Facebook Patent | Selecting spatial locations for audio personalization

Patent: Selecting spatial locations for audio personalization

Drawings: Click to check drawins

Publication Number: 20210076150

Publication Date: 20210311

Applicant: Facebook

Abstract

An audio system generates customized head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) for a user. The audio system receives an initial set of estimated HRTFs. The initial set of HRTFs may have been estimated using a trained machine learning and computer vision system and pictures of the user’s ears. The audio system generates a set of test locations using the initial set of HRTFs. The audio system presents test sounds at each of the initial set of test locations using the initial set of HRTFs. The audio system monitors user responses to the test sounds. The audio system uses the monitored responses to generate a new set of estimated HRTFs and a new set of test locations. The process repeats until a threshold accuracy is achieved or until a set period of time expires. The audio system presents audio content to the user using the customized HRTFs.

Claims

1. A method comprising: selecting a set of test locations for a set of estimated head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) of a user; generating a set of customized HRTFs for the user, the generating based in part on applying an iterative process to the set of estimated HRTFs, the iterative process comprising: generating test sounds for the set of test locations, wherein the generated test sounds are spatialized using the estimated HRTFs of the user; determining accuracy values for the estimated HRTFs of the user based in part on responses of the user to the generated test sounds; updating the estimated HRTFs of the user based in part on the accuracy values; and adjusting the set of test locations based in part on a rate of change of the updated estimated HRTFs within a region; repeating the iterative process until a quality metric is met; and presenting content to the user using the customized set of HRTFs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of estimated HRTFs are generated by an HRTF machine learning and computer vision module.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of estimated HRTFs are generated based on data describing physical characteristics of the user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the data describing the user comprises an image of an ear of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating test sounds for the set of test locations comprises sequentially generating a test sound for each of the test locations.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein an accuracy value for an estimated HRTF is calculated based on a difference in location between the test location for the estimated HRTF and a gaze location of the user in response to the test sound for the test location.

7. (canceled)

8. A method comprising: selecting a first set of test locations based on a first set of estimated head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) of a user and a rate of change of the first set of HRTFs within a region; generating test sounds for the first set of test locations; calculating accuracy values for the first set of estimated HRTFs of the user based on a user response to the test sounds for the first set of test locations; calculating a second set of HRTFs for the user based on the accuracy values for the first set of estimated HRTFs; selecting a second set of test locations based on the second set of HRTFs; and generating test sounds for the second set of test locations.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first set of estimated HRTFs are generated by an HRTF machine learning and computer vision module.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first set of estimated HRTFs are generated based on data describing physical characteristics of the user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the data describing the user comprises an image of an ear of the user.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the generating test sounds for the set of test locations comprises sequentially generating a test sound for each of the test locations.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein an accuracy value for an estimated HRTF is calculated based on a difference in location between the test location for the estimated HRTF and a gaze location of the user in response to the test sound for the test location.

14. (canceled)

15. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing computer program code for: selecting a set of test locations for a set of estimated head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) of a user; generating a set of customized HRTFs for the user, the generating based in part on applying an iterative process to the set of estimated HRTFs, the iterative process comprising: generating test sounds for the set of test locations, wherein the generated test sounds are spatialized using the estimated HRTFs of the user; determining accuracy values for the estimated HRTFs of the user based in part on responses of the user to the generated test sounds; updating the estimated HRTFs of the user based in part on the accuracy values; and adjusting the set of test locations based in part on a rate of change of the updated estimated HRTFs within a region; repeating the iterative process until a quality metric is met; and presenting content to the user using the customized set of HRTFs.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the set of estimated HRTFs are generated by an HRTF machine learning and computer vision module.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the set of estimated HRTFs are generated based on data describing physical characteristics of the user.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the data describing the user comprises an image of an ear of the user.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the generating test sounds for the set of test locations comprises sequentially generating a test sound for each of the test locations.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein an accuracy value for an estimated HRTF is calculated based on a difference in location between the test location for the estimated HRTF and a gaze location of the user in response to the test sound for the test location.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This disclosure relates generally to artificial reality systems, and more specifically to audio systems for artificial reality systems.

