System and method for audio equalization

• US 8,127,231 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2008
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Master Key LLC
• Original Assignee: Master Key LLC
• Inventors: Lemons, Kenneth R., Corey, Hall
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US12/148,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20080270904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 715/700, 715/727, 715/764, 715/765, 715/781, 715/834, 715/856, 715/866, 715/716, 715/719, 715/771, 715/835, 844/64.R, 844/70.R, 844/71.R, 844/72, 844/832
• US Class Current: 715/727
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/06 Transformation of speech into a non-audible representation, e.g. speech visualisation or speech processing for tactile aids G10L15/26 takes precedence

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to audio equalization devices and methods. A system is provided that permits frequency equalization or balancing of frequency response for stereo or multiple surround sound channels through the use of visual representation of audio signals. The system also permits the balancing or “tuning” of concert venues and audio listening environments by generating visualizations for original and reflected audio signals.

Claims

1. An audio equalization system, comprising:

a user control device;

a processing device operatively connected to said user control device; and

a display operatively connected to said processing device,

wherein;

said processing device executes computer readable code to create a first visual representation of a first audio signal for output on said display;

wherein;

said first visual representation is generated according to a method comprising the steps of;

(a) labeling the perimeter of a circle with a plurality of labels corresponding to a plurality of frequency bands, such that moving radially inward or outward from any one of said labels represents a change in a signal amplitude at the frequency corresponding to said one of first labels;

(b) identifying a first occurrence of a signal having a first amplitude at a first frequency; and

(c) graphically indicating a point along a radial axis corresponding to said first amplitude;

said radial axis connecting the center of said circle and said first label.

2. An audio equalization system, comprising:

(1) a processing device;

(2) a user control device operatively connected to said processing device; and

(3) a display operatively connected to said processing device;

wherein;

said processing device executes computer readable code to create a visual representation of a measured amplitude of a first frequency component of a first audio signal for output on said display;

wherein;

said visual representation is generated according to a method comprising the steps of;

(a) providing a first plurality of labels in a pattern of a circular arc, wherein;

(1) the first plurality of labels corresponds to a first plurality of respective amplitudes;

(2) moving clockwise or counter-clockwise on the arc between any one of said labels represents a first amplitude increment;

(b) identifying a target amplitude for the first frequency component of said first audio signal;

(c) determining the measured amplitude of the first frequency component within the first audio signal;

(d) identifying a first label corresponding to the target amplitude;

(e) identifying a second label corresponding to the measured amplitude;

(f) creating a first line connecting the first label and the second label, wherein;

(1) the first line is a first color if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by the first amplitude increment;

(2) the first line is a second color if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a first multiple of the first amplitude increment;

(3) the first line is a third color if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a second multiple of the first amplitude increment;

(4) the first line is a fourth color if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a third multiple of the first amplitude increment;

(5) the first line is a fifth color if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a fourth multiple of the first amplitude increment; and

(6) the first line is a sixth color if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a fifth multiple of the first amplitude increment.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein step (a) of said method further comprises arranging each of the labels to be substantially evenly spaced from each adjacent label.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said circular arc comprises a circle.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein moving clockwise up to 180 degrees from said target amplitude on said circle represents an increase in amplitude and moving counterclockwise up to 180 degrees from said target amplitude on said circle represents a decrease in amplitude.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the first color is red, the second color is orange, the third color is yellow, the fourth color is green, the fifth color is blue and the sixth color is purple.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the first color has a first wavelength that is larger than a second wavelength of the second color;

the second wavelength is larger than a third wavelength of the third color;

the third wavelength is larger than a fourth wavelength of the fourth color;

the fourth wavelength is larger than a fifth wavelength of the fifth color; and

the fifth wavelength is larger than an sixth wavelength of the sixth color.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein a plurality of said visual representations are generated on the display using said method, each one of said visual representations corresponding to a different one of a plurality of frequency components of said first audio signal.

