Vision-Based Sound Simulation for Room Acoustic Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio calibration methods for home entertainment systems rely on rough speaker distance approximation and manual adjustments, which are time-consuming and prone to user errors, lacking precise room geometry and material information for optimal audio quality.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing visual data from cameras and audio measurements from microphones to create a geometric model of the room, simulating sound wave propagation and optimizing speaker positions and listener locations for improved acoustics, using cloud-based processors for enhanced simulation and user-friendly recommendations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual speaker position optimization is used, then audio quality can be improved through trial and error, but the process is time-consuming and practically impossible for non-experts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment of speaker positions with an automated computer-based system. The system uses visual data from cameras to automatically determine room geometry, speaker positions, and listener locations, eliminating the need for manual trial-and-error adjustments while maintaining high audio quality optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-calibration by automatically capturing visual data, determining room parameters, and generating audio corrections without requiring user intervention. The mobile computing device autonomously completes the calibration process that would otherwise require expert manual adjustment, making it accessible to non-experts
2Ease of manufacture
If sparse sound measurements with rough speaker distance approximation are used, then calibration can be performed with simple equipment, but the accuracy and reliability of audio correction is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces visual data from cameras as an intermediary to bridge the gap between simple equipment and precise measurement. The visual data serves as a mediator that enables accurate determination of speaker distances and room geometry without requiring complex measurement equipment, combining ease of setup with high precision
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile computing device performs multiple functions: it captures visual data for room geometry, determines speaker and listener positions, and processes audio measurements. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve precise calibration using a single device without requiring separate specialized equipment for each measurement type
3Measurement precision
If visual data from cameras is combined with audio measurements, then accurate room geometry and material information can be obtained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges visual data capture and audio measurement functions into a single mobile computing device. By combining cameras and microphones in one device, the system reduces overall complexity compared to using separate specialized equipment for each function while maintaining high measurement precision through the integrated approach
4Measurement precision
If cloud-based processors are used for simulation, then enhanced simulation capability and accurate audio optimization can be achieved, but the loss of time for data transmission and processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary local processing on the mobile device to capture and pre-process visual and audio data before transmitting to the cloud. This preliminary action reduces the amount of data that needs to be transmitted and processed remotely, thereby reducing overall processing time while maintaining high optimization accuracy through cloud-based computational power
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a method for audio calibration that uses audio simulation and reconstructed surface information from images or video recordings along with recorded sound. The surface component of the method introduces knowledge that enables audio wave propagation simulation for a particular location allowing optimization of the sound distribution. For example, unwanted audio reflection and occlusion can be recognized and resolved. In one example, the disclosure provides a method for improving acoustics at a location that includes: (1) obtaining visual data of a location using one or more cameras of a mobile computing device, (2) obtaining audio measurements at the location using at least one microphone of the mobile computing device, wherein the location includes an audio system and the audio measurements correspond to audio generated by the audio system, and (3) sending the visual data and the audio measurements to a computing system for improving acoustics at the location.