BACKGROUND

[0002] People hear sounds differently. For users of an audio system, such as an audio system in an artificial reality system, the sounds presented by the audio system may be heard differently by different users. Audio systems may analyze images of a user, such as images of the ears of the user, to calculate head-related transfer functions and customize the sounds presented to the user.

SUMMARY

[0003] An audio system generates or receives an initial set of head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) for a user. The initial set of HRTFs may have been estimated using a trained machine learning and computer vision system and images (e.g., of the user’s ears, head, etc.). The audio system generates a set of test locations using the initial set of HRTFs. The audio system presents audio content at each of the initial set of test locations using the initial set of HRTFs. The audio system monitors responses of the user to the audio content presented for each of the set of test locations. The audio system uses the monitored responses to generate a new set of estimated HRTFs and a new set of test locations. The process may repeat until a threshold accuracy is achieved, until a set period of time expires, until a set number of iterations is achieved, etc.

[0004] In some embodiments, a method may comprise selecting a set of test locations for a set of estimated head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) of a user. A set of customized HRTFs for the user is generated, the generating based in part on applying an iterative process to the set of estimated HRTFs. The iterative process may be repeated until a quality metric is met. Content is presented to the user using the customized set of HRTFs. The iterative process may comprise, e.g., generating test sounds for the set of test locations. The generated test sounds are spatialized using the estimated HRTFs of the user. The iterative process may also include determining accuracy values for the estimated HRTFs of the user based in part on responses of the user to the generated test sounds and updating the estimated HRTFs of the user based in part on the accuracy values. The iterative process may also include adjusting the set of test locations based in part on the updated estimated HRTFs.

[0005] In some embodiments, a method may comprise selecting a first set of test locations based on a first set of estimated head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) of a user. Test sounds are generated for the first set of test locations, and accuracy values are calculated for the first set of estimated HRTFs of the user based on a user response to the test sounds for the first set of test locations. A second set of HRTFs is calculated for the user based on the accuracy values for the first set of estimated HRTFs. A second set of test locations is selected based on the second set of HRTFs, and test sounds are generated for the second set of test locations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a headset implemented as an eyewear device, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0007] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a headset implemented as a head-mounted display, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an audio system, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a headset and multiple test locations, in accordance with various embodiments.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process for generating customized HRTFs, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0011] FIG. 5 is a system that includes a headset, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0012] The figures depict various embodiments for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] A headset includes an audio system that utilizes customized head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) for a user to present sounds to the user. The audio system uses an iterative process to refine the HRTFs for the user. The iterative process may include actively or passively obtaining user feedback to sounds presented using the HRTFs.

[0014] The audio system generates or receives an initial set of HRTFs for a user. The initial set of HRTFs may have been estimated using a trained machine learning and computer vision system and a description of the user, which may include pictures of the user’s head, torso, or ears, or physical summaries or measurements of ears referred to as anthropometric features. The audio system generates a set of test locations using the initial set of HRTFs. The test locations may be selected to be located at locations where the HRTFs change significantly as a function of position, which may indicate a relatively high level of uncertainty in the HRTFs in that region, or that small inaccuracies in HRTFs may result in significant errors in sounds presented to the user. The audio system presents audio content at each of the initial set of test locations using the initial set of HRTFs. The audio system monitors responses of the user to the audio content presented for each of the set of test locations. The responses may include a gaze direction, a head movement, a spoken response, or any other suitable detectable response from the user. The audio system may detect the responses using sensors, such as cameras, motions sensors, and/or microphones. The audio system uses the monitored responses to generate a new set of estimated HRTFs and a new set of test locations. The process may repeat until a threshold accuracy is achieved or until a set period of time expires.

