Method and apparatus for multi-channel sound system calibration

• US 6,798,889 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2000
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
• Inventors: Jot, Jean-Marc, Cheng, Vincent, Dicker, Sam, Hill, Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Minsun Oh
• Assistant Examiner(s): PENDLETON, BRIAN T
• Application Number:
  US09/711,990
• Time in Patent Office: 1,415 Days
• Field of Search: 381/300, 381/307, 381/303, 381/310, 381/119, 381/103
• US Class Current: 381/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/024 Positioning of loudspeaker enclosures for spatial sound reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/008 Visual indication of individual signal levels visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/40 Visual indication of stereophonic sound image

Abstract

A calibration system for calibrating multi-channel sound systems. The calibration system includes a method for calibrating a sound system that includes a plurality of loudspeakers. The method includes steps of mapping the plurality of loudspeakers into a virtual loudspeaker system representation displayable to a user, activating at least one calibration function that creates a calibration signal that is reproduced by one or more of the plurality of loudspeakers to produce a calibration sound perceivable by the user, modifying the virtual loudspeaker system representation to include a virtual calibration indicator that indicates a characteristic of the calibration signal, and adjusting the virtual calibration indicator based on a user input, wherein when the virtual calibration indicator is adjusted, a corresponding adjustment is made to the characteristic of the calibration signal until a selected calibration sound is achieved.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating a sound system that includes a plurality of loudspeakers, the method comprising steps of:

mapping the plurality of loudspeakers into a virtual loudspeaker system representation displayable to a user;

activating at least one calibration function that creates a calibration signal that is reproduced by one or more of the plurality of loudspeakers to produce a calibration sound perceivable by the user;

modifying the virtual loudspeaker system representation to include a virtual calibration indicator that indicates a characteristic of the calibration signal; and

adjusting the virtual calibration indicator based on a user input, wherein when the virtual calibration indicator is adjusted, a corresponding adjustment is made to the characteristic of the calibration signal until a selected calibration sound is achieved.

2. Apparatus for calibrating a sound system that includes a plurality of loudspeakers, the apparatus comprising:

means for mapping the plurality of loudspeakers into a virtual loudspeaker system representation displayable to a user;

means for activating at least one calibration function that creates a calibration signal that is reproduced by one or more of the plurality of loudspeakers to produce a calibration sound perceivable by the user;

means for modifying the virtual loudspeaker system representation to include a virtual calibration indicator that indicates a characteristic of the calibration signal; and

means for adjusting the virtual calibration indicator based on a user input, wherein when the virtual calibration indicator is adjusted, a corresponding adjustment is made to the characteristic of the calibration signal until a selected calibration sound is achieved.

3. Apparatus for calibrating a sound system that includes a plurality of loudspeakers, the apparatus comprising:

a display;

an input device operable by a user;

a sound generator coupled to the loudspeakers, the sound generator generates at least one calibration signal that has at least one characteristic, the at least one calibration signal is reproduced by one or more of the loudspeakers to produce a calibration sound that is perceivable by the user; and

a processor coupled to the display, the input device and the sound generator, the processor operable to;

map the plurality of loudspeakers into a virtual loudspeaker system representation that is displayable to the user on the display;

activate the sound generator to generate the at least one calibration signal;

modify the virtual loudspeaker system representation to include a virtual calibration indicator that indicates the at least one characteristic of the at least one calibration signal; and

adjust the virtual calibration indicator based on a user input from the input device, wherein when the virtual calibration indicator is adjusted, a corresponding adjustment is made to the characteristic of the calibration signal until a selected calibration sound is achieved.

4. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor in a multi-channel loudspeaker system, cause the processor to:

map a plurality of loudspeakers into a virtual loudspeaker system representation displayable to a user;

receive a user input that activates at least one calibration function that creates a calibration signal that is reproduced by one or more of the plurality of loudspeakers to produce a calibration sound perceivable by the user;

modify the virtual loudspeaker system representation to include a virtual calibration indicator that indicates a characteristic of the calibration signal; and

adjust the virtual calibration indicator based on a user input, wherein when the virtual calibration indicator is adjusted, a corresponding adjustment is made to the characteristic of the calibration signal until a selected calibration sound is achieved.

5. A method for calibrating a sound system that includes a plurality of loudspeakers, the method comprising steps of:

mapping the plurality of loudspeakers into a virtual loudspeaker system representation displayable to a user;

modifying the virtual loudspeaker system representation to represent a physical arrangement of the plurality of loudspeakers with respect to a listening position; and

determining calibration parameters based on the modified virtual loudspeaker representation, wherein the sound system is calibrated with the calibration parameters.