning process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9179237B2Virtual audio system tuning

Publication Date: 2015.11.03 BOSE CORP

AI summary

A method of virtually tuning an audio system that incorporates an acoustic compensation system, where the audio system is adapted to play audio signals in a listening environment over one or more sound transducers. The acoustic compensation system has an audio sensor located at a sensor location in the listening environment. The transfer functions from each sound transducer to the audio sensor location are inherent. The method contemplates recording noise at the sensor location, and creating virtual transfer functions from each sound transducer to the sensor location based on the inherent transfer functions from each sound transducer to the sensor location. Audio signals are processed through the virtual sound transducer to sensor location transfer functions. A virtual sensor signal is created by combining the audio signals processed through the virtual sound transducer to sensor location transfer functions with the noise recorded at the sensor location.