System and method for measuring sound

Abstract

A system and method for measuring sound is described. In one embodiment frequency-banded-noise samples, which collectively cover at least a portion of a spectrum, are sequentially generated at different points in time, and a baseline sound-pressure-level reading for each of the frequency banded noise samples is received. Using data received from a microphone, a sound pressure level reading is generated for each of the frequency banded noise samples. Calibration data is then produced for the microphone as a function of a difference between each of the baseline sound-pressure-level readings and a corresponding one of each of the generated sound pressure level readings for each of the frequency banded noise samples.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for measuring sound comprising:
 sequentially generating frequency-banded-noise samples, wherein each frequency-banded-noise sample corresponds to a frequency band, each frequency banded noise sample being generated at a different point in time, wherein the frequency bands collectively cover at least a portion of a spectrum; 
 receiving a baseline sound-pressure-level reading from a sound level meter for each of the frequency banded noise samples; 
 generating, utilizing data received from a microphone, a corresponding sound pressure level reading for each of the same frequency banded noise samples the baseline sound-pressure-level reading is received for from the sound level meter; 
 producing calibration data for the microphone as a function of a difference between each of the baseline sound-pressure-level readings and a corresponding one of each of the generated sound pressure level readings for each of the frequency banded noise samples; and 
 providing the calibration data and the microphone to a user. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing includes providing the calibration data and the microphone simultaneously to a user. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing includes providing the calibration data to the user subsequent to the user receiving the microphone. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the providing includes providing the calibration data to the user via the Internet. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , including:
 encoding the calibration data so as to generate encoded calibration data for the microphone. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the frequency-banded-noise samples spans an octave band of a spectrum of noise. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein each of the frequency-banded-noise samples spans an octave band of a spectrum of pink noise. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , including:
 generating an offset for the microphone based upon a difference between a power-density reading of a noise sample received from the microphone with a sound-pressure reading of the noise sample received from the sound-level meter; 
 wherein producing calibration data includes producing the calibration data so as to include the offset. 
 
     
     
       9. A system for measuring sound including a processor in communication with a memory that controls operation of:
 a first input configured to receive a sound-pressure-level reading from a sound level meter for each of a plurality of frequency-banded-noise samples, each of the frequency-banded-noise samples corresponding to a frequency band, and each of the frequency banded noise samples being generated at a different point in time, wherein the frequency bands collectively cover at least a portion of a spectrum; 
 a second input configured to receive, from a microphone, data corresponding to each of the same plurality of frequency banded noise samples the baseline sound-pressure-level reading is received for from the sound level meter; and 
 a calibration module configured to generate calibration data for the microphone as a function of a difference between each of the sound-pressure-level readings received via the first input and a corresponding one of each of a plurality of generated-sound-pressure-level readings, the plurality of generated-sound-pressure-level readings being generated from the data corresponding to each of the plurality of frequency-banded-noise samples received from the second input. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the calibration module is configured to generate the frequency-banded-noise samples. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the memory includes at least one audio data file encoded with frequency-banded-noise data. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the memory is selected from the group consisting of a hard drive, random-access memory and read-only memory. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the calibration module is configured to encode the calibration data. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the calibration module is configured to generate an offset for the microphone based upon a difference between a power-density reading of a noise sample received from the microphone with a sound-pressure reading of the noise sample received from the sound-level meter, wherein the calibration module is configured to include the offset as a component of the calibration data. 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory processor-readable medium encoded with instructions for measuring sound, the instructions including instructions for:
 sequentially generating frequency-banded-noise samples, wherein each frequency-banded-noise samples corresponds to a frequency band, each frequency banded noise sample being generated at a different point in time, wherein the frequency bands collectively cover at least a portion of a spectrum; 
 receiving a baseline sound-pressure-level reading from a sound level meter for each of the frequency banded noise samples; 
 generating, utilizing data received from a microphone, a sound pressure level reading for each of the same frequency banded noise samples the baseline sound-pressure-level reading is received for from the sound level meter; and 
 producing calibration data for the microphone as a function of a difference between each of the baseline sound-pressure-level readings and a corresponding one of each of the generated sound pressure level readings for each of the frequency banded noise samples. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions include instructions for providing the calibration data to a user, via the Internet, subsequent to the user receiving the microphone. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of  claim 15 , including instructions for:
 encoding the calibration data so as to generate encoded calibration data for the microphone. 
 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein each of the frequency-banded-noise samples spans an octave band of a spectrum of noise. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein each of the frequency-banded-noise samples spans an octave band of a spectrum of pink noise. 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of  claim 15 , including instructions for:
 generating an offset for the microphone based upon a difference between a power-density reading of a noise sample received from the microphone with a sound-pressure reading of the noise sample received from the sound-level meter; 
 wherein producing calibration data includes producing the calibration data so as to include the offset. 
 
     
     
       21. A non-transitory processor-readable medium encoded with instructions for measuring sound, the instructions including instructions for:
 converting a sound sample from a microphone into a frequency domain so as to generate frequency information relative to the sound sample; 
 filtering the frequency information with calibration data for the microphone, the calibration data including data dependent upon a difference between each of a plurality of baseline sound-pressure-level readings received from a sound level meter and a corresponding one of each of a plurality of generated sound pressure level readings for each of a plurality of frequency banded noise samples, wherein each of the baseline sound-pressure-level reading and corresponding generated sound pressure level reading are from a single frequency banded noise sample of the plurality of frequency banded noise samples; 
 generating a power density for the filtered frequency information so as to obtain a corrected sound sample; and 
 applying a sound-pressure level offset to the power density so as to obtain a sound-pressure level for the sound sample. 
 
     
     
       22. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the instructions include instructions for dynamically linking with a software application, wherein the software application is adapted to utilize the sound-pressure levels.