Signal Characteristic Determinator, Method for Determining a Signal Characteristic, Audio Encoder and Computer Program

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent discloses a signal processing system (signal characteristic determinator), method, and audio encoder that can extract spatial characteristics of a sound field—like direction of arrival (DOA) or diffuseness—using higher-order spherical (or circular) harmonic coefficients combined with adaptive, order-dependent weights. These calculations enable accurate, efficient measurement of spatial audio properties, even in complex environments, by leveraging spherical microphone arrays data and advanced mathematical averaging techniques. The invention can be easily implemented in hardware or software and significantly improves spatial audio parameter estimation for applications like immersive audio and 3D sound reproduction.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Immersive audio and 3D sound reproduction for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) systems.
• Spatial audio capture and encoding in professional and consumer sound recording.
• Audio playback systems that require accurate spatial rendering, such as home theaters or cinema sound systems.
• Acoustic scene analysis and source localization in surveillance, teleconferencing, or robotic hearing.
• Speech and audio coding (e.g., MPEG-H 3D audio) with enhanced spatial accuracy and compactness.
• Noise reduction and sound field analysis in automotive, aerospace, or industrial acoustic environments.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables highly accurate determination of spatial audio parameters (like DOA and diffuseness) using higher-order harmonic data, even in noisy or complex environments.
• Reduces computational complexity compared to existing state-of-the-art localization and spatial measurement methods, allowing for real-time applications on standard hardware.
• Flexible adaptation to different scenarios via tunable, order-dependent weighting schemes for harmonic coefficients, optimizing accuracy and robustness.
• Easily integrable in existing audio encoders and microphone array systems, supporting both hardware and software realizations.
• Improves sound field reproduction, source localization, and immersive sound experiences across multiple domains (VR/AR, cinema, telepresence, etc.).
• Supports recursive and real-time estimation, enhancing performance in dynamic and time-varying sound environments.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

Embodiments according to the invention comprise a signal characteristic determinator, e.g. a calculator or an estimator, wherein the signal characteristic determinator is configured to determine an information about a characteristic of a sound field, e.g. a direction-of-arrival information or a diffuseness information, on the basis of higher-order, e.g. order larger than 1, spherical harmonic coefficients, also designated as SHCs, of a sound pressure, e.g. p(k), which may, for example, form the basis for Φp(k), and/or of a particle velocity and on the basis of spherical-harmonic-order dependent weights, e.g. weights g which determine the matrix G. Further embodiments of the invention comprise a signal characteristic determinator configured to determine an information about a characteristic of a sound field on the basis of higher-order circular harmonic coefficients of a sound pressure and/or of a particle velocity and on the basis of circular-harmonic-mode dependent weights. Further embodiments are related to audio encoders, methods and computer programs.