Frequency normalization of audio signals

• US 7,778,718 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2005
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockford Corporation (Patrick Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rockford Corporation (Patrick Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Perkofski, Ryan J., Janke, Anthony D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCORD, PAUL C
• Application Number:
  US11/136,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20060271215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,911 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response

Abstract

A system and method is provided to produce a flatter frequency response from an audio source that has a non-flat frequency response and, as such, has missing spectral content. The system and method achieves a flatter frequency response by characterizing the frequency response of the audio source based upon a reference input signal. This reference input signal is used to establish a reference frequency response, which is stored in a memory and used to select equalizer settings. The system restores missing spectral content by way of summing multiple input signals from the audio source. The system then normalizes the frequency response based on characterizations of the signal by utilizing equalizer settings from memory.

Claims

1. A method for manipulating a frequency response of an audio source, comprising:

characterizing said frequency response of said audio source from at least two input signals, wherein said input signals are carried on multiple source channels;

storing said frequency response in a memory;

restoring missing frequency information to said at least two input signals by summing said multiple source channels;

producing an output signal having full range frequency information and a non-flat frequency response for each said at least two input signals;

selecting a power reference level; and

correcting the output signal having full range frequency information based upon the power reference level to provide the output signal with a flat frequency response for each of said at least two input signals.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising normalizing said frequency response to have a flatter frequency response.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring an equalizer setting from said memory to vary said output signal.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the power reference level involves averaging valid frequency response data.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a correction equalizer with a plurality of controls and adjusting the controls to compensate for an incoming response.

20. The method claim 1, wherein the power reference level is selected for all data points found in a pass-band.

4. A method for processing an audio signal from a head unit comprising:

applying at least two analog input signals from a head unit carried on multiple inputs to a differential input;

converting each of said at least two analog input signals to a digital signal;

characterizing a frequency response of said digital signal;

determining if said digital signal possesses full frequency range information;

employing a microcontroller to direct a signal processor to sum said multiple inputs to recover lost frequency information when said digital signal does not possess full frequency range information;

producing an analog output signal possessing full range frequency information and a non-flat frequency response for each of said at least two input signals;

selecting a power reference level; and

correcting the output signal having full range frequency information based upon the power reference level to provide the output signal with a flat frequency response for each of said at least two input signals.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising storing said frequency response in a memory.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising configuring an equalizer setting from said memory to vary said output signal.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising processing said analog output signal to possess a flatter frequency response.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing an instruction to sum said multiple inputs from a control device.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising establishing a reference frequency response level for providing said analog output signal with a flatter frequency response.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising processing said analog output signal with an analog preamplifier.

11. The method of claim 4, further comprising, accepting additional audio inputs from an auxiliary input.

12. A frequency normalization unit coupled between a head unit and an amplifier, comprising:

a input section that receives at least two analog signals from said head unit that is carried on multiple input channels;

an analog to digital converter that converts each of said at least two analog signals to a digital signal;

a digital signal processor coupled to said analog to digital converter that characterizes a frequency response of said digital signal;

a microcontroller coupled to said digital signal processor, said microcontroller directs said digital signal processor to sum said multiple input channels to recover lost frequency information, thereby producing an audio signal with a full range frequency response and a non-flat frequency response, and said microcontroller provides instructions to correct the audio signal based upon a power reference level to exhibit a flat frequency response; and

a digital to analog converter coupled to said digital signal processor that converts said audio signal to an audio analog signal.

13. The frequency normalization unit of claim 12, said microcontroller provides instructions to said digital signal processor to processes said digital signal to have a flatter frequency response.

14. The frequency normalization unit of claim 12, further comprising a memory that stores said frequency response.

15. The frequency normalization unit of claim 12, further comprising a wireless communication unit coupled to said microcontroller.

16. The frequency normalization unit of claim 12, further comprising a preamplifier coupled to said digital to analog converter.

17. The frequency normalization unit of claim 12, further comprising an auxiliary input coupled to said analog to digital converter.