Patents by Inventor Frank Melchior

Frank Melchior has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9402144
    Abstract: An apparatus for changing an audio scene has a direction determiner and an audio scene processing apparatus. The audio scene has at least one audio object having an audio signal and associated meta data. The direction determiner determines a direction of a position of the audio object with respect to a reference point based on the meta data of the audio object. Further, the audio scene processing device processes the audio signal, a processed audio signal derived from the audio signal or the meta data of the audio object based on a determined directional function and the determined direction of the position of the audio object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: IOSONO GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Melchior, Robert Steffens, Andreas Partzsch, Uwe Michaelis
  • Patent number: 8462966
    Abstract: An apparatus for calculating filter coefficients for a predefined loudspeaker arrangement has a multi-channel renderer. The multi-channel renderer calculates a filter coefficient for each loudspeaker of a virtual loudspeaker arrangement, being different from the predefined loudspeaker arrangement, based on a property (e.g. position or type) of a virtual source of an audio object to be reproduced by the predefined loudspeaker arrangement. Further, the multi-channel renderer determines an adapted filter coefficient for a loudspeaker of the predefined loudspeaker arrangement based on one or more calculated filter coefficients of one or more loudspeakers of the different virtual loudspeaker arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: IOSONO GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Steffens, Frank Melchior, Martin Dausel, Andreas Graefe
  • Patent number: 8325933
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the finding that a sound-reproduction system, which can generate a spatial sound impression in a reproduction environment, can be efficiently and intuitively controlled by means of a graphic user interface when an impulse response associated with a spatial direction with respect to the reproduction environment is graphically represented, and when the possibility is created for a user to change the impulse response graphically so that, based on the user input of a change, the changed impulse response can be graphically represented and the changed graphical representation can be detected, in order to control the sound-reproduction system. Since it is system-theoretically possible to describe all known linear signal processing operations by impulse responses, it is possible, with the inventive graphic user interface, to provide a sound mixer, through a graphical representation, with an intuitive access to sound effects depending on the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Frank Melchior, Jan Langhammer
  • Patent number: 8189824
    Abstract: In a reproduction area where there are at least three directional groups, each of which has speakers, triggering of the speakers is achieved in that a source path from a first directional group position to a second directional group position is initially obtained along with movement information for the source path. Subsequently, a source path parameter is calculated for different points in time on the basis of the movement information, the source path parameter indicating a position of an audio source on the source path. In addition, a path modification command is received to define a compensation path to the third directional zone, a value of the source path parameter further being stored at a location where the compensation path deviates from the source path, and being used, along with a compensation parameter, for calculating weighting factors for the speakers of the three directional groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Michael Strauss, Michael Beckinger, Thomas Roeder, Frank Melchior, Gabriel Gatzsche, Katrin Reichelt, Joachim Deguara, Martin Dausel, Renè Rodigast
  • Patent number: 8160280
    Abstract: In a reproduction environment, speakers are grouped in directional groups, wherein the directional groups overlap with respect to the associated speakers so that speakers are present which have a speaker parameter having different values for the first directional group and the second directional group. A controller for controlling a plurality of speakers has a provider for providing a source position of an audio source, wherein the source position is located between the first directional group position and the second directional group position. The apparatus further has a calculator for calculating a speaker signal for the at least one speaker, based on the first parameter value for the speaker parameter and based on the second parameter value for the speaker parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Michael Strauss, Michael Beckinger, Thomas Roeder, Frank Melchior, Gabriel Gatzsche, Katrin Reichelt, Joachim Deguara, Martin Dausel, Renè Rodigast
  • Patent number: 7982122
    Abstract: A device and a method for analyzing an audio datum is described, having a semitone analyzer which is implemented to analyze the audio datum with regard to a volume information distribution over an amount of semitones, and a vector calculator which is implemented to calculate a sum vector over two-dimensional intermediate vectors for each semitone or each element of the definition amount and output an analysis signal based on the sum vector, based on the volume information distribution or a distribution derived from the volume information distribution, which includes a definition amount based on the amount of semitones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.v.
