Automatic correction of power spectral balance in audio source material
First Claim
1. A method for equalizing an audio input signal provided from an audio source storage medium, comprising:
- characterizing a spectral balance corresponding to a reference audio source storage medium, thereby establishing a reference spectral balance;
storing said reference spectral balance to a reference memory location;
characterizing a spectral balance corresponding to said audio source storage medium, thereby establishing a current source spectral balance;
reading a parameter from said audio source storage medium;
using said parameter to index into a given memory location which stores particular equalizer settings;
controlling an equalizer unit in accordance with said particular equalizer settings, wherein said equalizer unit is configured to adjust the magnitude of selected frequency ranges of said audio input signal in accordance with said particular equalizer settings, thereby producing an audio output signal; and
calculating said particular equalizer settings in response to comparing a particular one of a plurality of reference spectral balances and said current source spectral balance, wherein said particular one of said plurality of reference spectral balances is user-selectable, and wherein said plurality of reference spectral balances is established by characterizing a plurality of spectral balances each corresponding to one of a plurality of reference audio source storage media, and wherein said plurality of reference spectral balances are stored in a plurality of reference memory locations, and wherein said plurality of reference memory locations are non-volatile.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An audio system that automatically corrects for variations in spectral balance in audio source material. The audio system comprises a power spectrum analyzer and a source correction equalizer unit coupled to receive an audio input signal, and an index control unit coupled to a spectral balance correction data memory. A reference spectral balance may initially be established by playing a reference source medium with desired sound attributes. The power spectrum analyzer characterizes the spectral balance of the reference source medium, storing the results in non-volatile memory. When a particular source medium is played for the first time, the index control unit reads an identifying parameter from the particular source medium. Because there is no entry for the identifying parameter in spectral balance correction data memory, the particular source medium has not been previously played on the audio system. The particular source medium is then played in its entirety, with the index control unit signaling the power spectrum analyzer to characterize the spectral balance of the particular source medium. When the particular source medium is finished playing, an equalizer settings compute unit compares the reference spectral balance and the spectral balance for the particular source medium and calculates equalizer correction settings, which are then stored in spectral balance correction data memory. These settings can be used to adjust the spectral balance of the particular source medium to match that of the reference source medium. When the particular source medium is subsequently played, the identifying parameter may be used to recall these desired equalizer settings.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for equalizing an audio input signal provided from an audio source storage medium, comprising:
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characterizing a spectral balance corresponding to a reference audio source storage medium, thereby establishing a reference spectral balance;
storing said reference spectral balance to a reference memory location;
characterizing a spectral balance corresponding to said audio source storage medium, thereby establishing a current source spectral balance;
reading a parameter from said audio source storage medium;
using said parameter to index into a given memory location which stores particular equalizer settings;
controlling an equalizer unit in accordance with said particular equalizer settings, wherein said equalizer unit is configured to adjust the magnitude of selected frequency ranges of said audio input signal in accordance with said particular equalizer settings, thereby producing an audio output signal; and
calculating said particular equalizer settings in response to comparing a particular one of a plurality of reference spectral balances and said current source spectral balance, wherein said particular one of said plurality of reference spectral balances is user-selectable, and wherein said plurality of reference spectral balances is established by characterizing a plurality of spectral balances each corresponding to one of a plurality of reference audio source storage media, and wherein said plurality of reference spectral balances are stored in a plurality of reference memory locations, and wherein said plurality of reference memory locations are non-volatile. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An audio system configured to equalize an audio input signal provided from an audio source storage medium, comprising:
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a processing unit coupled to receive said audio input signal;
a memory coupled to said processing unit, wherein said memory includes a given memory location which stores particular equalizer settings; and
an equalizer unit coupled to said processing unit, wherein said equalizer unit is configured to receive said audio input signal;
wherein said processing unit is configured to read a parameter which identifies said audio source storage medium from said audio source storage medium, and wherein said processing unit is configured to use said parameter to index into said given memory location and wherein said processing unit is further configured to control said equalizer unit in accordance with said particular equalizer settings, wherein said equalizer unit is configured to adjust the magnitude of selected frequency ranges of said audio input signal, thereby producing an audio output signal;
wherein said processing unit is further configured to characterize a spectral balance corresponding to a reference audio source storage medium, thereby establishing a reference spectral balance;
wherein said processing unit is further configured to store said reference spectral balance to a reference memory location;
