Automatic adjustment system and automatic adjustment method for audio devices

• US 5,581,621 A
• Filed: 04/19/1994
• Issued: 12/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Inventors: Koyama, Yoshihide, Kikuchi, Kazuo, Yokotsuka, Yoshitake, Shibasaki, Mitsuharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARVEY, MINSUN OH
• Application Number:
  US08/229,986
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 381/107, 381/103, 381/98, 381/101, 381/102, 381/104
• US Class Current: 381/103
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/301 Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/40 Visual indication of stereophonic sound image

Abstract

A system for automatically adjusting an audio system with a programmable parametric equalizer includes an audio analysis unit that can be connected to the audio unit. The parametric equalizer adjusts the frequency response of the audio system in response to equalizer data stored in the audio system. The audio analysis unit generates various reference signals and applies the reference signals selectively to separate channels of the audio system. A microphone picks up audible output of the audio system as the parametric equalizer corrects it and the audio system outputs the reference signal. The audio analysis unit, by giving directions to a user or by directly programmably addressing the audio system, changes the equalizer data, amplifier gain, polarity of speaker connections and other parameters responsively to the output picked up by the microphone. The audio analysis unit also includes a floppy disk drive to store the results of the adjustments. If the adjustment data is lost, it can be restored from the stored copy made by the audio analysis unit. Through the present invention, a sophisticated audio system can be set up in a short period of time.

Claims

1. An automatic adjustment system for audio devices comprising:

a memory for storing equalizer data;

an audio device having programmable equalizer means for selectively modifying an audio output thereof according to said equalizer data;

an audio signal analyzer having means for generating a reference signal;

said audio signal analyzer being connectable to at least one of said programmable equalizer means and said audio device;

said audio device including means for generating an audible output responsively to said reference signal;

said audio signal analyzer having a means for storing a goal profile indicative of a desired frequency response of said means for generating an audible output;

said audio signal analyzer including means for comparing said audible output with said goal profile; and

means for automatically adjusting said equalizer data responsively to a result of said comparing.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

means for printing out data corresponding to said equalizer data; and

means for displaying said data corresponding to said equalizer data.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising nonvolatile storage means, connectable to said audio signal analyzer, for storing said goal profile and a result of said adjusting.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1, further wherein:

said means for comparing includes a microphone connectable with said audio signal analyzer;

said audio signal analyzer includes means for displaying a result of said comparing;

said memory includes means for storing channel gain data;

said audio device includes a multichannel amplifier;

channels of said multichannel amplifier each having a respective gain;

means for setting each of said respective gains responsively to said channel gain data; and

means for setting each of said respective gains responsively to said result of said comparing.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4, further comprising:

said equalizer means including means for dividing said output into a plurality of frequency subbands;

said equalizer means including means for selectively amplifying each said frequency subbands;

first and second ones of said channels;

each of said subbands together with at least another of said subbands forming one of a plurality of bands, each consisting of a contiguous range of frequencies defined by a lower cutoff frequency and an upper cutoff frequency;

means for selectably directing each of said bands to a corresponding one of said first and second channels;

an output of said first and second channels;

means for detecting a frequency response of said output;

means for generating a real-time histogram-type display of said frequency response; and

means for graphically displaying said lower cutoff frequency and said upper cutoff frequency of each of said bands with said histogram-type display.

6. Apparatus as in claim 4, further comprising:

a floppy disk drive of said audio signal analyzer;

said floppy disk drive having a floppy disk; and

means for storing said channel gain data and said equalizer data on said floppy disk.

10. Apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

at least two amplifiers;

each of said amplifiers having a gain; and

means for controlling each of said gains of said amplifiers responsively to commands from said audio signal analyzer.

12. Apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

means for connecting said audio signal analyzer to said audio device;

said means for connecting including a data link;

means for monitoring an integrity of said data link;

said means for monitoring including means for sending a connection check command from said analyzer means to said audio device; and

said means for monitoring including means for responding to said connection check command.

13. Apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

said means for automatically adjusting said equalizer being responsive to an automatic adjustment procedure thereof;

at least one of said audio signal analyzer and said audio device having a user interface having means for entering control commands; and

means for blocking said control commands during said automatic adjustment procedure.

24. Apparatus as in claim 3, further comprising:

means for entering text data; and

means for storing said text data in said nonvolatile storage means.

7. An automatic adjustment system for an audio device comprising:

an audio analyzer;

a digital signal processor connected to are output of said audio device;

a multi-channel amplifier having channels, each having a respected gain;

a time-alignment device for correcting a phase relationship between said respective signals;

means for entering and storing a goal profile defining a desired frequency response of said audio device;

means for storing equalizer data;

a parametric equalizer of said digital signal processor having means for altering said frequency response of said audio device responsively to said equalizer data;

said audio analyzer having a means for generating a reference signal and transmitting said reference signal to said audio device;

said audio analyzer having means for measuring said frequency response; and

said audio analyzer having means for changing said equalizer data responsively to said goal profile and said measuring.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7, further comprising means for adjusting said respective gains responsively to said goal profile and said measuring.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein:

said audio device produces an output signal when said reference signal is transmitted to said audio device;

each of said channels carries a portion of said output signal;

said portion ranging over a respective frequency band of said each of said channels;

said means for adjusting includes means for averaging said frequency response over each of said respective frequency bands to produce a first series of averages, each corresponding to one of said frequency bands;

said means for adjusting includes means for averaging said goal profile over said each of said respective frequency bands to produce a second series of averages, each corresponding to one of said frequency bands; and

said means for adjusting includes means for changing said gain of said channel corresponding to each of said frequency bands by an amount equal to a difference between said average of first series corresponding to said each of said frequency bands and said average of second series corresponding to said each of said frequency bands minus a difference between said average of first series corresponding to a one of said frequency bands and said average of second series corresponding to said one of said frequency bands.

11. An automatic adjustment system for audio devices comprising:

an audio device having at least two amplifiers;

each of said at least two amplifiers having a gain;

automatic adjustment means connectable to said audio device;

means for controlling each of said gains of said at least two amplifiers responsively to commands from said automatic adjustment means;

said automatic adjustment means including;

a microprocessor;

a transmission unit for receiving control signals from an audio signal analyzer;

each of said at least two amplifiers having an input;

a signal applied to each of said inputs;

an input control unit for attenuating said signal applied to said input;

each of said input control units having an output;

each of said amplifiers having a power amplifier; and

said output of said each of said input control units being applied to said power amplifier.

14. A system for analyzing an output of an audio device, comprising:

means for storing equalizer data;

equalizer means for dividing said output into a plurality of frequency subbands;

means for detecting a frequency response of said output;

said equalizer means including means for selectively amplifying each of said frequency subbands in response to an output of said means for detecting a frequency response and said equalizer data;

at least first and second channels of said audio device;

each of said subbands together with at least another of said subbands forming one of a plurality of bands, each consisting of a contiguous range of frequencies defined by a lower cutoff frequency and an upper cutoff frequency;

means for selectively directing each of said bands to a corresponding one of said channels;

means for generating a real-time histogram-type display of said frequency response; and

means for graphically displaying said lower cutoff frequency and said upper cutoff frequency at each of said bands with said histogram-type display.

15. Apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said means for graphically displaying includes means for displaying said lower cutoff frequency and said upper cutoff frequency as a bar graph.

16. Apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said means for displaying said lower cutoff frequencies and said upper cutoff frequencies is updated when said lower cutoff frequencies and said upper cutoff frequencies are changed.