[0015] It may be difficult to obtain accurate HRTFs for all possible sound source locations. However, by selecting test locations in regions where HRTFs are known a priori to be very sensitive, the audio system may decrease the time and computational demands to improve the HRTF estimates in locations more likely to contain inaccurate estimated HRTFs. The disclosed audio system and HRTF customization process allows the audio system to accurately calculate HRTFs for a user without using active measurements of HRTFs using external audio equipment. Additionally, the iterative process of refining the HRTFs based on active or passive user feedback allows the audio system to obtain more accurate HRTFs in comparison to systems which use a static set of estimated HRTFs.

[0016] Embodiments of the invention may include or be implemented in conjunction with an artificial reality system. Artificial reality is a form of reality that has been adjusted in some manner before presentation to a user, which may include, e.g., a virtual reality (VR), an augmented reality (AR), a mixed reality (MR), a hybrid reality, or some combination and/or derivatives thereof. Artificial reality content may include completely generated content or generated content combined with captured (e.g., real-world) content. The artificial reality content may include video, audio, haptic feedback, or some combination thereof, any of which may be presented in a single channel or in multiple channels (such as stereo video that produces a three-dimensional effect to the viewer). Additionally, in some embodiments, artificial reality may also be associated with applications, products, accessories, services, or some combination thereof, that are used to create content in an artificial reality and/or are otherwise used in an artificial reality. The artificial reality system that provides the artificial reality content may be implemented on various platforms, including a wearable device (e.g., headset) connected to a host computer system, a standalone wearable device (e.g., headset), a mobile device or computing system, or any other hardware platform capable of providing artificial reality content to one or more viewers.

[0017] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a headset 100 implemented as an eyewear device, in accordance with one or more embodiments. In some embodiments, the eyewear device is a near eye display (NED). In general, the headset 100 may be worn on the face of a user such that content (e.g., media content) is presented using a display assembly and/or an audio system. However, the headset 100 may also be used such that media content is presented to a user in a different manner. Examples of media content presented by the headset 100 include one or more images, video, audio, or some combination thereof. The headset 100 includes a frame, and may include, among other components, a display assembly including one or more display elements 120, a depth camera assembly (DCA), an audio system, and a position sensor 190. While FIG. 1A illustrates the components of the headset 100 in example locations on the headset 100, the components may be located elsewhere on the headset 100, on a peripheral device paired with the headset 100, or some combination thereof. Similarly, there may be more or fewer components on the headset 100 than what is shown in FIG. 1A.

[0018] The frame 110 holds the other components of the headset 100. The frame 110 includes a front part that holds the one or more display elements 120 and end pieces (e.g., temples) to attach to a head of the user. The front part of the frame 110 bridges the top of a nose of the user. The length of the end pieces may be adjustable (e.g., adjustable temple length) to fit different users. The end pieces may also include a portion that curls behind the ear of the user (e.g., temple tip, ear piece).

[0019] The one or more display elements 120 provide light to a user wearing the headset 100. As illustrated the headset includes a display element 120 for each eye of a user. In some embodiments, a display element 120 generates image light that is provided to an eyebox of the headset 100. The eyebox is a location in space that an eye of user occupies while wearing the headset 100. For example, a display element 120 may be a waveguide display. A waveguide display includes a light source (e.g., a two-dimensional source, one or more line sources, one or more point sources, etc.) and one or more waveguides. Light from the light source is in-coupled into the one or more waveguides which outputs the light in a manner such that there is pupil replication in an eyebox of the headset 100. In-coupling and/or outcoupling of light from the one or more waveguides may be done using one or more diffraction gratings. In some embodiments, the waveguide display includes a scanning element (e.g., waveguide, mirror, etc.) that scans light from the light source as it is in-coupled into the one or more waveguides. Note that in some embodiments, one or both of the display elements 120 are opaque and do not transmit light from a local area around the headset 100. The local area is the area surrounding the headset 100. For example, the local area may be a room that a user wearing the headset 100 is inside, or the user wearing the headset 100 may be outside and the local area is an outside area. In this context, the headset 100 generates VR content. Alternatively, in some embodiments, one or both of the display elements 120 are at least partially transparent, such that light from the local area may be combined with light from the one or more display elements to produce AR and/or MR content.

