DE202013004923U1 - Audio material conversion device for optimizing the sound reproduction from the perspective of a hearing person - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic device, hereinafter referred to as audio conversion device, the existing audio tape or other audio material z. As a CD, DVD or a xxx.mp3 file, or the like so amended that weaknesses in the audio playback, are compensated from the individual point of view of the listener, characterized in that the audio conversion device, the hearing profile of a hearing person determined and existing " Original audio material, in audio format, eg. B. mp3, flac specifically to the hearing desired by the individual and stored again, without the listener needs an additional device, tools or software or must acquire to play back the converted audio signals, since the listener can use his existing audio playback system. In the conversion of the original audio material, the signals are corrected so that weaknesses, from the point of view of the hearer, in the entire "process chain of hearing", starting with the weaknesses - the audio playback system, - the listening room acoustics and the Listening environment, - the loudspeaker and / or the headphones, - the ears of the hearer, and - the individual implementation of the hearing through the brain of the hearing (psychoacoustic aspects) and - weaknesses in the audio reproduction, from the listener's point of view, what his preferences for the audio playback concerns, for. As a special preference for the emphasis of the bass to be compensated.

Description

• The present invention relates to an electronic device, hereinafter called audio conversion device, the existing audio tape or other audio material z. As a CD, DVD or a xxx.mp3 file, or the like changed so that weaknesses in the audio playback, are compensated from the individual point of view of the listener

Hearing aids, audio playback devices, smartphones, tablet PCs, other computers and Internet networks are becoming more widespread. Weak or due to age reasons, naturally declining hearing ability brings for many people significant losses in the quality of life with it, because they know audio material only limited enjoy. Also, weaknesses of the room acoustics, the playback devices used and the speakers / headphones can play a significant role in the positive sound perception of the listener. In order to be able to compensate for these deficits in sound perception, there is now a wide range of different methods and possibilities in the field of adapting audio material to the listener.

A fundamental feature here is that on the one hand analyzes the audio signal and / or on the other hand, the hearing of the hearing is analyzed.

There are devices (hearing aids in the language called), which are individually adapted to the hearing of the hearing and worn in the ear or Ohrnah of the hearing. These contain electronics that convert sound incoming to or in the ear or Ohrnah so that possibly hearing impairments of the hearing are largely compensated. Often a hearing test precedes the listener.

There are also devices that measure the listener's hearing room with test signals and a microphone "automatically". As soon as the listener then plays audio material, then the device tries to compensate for the supposed weaknesses of the listening room.

In addition, there are devices in which the hearer manually (in the language such as "audio equalizer" called), depending on his hearing senses and / or preferences the sound when playing the audio sound source, so when listening set.

In addition, it is known that one can "download" audio material via the Internet from music servers or upload it via the Internet ("upload").

There are also devices, see US 7564979 B2 where test signals are reproduced by an audio playback system heard by a listener who evaluates these test signals. This score is then compared to the data of a normal listener and generates correction data, which are then used by a programmable equalizer, which then tries to compensate for the playback, not only the hearing loss of the hearing but also the sound interference in the playback system.

These commercially available devices of this type are usually complex, complicated to operate, expensive to purchase / maintain, require a high level of service or often stigmatize the weaker hearing by apparently wearing a hearing aid device. All existing devices have in common that the user requires additional special devices. Also, in the known solutions only insufficient psychoacoustic aspects in the sound conversion can be considered, because for example an equalizer can create the desired sound correction in the audio data correction here only insufficient and very limited. In addition, many users of today's devices complain about the complexity of operation and the low sound quality of the conversion results. Many users are unable to find the optimal sound setting for their sound conversion devices, eg. B. to find hearing aids or audio equalizers and make.

In addition, older people, in particular, want to be able to continue using their existing and well-known audio playback devices.

The object of the invention is based on the problem of compensating for deficits in the reproduction of audio material from the point of view of the listener in such a way that the listener does not have to acquire any additional audio playback devices, such as the hearing aid. As a hearing aid or an equalizer or a special audio player. The listening user should be able to continue using their existing audio playback devices in their familiar listening environment. Thus, the invention should be commercially much cheaper than the known solutions and also stigmatization of the nuisance listening by wearing a hearing aid can be avoided. In addition, the problem should be solved here, that the known systems usually can only consider inadequate psychoacoustic aspects and preferences for the audio reproduction of the hearing. In addition, a very simple solution should be provided, which requires very little acoustic knowledge of the hearing and a high-quality solution state of the art technology, especially since usually older or less technology affine people will claim the invention.

