Method and Apparatus in an Audio System

• US 20090180632A1
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Genelec Oy
• Original Assignee: Genelec Oy
• Inventors: Goldberg, Andrew, Makivirta, Aki, Urhonen, Juha, Tikkanen, Jussi
• Granted Patent: US 8,175,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/301 Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/302 Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus in a sound-reproduction system, in which method an electrical calibration signal is formed, an audio signal is formed in the loudspeaker from the calibration signal, the response of the audio signal is measured and analysed, and the loudspeaker system is adjusted on the basis of the measurement results. The operator is permitted to made additional alterations to the settings of the loudspeaker system on the basis of the measurement performed, the effects of the alterations are calculated and displayed to the operator without additional measurements, and the additional settings are implemented in real time in the loudspeaker system.

Claims

1. A method in a sound-reproduction system, in which an electrical calibration signal is formed, an audio signal is formed in the loudspeaker from the calibration signal, the response of the audio signal is measured and analysed, and the loudspeaker system is adjusted on the basis of the measurement results, wherein:

the operator is permitted to make additional alterations to the settings of the loudspeaker system on the basis of the measurement performed,

the effects of the settings are calculated and displayed to the operator without additional measurements, and

the additional settings are implemented in real time in the loudspeaker system.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the scanning speed of the calibration signal is logarithmic.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data are displayed on the display of the computer.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is used for determining the distance of the loudspeaker.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is used to set the phase of the subwoofer and the main loudspeaker to be the same at the crossover frequency.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is used for equalizing, i.e. calibrating the response of all the loudspeakers of the system in the listening room.

3. The method according to claim l, wherein the scanning of the calibration signal is started from the lowest frequencies.

8. An apparatus in a sound-reproduction system, which comprises a loudspeaker, control apparatus for the loudspeaker, signal and control connections to the loudspeaker, a microphone for measuring the response of the loudspeaker, and analysis and control apparatuses for analysing and setting the signal obtained from the microphone, on the basis of the analysis results, wherein the apparatus comprises means, with the aid of which:

the operator is permitted to make additional alterations to the settings of the loudspeaker system, on the basis of the measurement performed,

means for calculating the effects of the settings and presenting them to the operator without additional measurements, and

means for implementing the additional settings in real time in the loudspeaker system.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the loudspeaker comprises means for forming an essentially sinusoidal electrical variable-frequency calibration signal, in which case the calibration signal scans at least substantially through the entire audio frequency range.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the scanning speed of the calibration signal is logarithmic.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the scanning of the calibration signal is started from the lowest frequencies.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus is used to determine the distance of the loudspeaker.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus is used to set the phase of the subwoofer and the main loudspeaker to be the same at the crossover frequency.

14. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus is used for equalizing, i.e. calibrating the response of all the loudspeakers of the system, in the listening room.

15. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the loudspeaker is an active loudspeaker, i.e. it contains an amplifier.