Automatic Audio System Equalizing

Abstract

An automated process for equalizing an audio system and an apparatus for implementing the process. An audio system includes a microphone unit, for receiving the sound waves radiated from a plurality of speakers, acoustic measuring circuitry, for calculating frequency response measurements; a memory, for storing characteristic data of the loudspeaker units and further for storing the frequency response measurements; and equalization calculation circuitry, for calculating an equalization pattern responsive to the digital data and responsive to the characteristic data of the plurality of loudspeaker units. Also described is an automated equalizing system including a acoustic measuring circuitry including a microphone for measuring frequency response at a plurality of locations; a memory, for storing the frequency responses at the plurality of locations; and equalization calculation circuitry, for calculating, from the frequency responses, an optimized equalization pattern.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a portable computer device that is configured to communicate with an audio system, where the audio system is adapted to receive audio signals and use loudspeakers to transduce the audio signals into sound, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the portable computer device, signals resulting from sound that is received by a microphone, where the sound is from the audio system when the audio system plays test audio signals; and   transmitting to the audio system, by the portable computer device, an equalization pattern that is based on the signals resulting from sound that is received by a microphone and that is appropriate to achieve a desired frequency response from the audio system loudspeakers.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the portable computer device includes the microphone. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the portable computer device is adapted to have the microphone electrically coupled to it. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the portable computer device is adapted to have the microphone attached to it. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the equalization pattern is calculated by the portable computer device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the equalization pattern is calculated based on the signals resulting from the sound that is received by the microphone, while the microphone is at a plurality of different locations. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the portable computer device is moved to the plurality of different locations by a person. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the person receives video instructions. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising calculating a frequency response based on the signals resulting from the sound that is received by the microphone. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising calculating filters that are appropriate to achieve the equalization. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the filters are calculated by the portable computer device. 
     
     
         12 . A method for operating a portable computer device that is configured to communicate with an audio system, where the audio system has audio signal processing circuitry that is adapted to receive audio signals and supply processed audio signals to one or more loudspeakers that transduce the processed audio signals into sound, where the portable computer device is configured to receive signals resulting from sound that is received by a microphone, where the sound is received from the audio system when the audio system plays test audio signals, and where the portable computer device is further configured to process the received signals resulting from the sound that is received by the microphone, the method comprising:
 determining, using the processed microphone signals, an equalization pattern that is appropriate to achieve a desired frequency response from the one or more audio system loudspeakers; and   transmitting the equalization pattern to the audio system.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the portable computer device includes the microphone. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the portable computer device is adapted to have the microphone electrically coupled to it. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the portable computer device is adapted to have the microphone attached to it. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the equalization pattern is determined based on the signals resulting from the sound that is received by the microphone, while the microphone is at a plurality of different locations. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the portable computer device is moved to the plurality of different locations by a person. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the person receives video instructions. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising calculating a frequency response based on the signals resulting from the sound that is received by the microphone. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising calculating filters that are appropriate to achieve the equalization. 
     
     
         21 . A device configured to operate a portable computer device that is configured to communicate with an audio system, where the audio system has audio signal processing circuitry that is adapted to receive audio signals and supply processed audio signals to one or more loudspeakers that transduce the processed audio signals into sound, where the portable computer device is configured to receive signals resulting from sound that is received by a microphone, where the sound is received from the audio system when the audio system plays test audio signals, and where the portable computer device is further configured to process the received signals resulting from sound that is received by the microphone, the device comprising:
 a processor that is configured to determine, using the processed received signals resulting from sound that is received by the microphone, an equalization pattern that is appropriate to achieve a desired frequency response from the one or more audio system loudspeakers.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the equalization pattern is determined based on the signals resulting from the sound that is received by the microphone, while the microphone is at a plurality of different locations. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the processor is further configured to calculate a frequency response based on the signals resulting from the sound that is received by the microphone. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the processor is further configured to calculate filters that are appropriate to achieve the equalization.