[0020] In some embodiments, a display element 120 does not generate image light, and instead is a lens that transmits light from the local area to the eyebox. For example, one or both of the display elements 120 may be a lens without correction (non-prescription) or a prescription lens (e.g., single vision, bifocal and trifocal, or progressive) to help correct for defects in a user’s eyesight. In some embodiments, the display element 120 may be polarized and/or tinted to protect the user’s eyes from the sun.

[0021] Note that in some embodiments, the display element 120 may include an additional optics block (not shown). The optics block may include one or more optical elements (e.g., lens, Fresnel lens, etc.) that direct light from the display element 120 to the eyebox. The optics block may, e.g., correct for aberrations in some or all of the image content, magnify some or all of the image, or some combination thereof.

[0022] The DCA determines depth information for a portion of a local area surrounding the headset 100. The DCA includes one or more imaging devices 130 and a DCA controller (not shown in FIG. 1A), and may also include an illuminator 140. In some embodiments, the illuminator 140 illuminates a portion of the local area with light. The light may be, e.g., structured light (e.g., dot pattern, bars, etc.) in the infrared (IR), IR flash for time-of-flight, etc. In some embodiments, the one or more imaging devices 130 capture images of the portion of the local area that include the light from the illuminator 140. As illustrated, FIG. 1A shows a single illuminator 140 and two imaging devices 130. In alternate embodiments, there is no illuminator 140 and at least two imaging devices 130.

[0023] The DCA controller computes depth information for the portion of the local area using the captured images and one or more depth determination techniques. The depth determination technique may be, e.g., direct time-of-flight (ToF) depth sensing, indirect ToF depth sensing, structured light, passive stereo analysis, active stereo analysis (uses texture added to the scene by light from the illuminator 140), some other technique to determine depth of a scene, or some combination thereof.

[0024] The audio system provides audio content. The audio system includes a transducer array, a sensor array, and an audio controller 150. However, in other embodiments, the audio system may include different and/or additional components. Similarly, in some cases, functionality described with reference to the components of the audio system can be distributed among the components in a different manner than is described here. For example, some or all of the functions of the controller may be performed by a remote server.

[0025] The transducer array presents sound to user. The transducer array includes a plurality of transducers. A transducer may be a speaker 160 or a tissue transducer 170 (e.g., a bone conduction transducer or a cartilage conduction transducer). Although the speakers 160 are shown exterior to the frame 110, the speakers 160 may be enclosed in the frame 110. In some embodiments, instead of individual speakers for each ear, the headset 100 includes a speaker array comprising multiple speakers integrated into the frame 110 to improve directionality of presented audio content. The tissue transducer 170 couples to the head of the user and directly vibrates tissue (e.g., bone or cartilage) of the user to generate sound. The number and/or locations of transducers may be different from what is shown in FIG. 1A.

[0026] The sensor array detects sounds within the local area of the headset 100. The sensor array includes a plurality of acoustic sensors 180. An acoustic sensor 180 captures sounds emitted from one or more sound sources in the local area (e.g., a room). Each acoustic sensor is configured to detect sound and convert the detected sound into an electronic format (analog or digital). The acoustic sensors 180 may be acoustic wave sensors, microphones, sound transducers, or similar sensors that are suitable for detecting sounds.

[0027] In some embodiments, one or more acoustic sensors 180 may be placed in an ear canal of each ear (e.g., acting as binaural microphones). In some embodiments, the acoustic sensors 180 may be placed on an exterior surface of the headset 100, placed on an interior surface of the headset 100, separate from the headset 100 (e.g., part of some other device), or some combination thereof. The number and/or locations of acoustic sensors 180 may be different from what is shown in FIG. 1A. For example, the number of acoustic detection locations may be increased to increase the amount of audio information collected and the sensitivity and/or accuracy of the information. The acoustic detection locations may be oriented such that the microphone is able to detect sounds in a wide range of directions surrounding the user wearing the headset 100.