    Inventors: Gabriel Gatzsche, David Gatzsche, Michael Beckinger, Frank Melchior
  • Publication number: 20110135124
    Abstract: An apparatus for calculating filter coefficients for a predefined loudspeaker arrangement has a multi-channel renderer. The multi-channel renderer calculates a filter coefficient for each loudspeaker of a virtual loudspeaker arrangement, being different from the predefined loudspeaker arrangement, based on a property (e.g. position or type) of a virtual source of an audio object to be reproduced by the predefined loudspeaker arrangement. Further, the multi-channel renderer determines an adapted filter coefficient for a loudspeaker of the predefined loudspeaker arrangement based on one or more calculated filter coefficients of one or more loudspeakers of the different virtual loudspeaker arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Steffens, Frank Melchior, Martin Dausel, Andreas Graefe
  • Patent number: 7829778
    Abstract: A device for generating a note signal upon a manual input is described which comprises an operating means which is implemented to enable a user of the same, as an input, to define an input angle or an input angle range as the input signal, and a controller which is implemented to receive the input signal and to generate a note signal associated with a pitch class based on an assignment function and on the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Gabriel Gatzsche, David Gatzsche, Michael Beckinger, Frank Melchior
  • Patent number: 7809453
    Abstract: For simulating a wave field synthesis system, an audio scene description defining a temporal sequence of audio objects is provided, an audio object having an audio file for a virtual source or a reference to the audio file and information on a source position of the virtual source. Furthermore, an output condition the wave field synthesis system is to satisfy is given. Furthermore, a simulator for simulating the behavior of the wave field synthesis system for the audio scene description, using the audio data and the source positions as well as information on the wave field synthesis system, is provided. Finally a checker performs a check to determine if the simulated behavior of the wave field synthesis system satisfies the output condition. This achieves more flexible audio scene description creation as well as flexible portability of an audio scene description developed for one system to another wave field synthesis system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Katrin Reichelt, Gabriel Gatzsche, Frank Melchior, Sandra Brix
  • Patent number: 7706544
    Abstract: An audio reproduction system is divided into a central wave-field synthesis module and a plurality of loudspeaker modules disposed in a distributed way, wherein synthesis signals for the individual loudspeakers as well as corresponding channel information associated to the synthesis signals are calculated in the central wave-field synthesis module. The synthesis signals for a loudspeaker as well as associated channel information will then be transmitted to respective loudspeaker modules via a transmission path, wherein every loudspeaker module obtains the synthesis signals and associated channel information intended for the loudspeaker associated to the loudspeaker module. A distributed audio rendering and digital/analog converting takes place in the loudspeaker module to generate the actually analog loudspeaker signals in a distributed way in spatial proximity to every loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Geselleschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Frank Melchior, Thomas Röder, Michael Beckinger, Sandra Brix, Thomas Sporer, Haymo Kutschbach, Berthold Schlenker, Carsten Land
  • Patent number: 7680288
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating, storing or editing an audio representation of an audio scene includes audio processing means for generating a plurality of speaker signals from a plurality of input channels as well as means for providing an object-oriented description of the audio scene, wherein the object-oriented description of the audio scene includes a plurality of audio objects, wherein an audio object is associated with an audio signal, a starting time instant and an end time instant. The apparatus for generating further distinguishes itself by mapping means for mapping the object-oriented description of the audio scene to the plurality of input channels, wherein an assignment of temporally overlapping audio objects to parallel input channels is performed by the mapping means, whereas temporally sequential audio objects are associated with the same channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Frank Melchior, Jan Langhammer, Thomas Roeder, Katrin Reichelt, Sandra Brix
  • Patent number: 7606372
    Abstract: A method and device are provided for determining a reproduction position of a source of sound for audio-visual reproduction of a film scene from a plurality of individual pictures with regard to a reproduction surface having a predetermined width, and with regard to a projection source having a projection reference point. A recording position of the source of sound, a camera position during recording, and an aperture angle of the camera during recording are obtained and the determined recording position is transformed to a camera coordinate system. A reproduction position for the source of sound is calculated and used to produce sound-source positioning in a reproduction room using wave-field synthesis methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Frank Melchior, Sandra Brix
  • Publication number: 20090173216
    Abstract: A device and a method for analyzing an audio datum is described, having a semitone analyzer which is implemented to analyze the audio datum with regard to a volume information distribution over an amount of semitones, and a vector calculator which is implemented to calculate a sum vector over two-dimensional intermediate vectors for each semitone or each element of the definition amount and output an analysis signal based on the sum vector, based on the volume information distribution or a distribution derived from the volume information distribution, which includes a definition amount based on the amount of semitones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Gabriel Gatzsche, David Gatzsche, Michael Beckinger, Frank Melchior
  • Publication number: 20080307945
