The invention relates to the technical fields of binaural audio rendering and, to this end, estimation of room acoustic parameters like reverberation time. In particular, the invention provides a device and method for estimating such acoustic parameters. The device is configured to record an acoustic signal, particularly a speech signal, to estimate a frequency-dependent reverberation time in a lower frequency range based on the recorded acoustic signal, and to extend the frequency-dependent reverberation time to a higher frequency range based on a predetermined model to obtain an extended frequency-dependent reverberation time. Virtual 3D audio can thus be adapted to a real room.

The invention relates to the technical fields of binaural audio rendering and, to this end, estimation of room acoustic parameters like reverberation time. In particular, the invention provides a device and method for estimating such acoustic parameters. The device is configured to record an acoustic signal, particularly a speech signal, to estimate a frequency-dependent reverberation time in a lower frequency range based on the recorded acoustic signal, and to extend the frequency-dependent reverberation time to a higher frequency range based on a predetermined model to obtain an extended frequency-dependent reverberation time. Virtual 3D audio can thus be adapted to a real room.

A sound field control system SY according to the present invention is provided with: a signal supply unit 210 which supplies a test signal sequence to a speaker; and an analysis unit 150 which picks up a sound including a test sound sequence emitted from a speaker based on a test signal sequence using a microphone, and which determines the sound pickup time of an initial test sound among test sounds included in the test sound sequence, wherein the analysis unit 150 detects the initial sound from the sound pickup signal picked up using the microphone, determines whether a sound is detected after the elapse of a sound emission interval, from the sound pickup time of the detected initial sound, between the initial test sound defined by the test signal sequence and an n-th (where n is an integer such that n≧2) test sound emitted from the same speaker as the initial test sound, and, upon determining that the sound has been detected, determines the sound pickup time of the initial sound as the sound pickup time of the initial test sound.

Systems and methods are provided for selectively utilizing ultrasound data to quantify a part being scanned. One embodiment is a system that includes an ultrasonic wave generator configured to induce ultrasonic waves at locations along a part being scanned, and a controller. The controller is configured to operate the ultrasonic wave generator to collect data points that each indicate amplitude data and time-of-flight data of an ultrasonic wave at the part, to calculate a standard deviation of the time-of-flight data of the data points (σ.sub.tof), to utilize the amplitude data to quantify the part if σ.sub.tof is less than a threshold value, and to flag the data points in memory as including noise if σ.sub.tof is greater than the threshold value.

Examples of the disclosure describe systems and methods for estimating acoustic properties of an environment. In an example method, a first audio signal is received via a microphone of a wearable head device. An envelope of the first audio signal is determined, and a first reverberation time is estimated based on the envelope of the first audio signal. A difference between the first reverberation time and a second reverberation time is determined. A change in the environment is determined based on the difference between the first reverberation time and the second reverberation time. A second audio signal is presented via a speaker of a wearable head device, wherein the second audio signal is based on the second reverberation time.

A method for separating an audio input signal into a dry signal component and an ambient signal component is provided. The method includes generating a transferred input signal including transferring the audio input signal into frequency space and applying a smoothing filter to the transferred input signal to generate an estimated ambient signal component. The method includes determining the dry signal component based on the estimated ambient signal component and determining the ambient signal component based on the determined dry signal component and the audio input signal.

Disclosed aspects relate to managing a set of devices using a set of acoustic emission data which indicates device-health of the set of devices. The set of devices is coupled with a set of acoustic emission sensors. Based on the set of acoustic emission data, a triggering event related to a first device of the set of devices is detected. Using the set of acoustic emission data, an event response which includes a first modification with respect to operation of the first device is determined. Establishment of the event response which includes the first modification with respect to operation of the first device is initiated.

Disclosed aspects relate to managing a set of devices using a set of acoustic emission data which indicates device-health of the set of devices. The set of devices is coupled with a set of acoustic emission sensors. Based on the set of acoustic emission data, a triggering event related to a first device of the set of devices is detected. Using the set of acoustic emission data, an event response which includes a first modification with respect to operation of the first device is determined. Establishment of the event response which includes the first modification with respect to operation of the first device is initiated.

In embodiments of the present invention, methods for reproducing an acoustic environment are described, which may include accessing a computer stored multi-dimensional sound profile of a first space, measuring a multi-dimensional sound profile in a second space, comparing multi-dimensional sound profile of the first space and the multi-dimensional sound profile of the second space, accessing the sound characteristics of an audio output device that will serve as the audio output device in the second space, and modifying the audio output of a media content of the audio output device taking into account the sound characteristics of the audio output device, wherein the modifying reduces the difference as determined in the comparing between the multi-dimensional sound profile of the first space and the multi-dimensional sound profile of the second space as output by the audio output device.

In embodiments of the present invention, methods for reproducing an acoustic environment are described, which may include accessing a computer stored multi-dimensional sound profile of a first space, measuring a multi-dimensional sound profile in a second space, comparing multi-dimensional sound profile of the first space and the multi-dimensional sound profile of the second space, accessing the sound characteristics of an audio output device that will serve as the audio output device in the second space, and modifying the audio output of a media content of the audio output device taking into account the sound characteristics of the audio output device, wherein the modifying reduces the difference as determined in the comparing between the multi-dimensional sound profile of the first space and the multi-dimensional sound profile of the second space as output by the audio output device.