[0028] The audio controller 150 processes information from the sensor array that describes sounds detected by the sensor array. The audio controller 150 may comprise a processor and a computer-readable storage medium. The audio controller 150 may be configured to generate direction of arrival (DOA) estimates, generate acoustic transfer functions (e.g., array transfer functions and/or head-related transfer functions), track the location of sound sources, form beams in the direction of sound sources, classify sound sources, generate sound filters for the speakers 160, or some combination thereof.

[0029] The position sensor 190 generates one or more measurement signals in response to motion of the headset 100. The position sensor 190 may be located on a portion of the frame 110 of the headset 100. The position sensor 190 may include an inertial measurement unit (IMU). Examples of position sensor 190 include: one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, one or more magnetometers, another suitable type of sensor that detects motion, a type of sensor used for error correction of the IMU, or some combination thereof. The position sensor 190 may be located external to the IMU, internal to the IMU, or some combination thereof.

[0030] In some embodiments, the headset 100 may provide for simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) for a position of the headset 100 and updating of a model of the local area. For example, the headset 100 may include a passive camera assembly (PCA) that generates color image data. The PCA may include one or more RGB cameras that capture images of some or all of the local area. In some embodiments, some or all of the imaging devices 130 of the DCA may also function as the PCA. The images captured by the PCA and the depth information determined by the DCA may be used to determine parameters of the local area, generate a model of the local area, update a model of the local area, or some combination thereof. Furthermore, the position sensor 190 tracks the position (e.g., location and pose) of the headset 100 within the room.

[0031] The headset 100 comprises an eye tracking unit 195. The eye tracking unit 195 may include one or cameras which capture images of the user’s eyes. The eye tracking unit 195 may further comprise one or more illuminators that illuminate the user’s eyes. The eye tracking unit 195 estimates the angular orientation of the user’s eye or eyes. In some embodiments, the eye tracking unit 195 may detect distortions in an illumination pattern projected by the illuminators to determine the angular orientation of the user’s eyes. The orientation of the eyes corresponds to the direction of the user’s gaze within the headset 100. The orientation of the user’s eye may be the direction of the foveal axis, which is the axis between the fovea (an area on the retina of the eye with the highest concentration of photoreceptors) and the center of the eye’s pupil. In general, when a user’s eyes are fixed on a point, the foveal axes of the user’s eyes intersect that point. The pupillary axis is another axis of the eye which is defined as the axis passing through the center of the pupil which is perpendicular to the corneal surface. The pupillary axis does not, in general, directly align with the foveal axis. Both axes intersect at the center of the pupil, but the orientation of the foveal axis is offset from the pupillary axis by approximately -1.degree. to 8.degree. laterally and .+-.4.degree. vertically. Because the foveal axis is defined according to the fovea, which is located in the back of the eye, the foveal axis can be difficult or impossible to detect directly in some eye tracking embodiments. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the orientation of the pupillary axis is detected and the foveal axis is estimated based on the detected pupillary axis. However, in some embodiments the orientation of the pupillary axis may be used to estimate the angular orientation of the user’s eye or eyes without adjusting for the foveal axis difference.

[0032] In general, movement of an eye corresponds not only to an angular rotation of the eye, but also to a translation of the eye, a change in the torsion of the eye, and/or a change in shape of the eye. The eye tracking unit 195 may also detect translation of the eye: i.e., a change in the position of the eye relative to the eye socket. In some embodiments, the translation of the eye is not detected directly, but is approximated based on a mapping from a detected angular orientation. Translation of the eye corresponding to a change in the eye’s position relative to the detection components of the eye tracking unit may also be detected. Translation of this type may occur, for example, due to shift in the position of the headset 100 on a user’s head. The eye tracking unit 195 may also detect the torsion of the eye, i.e., rotation of the eye about the pupillary axis. The eye tracking unit 195 may use the detected torsion of the eye to estimate the orientation of the foveal axis from the pupillary axis. The eye tracking unit 195 may also track a change in the shape of the eye, which may be approximated as a skew or scaling linear transform or a twisting distortion (e.g., due to torsional deformation). The eye tracking unit 195 may estimate the foveal axis based on some combination of the angular orientation of the pupillary axis, the translation of the eye, the torsion of the eye, and the current shape of the eye.

