• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.409-415
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• 2009

The head-related transfer function (HRTF), which has an important role in virtual sound localization has different characteristics across the subjects. Measuring HRTF is very time-consuming and requires a set of specific apparatus. Accordingly, HRTF customization is often employed. In this paper, we propose a method to search an adequate HRTF from a set of the HRTFs. To achieve rapid and reliable customization of HRTF, all HRTFs in the database are partitioned, where a binary search tree was employed. The distortion measurement adopted in HRTF partitioning was determined in a heuristic way, which predicts the differences in perceived sound location well. The DC-Davis CIPIC HRTF database set was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method. In the listening test, where 10 subjects were participated, the stimuli filtered by the HRTF obtained by the proposed method were closer to those by the personalized HRTF in terms of sound localization. Moreover, performance of the proposed method was shown to be superior to the previous customization method, where the HRFT is selected by using anthropometric data.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.282-288
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• 2014

Three-dimensional multimedia industry such as 3D TV, movie and broadcast has been developed vividly. For generating 3D contents with high quality, virtual auditory display, so called VAD, is being researched to offer more realistic experience to listeners. When people render VAD using headphones or two speakers, head-related transfer function(HRTF) plays a key role. The best solution is measuring all individuals' HRTFs, but it is hard to measure all listeners' HRTFs. To overcome this difficulty, many research groups have tried to construct their own measurement system and to build HRTF databases. However, some of them have not enough subjects or spatial resolution and they are mainly focused on Caucasian. There exists difference between Korean and Caucasian in a view of physical features. In other words, if Koreans hear three-dimensional sound rendered by HRTF database based on Caucasian, performance might be hindered. To verify this possibility and remedy the drawbacks, construction of new HRTF database aimed at Korean is needed. Therefore, our laboratory built HRTF measurement system which can measure HRTF of three-dimensional space with dense spatial resolution. With this system, 55 Korean males and 45 females' HRTFs were measured and Korean HRTF database was built based on these data.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.637-640
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• 2005

We propose a sound source localization method using the Head-Related-Transfer-Function (HRTF) to be implemented in a given platform. HRTFs contain not only the information regarding proper time delays but also phase and magnitude distortions due to diffraction and scattering by the shading object. Therefore, a set of HRTFs for any given platform provides a substantial amount of information as to the whereabouts of the source. In this study, we introduce new phase criterion in order to find the sound source location in accordance with the HRTF database empirically obtained in an anechoic chamber with the given platform. Using this criterion, we analyze the estimation performance of the proposed method in a household environment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.28-32
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• 2007

While various methods for sound source localization have been developed, most of them utilize on the time difference of arrival (TDOA) between microphones or the measured head related transfer functions (HRTF). In case of a real robot implementation, the former has a merit of light computation load to estimate the sound direction but can not consider the effect of platform on TDOAs, while the latter can, because characteristics of robot platform are included in HRTF. However, the latter needs large resources for the HRTF database of a specific robot platform. We propose the compensation method which has the light computation load while the effect of platform on TDOA can be taken into account. The proposed method is used with spherical head related transfer function (SHRTF) on the assumption that robot platform, for example a robot head, installed microphones can be modeled to a sphere. We verify that the proposed method decreases the estimation error caused by the robot platform through the simulation and experiment in real environment.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.581-587
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• 2010

In this study, we investigated the effect of the simplification for low frequency region in Head-Related Transfer Function(HRTF) on the sound localization. For this purpose, HRTF was measured and analyzed. The result in the standard deviation of HRTF showed that the directional dependence of low frequency was smaller than that of high frequency region, which means the possibility of simplification in the low frequency region. Simplification was performed by flattening of the low frequency amplitude characteristics with the insertion of the high-pass filter, whose cutoff frequency is given by boundary frequency. Auditory experiments were performed to evaluate the simplified HRTF. The result showed that direction perception was not influenced by the simplification of the frequency characteristics of HRTF for the error of sound localization. The rate of confusion for the front and back was not affected by the simplification of the frequency characteristics within 1kHz of HRTF. Finally, we made it clear that the sound localization was not affected by the simplification of frequency characteristics of HRTF within 1kHz. The result is expected to be utilized to reduce the size of speech information with no deterioration of the directional characteristics of the speech signal.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.207-214
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• 2008

