Integrated multimedia signal processing system using centralized processing of signals

• US 20060149402A1
• Filed: 08/16/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mondo Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mondo Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Chung, Chul
• Granted Patent: US 8,880,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

Integrated processing of multimedia signals can eliminate unnecessary signal processors and converters without losing the functionality of typical home entertainment system components. The integrated multimedia system includes a main player that captures and processes signals digitally. The main player may adjust the audio signal to provide audio output of equal loudness across all frequencies by accounting for sensitivity of the human ear for sounds of varying frequencies. The main player can also account for perceived differences in loudness based on the angle of a listener to a speaker by detecting the position of a user and making an adjustment accordingly. The invention further provides a speaker that has embedded performance characteristics or an identifier that allows the system to provide an optimal speaker driving current for a particular system or determine how that speaker would be best implemented in the integrated system.

Claims

1. An integrated audio processing system, comprising:

an audio source;

a central processing unit adapted to be responsive to an audio signal from the audio source; and

a digital volume control module adjusting the audio signal to provide an equal-loudness level for all audio frequencies of the audio signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital volume control module adjusts the audio signal based on pre-set loudness values corresponding to each frequency.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital volume control module comprises:

a frequency separation module that separates the audio signal into frequency ranges;

a reference data module that provides reference data;

a signal adjusting module that adjusts the separated audio signals based on the reference data; and

a frequency systhesizing module that synthesizes the adjusted audio signal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the frequency separation module separates the audio signal based on the reference data.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein an adjustment in mid frequency ranges is greater than an adjustment in low frequency ranges.

6. The integrated audio processing system of claim 4, further comprising:

an input device providing listener position information to the digital volume control module;

an amplifier generating a plurality speaker driving currents in response to the plurality of speaker driving signals; and

a plurality of dummy speakers directly driven by the plurality of speaker driving signals,

wherein the digital volume control module further adjusts the audio signal in response to the listener position information.

7. The integrated audio processing system of claim 6, wherein the input device is an image capture device.

8. The integrated audio processing system of claim 6, wherein the listener position information is an angle between a listener and a dummy speaker of the plurality of dummy speakers.

9. The integrated audio processing system of claim 6, wherein the listener position information is a distance between a listener and a dummy speaker of the plurality of dummy speakers.

10-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A method for controlling loudness of sound reproduction comprising:

receiving an audio signal;

acquiring a control request;

separating the audio signal into a plurality frequency ranges;

checking reference data for each of the frequency ranges;

adjusting the audio signal in each frequency range of the plurality of frequency ranges based on the acquired control request and the reference data; and

synthesizing the adjusted audio signal in each frequency range of the plurality of frequency ranges for further processing to generate audio output.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the reference data are pre-set loudness values corresponding to each frequency range.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein pre-set loudness values are based on a human sensitivity to a sound pressure level corresponding to each frequency range.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the reference data are modified according to a user input.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining a position of a user with respect to a sound reproduction source,

wherein the reference data are information regarding human sensitivity to sound pressure level corresponding to each frequency range.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein determining the position of the user comprises measuring an angle between the user and the sound reproduction source.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the angle between the user and the sound reproduction source is measured horizontally and the angle between the user and the sound reproduction source is measured vertically.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the reference data corresponds to a user'"'"'s preference according to user input.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the reference data is a sound reproduction source characteristic.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the sound reproduction source characteristic is:

a sound reproduction capability across a frequency spectrum;

nominal output power;

recommended amplification power;

input impedance;

speaker housing dimensions;

sensitivity;

crossover frequency;

or

number of sub-speaker components.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the reference data is normal equal-loudness-level contours for pure tones.

29-45. -45. (canceled)