[0033] In some embodiments, the eye tracking unit 195 may include at least one emitter which projects a structured light pattern on all or a portion of the eye. This pattern then is then projected onto to the shape of the eye, which may produce a perceived distortion in the structured light pattern when viewed from an offset angle. The eye tracking unit 195 may also include at least one camera which detects the distortions (if any) of the light pattern projected onto the eye. A camera, oriented on a different axis than the emitter, captures the illumination pattern on the eye. This process is denoted herein as “scanning” the eye. By detecting the deformation of the illumination pattern on the surface of the eye, the eye tracking unit 195 can determine the shape of the portion of the eye scanned. The captured distorted light pattern is therefore indicative of the 3D shape of the illuminated portion of the eye. By deriving the 3D shape of the portion of the eye illuminated by the emitter, the orientation of the eye can be derived. The eye tracking unit can also estimate the pupillary axis, the translation of the eye, the torsion of the eye, and the current shape of the eye based on the image of the illumination pattern captured by the camera.

[0034] In other embodiments, any suitable type of eye tracking system may be utilized. For example, the eye tracking unit 195 may capture images of the eyes, capture stereo images of the eyes, may utilize a ring of LEDs around the eyes which emit light in a sequence and determine eye orientation based on reflections from the LEDs, may utilize time-of-flight measurements, etc.

[0035] As the orientation may be determined for both eyes of the user, the eye tracking unit 195 is able to determine where the user is looking. The headset 100 can use the orientation of the eye to, e.g., determine an inter-pupillary distance (IPD) of the user, determine gaze direction, introduce depth cues (e.g., blur image outside of the user’s main line of sight), collect heuristics on the user interaction in the VR media (e.g., time spent on any particular subject, object, or frame as a function of exposed stimuli), some other function that is based in part on the orientation of at least one of the user’s eyes, or some combination thereof. Determining a direction of a user’s gaze may include determining a point of convergence based on the determined orientations of the user’s left and right eyes. A point of convergence may be the point that the two foveal axes of the user’s eyes intersect (or the nearest point between the two axes). The direction of the user’s gaze may be the direction of a line through the point of convergence and though the point halfway between the pupils of the user’s eyes. Additional details regarding the components of the headset 100 are discussed below in connection with FIG. 5.

[0036] The audio system calibrates customizes HRTFs for the user. The audio system synthesizes sounds at test locations using an initial set of estimated HRTFs. The eye tracking unit 195 detects a gaze location of the user’s eyes in response to the synthesized sounds. The audio system measures an accuracy of the HRTFs used to synthesize the sounds based on user responses, such as differences between the gaze locations and the test locations. The audio system calculates a new set of HRTFs based on the accuracy of the HRTFs. The audio system adjusts the test locations and calculates the accuracy of the new HRTFs at the adjusted test locations. The HRTF customization process is further described with reference to FIGS. 2-4.

[0037] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a headset 105 implemented as a HMD, in accordance with one or more embodiments. In embodiments that describe an AR system and/or a MR system, portions of a front side of the HMD are at least partially transparent in the visible band (.about.380 nm to 750 nm), and portions of the HMD that are between the front side of the HMD and an eye of the user are at least partially transparent (e.g., a partially transparent electronic display). The HMD includes a front rigid body 115 and a band 175. The headset 105 includes many of the same components described above with reference to FIG. 1A, but modified to integrate with the HMD form factor. For example, the HMD includes a display assembly, a DCA, an audio system, and a position sensor 190. FIG. 1B shows the illuminator 140, a plurality of the speakers 160, a plurality of the imaging devices 130, a plurality of acoustic sensors 180, and the position sensor 190. The speakers 160 may be located in various locations, such as coupled to the band 175 (as shown), coupled to front rigid body 115, or may be configured to be inserted within the ear canal of a user.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an audio system 200, in accordance with one or more embodiments. The audio system in FIG. 1A and/or FIG. 1B may be an embodiment of the audio system 200. The audio system 200 generates one or more acoustic transfer functions for a user. The audio system 200 may then use the one or more acoustic transfer functions to generate audio content for the user. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the audio system 200 includes a transducer array 210, a sensor array 220, and an audio controller 230. Some embodiments of the audio system 200 have different components than those described here. Similarly, in some cases, functions can be distributed among the components in a different manner than is described here.

