Virtual simulation of spatial audio characteristics

• US 10,091,602 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2017
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crutchfield Corporation
• Original Assignee: Crutchfield Corporation
• Inventors: Crutchfield, Jr., William G., Wright, Richard I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, David
• Application Number:
  US15/491,037
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/002 Loudspeaker arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 5/00 Pseudo-stereo systems, e.g. in which additional channel signals are derived from monophonic signals by means of phase shifting, time delay or reverberation
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/30 Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/40 Visual indication of stereophonic sound image

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for demonstrating spatial performance of a demonstration speaker model to consumers in order to evaluate different speakers. The system and method comprise a microphone array for recording the output of the demonstration speaker model. The system and method comprise acoustic input samples for processing to an acoustic output and a processor for determining characteristics of each microphone recording, and processing an acoustic input sample and characteristics of each microphone recording corresponding to a selected demonstration speaker model. The system and method further comprise a reference speaker model for outputting an acoustic signal based on the result of the processing. The processing compensates for the performance characteristic of the reference speaker and the performance characteristic of the selected demonstration speaker so as to mimic the spatial characteristics of the demonstration speaker while avoiding bias from the reference speaker.

Claims

1. A method for simulating acoustic performance of speakers, comprising:

receiving, via a user interface, a first user selection of a first demonstration speaker;

retrieving, from a storage medium, spatial audio characteristics of said first demonstration speaker reflecting acoustic outputs of said first demonstration speaker measured at multiple points in space;

simulating, with at least one computer processor or digital signal processor, acoustic performance of said first demonstration speaker by applying said spatial audio characteristics of said first demonstration speaker to an acoustic sample to generate a first simulated acoustic output; and

outputting said first simulated acoustic output via at least one reference speaker.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first simulated acoustic output is generated at least in part by compensating for a performance characteristic of said at least one reference speaker.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second user selection of a second demonstration speaker;

retrieving spatial audio characteristics of said second demonstration speaker;

simulating, with at least one computer processor or digital signal processor, acoustic performance of said second demonstration speaker by applying said spatial audio characteristics of said second demonstration speaker to said acoustic sample to generate a second simulated acoustic output; and

outputting said second simulated acoustic output via said at least one reference speaker to facilitate a comparison of acoustic performance between said first demonstration speaker and said second demonstration speaker.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving identification or configuration of an environment; and

simulating the acoustic performance of said first demonstration speaker by applying both said spatial audio characteristics of said first demonstration speaker and spatial characteristics of said environment to said acoustic sample to generate said first simulated acoustic output.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said environment comprises an interior space of a room or a vehicle.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein said identification or configuration of said environment comprises data associated with one or more of:

a location of said first demonstration speaker in said environment;

configuration of objects in said environment; and

a listening location in or near said environment.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said environment comprises an interior space of a vehicle, and wherein said identification or configuration of said environment further comprises data associated with one or more of:

environmental conditions regarding the vehicle; and

operating conditions regarding the vehicle.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said identification or configuration of said environment further comprises data associated with one or more of:

a vehicle make;

a vehicle model;

traveling speed;

RPM;

a gear position;

engagement status of a convertible top or sunroof; and

engagement status of windows.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a visual display comprising an image of said first demonstration speaker.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a visual display comprising data concerning said first demonstration speaker.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first demonstration speaker comprises first headphones and said at least one reference speaker comprises second headphones.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first demonstration speaker comprises headphones and said at least one reference speaker comprises one or more audio speakers.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first demonstration speaker comprises one or more first audio speakers and said at least one reference speaker comprises one or more second audio speakers.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first demonstration speaker comprises one or more audio speakers and said at least one reference speaker comprises headphones.

15. A system for simulating acoustic performance of speakers, comprising:

at least one reference speaker;

a user interface;

storage medium storing spatial audio characteristics of one or more demonstration speakers reflecting acoustic outputs of each of said one or more demonstration speakers measured at multiple points in space; and

a computer processor or digital signal processor (DSP) configured to;

receive, via said at least one user interface, a first user selection of a first demonstration speaker;

retrieve, from said storage medium, spatial audio characteristics of said first demonstration speaker;

simulate acoustic performance of said first demonstration speaker by applying said spatial audio characteristics of said first demonstration speaker to an acoustic sample to generate a first simulated acoustic output; and

output said first simulated acoustic output via said at least one reference speaker.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said first simulated acoustic output is generated at least in part by compensating for a performance characteristic of said at least one reference speaker.

17. The system according to claim 15, further configured to:

receive a second user selection of a second demonstration speaker;

retrieve spatial audio characteristics of said second demonstration speaker;

simulate acoustic performance of said second demonstration speaker by applying said spatial audio characteristics of said second demonstration speaker to said acoustic sample to generate a second simulated acoustic output; and

output said second simulated acoustic output via said at least one reference speaker to facilitate a comparison of acoustic performance between said first demonstration speaker and said second demonstration speaker.

18. The system according to claim 15, further configured to:

receive identification or configuration of an environment; and

simulate the acoustic performance of said first demonstration speaker by applying both said spatial audio characteristics of said first demonstration speaker and spatial characteristics of said environment to said acoustic sample to generate said first simulated acoustic output.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said environment comprises an interior space of a room or a vehicle.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein said identification or configuration of said environment comprises data associated with one or more of:

a location of said first demonstration speaker in said environment;

configuration of objects in said environment; and

a listening location in or near said environment.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said environment comprises an interior space of a vehicle, and wherein said identification or configuration of said environment further comprises data associated with one or more of:

environmental conditions regarding the vehicle; and

operating conditions regarding the vehicle.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said identification or configuration of said environment further comprises data associated with one or more of:

a vehicle make;

a vehicle model;

traveling speed;

RPM;

a gear position;

engagement status of a convertible top or sunroof; and

engagement status of windows.

23. The system according to claim 15, further configured to:

present a visual display comprising an image of said first demonstration speaker.

24. The system according to claim 15, further configured to:

present a visual display comprising data concerning said first demonstration speaker.

25. The system according to claim 15, wherein said first demonstration speaker comprises first headphones and said at least one reference speaker comprises second headphones.

26. The system according to claim 15, wherein said first demonstration speaker comprises headphones and said at least one reference speaker comprises one or more audio speakers.

27. The system according to claim 15, wherein said first demonstration speaker comprises one or more first audio speakers and said at least one reference speaker comprises one or more second audio speakers.

28. The system according to claim 15, wherein said first demonstration speaker comprises one or more audio speakers and said at least one reference speaker comprises headphones.

29. A method for simulating acoustic performance of speakers, comprising:

measuring spatial audio characteristics of a demonstration speaker by;

(a) receiving, with at least one microphone, acoustic outputs of said demonstration speaker at multiple points in space, and (b) deriving, with at least one computer processor or digital signal processor, said spatial audio characteristics based at least in part on said microphone-received acoustic outputs;

storing said measured spatial audio characteristics of said demonstration speaker; and

making said measured spatial audio characteristics of said demonstration speaker accessible to a computer processor or digital signal processor configured to simulate acoustic performance of said demonstration speaker by applying said measured spatial audio characteristics of said demonstration speaker to an acoustic sample to generate a simulated acoustic output via at least one reference speaker.