An Audio Processor and a Method for Providing Loudspeaker Signals

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

This patent describes an advanced audio processor and method that dynamically adapts loudspeaker output based on the real-time position and orientation of a listener and the positions of loudspeakers. The system can work with multiple loudspeaker setups, potentially in different rooms, and adjusts which speakers are active, their sound levels, and how audio channels or objects are assigned, so that the auditory experience 'follows' the listener as they move throughout a space. It can also accommodate changes in loudspeaker configuration or listener movement by smoothly transitioning audio between setups, ensuring optimal, spatially-consistent sound reproduction everywhere in the listening environment.

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

• Home entertainment systems that provide consistent surround sound experience as listeners move between rooms or zones.
• Smart speakers and multi-room audio systems that adjust output to follow a person throughout a house.
• Commercial spaces (e.g., museums, retail stores) where the audio experience adapts dynamically to the position of visitors.
• Conference or collaboration rooms where audio optimally follows participants around large spaces.
• Automotive or transportation environments, allowing sound to adapt to the seat or position of an occupant.
• Gaming and VR environments where immersive spatial audio follows user motion and orientation.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Improves user experience by offering optimal audio regardless of listener position, eliminating the need for a fixed 'sweet spot'.
• Enables seamless and consistent auditory environments across different rooms and loudspeaker setups.
• Automatically adapts to changes in loudspeaker configuration or listener movement, requiring minimal user intervention.
• Supports personalized soundscapes for multiple listeners moving independently within the same environment.
• Enhances flexibility for system integrators and end-users, supporting dynamic or unconventional loudspeaker placements.
• Smooth, non-disruptive transitions between different playback areas, avoiding abrupt audio changes when moving from one zone to another.

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Patent Abstract

An audio processor for providing a plurality of loudspeaker signals, or loudspeaker feeds, on the basis of a plurality of input signals, like channeled signals and/or object signals. The audio processor is configured to obtain an information about the position of a listener. The audio processor is further configured to obtain an information about the position of a plurality of loudspeakers, or sound transducers, which may be placed within the same containment, e.g. a soundbar. The audio processor is further configured to dynamically adapt an allocation of objects and/or channel objects and/or adapted signals, like adapted channel signals, derived from the input signals, like channel signals or channel objects, or like upmixed or downmixed signals, to loudspeakers. The adaptation of the location depends on the information about the position of the listener and on the information about the positions of the loudspeakers. In other words, the audio processor decides which loudspeakers should be used in the rendering of the different channel objects or adapted signals. The audio signal processor is further configured to render the objects and/or the channel objects and/or the adapted signals derived from the input signals, in dependence on the information about the position of the listener, on the information about positions of the loudspeakers and in dependence on the allocation, in order to obtain the loudspeaker signals, such that a rendered sound follows a listener.