LOUDSPEAKER LOCALIZATION TECHNIQUES

• US 20110091055A1
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: LeBlanc, Wilfrid
• Application Number:
  US12/637,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20110091055A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/20 Processing of the output signals of the acoustic transducers of an array for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic H04R2203/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/301 Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone

Abstract

Techniques for loudspeaker localization are provided. Sound is received from a loudspeaker at a plurality of microphone locations. A plurality of audio signals is generated based on the sound received at the plurality of microphone locations. Location information is generated that indicates a loudspeaker location for the loudspeaker based on the plurality of audio signals. Whether the generated location information matches a predetermined desired loudspeaker location for the loudspeaker is determined. A corrective action with regard to the loudspeaker is enabled to be performed if the generated location information is determined to not match the predetermined desired loudspeaker location for the loudspeaker.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a plurality audio signals generated from sound received from a loudspeaker at a plurality of microphone locations;

generating location information that indicates a loudspeaker location for the loudspeaker based on the plurality of audio signals;

determining whether the generated location information matches a predetermined desired loudspeaker location for the loudspeaker; and

performing a corrective action with regard to the loudspeaker if the generated location information is determined to not match the predetermined desired loudspeaker location for the loudspeaker.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing comprises:

reversing first and second audio channels between the first loudspeaker and a second loudspeaker.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing comprises:

modifying an audio broadcast volume for the loudspeaker to render audio associated with the loudspeaker to originate at a virtual audio source positioned at the predetermined desired loudspeaker location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing comprises:

modifying audio generated by the loudspeaker and at least one additional loudspeaker to render audio associated with the loudspeaker to originate at a virtual audio source positioned at the predetermined desired loudspeaker location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing comprises:

modifying a phase of audio generated by the loudspeaker to enable stereo audio to be received at a predetermined audio receiving location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing comprises:

providing an indication to a user to physically reposition the loudspeaker.

7. A system, comprising:

at least one microphone;

audio source localization logic that receives a plurality audio signals generated from sound received from a loudspeaker by the at least one microphone at a plurality of microphone locations, wherein the audio source localization logic is configured to generate location information that indicates a loudspeaker location for the loudspeaker based on the plurality of audio signals;

a location comparator configured to determine whether the generated location information matches a predetermined desired loudspeaker location for the loudspeaker; and

an audio processor configured to enable a corrective action to be performed with regard to the loudspeaker if the location comparator determines that the generated location information does not match the predetermined desired loudspeaker location for the loudspeaker.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein if the location comparator determines that the first loudspeaker is positioned at an opposing loudspeaker position relative to the predetermined desired loudspeaker location, the audio processor is configured to reverse first and second audio channels between the first loudspeaker and a second loudspeaker.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein if the location comparator determines that the loudspeaker is positioned at a different distance than that of the predetermined desired loudspeaker location, the audio processor is configured to modify an audio broadcast volume for the loudspeaker to render audio associated with the loudspeaker to originate at a virtual audio source positioned at the predetermined desired loudspeaker location.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein if the location comparator determines that the loudspeaker is positioned at a different direction of arrival than that of the predetermined desired loudspeaker location, the audio processor is configured to modify audio generated by the loudspeaker and at least one additional loudspeaker to render audio associated with the loudspeaker to originate at a virtual audio source positioned at the predetermined desired loudspeaker location.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein if the location comparator determines that the loudspeaker is positioned at a different distance than that of the predetermined desired loudspeaker location, the audio processor is configured to modify a phase of audio generated by the loudspeaker to enable stereo audio to be received at a predetermined audio receiving location.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein if the location comparator determines that the generated location information does not match the predetermined desired loudspeaker location, the audio processor is configured to provide an indication at a user interface to physically reposition the loudspeaker.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the audio source localization logic includes a beamformer.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the audio source localization logic includes a time-delay estimator.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one microphone includes a single microphone that is moved to each of the plurality of microphone locations to receive the sound.

16. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one microphone includes a plurality of microphones, the plurality of microphones including a microphone positioned at each of the plurality of microphone locations to receive the sound.

17. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor to perform loudspeaker localization, comprising:

first computer program logic means for enabling the processor to generate location information that indicates a loudspeaker location for a loudspeaker based on a plurality of audio signals generated from sound received from the loudspeaker at a plurality of microphone locations;

second computer program logic means for enabling the processor to determine whether the generated location information matches a predetermined desired loudspeaker location for the loudspeaker; and

third computer program logic means for enabling the processor to perform a corrective action with regard to the loudspeaker if the generated location information is determined to not match the predetermined desired loudspeaker location for the loudspeaker.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said third computer program logic means comprises:

fourth computer program logic means for enabling the processor to reverse first and second audio channels between the first loudspeaker and a second loudspeaker.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said third computer program logic means comprises:

fourth computer program logic means for enabling the processor to modify an audio broadcast volume or a broadcast phase for the loudspeaker to render audio associated with the loudspeaker to originate at a virtual audio source positioned at the predetermined desired loudspeaker location.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein said third computer program logic means comprises:

fourth computer program logic means for enabling the processor to modify audio generated by the loudspeaker and at least one additional loudspeaker to render audio associated with the loudspeaker to originate at a virtual audio source positioned at the predetermined desired loudspeaker location.