Virtual simulation of spatial audio characteristics

• US 9,674,633 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2015
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crutchfield Corporation
• Original Assignee: Crutchfield Corporation
• Inventors: Crutchfield, William G., Wright, Richard I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Paul S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yu, Norman
• Application Number:
  US14/709,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20150334505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 381 17, 381303, 381 26, 381307, 381 18, 381 20, 381310, 381 1, 381 59, 381 19, 381 58, 381 56, 381 80, 381 92, 381107
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/002 Loudspeaker arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 5/00 Pseudo-stereo systems, e.g. in which additional channel signals are derived from monophonic signals by means of phase shifting, time delay or reverberation
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/30 Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/40 Visual indication of stereophonic sound image

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for demonstrating spatial performance of a demonstration speaker model to consumers in order to evaluate different speakers. The system and method comprise a microphone array for recording the output of the demonstration speaker model. The system and method comprise acoustic input samples for processing to an acoustic output and a processor for determining characteristics of each microphone recording, and processing an acoustic input sample and characteristics of each microphone recording corresponding to a selected demonstration speaker model. The system and method further comprise a reference speaker model for outputting an acoustic signal based on the result of the processing. The processing compensates for the performance characteristic of the reference speaker and the performance characteristic of the selected demonstration speaker so as to mimic the spatial characteristics of the demonstration speaker while avoiding bias from the reference speaker.

Claims

1. A system for demonstrating spatial and temporal performance of a demonstration speaker model to consumers in order to evaluate different speakers, comprising:

at least one microphone for receiving an output sound of the demonstration speaker model, the microphone receiving the output sound of the demonstration speaker model at at least one position;

one or more acoustic input samples for processing to an acoustic output;

a processor for

determining characteristics of said output sound of the demonstration speaker model received by the microphone, and

processing an acoustic input sample and characteristics of the microphone-received output sound corresponding to a selected demonstration speaker model;

a reference speaker model for outputting an acoustic signal based on the result of the processing, the reference speaker model comprising at least one speaker;

the processing compensating for a performance characteristic of the reference speaker and a performance characteristic of the selected demonstration speaker so as to mimic spatial characteristics of the demonstration speaker while avoiding bias from the reference speaker and the at least one microphone; and

wherein the outputted acoustic signal provides an accurate representation of the temporal and spatial performance of the demonstration speaker model outputting the acoustic input sample to the consumer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is located in a reference room in a retail outlet.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a monitor for displaying an image of the selected demonstration speaker model.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data output for outputting printed data regarding the selected demonstration speaker model.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the reference speaker model comprises headphones and the selected demonstration speaker model comprises free standing speakers.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the reference speaker model comprises free standing speakers and the selected demonstration speaker model comprises headphones.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the reference speaker model comprises first headphones and the selected demonstration speaker model comprises second headphones.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system enables a single reference speaker model to simulate the performance of multiple demonstration speaker models.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a series of stored second characteristic samples reflecting the performance of a plurality of demonstration spaces, and wherein the processor is further adapted to process a second characteristic sample corresponding to a selected demonstration space, and wherein the processed result renders an acoustic signal that simulates the performance of the demonstration speaker model outputting the acoustic input sample in the selected demonstration space.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second characteristic samples are empirically derived.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the second characteristic samples are analytically derived.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a series of third characteristic samples comprising at least one of acoustic absorption and reflection data, and a series of fourth data comprising geometry data, wherein the third characteristic samples and the fourth data enable a user to create a demonstration space for the simulation.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a user interface enables a user to select the location of the demonstration speaker model in the demonstration space.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the demonstration space comprises a room.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the demonstration space comprises the inside of a vehicle.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein a user interface comprises options for selecting at least one of environmental conditions or operational conditions.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the selectable conditions comprise at least two of the following:

a vehicle make;

a vehicle model;

speed;

RPM;

gear;

engagement of convertible top or sunroof;

engagement of windows;

acoustic source location; and

listening location.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the selectable conditions comprise at least two of the following:

an acoustic space;

configuration of windows;

configuration of HVAC;

configuration of other sound creating equipment running;

acoustic source location; and

listening location.

19. A method for simulating acoustic performance to consumers in order to evaluate different speakers, comprising:

(a) receiving an output sound of a demonstration speaker model with at least one microphone, the microphone receiving the output sound of the demonstration speaker model at at least one position;

(b) determining characteristics of the microphone-received output sound;

(c) accessing a user interface that includes options for selecting a demonstration speaker from a plurality of available demonstration speakers;

(d) selecting a demonstration speaker;

(e) performing one of selecting an environment and building an environment;

(f) performing at least one of (1) selecting an acoustic sample from a plurality of stored acoustic samples available from the user interface and (2) the consumer providing an acoustic sample for input for processing;

(g) listening to the output of the selected demonstration speaker on at least one reference speaker; and

(h) repeating at least steps (d) and (g) for a different demonstration speaker so that the user can compare the performance of the demonstration speakers on the same at least one reference speaker;

wherein the output is generated by processing to compensate for a performance characteristic of the at least one reference speaker and a performance characteristic of the selected demonstration speaker so as to mimic the performance of the selected demonstration speaker while avoiding bias from the at least one reference speaker and at least one microphone;

wherein the outputted acoustic signal provides an accurate representation of the temporal and spatial performance of the selected demonstration speaker model outputting the acoustic sample to the consumer.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising step of viewing a visual display with an image of the selected demonstration speaker.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of receiving printed output data regarding the selected demonstration speaker.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the reference speaker comprises first headphones and the selected demonstration speaker comprises second headphones.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the reference speaker comprises headphones and the selected demonstration speaker comprises free standing speakers.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the reference speaker comprises free standing speakers and the selected demonstration speaker comprises headphones.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the steps are performed in a listening room in a retail outlet.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the environment comprises a room or the interior of a vehicle.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the environment comprises a room and further comprising the step of selecting at least one of the following:

a location of the demonstration speaker in the room;

configuration of objects in the room; and

listening location.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the environment comprises the interior of a vehicle, and further comprising the step of selecting at least one of the following:

environmental conditions regarding the vehicle;

operating conditions regarding the vehicle;

location of the demonstration speaker in the vehicle;

configuration of objects in the vehicle; and

listening location.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the selectable conditions comprise at least two of the following:

a vehicle make;

a vehicle model;

speed;

RPM;

gear;

engagement of convertible top or sunroof;

engagement of windows; and

listening location.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of selecting at least one of environmental conditions and operating conditions regarding the room.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the selectable conditions comprise at least two of the following:

an acoustic space;

configuration of windows;

configuration of HVAC;

configuration of other sound creating equipment running;

acoustic source location; and

listening location.