This problem is solved by the features listed in the claims.

The advantages achieved by the invention are in particular that the user instead of a new audio playback device or system to purchase its existing playback devices can use and therefore the invention is particularly cost.

• 1. Audiodatenträger z. B. USB-Stick in einen Standard-Computer einstecken,
• 2. Umrechnungsprozess über Internet-Network-Akustik-Server starten,
• 3. nach Beendigung der Umrechnung die angepassten Audiodaten wieder auf den Audiodatenträger, z. B: USB Stick „uploaden”
• 4. und die umgewandelten Daten, (z. B. geänderter mp3.***file) auf dem bekannten Wiedergabegerät abspielen.

The invention consists of 2 parts which are interconnected. 1. a "standard computer" and 2. the acoustic server, which can be addressed centrally via the Internet. The invention can dispense with the use of additional devices by the user through this division, provided that a "standard computer" is present. Because an Internet connection and a "standard computer", such. As a PC, laptop, smartphone, tablet, pad, PC, etc. is available in most households. The contents and components of this standard computer provide many electronic parts needed for the invention. The user, with the invention from anywhere in the world, can access his correction hearing profile over the Internet with a standard computer and therefore convert his original audio material location-independently and computer-independently.
Another advantage is the ease of use, once the hearing profile has been created and is present on the acoustic server. An exemplary operation by the user can look like this:

• 1. Audio disk z. B. Plug USB stick into a standard computer,
• 2. start conversion process via Internet Network Acoustic Server,
• 3. after completing the conversion, the adjusted audio data back to the audio disk, z. B: "Upload" USB stick
• 4. and the converted data, (eg modified mp3. *** file) play on the known playback device.

Another advantage of the invention and the acoustic server is the quality of the conversion, since many standard computers or smartphones do not have the necessary computing power, but the acoustic server provides the necessary high computing power for the necessary FFT calculation of the audio signals and the inclusion of psychoacoustic algorithms accomplish. Another advantage of an acoustic server is that the further development of the audio conversion algorithms takes place in one place and therefore can be easily and quickly available to all users of the invention. Single devices would require a more elaborate upgrade process. The use of the invention in the conversion of audio signals, the soundtrack of DVD or film material in televisions offers great potential in the commercial application of the invention.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 7564979 B2 [0007]

Claims (4)

