Providing an audio environment based on a determined loudspeaker position and orientation

Abstract

The aspects disclosed herein are related to providing a stereoscopic audio environment that is based on speaker position and/or orientation. Once the speaker (or groups of speakers) are identified by the above-described techniques, the audio signal uniquely delivered to each of the speakers may be customized to produce an optimal sound environment.

Claims

1. A system for producing a stereoscopic sound, comprising: a signal processor situated in a base station at a centralized location in an installation room; at least one loudspeaker, the at least one loudspeaker being arranged at a distance from the centralized location, wherein the at least one loudspeaker is configured to receive an audio signal from the signal processor and to send data for determining a position and an orientation of the at least one loudspeaker to the signal processor, wherein the signal processor is configured to: receive the data for determining the position and the orientation of the at least one loudspeaker from the at least one loudspeaker, determine the position and orientation of the at least one loudspeaker based on the data received from the at least one loudspeaker, generate the audio signal for the at least one loudspeaker based on the determined position and the determined orientation, and communicate the audio signal to the at least one loudspeaker, and wherein the data sent from the at least one loudspeaker comprises meta-data pertaining to the audio signal and wherein a sound event for each track or channel is created based on two data streams including pure audio data and the meta-data, wherein distances of each individual loudspeaker in the direction of the x axis and the direction of the y axis are determined with respect to the location of the base unit using the data for determining the position sent as metadata from the at least one loudspeaker, and wherein the audio signal played by the at least one loudspeaker is based on the coordinates, the sound level, the frequency response, the echo and the phase reference of other audio signals played by other loudspeakers.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor is further configured to determine the position and orientation automatically.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor as well as the at least one loudspeaker are arranged within a system of coordinates with an origin of coordinate being defined as the centralized location.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor and the at least one loudspeaker are connected to each other wirelessly.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: at least two or more loudspeakers, the at least two or more loudspeakers being configured to receive the audio signal and to send data for determining a position and an orientation of the at least two or more loudspeakers to the signal processor, wherein the signal processor is further configured to: determine the position and the orientation for each of the at least two or more loudspeakers based on the data received from the at least two or more loudspeakers, generate the audio signal for each of the at least two or more loudspeakers based on the determined position and the determined orientation, and communicate the audio signal to the at least two or more loudspeakers.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the audio signal is object-based.

7. A system for producing a stereoscopic sound, comprising: a signal processor situated in a base unit at a centralized location in an installation room; at least one loudspeaker, the at least one loudspeaker being arranged at a distance from the centralized location, wherein the at least one loudspeaker is configured to receive an audio signal from the signal processor and to send data for determining a position and an orientation of the at least one loudspeaker to the signal processor using at least one of ultrasound, radar, wireless reproduction, wireless local area network, Bluetooth, radio, magnetic sensors, and a global positioning system (GPS), wherein the signal processor is configured to: receive the data for determining the position and the orientation of the at least one loudspeaker from the at least one loudspeaker, determine the position and the orientation of the at least one loudspeaker based on the data received from the at least one loudspeaker, generate the audio signal for the at least one loudspeaker based on the determined position and the determined orientation, and communicate the audio signal to the at least one loudspeaker, and wherein the data sent from the at least one loudspeaker comprises meta-data pertaining to the audio signal and wherein a sound event for each track or channel is created based on two data streams including pure audio data and the meta-data, wherein distances of each individual loudspeaker in the direction of the x axis and the direction of the y axis are determined with respect to the location of the base unit using the data for determining the position sent as metadata from the at least one loudspeaker, and wherein the audio signal played by the at least one loudspeaker is based on the coordinates, the sound level, the frequency response, the echo and the phase reference of other audio signals played by other loudspeakers.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the signal processor is further configured to determine the position and orientation automatically.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the signal processor as well as the at least one loudspeaker are arranged within a system of coordinates with an origin of coordinate being defined as the centralized location.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the signal processor and the at least one loudspeaker are connected to each other wirelessly.

11. The system according to claim 7, further comprising at least two or more loudspeakers, the at least two or more loudspeakers being configured to receive unique audio signals and to send data for determining a position and an orientation of the at least one loudspeaker to the signal processor using at least one of ultrasound, radar, wireless reproduction, wireless local area network, Bluetooth, radio, magnetic sensors, and a global positioning system (GPS), wherein the signal processor is further configured to: receive the data for determining the position and the orientation of the at least one loudspeaker from the at least one loudspeaker, determine a position and orientation for each of the at least two or more loudspeakers based on the data received from the at least one loudspeaker, generate a unique audio signal for each of the at least two or more loudspeakers based on the determined position and the determined orientation, and communicate the audio signal to the at least two or more loudspeakers.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the signal processor employs an automatic technique to perform the determination of position and orientation.

13. The system according to claim 7, wherein the data includes the determined position and the determined orientation.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein each of the at least two or more loudspeakers includes a unique signal processor, and the unique signal processor is configured to modify the audio signal based on the received determined position and the determined orientation.

