Harman International Industries, Inc.

Todd S Welti

Sean Edward Olive

Allan O Devantier

Omid Khonsaripour

Christian Manuel Garcia

Daniel Timothy Pye

Michael Edmund Knappe

Ashish Dharmpal Aggarwal

Ulrich Horbach

Christopher Ludwig

Kadagattur Gopinatha Srinidhi

Kevin Hague

Elisabeth McMullin

Michael Knappe

A computer-implemented method for processing audio. The method includes obtaining a binaural room impulse response (BRIR) of an acoustic space, receiving an input audio signal, separating the input audio signal into low-frequency components and high-frequency components, and dividing the BRIR of the acoustic space into a first portion that occurs before a first time and a second portion that occurs after the first time. The method further includes generating a first component of an output audio signal based on the high-frequency components of the input audio signal and the first portion of the BRIR, generating a second component of the output audio signal based on the high-frequency components of the input audio signal and the second portion of the BRIR, generating a third component of the output audio signal based on the low-frequency components of the input audio signal and the BRIR, and outputting the output audio signal.

Rendering of audio signals using virtualized reverberation

An insert for headphone measurements on a head-shape fixture includes a body and a coupler. The body is configured to engage at least a portion of the headphones. The body also defines an opening that is configured to receive a pinna on the head-shape fixture. The body has a variable stiffness. The coupler attaches the body to the head-shape fixture.

Insert for headphone measurements on a head shaped fixture

Mannequin

An embodiment sets forth a technique for configuring one or more audio parameters. The technique includes presenting a first plurality of setting options associated with an audio parameter, wherein the first plurality of setting options comprises a first option having a same value as a first setting of the audio parameter and a second option having a first value different than the first setting; receiving a selection of one of the first option and the second option; based on the selection, presenting a second plurality of setting options associated with the audio parameter, wherein the second plurality of setting options comprises a third option having a same value as a second setting of the audio parameter and a fourth option having a second value different than the second setting; and setting the audio parameter based on a selection of at least one of the second plurality of setting options.

Multistep sound preference determination

A computer-implemented method comprises identifying an audio playback device configured to reproduce audio content based on an audio input signal, wherein the audio playback device has a previously measured characteristic frequency response; retrieving the previously measured characteristic frequency response associated with the audio playback device; generating, based on the previously measured characteristic frequency response and a preferred frequency response curve for a plurality of users, a frequency response filter that modifies the previously measured characteristic frequency response of the audio playback device to a modified frequency response; processing the audio input signal with the frequency response filter to generate a filtered audio signal that differs in relative amplitude from the audio input signal in one or more frequency bands; and causing the audio playback device to play back the filtered audio signal.

Sound quality enhancement and personalization

A memory stores a linear model predicting a preference rating for in-ear headphones. A processor is programmed to generate a headphone response curve defining a frequency response of a headphone, apply the linear model to the headphone response curve to determine a preference rating, and provide the preference rating to predict overall sound quality of the in-ear headphone without listening tests.

One-click measurement for headphones

A method of audio signal processing, the method comprising: accessing user-specific audio processing information for a particular user; determining identity information of an audio device for producing sound output from an audio signal; based on the identity information of the audio device, accessing device-specific audio processing information for the audio device; generating a customized audio-processing procedure for the audio signal based on the user-specific audio processing information and the device-specific audio processing information; and generating a customized audio signal by processing the audio signal with the customized audio-processing procedure.

Customized audio processing based on user-specific and hardware-specific audio information

A smart speaker device for acoustical listening area mapping and frequency correction includes a non-transitory storage configured to maintain a listening area response map indicating filter settings corresponding to each of a plurality of locations within a listening area, a microphone array, a loudspeaker; and a controller. The controller is programmed to execute a frequency correcting application to identify a current location of a mobile device in the listening area based on ultrasonic audio received to the microphone array from the mobile device, access the listening area response map to retrieve filter settings corresponding to the current location, and apply the filter settings to an audio stream to be output to the loudspeaker to correct for frequency response of the loudspeaker at the current location of the mobile device.

Acoustical listening area mapping and frequency correction

Headphones are provided with a pair of speakers adapted to be suspended a distance away from the listener's ears and movable between a plurality of test positions. At least one microphone is adapted to be positioned near one of the listener's ears. A controller is in communication with the pair of speakers. The controller is programmed to activate the pair of speakers to produce a test sound at a plurality of test positions. The controller receives playback signals from the microphone based on each of the test sounds at the plurality of test positions. A head related transfer function (HRTF) is determined based on the playback signals received by the microphones.

Extra-aural headphone device and method

A wearable device worn on the head of a user determines the head orientation of the user. A tracking application executing on the wearable device determines the orientation of the wearable device relative to a frame of reference. A mobile application executing on a mobile device likewise determines the orientation of the mobile device relative to the frame of reference. The frame of reference may be magnetic north or an inertial reference frame shared between the wearable device and the mobile device. The tracking application estimates the head orientation of the user, relative to the mobile device, based on the relative orientations of the wearable device and the mobile device.

Passive magnetic head tracker

Method and system for displaying images on headphones worn by a user and/or for displaying a status of the user. The headphones include a display screen on an outward-facing surface of the headphones. The display screen can display images related to audio being listened to by the user. The display screen can also display a status of the user, such as 'on the phone' or 'busy.' The display screen can be a touch screen display, and the user can input commands to the headphones by touching and/or gesturing on the display.

Headphones with integral image display

Frequency equalization system substantially equalizes the room frequency responses generated by at least one loudspeaker within a listening area so that the frequency responses in the listening area are substantially constant and flat within a desired frequency range. The frequency equalization system uses multiple microphones to measure the impulse responses of the room and uses the impulse responses to design filters to process the audio signals of one or more subwoofers to achieve an improved bass response that is flat across the relevant frequency range. The system employs an algorithm that is a closed-form, non-iterative, mathematical solution and features very short computation time.

Equalization system to improve the quality of bass sounds within a listening area

A system is provided for configuring an audio system for a given space. The system may statistically analyze potential configurations of the audio system to configure the audio system. The potential configurations may include positions of the loudspeakers, numbers of loudspeakers, types of loudspeakers, listening positions, correction factors, or any combination thereof. The statistical analysis may indicate at least one metric of the potential configuration including indicating consistency of predicted transfer functions, flatness of the predicted transfer functions, differences in overall sound pressure level from seat to seat for the predicted transfer functions, efficiency of the predicted transfer functions, or the output of predicted transfer functions. The system also provides a methodology for selecting loudspeaker locations, the number of loudspeakers, the types of loudspeakers, correction factors, listening positions, or a combination of these schemes in an audio system that has a single listening position or multiple listening positions.

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Thousand Oaks, CA, United States of America

Todd S Welti