The present invention relates to an electronic device, hereinafter referred to as audio conversion device, the existing audio tape or other audio material z. As a CD, DVD or a xxx.mp3 file, or the like so amended that weaknesses in the audio playback, are compensated from the individual point of view of the listener, characterized in that the audio conversion device, the hearing profile of a hearing person determined and existing " Original audio material, in audio format, eg. B. mp3, flac specifically to the hearing desired by the individual and stored again, without the listener needs an additional device, tools or software or must acquire to play back the converted audio signals, since the listener can use his existing audio playback system. In the conversion of the original audio material, the signals are corrected so that weaknesses, from the point of view of the hearer, in the entire "process chain of hearing", starting with the weaknesses - the audio playback system, - the listening room acoustics and the Listening environment, - the speaker or / and the headphone, - the ears of the listener, and - the individual implementation of the hearing through the brain of the hearing (psychoacoustic aspects) and - weaknesses in the audio reproduction, from the listener's point of view, what his preferences for the audio playback concerns, for. As a special preference for the emphasis of the bass to be compensated. An audio conversion device according to claim 1, characterized in that an electronic computer-like device is provided which includes an electronic individual hearing profile analysis module and an audio material conversion module, the invention having an audio output associated with the audio input of the existing audio player, e.g. B. a stereo system of the hearing and has an audio input to which a microphone can be connected, which is placed in the listening room of the hearing and that, the individual hearing profile analysis module in the following the functions (A) , (B), (C), (D), namely (A) generates a hearing test, with the listener in his usual listening environment, with his usual playback device and his usual speakers, respectively his usual headphones. Normalized test signals (natural sounds or synthetic sounds) are output at different volumes and pitches, at the listener, which the listener has to evaluate. Various methods can be used here. For example, but not exclusively, sinusoidal signals can be output in different pitches and volumes, and the hearing person signals as soon as he hears them. The method chosen for the hearing test, ie, for example, the test signals, the reproduction sequence of the test signals and the evaluation of the results are carried out according to the recognized and proven methods of hearing health and can be performed as Tonaudiometrie, Sprachaudiometrie, Spielaudiometrie or Recruitment measurements. An exemplary, but not exclusive selection of the chosen hearing test method could be Psychoacoustic (subjective) hearing test; (such as tuning forks (gutter / Weber), hearing range test, pure tone threshold in air and bone conduction (LL, KL), threshold audiometry, suprathreshold tests (Fowler, SISI, Carhart, Langenbeck), Loudness, Categorial Loudness (auditory field scaling), Freiburg speech intelligibility test (hearing loss for Numbers in dB, monosyllabic clarity in%), speech test in noise (eg Oldenburg sentence test)) and / or as a physiological (objective) hearing test (such as eardrum impedance as a function of static pressure (tympanometry), eardrum impedance, change in ipsi / contralateral stimulation (stapedius reflex), otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE, DPOAE), auditory evoked potentials (FAEP, ASSR)) or as a pedaudiological hearing test, (such as reflex audiometry, (Auropalpebralreflex, Moro-Reflex), behavioral audiometry (eye or eye response reactions) Head), distraction audiometry (conditioning by reward, visual re-enforcement), game audiometry (active participation) Language tests (Mainz children's speech test, Göttingen children's speech comprehension test, Heidelberg consonant-vowel consonant test, Oldenburg two-silver child rhyme test (OLKI), Würzburg children's speech test, AAST)). (B) in the presence of loudspeakers, normalized test signals via the speakers to the listening room and outputs via a microphone, the playback of the sound test signals. As a result, the sound characteristic, the listening room or the room acoustics in which the hearing person has made the hearing test (A) is determined. When using headphones this step can be omitted. (C) the listener for personal information, such. Age and music preferences. This survey is chosen so that a clear statement about audio preferences can be made, eg. B. Clear graduation of the instruments, musicians, voluminous sound, voice and the like. (D) from the results (A) and (B) and (C) created an actual hearing profile, but not exclusively as an audiogram and this with the hearing profile of a For example, but not solely in an audiogram comparison, and the analysis module from the results of (A) and (B) and (C), an individual correction impulse response for the whole "Process chain of hearing" calculated. In doing so, psychoacoustic aspects are taken into account when calculating the correction hearing profile. Various algorithms may be used, which take into account age-related and / or hearing impairment, for example, direction, distance and spatial hearing, sound sensations, loudness and tonality, frequency resolution, temporal processing and perceptible sound distortions (peak clipping) or loudness compensation, and the analysis module finally provides the audio material conversion module with an individualized correction impulse response tuned to the listening test in the specific listening environment, namely the individual "correction hearing profile". An audio conversion device according to claim 1, characterized in that an electronic computer-like device is provided which includes an electronic individual hearing profile analysis module and an audio material conversion module, the audio material conversion module consisting essentially of 3 electronic parts, namely a) a reading unit that reads in the "original audio material", b) an audio material conversion unit that contains the "original audio data" according to the individual "correction hearing profile provided by the individual analysis module "Converts. This can, but does not have to, be done exclusively by "folding" or "convolving" according to the FFT (Fast Fourier Transformation) principle. This creates a new audio signal with the now individually optimized audio data, which compensates for the weaknesses in the "hearing process chain" from the individual point of view of the listener. c) an output unit which reads out the converted data again in the same or in a different desired format as the original audio material and stores it on the desired audio material storage medium. an audio conversion device according to protection claim 1, characterized in that, the individual hearing profile analysis module and the input and output unit of the audio material conversion module by the usually standard in a computer or smartphone electronic components present, (Audio-In Output, processor, controller, user interface) and the audio material conversion unit (see 3.2) is centrally outsourced and addressed via an Internet. The correct interaction of the blocks is in this case controlled by the outsourced central audio material conversion unit that controls the functions mentioned in protection claim 1. In the conversion of original audio material, the writing and reading units of the computer device are used, for. As the read-write unit for memory cards or the DVD / CD read-write unit, a connection to the "central audio conversion module" is built on the Internet, on which also the individual correction hearing profile of the listener is. The original audio material is sent ("download") to the "central audio conversion unit" and, by the "central audio material conversion unit", hereinafter referred to as "acoustic server", the original audio data is converted according to the individual correction hearing profile and made available again after the conversion to be uploaded to a "standard computer".