AUDIO REPRODUCTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20130216071A1
• Filed: 02/21/2013
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PLS IV, LLC (Pretium Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intertrust Technologies Corporation (Fidelio Acquisition Co LLC)
• Inventors: Maher, David P., Boccon-Gibod, Gilles, Mitchell, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 9,438,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/021 Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/004 for microphones H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/007 for public address systems public address systems per se H04R27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and method are disclosed for facilitating efficient calibration of filters for correcting room and/or speaker-based distortion and/or binaural imbalances in audio reproduction, and/or for producing three-dimensional sound in stereo system environments. According to some embodiments, using a portable device such as a smartphone or tablet, a user can calibrate speakers by initiating playback of a test signal, detecting playback of the test signal with the portable device'"'"'s microphone, and repeating this process for a number of speakers and/or device positions (e.g., next to each of the user'"'"'s ears). A comparison can be made between the test signal and the detected signal, and this can be used to more precisely calibrate rendering of future signals by the speakers.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating speakers for a particular listening environment, the method comprising:

positioning a microphone of a portable device at a first location in the environment;

initiating playback of a first piece of audio content from a first speaker;

detecting playback of the first piece of audio content from the first speaker using the microphone;

positioning the microphone at a second location in the environment;

initiating playback of a second piece of audio content;

detecting playback of the second piece of audio content from the first speaker using the microphone;

based at least in part on the detected playback of the first piece of audio content and the detected playback of the second piece of audio content, determining one or more adjustments to be applied to further audio content before playback by the first speaker; and

applying the adjustments to additional audio content before it is played by the first speaker.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the step of initiating playback of the first piece of audio content from the first speaker further comprises subsequently initiating playback of the first piece of audio content from a second speaker.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the step of initiating playback of the first piece of audio content from the first speaker further comprises initiating playback of a third piece of audio content from a second speaker, wherein the first piece of audio content is different from the third piece of audio content, and in which playback of the first piece of audio content from the first speaker overlaps, at least in part, with playback of the third piece of audio content from the second speaker.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the first location comprises a position proximate to a first ear of a person within the listening environment.

5. The method of claim 4, in which the second location comprises a position proximate to a second ear of the person.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the first piece of audio content and the second piece of audio content are the same.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the first piece of audio content comprises one or more synchronization patterns.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the portable device comprises a mobile phone or tablet.

9. The method of claim 1, in which determining one or more adjustments to be applied to further audio content comprises performing spectral analysis on the detected playback of the first piece of audio content and the second piece of audio content.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

comparing a frequency response of the detected playback of the first piece of audio content with an ideal frequency response.