[0039] The transducer array 210 is configured to present audio content. The transducer array 210 includes a plurality of transducers. A transducer is a device that provides audio content. A transducer may be, e.g., a speaker (e.g., the speaker 160), a tissue transducer (e.g., the tissue transducer 170), some other device that provides audio content, or some combination thereof. A tissue transducer may be configured to function as a bone conduction transducer or a cartilage conduction transducer. The transducer array 210 may present audio content via air conduction (e.g., via one or more speakers), via bone conduction (via one or more bone conduction transducer), via cartilage conduction audio system (via one or more cartilage conduction transducers), or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, the transducer array 210 may include one or more transducers to cover different parts of a frequency range. For example, a piezoelectric transducer may be used to cover a first part of a frequency range and a moving coil transducer may be used to cover a second part of a frequency range.

[0040] The bone conduction transducers generate acoustic pressure waves by vibrating bone/tissue in the user’s head. A bone conduction transducer may be coupled to a portion of a headset, and may be configured to be behind the auricle coupled to a portion of the user’s skull. The bone conduction transducer receives vibration instructions from the audio controller 230, and vibrates a portion of the user’s skull based on the received instructions. The vibrations from the bone conduction transducer generate a tissue-borne acoustic pressure wave that propagates toward the user’s cochlea, bypassing the eardrum.

[0041] The cartilage conduction transducers generate acoustic pressure waves by vibrating one or more portions of the auricular cartilage of the ears of the user. A cartilage conduction transducer may be coupled to a portion of a headset, and may be configured to be coupled to one or more portions of the auricular cartilage of the ear. For example, the cartilage conduction transducer may couple to the back of an auricle of the ear of the user. The cartilage conduction transducer may be located anywhere along the auricular cartilage around the outer ear (e.g., the pinna, the tragus, some other portion of the auricular cartilage, or some combination thereof). Vibrating the one or more portions of auricular cartilage may generate: airborne acoustic pressure waves outside the ear canal; tissue born acoustic pressure waves that cause some portions of the ear canal to vibrate thereby generating an airborne acoustic pressure wave within the ear canal; or some combination thereof. The generated airborne acoustic pressure waves propagate down the ear canal toward the ear drum.

[0042] The transducer array 210 generates audio content in accordance with instructions from the audio controller 230. In some embodiments, the audio content is spatialized. Spatialized audio content is audio content that appears to originate from a particular direction and/or target region (e.g., an object in the local area and/or a virtual object). For example, spatialized audio content can make it appear that sound is originating from a virtual singer across a room from a user of the audio system 200. The transducer array 210 may be coupled to a wearable device (e.g., the headset 100 or the headset 105). In alternate embodiments, the transducer array 210 may be a plurality of speakers that are separate from the wearable device (e.g., coupled to an external console). The transducer array 210 generates spatialized sounds that emanate from various test locations.

[0043] The sensor array 220 detects sounds within a local area surrounding the sensor array 220. The sensor array 220 may include a plurality of acoustic sensors that each detect air pressure variations of a sound wave and convert the detected sounds into an electronic format (analog or digital). The plurality of acoustic sensors may be positioned on a headset (e.g., headset 100 and/or the headset 105), on a user (e.g., in an ear canal of the user), on a neckband, or some combination thereof. An acoustic sensor may be, e.g., a microphone, a vibration sensor, an accelerometer, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the sensor array 220 is configured to monitor the audio content generated by the transducer array 210 using at least some of the plurality of acoustic sensors. Increasing the number of sensors may improve the accuracy of information (e.g., directionality) describing a sound field produced by the transducer array 210 and/or sound from the local area.

