Methods and systems for automatically equalizing audio output based on room position

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12418270-B2
Application number	US-202418405641-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 5, 2024
Priority date	Oct 4, 2017
Publication date	Sep 16, 2025
Grant date	Sep 16, 2025

Abstract

The various implementations described herein include methods, devices, and systems for automatic audio equalization. In one aspect, a method is performed at an electronic device that includes speakers, microphones, processors and memory. The electronic device outputs audio user content from the speakers and automatically equalizes subsequent audio output of the device without user input. The automatic equalization includes: (1) obtaining audio content signals, including receiving outputted audio content at each microphone; (2) determining from the audio content signals phase differences between microphones; (3) obtaining a feature vector based on the phase differences; (4) obtaining a frequency correction from a correction database based on the obtained feature vector; and (5) applying the obtained frequency correction to the subsequent audio output.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for equalizing audio at an electronic device located in a defined space, comprising:
outputting first audio content from at least one speaker of the electronic device;
capturing, via a plurality of microphones, audio data representing a set of reflections of the first audio content within the defined space;
based on the audio data that was captured, obtaining, by a processor of the electronic device, a frequency response for the defined space;
obtaining, by the processor, a frequency correction based on the frequency response and a target frequency response obtained through an analysis of an environs of the electronic device, the frequency correction being over a range of frequencies above and below a transition frequency; and
applying, by the processor, the frequency correction to subsequent audio content.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the frequency response for the defined space comprises:
obtaining, by the processor of the electronic device, the frequency response for the defined space, wherein the frequency response comprises a set of fluctuations in amplitude over the range of frequencies.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the frequency response for the defined space comprises:
obtaining, by the processor of the electronic device, the frequency response for the defined space, wherein the frequency response corresponds to a position of the electronic device within the defined space.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the frequency response for the defined space comprises:
determining, by the processor based on the audio data that was captured, a plurality of phase differences between the plurality of microphones; and
obtaining a feature vector based on the plurality of phase differences.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein obtaining the frequency correction based on the frequency response comprises:
obtaining the frequency correction based on the feature vector.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the frequency correction based on the frequency response comprises:
obtaining, using a database local to the electronic device, the frequency correction based on the frequency response.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
outputting training audio from the at least one speaker of the electronic device;
capturing, via the plurality of microphones, additional audio data representing an additional set of reflections of the training audio within the defined space;
generating a reference feature vector and a reference frequency correction based on the additional audio data that was captured; and
adding, to a correction database, the reference feature vector and the reference frequency correction.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein obtaining the frequency correction based on the frequency response comprises:
obtaining, based on the reference feature vector and the reference frequency correction in the correction database, the frequency correction based on the frequency response.

9. An electronic device located in a defined space, comprising: at least one speaker; a plurality of microphones; a memory storing at least one computer program; and a processor interfaced with the at least one speaker, the plurality of microphones, and the memory, and configured to execute the at least one computer program to cause the processor to: cause the at least one speaker to output first audio content, capture, via the plurality of microphones, audio data representing a set of reflections of the first audio content within the defined space, based on the audio data that was captured, obtain a frequency response for the defined space, and obtain a frequency correction frequency based on the frequency response and a target frequency response obtained through an analysis of an environs of the electronic device, the frequency correction being over a range of frequencies above and below a transition frequency, and apply the frequency correction to subsequent audio content.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein to obtain the frequency response for the defined space, the processor is configured to:
obtain the frequency response for the defined space, wherein the frequency response comprises a set of fluctuations in amplitude over the range of frequencies.

11. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein to obtain the frequency response for the defined space, the processor is configured to:
obtain the frequency response for the defined space, wherein the frequency response corresponds to a position of the electronic device within the defined space.

12. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein to obtain the frequency response for the defined space, the processor is configured to:
determine, based on the audio data that was captured, a plurality of phase differences between the plurality of microphones, and
obtain a feature vector based on the plurality of phase differences.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein to obtain the frequency correction based on the frequency response, the processor is configured to:
obtain the frequency correction based on the feature vector.

14. The electronic device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a database;
wherein to obtain the frequency correction based on the frequency response, the processor is configured to:
obtain, using the database, the frequency correction based on the frequency response.

15. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the at least one computer program to further cause the processor to:
cause the at least one speaker to output training audio,
capture, via the plurality of microphones, additional audio data representing an additional set of reflections of the training audio within the defined space,
generate a reference feature vector and a reference frequency correction based on the additional audio data that was captured, and
add, to a correction database, the reference feature vector and the reference frequency correction.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein to obtain the frequency correction based on the frequency response, the processor is configured to:
obtain, based on the reference feature vector and the reference frequency correction in the correction database, the frequency correction based on the frequency response.

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Shaya Benjamin Louis
• Larsen Rasmus
• Lyon Richard F
• Smedegaard Michael

Classifications

• H04R29/001

  for loudspeakers (H04R29/007 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04S2420/00

  Techniques used stereophonic systems covered by H04S but not provided for in its groups · CPC title

• H04S2420/07

  Synergistic effects of band splitting and sub-band processing · CPC title

• H04R2430/03

  Synergistic effects of band splitting and sub-band processing · CPC title

• H04S7/301

  Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone · CPC title