wherein said processing unit is further configured to characterize a spectral balance corresponding to said audio source storage medium, thereby establishing a current source spectral balance; and
wherein said processing unit is further configured to calculate said particular equalizer settings in response to comparing a particular one of a plurality of reference spectral balances and said current source spectral balance, wherein said particular one of said plurality of reference spectral balances is user-selectable, and wherein said plurality of reference spectral balances is established by characterizing a plurality of spectral balances each corresponding to one of a plurality of reference audio source storage media, and wherein said plurality of reference spectral balances are stored in a plurality of reference memory locations, and wherein said plurality of reference memory locations are non-volatile. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An audio system configured to equalize an audio input signal provided from an audio source storage medium, comprising:
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an index control unit configured to read a parameter which identifies said audio source storage medium from said audio source storage medium;
a spectral balance correction memory coupled to said index control unit, wherein said spectral balance correction memory stores particular equalizer settings;
a source correction equalization unit coupled to said spectral balance correction memory, wherein said source correction equalization unit is coupled to receive said audio input signal and said particular equalizer settings, and wherein said source correction equalization unit is further configured to adjust the magnitude of selected frequency ranges of said audio input signal, thereby establishing an audio output signal;
a power spectrum analyzer, wherein said power spectrum analyzer is configured to characterize a spectral balance corresponding to a reference audio source storage medium, thereby establishing a reference spectral balance;
a reference spectral balance memory, wherein said power spectrum analyzer is further configured to store said reference spectral balance to said reference spectral balance memory;
a current source spectral balance memory, wherein said power spectrum analyzer is further configured to characterize a spectral balance corresponding to said audio source storage medium, thereby establishing a current source spectral balance, and wherein said power spectrum analyzer is configured to store said current source spectral balance to said current source spectral balance memory; and
an equalizer setting compute unit configured to calculate said particular equalizer settings in response to comparing a particular one of a plurality of reference spectral balances and said current source spectral balance, wherein said particular one of said plurality of reference spectral balances is user-selectable, and wherein said plurality of reference spectral balances is established by characterizing a plurality of spectral balances each corresponding to one of a plurality of reference audio source storage media, and wherein said plurality of reference spectral balances are stored in a plurality of reference memory locations, and wherein said plurality of reference memory locations are non-volatile. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for equalizing an audio input signal provided from an audio source storage medium, comprising:
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characterizing a spectral balance corresponding to a reference audio source storage medium, thereby establishing a reference spectral balance, wherein said reference spectral balance is user-selectable;
storing said reference spectral balance within a reference non-volatile memory location;
characterizing a spectral balance corresponding to said audio input signal, thereby establishing a current source spectral balance;
calculating a particular equalizer setting in response to comparing said reference spectral balance and said current source spectral balance;
storing said particular equalizer setting into a given memory location;
reading a parameter from said audio source storage medium;
using said parameter to index into said given memory location which stores said particular equalizer setting; and
controlling an equalizer unit in accordance with said particular equalizer setting, wherein said equalizer unit is configured to adjust the magnitude of selected frequency ranges of said audio input signal in accordance with said particular equalizer settings, thereby producing an audio output signal. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. An audio system configured to equalize an audio input signal provided from an audio storage medium, comprising:
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a processing unit coupled to receive said audio input signal;
a memory coupled to said processing unit, wherein said memory includes a given memory location which stores a particular equalizer setting; and
an equalizer unit coupled to said processing unit, wherein said equalizer unit is configured to receive said audio input signal;
wherein said processing unit is configured to read a parameter from said audio source storage medium and to use said parameter to index into said given memory location, and wherein said processing unit is further configured to control said equalizer unit in accordance with said particular equalizer setting to thereby adjust the magnitude of selected frequency ranges of said audio input signal to produce an audio output signal;
wherein said processing unit is further configured to characterize a spectral balance corresponding to a reference audio source storage medium, thereby establishing a reference spectral balance, wherein said reference spectral balance is user-selectable;
wherein said processing unit is further configured to store said reference spectral balance to a reference memory location;
wherein said processing unit is further configured to characterize a spectral balance corresponding to said audio input signal, thereby establishing a current source spectral balance; and
wherein said processing unit is further configured to calculate said particular equalizer setting by comparing said reference spectral balance and said current source spectral balance, and to store said particular equalizer setting within said given memory location. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification