Apparatus and method for weighting stereo audio signals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10659903-B2
Application number	US-201916409368-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 10, 2019
Priority date	Nov 11, 2016
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

A signal generator has a filter bank that provides weighted versions of audio signals to speakers. The weights were derived by identifying a first constraint that limits a weight that can be applied to an audio signal to be provided to a first speaker. A characteristic of a second speaker that affects how a user will perceive audio signals output by that speaker relative to audio signals output by the first speaker was also determined. A second constraint was determined based on the determined characteristic and the first constraint. The weights were then determined so as to minimize a difference between an actual balance of each signal that is expected to be heard by a user and a target balance. The signal generator can achieve sweet spot correction and sound stage widening simultaneously. It also achieves a balanced sound stage, particularly when the speakers are asymmetric.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A signal generator comprising:
an input configured to receive at least two audio signals; and
one or more filters configured to apply weights to the at least two audio signals to generate weighted audio signals and to provide the weighted audio signals to at least two speakers;
wherein the weights applied by the one or more filters to the audio signals are derived by:
identifying a first constraint that limits a weight that can be applied to an audio signal to be provided to a first speaker;
determining a characteristic of a second speaker that affects how a user would perceive audio signals output by the second speaker relative to audio signals output by the first speaker;
determining a second constraint based on the characteristic of the second speaker and the first constraint; and
determining the weights so as to minimize a difference between an actual balance of each signal that is expected to be heard by the user when the weighted audio signals are output by the first and second speakers and a target balance, wherein the weights applied to audio signals to be provided to the first speaker are based on the first constraint, and the weights applied to audio signals to be provided to the second speaker are based on the second constraint.

2. The signal generator according to claim 1 , wherein the weights applied by the one or more filters are derived by:
determining an attenuation factor for stereo balancing based on the characteristic of the second speaker; and
determining the first constraint based on the attenuation factor.

3. The signal generator according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second speakers are different distances away from the user, and wherein the weights applied by the one or more filters are derived by determining the characteristic of the second speaker to be a relative distance of the second speaker from the user compared with the first speaker from the user.

4. The signal generator according to claim 3 , wherein the weights applied by the one or more filters are derived by determining the relative distance to be:

τ
⁡

(
k
)

=

d
⁢

⁢

1
2

d
⁢

⁢

2
2

,

where d1 is the distance between the second speaker and the user and d2 is the distance between the first speaker and the user, wherein k is a frequency index.

5. The signal generator according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second speakers have different frequency responses, and wherein the weights applied by the one or more filters are derived by determining the characteristic of the second speaker to be a relative frequency response of the second speaker compared with the first speaker.

6. The signal generator according to claim 5 , wherein the weights applied by the one or more filters are derived by determining the relative frequency response to be:

τ
⁡

(
k
)

=



t
⁢

⁢
1
⁢

(
k
)



2



t
⁢

⁢
2
⁢

(
k
)



2

,

where t 1 (k) is the impulse response of the second speaker and t 2 (k) is the impulse response of the first speaker, wherein k is a frequency index.

7. The signal generator according to claim 1 , wherein the weights applied by the one or more filters are derived by determining the first constraint to be a maximum gain associated with the at least two speakers.

8. The signal generator according to claim 7 , wherein the at least two speakers are located in a car, and wherein the first constraint is a maximum gain associated with the most distant speaker to the user of the at least two speakers.

9. The signal generator according to claim 1 , wherein the weights applied by the one or more filters are derived by determining the weights such that a sum of the squares of the weights to be applied to the audio signals to be provided to one speaker of the at least two speakers does not exceed a constraint for the one speaker.

10. The signal generator according to claim 1 , wherein the weights applied by the one or more filters are derived by determining the target balance based on a physical arrangement of the at least two speakers relative to the user.

11. The signal generator according to claim 1 , wherein the weights applied by the one or more filters are derived by determining the target balance so as to simulate speakers that are symmetrically arranged with respect to the user.

12. The signal generator according to claim 1 , wherein the weights applied by the one or more filters are derived by determining the target balance so as to simulate speakers that are further apart than the at least two speakers.

13. The signal generator according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second speakers are different distances away from the user, the method further comprising:
determining the characteristic of the second speaker to be a relative distance of the second speaker from the user compared with the first speaker from the user.

14. The signal generator according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second speakers have different frequency responses, the method further comprising:
determining the characteristic of the second speaker to be a relative frequency response of the second speaker compared with the first speaker.

15. A method comprising:
receiving at least two audio signals;
identifying a first constraint that limits a weight that can be applied to an audio signal to be

Assignees

• Huawei Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Jin Wenyu
• Grosche Peter

Classifications

• H04R3/04

  for correcting frequency response · CPC title

• H04S1/002 Primary

  Non-adaptive circuits, e.g. manually adjustable or static, for enhancing the sound image or the spatial distribution (control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field H04S7/30) · CPC title

• H04R2499/11

  Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's · CPC title

• G10H2210/305

  Source positioning in a soundscape, e.g. instrument positioning on a virtual soundstage, stereo panning or related delay or reverberation changes; Changing the stereo width of a musical source · CPC title

• H04S7/302 Primary

  Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation (H04S7/301 takes precedence) · CPC title