15. The system according to claim 7, wherein the signal processor is implemented in a head unit of a vehicle.

16. The system according to claim 7, wherein the signal processor employs an automatic technique to perform the determination of position and orientation.

17. The system according to claim 7, wherein the audio signal is object-based.

18. A method for producing a stereoscopic sound using a signal processor situated in a base unit at a centralized location in an installation room and at least one loudspeaker, the at least one loudspeaker being arranged at a distance from the centralized location, wherein the at least one loudspeaker is configured to receive an audio signal from the signal processor and to send data for determining a position and an orientation of the at least one loudspeaker to the signal processor, the method comprising: receiving, by the signal processor, the data for determining the position and the orientation of the at least one loudspeaker from the at least one loudspeaker, determining, by the signal processor, the position and orientation of the at least one loudspeaker based on the data received from the at least one loudspeaker, generating, by the signal processor, the audio signal for the at least one loudspeaker based on the determined position and the determined orientation, and communicating, by the signal processor, the audio signal to the at least one loudspeaker, wherein the data sent from the at least one loudspeaker comprises meta-data pertaining to the audio signal and wherein a sound event for each track or channel is created based on two data streams including pure audio data and the meta-data, wherein distances of each individual loudspeaker in the direction of the x axis and the direction of the y axis are determined with respect to the location of the base unit using the data for determining the position sent as metadata from the at least one loudspeaker, and wherein the audio signal played by the at least one loudspeaker is based on the coordinates, the sound level, the frequency response, the echo and the phase reference of other audio signals played by other loudspeakers.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the determining the position and orientation is performed automatically by the signal processor.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the signal processor as well as the at least one loudspeaker are arranged within a system of coordinates with an origin of coordinate being defined as the centralized location and the data indicates position with respect to the system of coordinates.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further details, features and benefits of embodiments of the disclosure will appear from the following description of sample embodiments making reference to the accompanying figures, which show:

(2) FIG. 1: Arrangement for determining the position of a loudspeaker in an installation room within a system of coordinates as a detail view of the system for position detection of loudspeakers and for reproduction of audio signals as stereoscopic sound

(3) FIG. 2. Arrangement of various loudspeakers of an object-based sound system in the installation room within a system of coordinates, and

(4) FIG. 3. Arrangement of the loudspeakers in the installation room for generating a virtual sound room.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows an arrangement for determining the position of a loudspeaker 2 with a base unit 1 with a signal processor 1a in an installation room within a system of coordinates as a detail view of the system 3 for position detection of loudspeakers 2 and for reproduction of audio signals as stereoscopic sound. The system of coordinates is characterized by the directions x and y. A direction z runs perpendicular to the directions x and y. The direction z and the thereby subtended x-z plane and y-z plane are used similarly to the represented x-y plane. All further arrangements and orientations explained in regard to the x-y plane should be applied analogously to the x-z plane and y-z plane.

(6) The base unit 1 with the signal processor 1a is arranged at the origin of coordinates (0, 0) of the system of coordinates. The loudspeaker 2 is oriented in a position (x.sub.2, y.sub.2) in a plane of the system of coordinates, subtended by the direction x and y, at a distance from the base unit 1 and thus at a distance from the origin of coordinates (0, 0). The distances of the loudspeaker 2 from the origin of coordinates (0, 0) are indicated by x in the direction of the x axis and by y in the direction of the y axis. Analogous indications for the orientation in the direction of a z axis are omitted here.

(7) The distances x and y from the origin of coordinates (0, 0) as reference point are automatically detected and processed as information within the signal processor 1a. The loudspeaker 2 is configured so that it can communicate with the signal processor 1a of the base unit 1, that is, send data or signals to the base unit 1 and receive data or signals from the base unit 1. The signal processor 1a is designed to query and receive the data for determining the position (x.sub.2, y.sub.2) of the loudspeaker 2.

(8) The distances x, y of the loudspeaker 2 from, for example, the signal processor 1a arranged at the origin of coordinates (0,0) can be ascertained and transmitted in different ways, for example, by ultrasound, radar such as radio detection and ranging based on electromagnetic waves, wireless reproduction (Wifi or wireless fidelity), or WLAN (wireless local area network), Bluetooth, radio, as well as optical or mechanical principles, magnetic sensors, a global positioning system (GPS) as a navigation satellite system or the like. The distances x, y can also be determined from a combination of the different methods.

(9) The communication and thus the transmittal of data or signals between the loudspeaker 2 and the signal processor 1a occur via a wired connection or a wireless connection.

(10) FIG. 2 shows an arrangement of various loudspeakers 2a to 2i of the system 3 of the base unit 1 with the signal processor 1a designed as an object-based sound system. The overall system 3 is arranged in an installation room 5 within the system of coordinates characterized with the directions x and y. The installation room 5 is enclosed by a room boundary 6.

(11) The loudspeaker 2a is to be understood as a center loudspeaker, while the loudspeakers 2b, 2i are arranged as right and left front loudspeakers. The loudspeakers 2c, 2d, 2e arranged on one side of the y axis of the system of coordinates and the loudspeakers 2f, 2g, 2h arranged on the other side of the y axis of the system of coordinates are also known as side loudspeakers, while the loudspeakers 2e, 2f are also arranged as rear loudspeakers.

