Listener specific audio reproduction system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for adjusting the frequency response characteristics of a sound reproduction system, said reproduction system including a source of audio frequency electrical signals, at least one electronic amplifier, and at least one electro-acoustical transducer, said amplifier having an input connected to receive said electrical signals from said source and having an output connected to said transducer to produce sound waves corresponding to said electrical signals which are perceived by a human listener, said apparatus further comprising:
- an electrical audio test signal generator connected to the input of said amplifier to produce a sequence of different test sound waves having different volume levels and different frequency content which can be heard by said listener, input means for accepting indications from said listener indicative of the perceived intensity of at least some of said different test waves as perceived by said listener, a processor responsive to said indications for translating said indications into a plurality of control values, and an adjustable equalizer connected between said source of audio frequency programming signals and the input of said amplifier, said equalizer being coupled to said processor to receive said control values and preferentially amplify said programming signals at different frequencies in accordance with said control values.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for use with an audio reproduction system that corrects for distortion caused by the system as well as any hearing impairment suffered a listener. Test signals are introduced into the input of the system to produce test sounds that are perceptible by the listener. Using a pushbutton, the listener indicates when a test signal of progressively increasing volume reaches an audible level. The resulting measured values of the listener'"'"'s threshold of hearing at different frequencies is compared with comparable data for a normal listener to generate correction values that are used to program an equalizer which compensates for not only the listener'"'"'s hearing impairments but also any distortion produced by system components or room acoustics.
97 Citations
14 Claims
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1. Apparatus for adjusting the frequency response characteristics of a sound reproduction system, said reproduction system including a source of audio frequency electrical signals, at least one electronic amplifier, and at least one electro-acoustical transducer, said amplifier having an input connected to receive said electrical signals from said source and having an output connected to said transducer to produce sound waves corresponding to said electrical signals which are perceived by a human listener, said apparatus further comprising:
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an electrical audio test signal generator connected to the input of said amplifier to produce a sequence of different test sound waves having different volume levels and different frequency content which can be heard by said listener, input means for accepting indications from said listener indicative of the perceived intensity of at least some of said different test waves as perceived by said listener, a processor responsive to said indications for translating said indications into a plurality of control values, and an adjustable equalizer connected between said source of audio frequency programming signals and the input of said amplifier, said equalizer being coupled to said processor to receive said control values and preferentially amplify said programming signals at different frequencies in accordance with said control values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method adjusting the frequency response characteristics of a sound reproduction system having an input connected to an audio signal source and an output transducer that delivers sound waves to a human listener, said method comprising, in combination, the steps of:
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applying test signals having different frequency components to said input to deliver test sounds of different frequencies from said output transducer to said listener, accepting sensory data values from said listener indicative of the listener'"'"'s perception of said test sounds of different frequency, calculating gain control values from said sensory data values, and adjusting an equalizer connected between said input and said output transducer in accordance with said gain control values to compensate for said undesired frequency characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An automatically programmable distortion correction system for use with an electronic sound reproduction system that includes an electronic amplifier having an input connected to an audio signal source and an output connected to an electro-acoustical transducer for delivering sound waves to a listener with impaired hearing, said programmable correction system comprising, in combination,
a test signal source coupled to said input for delivering audible test sound stimuli to said listener via said transducer, input means for accepting one or more responses from said listener indicative of the listener'"'"'s perception of said stimuli, processing means for translating said one or more responses into measured audiological data characterizing said listener'"'"'s hearing and for calculating control values from said measured audiological data, and a programmable equalizer connected between said audio signal source and said input for preferentially amplifying the audio signal delivered to said input at different frequencies in response to said control values.
Specification