9. An audio equalization system, comprising:

(1) a processing device;

(2) a user control device operatively connected to said processing device; and

(3) a display operatively connected to said processing device;

wherein;

said processing device executes computer readable code to create a visual representation of a measured amplitude of a first frequency component of a first audio signal for output on said display;

wherein;

said visual representation is generated according to a method comprising the steps of;

(a) providing a first plurality of labels in a pattern of a circular arc, wherein;

(1) the first plurality of labels corresponds to a first plurality of respective amplitudes;

(2) moving clockwise or counter-clockwise on the arc between any one of said labels represents a first amplitude increment;

(b) identifying a target amplitude for the first frequency component of said first audio signal;

(c) providing a second plurality of labels in the pattern of said circular arc between one of said first plurality of labels corresponding to said target amplitude and an adjacent one of said first plurality of labels, wherein;

(1) the second plurality of labels corresponds to a second plurality of respective amplitudes;

(2) moving clockwise or counter-clockwise on the arc between any one of said second plurality of labels represents a second amplitude increment, said second amplitude increment being a subdivision of said first amplitude increment;

(d) determining the measured amplitude of the first frequency component within the first audio signal;

(e) identifying a target label corresponding to the target amplitude from said first plurality of labels;

(f) identifying a measured label corresponding to the measured amplitude from said first plurality of labels or from said second plurality of labels;

(g) creating a first line connecting the target label and the measured label, wherein;

(1) the first line is a first color if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by the first amplitude increment or if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by the second amplitude increment;

(2) the first line is a second color if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a first multiple of the first amplitude increment or if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a first multiple of the second amplitude increment;

(3) the first line is a third color if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a second multiple of the first amplitude increment or if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a second multiple of the second amplitude increment;

(4) the first line is a fourth color if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a third multiple of the first amplitude increment or if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a third multiple of the second amplitude increment;

(5) the first line is a fifth color if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a fourth multiple of the first amplitude increment or if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a fourth multiple of the second amplitude increment; and

(6) the first line is a sixth color if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a fifth multiple of the first amplitude increment or if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a fifth multiple of the second amplitude increment.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein step (a) of said method further comprises arranging each of the first plurality of labels to be substantially evenly spaced from each adjacent label.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said circular arc comprises a circle.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein moving clockwise up to 180 degrees from said target amplitude on said circle represents an increase in amplitude and moving counterclockwise up to 180 degrees from said target amplitude on said circle represents a decrease in amplitude.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the number of labels in said second plurality of labels is equal to a number that is one half of the number of labels in said first plurality of labels.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the number of labels in said second plurality of labels is equal to a number that is one less than one half of the number of labels in said first plurality of labels.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the first color is red, the second color is orange, the third color is yellow, the fourth color is green, the fifth color is blue and the sixth color is purple.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the first color has a first wavelength that is larger than a second wavelength of the second color;

the second wavelength is larger than a third wavelength of the third color;

the third wavelength is larger than a fourth wavelength of the fourth color;

the fourth wavelength is larger than a fifth wavelength of the fifth color; and

the fifth wavelength is larger than an sixth wavelength of the sixth color.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said plurality of said visual representations are displayed contemporaneously on the display.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein a plurality of said visual representations are generated on the display using said method, each one of said visual representations corresponding to a different one of a plurality of frequency components of said first audio signal.

19. A device comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium, said non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer executable code for generating a visual representation of a measured amplitude of a first frequency component of a first audio signal;

wherein;

said computer executable code is configured to generate said visual representation according to a method comprising the steps of;

(a) providing a first plurality of labels in a pattern of a circular arc, wherein;

(1) the first plurality of labels corresponds to a first plurality of respective amplitudes;

(2) moving clockwise or counter-clockwise on the arc between any one of said labels represents a first amplitude increment;

(b) identifying a target amplitude for the first frequency component of said first audio signal;

(c) determining the measured amplitude of the first frequency component within the first audio signal;

(d) identifying a first one of said first plurality of labels corresponding to the target amplitude;

(e) identifying a second one of said first plurality of said labels corresponding to the measured amplitude;

(f) creating a first line connecting the first one of said first plurality of said labels and the second one of said first plurality of said labels, wherein;

(1) the first line is a first color if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by the first amplitude increment;

(2) the first line is a second color if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a first multiple of the first amplitude increment;

(3) the first line is a third color if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a second multiple of the first amplitude increment;

(4) the first line is a fourth color if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a third multiple of the first amplitude increment;

(5) the first line is a fifth color if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a fourth multiple of the first amplitude increment; and

(6) the first line is a sixth color if the target amplitude and the measured amplitude are separated by a fifth multiple of the first amplitude increment.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the first color is red, the second color is orange, the third color is yellow, the fourth color is green, the fifth color is blue and the sixth color is purple.