(12) For a projection of the object-based sound system 3 into a passenger space of a motor vehicle, the y axis of the system of coordinates would be configured in the orientation of the driver, the loudspeaker 2a as the center loudspeaker would be positioned on a center axis of the motor vehicle in the viewing direction to the side and in front of the driver, the loudspeakers 2b, 2c, 2d, 2g, 2h, 2i would be arranged in the region of the side doors and the loudspeakers 2e, 2f would be arranged in the rear region of the passenger compartment. The x axis of the system of coordinates is oriented perpendicular to the driving direction of the motor vehicle.

(13) The information on position (x.sub.2a-2i, y.sub.2a-2i), also known as location, and on the orientation of each individual loudspeaker 2a-2i in the installation room 5 is automatically detected and determined, as well as relayed to the signal processor 1a of the base unit 1 arranged at the reference point 4, for example, being configured to generate a virtual sound room for an object-based listening experience. The distances x.sub.2a-2i of each individual loudspeaker 2a-2i in the direction of the x axis and the distances y.sub.2a-2i in the direction of they axis from the origin of coordinates (0, 0) are determined. From the information on the location and the orientation of the individual loudspeakers 2a-2i in the installation room 5, the relative associations of the loudspeakers 2a-2i to and from each other are automatically determined.

(14) Within the system 3, audio signals are generated and reproduced by the loudspeakers 2a-2i, processing in addition to the time-dependent amplitude of the audio signal also the data information pertaining to the audio signal, known as meta-data, such as the position of each loudspeaker 2a-2i for the generating of the audio signal by means of the coordinates x.sub.2a-2i, y.sub.2a-2i, the sound level, the frequency response, the echo and the phase reference to other audio signals. The signal processor 1a decomposes the audio signals based on the meta-data. In this, the position detection of each individual loudspeaker 2a-2i of the system 3 influences the parameters of the signal decomposition in the signal processor 1a and thus the calculation of the audio signals sent out by each loudspeaker 2a-2i.

(15) In the object-based audio system, the pure audio information and the meta-data on the properties of the audio signal are separated from each other, so that a sound event for each track/channel is formed from two data streams. Since the properties can be established separately in all parameters for each sound event, each sound event is viewed and treated as an individual object. In the object-based audio system, the sound events can be scaled and adapted in a broad range.

(16) With the help of a computation algorithm, depending on the application, the information for the generating of the audio signals is computed in the signal processor 1a and transferred to the corresponding loudspeakers 2a-2i. This makes possible an adapting of the sound to the respective parameters of the motor vehicle, especially the passenger compartment. With the help of the signal processor 1a, and depending on the positions (x.sub.2a-2i, y.sub.2a-2i), the arrangement and the orientation of the loudspeakers 2a-2i, a virtual sound room is created for an object-based listening experience, while the listening experience is not limited to the object-based sound. The properties of the audio signals are automatically adapted by the signal processor 1a. In the virtual sound room, the audio signals are reproduced in a vivid manner. The sound system 3 enables a sound reproduction which is independent of the loudspeakers 2a-2i, that is, the positions (x.sub.2a-2i, y.sub.2a-2i), the arrangements, and the orientation of the loudspeakers 2a-2i, and thus one which is perfectly flexible.

(17) The audio information of a corresponding audio source is decomposed within the signal processor 1a to create a virtual stereoscopic sound, based on the overall arrangement. After this, the decomposed audio information within the system 3 is placed in relation to the positions (x.sub.2a-2i, y.sub.2a-2i) of the loudspeakers 2a-2i. The audio signals are then reproduced stereoscopically by means of the object-based sound system 3.

(18) The determination of the absolute positions (x.sub.2a-2i, y.sub.2a-2i), the arrangement, and the orientation of the individual loudspeakers 2a-2i in the installation room 5 or within the system of coordinates, the determination of the relative positions and distances of the individual loudspeakers 2a-2i among each other, the transmittal of the data on the absolute or relative positions of the loudspeakers 2a-2i to the signal processor 1a and the transmittal of the data on the audio signals from the signal processor 1a to the loudspeakers 2a-2i occur with the aid of a communication protocol. All data and signals are transmitted in this way to the signal processor 1a and processed by the signal processor 1a and information on audio signals is generated. According to an alternative embodiment, not shown, each loudspeaker is associated with a signal processor, and the signal processors are linked together for exchanging data.

(19) FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of the loudspeakers 2a-2i and the base unit 1 with the signal processor 1a of the sound system 3 for generating a virtual sound room 7 within the installation room 5.

(20) The sound room 7 is enclosed by a boundary 8. The boundary 8 extends from the front side of the loudspeakers 2a-2i to the directly adjacent loudspeaker 2a-2i, so that the boundary 8 forms a closed line.

(21) An optimal function of the sound system 3 is achieved in a four-cornered installation room 5, in which each loudspeaker 2a-2i is visible from the base unit 1 or the signal processor 1a.