Measuring ear biometrics for sound optimization
Adjusting sound using biometrical information is provided by measuring a response of a human's ear to a test signal, comparing the measured response with a target response, obtaining deviations between the measured response and the target response, and adjusting sound using the obtained deviations.
1 . A method for adjusting sound with:
measuring a response of a human's ear to a test signal,
comparing the measured response with a target response,
obtaining deviations between the measured response and the target response, and
adjusting sound using the obtained deviations.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the response is a frequency response and wherein the target response is a target frequency response.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein measuring the frequency response comprises measuring the frequency response at least of one of
A) the ear's pinna;
B) the ear's concha;
C) the ear canal; and
D) the ear cochlea.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the frequency response comprises generating at least one of
A) a reference tone;
B) a burst of white noise;
C) a maximum length sequence (MLS);
D) a pulse; and
E) pink noise,
or a derivative thereof.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring a response of a human's ear to a test signal comprises measuring response for sounds, which are characterized by at least one of
A) pitch,
B) loudness, and
C) timbre.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising translating the measured response and the target response into a frequency spectrum.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the response is an auditory brainstem response and wherein the target response is a target auditory brainstem response.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the target response characterizes a required response for a target type of sound.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the target response characterizes a required response for a target type of environment.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the sound using the obtained deviations comprises tone control.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the sound using the obtained deviations comprises equalizing the sound.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring a response of a human's ear to a test signal comprises measuring the response for each ear individually.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the sound using the obtained deviations comprises filtering the sound in real-time.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing the measured response with a target response comprises translating the response using at least one of
A) a default value,
B) an interpolated value, and
C) an extrapolated value,
where no evaluable response is measured,
15 . A unit for adjusting sound comprising:
a test signal generator for generating a test signal,
a response signal sensor arranged for measuring a response of a human's ear to the test signal,
a comparator arranged for comparing the measured response with a target response, and for obtaining deviations between the measured response and the target response, and
an adjusting unit arranged for adjusting sound using the obtained deviations.
16 . The unit of claim 15 , wherein the test signal generator comprises at least one loudspeaker for playing back the test signal.
17 . The unit of claim 15 , wherein the response signal sensor comprises at least one microphone for receiving the human's ear response to the test signal.
18 . The unit of claim 15 , wherein the comparator is further arranged to translate the measured response and the target response into a frequency spectrum.
19 . The unit of claim 15 , wherein the response signal sensor comprises an auditory brainstem response measuring unit.
20 . The unit of claim 15 , wherein the adjusting unit comprises at least one of
A) a tone controller;
B) an equalizer;
C) a pitch resolution controller to enable recognition of absolute pitches;
D) a loudness controller for equal loudness curves; and
E) a quality or timbre controller to enable recognition of harmonic content, attack and decay,
and vibrato of a musical instruments.
21 . An electronic device comprising a unit of claim 15 .
22 . A mobile communication device comprising a unit of claim 15 .
23 . A software program product, in which a software code for adjusting sound is stored, said software code realizing the following steps when being executed by a processing unit of an electronic device:
measuring a response of a human's ear to a test signal,
comparing the measured response with a target response,
obtaining deviations between the measured response and the target response, and
adjusting sound using the obtained deviations.