17. A gain adjustment system for channels of a multichannel amplifier of an audio system, comprising:

each of said channels having an adjustable gain;

a parametric equalizer for modifying an output of said audio device and outputting separate signals;

each of said signals being directed to a corresponding one of said channels;

each of said channels having means for driving a respective speaker;

said parametric equalizer having an input;

analyzer means, connectable to said parametric equalizer, for generating a reference signal and applying said reference signal to said input of said parametric equalizer; and

said analyzer means including means for detecting a sound intensity level generated by an output of each of said respective speakers and indicating a result of said detecting for bearing said adjustable gain.

18. Apparatus as in claim 17, wherein said means for indicating includes the generation of a digital audio message.

19. Apparatus as in claim 17, further comprising:

means for determining when said output of said each of said respective speakers is below a specified level;

means for directing a user to increase said adjustable gain of a one of said channels that drives said each of said respective speakers when said each of said respective speakers is below said specified level;

means for determining when said output of said each of said respective speakers is above another specified level; and

means for directing a user to decrease said adjustable gain of said one of said channels that drives said each of said respective speakers when said each of said respective speakers is above said specified level.

20. An automatic adjustment system for audio devices comprising:

a memory for storing equalizer data;

an audio device having programmable equalizer means for selectively modifying an audio output thereof according to said equalizer data;

an audio signal analyzer having means for generating a reference signal;

said audio signal analyzer being connectable to at least one of said programmable equalizer means and said audio device;

said audio device including means for generating an audible output responsively to said reference signal;

means for storing a current goal profile;

said audio signal analyzer including means for comparing said audible output with said current goal profile;

means for automatically adjusting said equalizer data responsively to a result of said comparing;

means for entering a proposed goal profile;

said means for entering including means for comparing said proposed goal profile with said current goal profile stored in said means for storing and one of confirming and rejecting said proposed goal profile responsively to a result of said comparing.

21. Apparatus as in claim 20, further comprising:

means for piece-wise integrating an absolute value of a differential function to generate a parameter;

said differential function being equal to a difference between said proposed goal profile and said current goal profile;

said means for comparing including means for confirming said proposed goal profile when said parameter is one of less than and equal to a specified value; and

said means for comparing including means for rejecting said proposed goal profile when said parameter is greater than said specified value.

22. An automatic adjustment system for audio devices comprising:

a memory for storing programmable gain data and equalizer data;

an audio device having programmable equalizer means for selectively modifying an audio output thereof according to said equalizer data;

said audio device having programmable amplifier means for amplifying said audio output according to said programmable gain data;

audio analyzer means, connectable to said audio device, having means for overwriting said programmable gain data and said equalizer data with adjusted programmable gain data and adjusted equalizer data, respectively;

said audio signal analyzer having means for generating a reference signal;

said audio device including means for generating an audible output responsively to said reference signal;

said audio signal analyzer having means for storing goal data indicating a desired result of said amplifying and said modifying;

means for comparing said goal data with said audible output; and

said audio analyzer including means for permanently storing said goal data, said adjusted gain data and said equalizer data.

23. A device for automatically adjusting an audio system, comprising:

an audio device having an output;

a signal processor;

means for applying said output to said signal processor;

means for storing equalizer data;

said signal processor including means for altering a frequency response of said output, responsively to said equalizer data, to generate a corrected output;

an audio analyzer;

means for connecting said audio analyzer to said signal processor;

means for entering a goal curve in said audio analyzer;

said goal profile indicating a desired result of said altering when a reference signal is applied to said signal processor;

said audio analyzer including means for storing said goal profile in said means for storing;

said audio analyzer including means for generating said reference signal and applying said reference signal to said signal processor;

said audio analyzer including means for measuring said frequency response;

said audio analyzer including means for adjusting said equalizer data responsively to said measuring and said goal data;

said audio analyzer including means for saving said goal profile and said equalizer data on a nonvolatile memory;

said audio analyzer including means for printing out said goal profile; and

means for restoring said goal profile data and said equalizer data from said means for saving to said signal processor.