Integrated multimedia signal processing system using centralized processing of signals

• US 20060161283A1
• Filed: 03/21/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chul Chung
• Original Assignee: Chul Chung
• Inventors: Chung, Chul
• Application Number:
  US11/384,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20060161283A1
• 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 speaker coupled with the central processing unit,

wherein the speaker transmits a performance characteristic to the central processing unit, and

wherein the central processing unit processes the audio signal in response to the transmitted performance characteristic.

2. The integrated audio processing system of claim 1, wherein the speaker transmits the performance characteristic in response to a query from the central processing unit.

3. The integrated audio processing system of claim 2, wherein the speaker comprises a storage device containing the performance characteristic.

4. The integrated audio processing system of claim 1, wherein the performance 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.

5. A method for adjusting an audio signal, comprising:

querying a sound reproduction device;

acquiring a sound reproduction device performance characteristic from the sound reproduction device; and

processing an audio signal from an audio source in response to the sound reproduction device performance characteristic.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the sound reproduction device performance characteristic is a sound reproduction capability across a frequency spectrum, and

the processing of the audio signal comprises adjusting the crossover frequency of the audio signal based on the sound reproduction capability across a frequency spectrum.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing the sound reproduction device performance characteristic to a user;

acquiring user input to modify sound reproduction device performance characteristic based on the user'"'"'s preference.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sound reproduction device performance characteristic is provided to the user graphically.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the sound reproduction device performance characteristic provided to the user is a suggested optimal range for the crossover frequency.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the information is a sound reproduction device identifier.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

looking up the sound reproduction device performance characteristic in response to the sound reproduction device identifier.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the information is sound reproduction device speaker performance characteristic.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the performance 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.