Speaker equalization tool

• US 7,123,728 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2001
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: King, Nick, Culbert, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swerdlow, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/929,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20030035555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,889 Days
• Field of Search: 381 98-103, 381/109, 381/104, 381/57, 381/113, 715/716, 700/94
• US Class Current: 381/98
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/005 of digital signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/025 Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/008 Visual indication of individual signal levels visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers

Abstract

A computer readable medium containing program instructions for controlling a parametric equalizer is provided. Generally, a computer readable code is provided for displaying a composite equalization curve, wherein the composite equalization curve is formed from at least a first frequency filter with a first center frequency, a second frequency filter with a second center frequency, and a third frequency filter with a third center frequency. A computer readable code is provided for allowing a dragging movement of the first center frequency, the second center frequency, and the third center frequency.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for controlling a parametric equalizer, comprising:

computer readable code for displaying a composite equalization curve, a first frequency curve with a first center frequency, a second frequency curve with a second center frequency, and a third frequency curve with a third center frequency, wherein the composite equalization curve is formed from at least the first frequency curve, the second frequency curve, and the third frequency curve;

computer readable code for allowing a dragging movement of the first center frequency, the second center frequency, and the third center frequency;

computer readable code for providing real time changes in equalization according to changes in the equalization curve caused by dragging movement;

computer readable code for displaying a plurality of presets, wherein each preset is displayed as a thumbnail composite curve that graphically indicates the equalization provided by the preset; and

an output amplifier electrically connected to the parametric equalizer, wherein the equalization curve represents an equalization curve of the output amplifier.

2. The computer readable medium, as recited in claim 1, further comprising computer readable code for simultaneously displaying equalization curves for a plurality of presets.

3. The computer readable medium, as recited in claim 2, wherein the first frequency curve has a first bandwidth and the second frequency curve has a second bandwidth and wherein the computer readable code for allowing a dragging movement, further comprises computer readable code for allowing a dragging movement of the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth.

4. The computer readable medium, as recited in claim 3, further comprising computer readable code for providing a pull down menu for selecting a parametric filter type.

5. The computer readable medium, as recited in claim 1, further comprising computer readable code for simultaneously displaying a first filter curve, a second filter curve, and a third filter curve with the composite equalization curve, wherein the composite equalization curve is a sum of the first filter curve, the second filter curve, and the third filter curve.

6. The computer readable medium, as recited in claim 5, wherein the first filter curve, the second filter curve, and the third filter curve are Gaussian equalization curves.

7. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for controlling a parametric equalizer, comprising:

computer readable code for displaying a composite equalization curve, a first frequency curve with a first center frequency, a second frequency curve with a second center frequency, and a third frequency curve with a third center frequency, wherein the composite equalization curve is formed from at least the first frequency curve, the second frequency curve, and the third frequency curve;

computer readable code for allowing a dragging movement of the first center frequency, the second center frequency, and the third center frequency;

computer readable code for providing real time changes in equalization according to changes in the equalization curve caused by dragging movement, wherein the dragging movement of the first center frequency is accomplished by dragging a first center frequency object in a first direction; and

computer readable code for allowing a dragging movement of a first gain, wherein the dragging movement of the first gain is accomplished by dragging the first center frequency object in a second direction perpendicular to the first directon; and

computer readable code for displaying a plurality of presets, wherein each preset is displayed as a thumbnail composite curve that graphically indicates the equalization provided by the preset.

8. The computer readable medium, as recited in claim 7, further comprising computer readable code for simultaneously displaying a first filter curve, a second filter curve, and a third filter curve with the composite equalization curve, wherein the composite equalization curve is a sum of the first filter curve, the second filter curve, and the third filter curve.

9. The computer readable medium, as recited in claim 8, wherein the first filter curve, the second filter curve, and the third, filter curve are Gaussian equalization curves.

10. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for controlling a parametric equalizer, comprising:

computer readable code for displaying a composite equalization curve, a first frequency curve with a first center frequency, a second frequency curve with a second center frequency, and a third frequency curve with a third center frequency, wherein the composite equalization curve is formed from at least the first frequency curve, the second frequency curve, and the third frequency curve;

computer readable code for allowing a dragging movement of the first center frequency, the second center frequency, and the third center frequency;

computer readable code for providing real time changes in equalization according to changes in the equalization curve caused by dragging movement, wherein the dragging movement of the first center frequency is accomplished by dragging a first center frequency object in a first direction;

computer readable code that allows a user to designate the first frequency curve as one of an equalization curve, a low pass filter, a high pass filter, a notch filter, a low shelf filter, and a high shelf filter and

computer readable code for displaying a plurality of presets, wherein each preset is displayed as a thumbnail composite curve that graphically indicates the equalization provided by the preset.

11. The computer readable medium, as recited in claim 10, further comprising computer readable code for simultaneously displaying a first filter curve, a second filter curve, and a third filter curve with the composite equalization curve, wherein the composite equalization curve is a sum of the first filter curve, the second filter curve, and the third filter curve.

12. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for controlling a parametric equalizer, comprising:

computer readable code for displaying a composite equalization curve, a first frequency curve with a first center frequency, a second frequency curve with a second center frequency, and a third frequency curve with a third center frequency, wherein the composite equalization curve is formed from at least the first frequency curve, the second frequency curve, and the third frequency curve;

computer readable code for allowing a dragging movement of the first center frequency, the second center frequency, and the third center frequency;

computer readable code for providing real time changes in equalization according to changes in the equalization curve caused by dragging movement;

computer readable code for saving equalization parameters as a preset;

computer readable code for displaying a plurality of presets, wherein each preset is displayed as a thumbnail composite curve that graphically indicates the equalization provided by the preset;

computer readable code for identifying a preset with a speaker type; and

computer readable code for loading a preset according to speaker type.

13. The computer readable medium, as recited in claim 12, further comprising computer readable code for simultaneously displaying a first filter curve, a second filter curve, and a third filter curve with the composite equalization curve, wherein the composite equalization curve is a sum of the first filter curve, the second filter curve, and the third filter curve.

14. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for controlling a parametric equalizer, comprising:

computer readable code for simultaneously displaying a composite equalization curve, a first filter curve with a first center frequency, a second filter curve with a second center frequency, and a third filter curve with a third center frequency, wherein the composite equalization curve is a sum of the first filter curve, the second filter curve, and the third filter curve; and

computer readable code for allowing a dragging movement of the first center frequency, the second center frequency, and the third center frequency; and

computer readable code for displaying a plurality of presets, wherein each preset is displayed as a thumbnail composite curve that graphically indicates the equalization provided by the preset.

15. The computer readable medium, as recited in claim 14, further comprising computer readable code for simultaneously displaying equalization curves for a plurality of presets.

16. The computer readable medium, as recited in claim 14, wherein the first filter curve has a first bandwidth and the second filter curve has a second bandwidth and wherein the computer readable code for allowing a dragging movement, further comprises computer readable code for allowing a dragging movement of the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth.

17. The computer readablc medium, as recited in claim 14, wherein the first filter curve, the second filter curve, and the third filter curve are Gaussian equalization curves.