Acoustic design support apparatus

• US 8,392,005 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2010
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Hideo, Watanabe, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): ELBIN, JESSE A
• Application Number:
  US12/784,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20100232635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94, 715/727, 381/58, 381/59, 381/386
• US Class Current: 700/94
• 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

Abstract

In an acoustic design support apparatus, a speaker selection supporter selects a desired speaker as a candidate for use in a given space based on shape information representing a shape of the space. A speaker mounting angle optimizer calculates an optimal mounting direction of the selected speaker by selecting a mounting direction pattern which minimizes a degree of variation among sound pressure levels at a plurality of positions on a sound receiving surface defined in the space. An acoustic parameter calculator calculates a variety of acoustic parameters at sound receiving points within the space based on both of the shape information of the space and the optimal mounting direction of the speaker.

Claims

1. An acoustic design support apparatus comprising:

a speaker selection data storage that previously stores a data table in which a variety of speaker data representing characteristics of speakers are written;

a space shape input unit that receives shape information inputted to select a schematic shape of a space and numerical information inputted to specify characteristics of the schematic shape; and

a speaker selection supporter that selects a speaker as a candidate for use in the space, based on the shape information and the numerical information inputted through the space shape input unit by comparing the inputted shape information and the numerical information with the speaker data of the data table of the speakers, and that outputs the candidate to a display connected to the acoustic design support apparatus.

2. The acoustic design support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the space shape input unit receives the space information specifying either of a fan shape and a box shape as the schematic shape of the space.

3. The acoustic design support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data table is written with at least an allowable range of an area size of the space for each speaker and an allowable range of a planar shape aspect ratio of the space for each speaker, and wherein

the speaker selection supporter calculates an area size and a planar shape aspect ratio of the space based on the shape information and the numerical information inputted through the space shape input unit, and determines whether or not the calculated area size and planar shape aspect ratio correspond to the allowable range of the area size of the space for each speaker and the allowable range of the planar shape aspect ratio of the space for each speaker so as to select the speaker which meets the allowable ranges.

4. A non-transitory machine readable medium containing an acoustic design support program executable by a computer having a data storage which stores a data table containing a variety of speaker data representing characteristics of speakers, wherein execution of the program by the computer causes an acoustic design support apparatus to perform:

a space shape input step of receiving shape information inputted to select a schematic shape of a space and numerical information inputted to specify characteristics of the schematic shape; and

a speaker selection support step of selecting one of the speakers as a candidate for use in the space, based on the inputted shape information and numerical information by comparing the inputted shape information and numerical information with the speaker data of the speakers contained in the data table, and outputting the candidate to a display connected to the computer.

5. The non-transitory machine readable medium according to claim 4, wherein the space shape input step includes receiving the shape information specifying either of a fan shape and a box shape as the schematic shape of the space.

6. The non-transitory machine readable medium according to claim 4, wherein the data table is written with at least an allowable range of an area size of the space for each speaker and an allowable range of a planar shape aspect ratio of the space for each speaker, and wherein

the speaker selection support step calculates an area size and a planar shape aspect ratio of the space based on the inputted shape information and numerical information, and determines whether or not the calculated area size and planar shape aspect ratio correspond to the allowable range of the area size of the space for each speaker and the allowable range of the planar shape aspect ratio of the space for each speaker so as to select the speaker which meets the allowable ranges.

7. An acoustic design support method comprising:

a speaker selection data storing step of previously storing a data table in which a variety of speaker data representing characteristics of speakers are written;

a space shape input step of receiving shape information inputted to select a schematic shape of a space and numerical information inputted to specify characteristics of the schematic shape; and

a speaker selection support step of selecting one of the speakers as a candidate for use in the space, based on the inputted shape information and numerical information by comparing the inputted shape information and numerical information with the speaker data of the speakers contained in the data table, and outputting the candidate to a display connected to a computer.

8. The acoustic design support method according to claim 7, wherein the space shape input step includes receiving the shape information specifying either of a fan shape and a box shape as the schematic shape of the space.

9. The acoustic design support method according to claim 7, wherein the data table is written with at least an allowable range of an area size of the space for each speaker and an allowable range of a planar shape aspect ratio of the space for each speaker, and wherein

the speaker selection support step calculates an area size and a planar shape aspect ratio of the space based on the inputted shape information and numerical information, and determines whether or not the calculated area size and planar shape aspect ratio correspond to the allowable range of the area size of the space for each speaker and the allowable range of the planar shape aspect ratio of the space for each speaker so as to select the speaker which meets the allowable ranges.