To create 3D sound, we usually use two methods which are two channels or multichannel sound systems. Because of cost and space problems, we prefer two channel sound system to multi-channel. Using a headphone or two speakers, the most typical method to create 3D sound effects is a technology of head related transfer function (HRTF) which contains the information that sound arrives from a sound source to the ears of the listener. But it causes a problem to localize a sound source around a certain places which is called cone-of-confusion. In this paper, we proposed the new algorithm to reduce the confusion of sound image localization. HRTF grouping and psychoacoustics theory are used to boost the spectral cue with spectrum difference among each directions. Informal listening tests show that the proposed method improves the front-back sound localization characteristics much better than conventional methods.

• Proceedings of the Acoustical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1998.06e
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• pp.15-18
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• 1998

지금까지의 입체음향 재생 연구에서는 Dummy head 나 Head and Torso Simulator(HATS)를 사용한 측정 HRTF(Head-Related Transfer Function)를 사용하여 입체음향 재생 시스템을 설계해왔다. 하지만 이러한 시스템은 구현의 단순함에도 불구하고 계산량 증가로 인한 실시간 구현의 어려움과, 신호처리로 인한 음색의 변화 및 음질의 저하, 정면 정위의 어려움 등 많은 문제점을 내포하고 있었다. 본 연구팀이 제안하는 Relative HRTF는 인체의 가하학적 모델링을 통한 구조적 접근 방법으로 이러한 단점을 극복할 수 있는 새로운 HRTF 모델링 기법이다. 이는 신호처리 과정의 단순화를 통하여 실시간 구현과 음색의 변화를 극소화시키고 스피커 구동 방식에서도 적절히 사용될 수 있다. 또한 본 연구를 위하여 기존의 HRTF 측정 방법의 문제점을 개선한 HATS를 이용한 Blocked Ear Canal HRTF 측정 방법에 대해서도 소개한다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.997-1004
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• 2007

A hybrid technique that combines the advantages of binaural reproduction and sound field reproduction technique is proposed. The concept of HRTF-field, which is defined as the set of HRTFs corresponding to the various head dislocations, enables us to realize virtual source imaging over a wide area. Conventional $2{\times}2$ definition is redefined as a MIMO system composed of multiple control sources and multiple head locations, and HRTF variations corresponding to various head movement are quantified. Through the direct control of HRTF-field, reproduction error induced by head dislocation can be minimized in least-square-error sense, and consequential disturbances on the virtual source image can be reduced within a selected area. Simple lateralization examples are investigated, and the reproduction error of the proposed technique is compared to that of Higher-order Ambisonics.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.199-207
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• 2008

A hybrid technique that combines the advantages of binaural reproduction and sound field reproduction technique is proposed. The concept of HRTF-field, which is defined as the set of HRTFs corresponding to the various head dislocations, enables us to realize virtual source imaging over a wide area. Conventional binaural($2{\times}2$) reproduction system is redefined as a MIMO system composed of multiple control sources and multiple head locations, and HRTF variations corresponding to various head movement are quantified. Through the direct control of HRTF-field, reproduction error induced by head dislocation can be minimized in least-square-error sense, and consequential disturbances on the virtual source image can be reduced within a selected area. Simple lateralization examples are investigated, and the reproduction error of the proposed technique is compared to that of higher-order Ambisonics.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.616-619
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• 2005

An extensive data base of HRTFs (Head Related Transfer Functions) has been established in order to work with high qualifies of 3D acoustic appliances. The basic specifications of the measurement presented are that a spatial resolution of 10$^{\circ}$ in elevation angles (ranging from -40$^{\circ}$ to 90$^{\circ}$) and uniform spatial resolution of 5$^{\circ}$ in azimuth angles. The distance from the measurement sources to the centre of the dummy head is 2m and the sampling frequency is 48 kHz and the quantisation depth is 24-bits. The data is presented for three arrangements of pinna models (large, small and no pinna) which were combined with the open and blocked ear canal cases to give a total of 6 sets of measurements. The data base may contribute to show promise of providing useful applications of 3D sound.