    Abstract: A device for generating a note signal upon a manual input is described which comprises an operating means which is implemented to enable a user of the same, as an input, to define an input angle or an input angle range as the input signal, and a controller which is implemented to receive the input signal and to generate a note signal associated with a pitch class based on an assignment function and on the input signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewand ten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Gabriel Gatzsche, David Gatzsche, Michael Beckinger, Frank Melchior
  • Publication number: 20080219484
    Abstract: In a reproduction environment, speakers are grouped in directional groups, wherein the directional groups overlap with respect to the associated speakers so that speakers are present which have a speaker parameter having different values for the first directional group and the second directional group. A controller for controlling a plurality of speakers has a provider for providing a source position of an audio source, wherein the source position is located between the first directional group position and the second directional group position. The apparatus further has a calculator for calculating a speaker signal for the at least one speaker, based on the first parameter value for the speaker parameter and based on the second parameter value for the speaker parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forcerung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Michael Strauss, Michael Beckinger, Thomas Roder, Frank Melchior, Gabriel Gatzsche, Katrin Reichelt, Joachim Deguara, Martin Dausel, Rene Rodigast
  • Publication number: 20080192965
    Abstract: In a reproduction area where there are at least three directional groups, each of which has speakers, triggering of the speakers is achieved in that a source path from a first directional group position to a second directional group position is initially obtained along with movement information for the source path. Subsequently, a source path parameter is calculated for different points in time on the basis of the movement information, the source path parameter indicating a position of an audio source on the source path. In addition, a path modification command is received to define a compensation path to the third directional zone, a value of the source path parameter further being stored at a location where the compensation path deviates from the source path, and being used, along with a compensation parameter, for calculating weighting factors for the speakers of the three directional groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewand
    Inventors: Michael Strauss, Michael Beckinger, Thomas Roeder, Frank Melchior, Gabriel Gatzsche, Katrin Reichelt, Joachim Deguara, Martin Dausel, Rene Rodigast
  • Publication number: 20080101616
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the finding that a sound-reproduction system, which can generate a spatial sound impression in a reproduction environment, can be efficiently and intuitively controlled by means of a graphic user interface when an impulse response associated with a spatial direction with respect to the reproduction environment is graphically represented, and when the possibility is created for a user to change the impulse response graphically so that, based on the user input of a change, the changed impulse response can be graphically represented and the changed graphical representation can be detected, in order to control the sound-reproduction system. Since it is system-theoretically possible to describe all known linear signal processing operations by impulse responses, it is possible, with the inventive graphic user interface, to provide a sound mixer, through a graphical representation, with an intuitive access to sound effects depending on the direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Frank Melchior, Jan Langhammer
  • Publication number: 20080013746
    Abstract: For simulating a wave field synthesis system, an audio scene description defining a temporal sequence of audio objects is provided, an audio object having an audio file for a virtual source or a reference to the audio file and information on a source position of the virtual source. Furthermore, an output condition the wave field synthesis system is to satisfy is given. Furthermore, a simulator for simulating the behavior of the wave field synthesis system for the audio scene description, using the audio data and the source positions as well as information on the wave field synthesis system, is provided. Finally a checker performs a check to determine if the simulated behavior of the wave field synthesis system satisfies the output condition. This achieves more flexible audio scene description creation as well as flexible portability of an audio scene description developed for one system to another wave field synthesis system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Katrin REICHELT, Gabriel GATZSCHE, Frank MELCHIOR, Sandra BRIX
  • Publication number: 20050175197
    Abstract: An audio reproduction system is divided into a central wave-field synthesis module and a plurality of loudspeaker modules disposed in a distributed way, wherein synthesis signals for the individual loudspeakers as well as corresponding channel information associated to the synthesis signals are calculated in the central wave-field synthesis module. The synthesis signals for a loudspeaker as well as associated channel information will then be transmitted to respective loudspeaker modules via a transmission path, wherein every loudspeaker module obtains the synthesis signals and associated channel information intended for the loudspeaker associated to the loudspeaker module. A distributed audio rendering and digital/analog converting takes place in the loudspeaker module to generate the actually analog loudspeaker signals in a distributed way in spatial proximity to every loudspeaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Frank Melchior, Thomas Roder, Michael Beckinger, Sandra Brix, Thomas Sporer, Haymo Kutschbach, Berthold Schlenker, Carsten Land
  • Publication number: 20050147257
    Abstract: A device for determining a reproduction position of a source of sound for audio-visual reproduction of a film scene from a plurality of individual pictures with regard to a reproduction surface having a predetermined width and a projection source having a projection reference point comprises means for providing a recording position of the source of sound, a camera position during recording, and an aperture angle of the camera during recording. In addition, provision is made of means for transforming the recording position of the source of sound to a camera coordinate system, the origin of which is defined, in relation to a camera aperture, to obtain a recording position of the source of sound in the camera coordinate system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Frank Melchior, Sandra Brix