[0044] The audio controller 230 controls operation of the audio system 200. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the audio controller 230 includes a data store 235, a DOA estimation module 240, a transfer function module 250, a tracking module 260, a beamforming module 270, a sound filter module 280, and an HRTF customization module 290. The audio controller 230 may be located inside a headset, in some embodiments. Some embodiments of the audio controller 230 have different components than those described here. Similarly, functions can be distributed among the components in different manners than described here. For example, some functions of the controller may be performed external to the headset.

[0045] The data store 235 stores data for use by the audio system 200. Data in the data store 235 may include sounds recorded in the local area of the audio system 200, audio content, head-related transfer functions (HRTFs), transfer functions for one or more sensors, array transfer functions (ATFs) for one or more of the acoustic sensors, sound source locations, virtual model of local area, direction of arrival estimates, sound filters, and other data relevant for use by the audio system 200, or any combination thereof.

[0046] The data store 235 includes an initial set of estimated HRTFs. The initial set of estimated HRTFs may be generated based on data describing the user. The data describing the user may include descriptions of the physical characteristics of the ears of the user called anthropometric features, images of the user’s head or torso, images of the ears of the user, videos of the user, etc. In some embodiments, the data describing the user may include images of the user wearing a headset. The data describing the user may be input to an HRTF machine learning and computer vision module for calculating HRTFs. For example, the data store 235 may provide the dimensions of the user’s ears to the HRTF machine learning and computer vision module. The HRTF machine learning and computer vision module may be located on an external server, or the HRTF machine learning and computer vision module may be a component of the HRTF customization module 290. In some cases, the initial set of estimated HRTFs are generated on an external server, and the subsequent iterative refinement of the HRTFs is performed by the audio system 200.

[0047] The DOA estimation module 240 is configured to localize sound sources in the local area based in part on information from the sensor array 220. Localization is a process of determining where sound sources are located relative to the user of the audio system 200. The DOA estimation module 240 performs a DOA analysis to localize one or more sound sources within the local area. The DOA analysis may include analyzing the intensity, spectra, and/or arrival time of each sound at the sensor array 220 to determine the direction from which the sounds originated. In some cases, the DOA analysis may include any suitable algorithm for analyzing a surrounding acoustic environment in which the audio system 200 is located.

[0048] For example, the DOA analysis may be designed to receive input signals from the sensor array 220 and apply digital signal processing algorithms to the input signals to estimate a direction of arrival. These algorithms may include, for example, delay and sum algorithms where the input signal is sampled, and the resulting weighted and delayed versions of the sampled signal are averaged together to determine a DOA. A least mean squared (LMS) algorithm may also be implemented to create an adaptive filter. This adaptive filter may then be used to identify differences in signal intensity, for example, or differences in time of arrival. These differences may then be used to estimate the DOA. In another embodiment, the DOA may be determined by converting the input signals into the frequency domain and selecting specific bins within the time-frequency (TF) domain to process. Each selected TF bin may be processed to determine whether that bin includes a portion of the audio spectrum with a direct path audio signal. Those bins having a portion of the direct-path signal may then be analyzed to identify the angle at which the sensor array 220 received the direct-path audio signal. The determined angle may then be used to identify the DOA for the received input signal. Other algorithms not listed above may also be used alone or in combination with the above algorithms to determine DOA.

[0049] In some embodiments, the DOA estimation module 240 may also determine the DOA with respect to an absolute position of the audio system 200 within the local area. The position of the sensor array 220 may be received from an external system (e.g., some other component of a headset, an artificial reality console, a mapping server, a position sensor (e.g., the position sensor 190), etc.). The external system may create a virtual model of the local area, in which the local area and the position of the audio system 200 are mapped. The received position information may include a location and/or an orientation of some or all of the audio system 200 (e.g., of the sensor array 220). The DOA estimation module 240 may update the estimated DOA based on the received position information.

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