Surround (i.e., Front Plus Rear Or Side) Patents (Class 381/307)
  • Patent number: 8848952
    Abstract: An audio reproduction apparatus includes: a delay equalizer (301), a delay equalizer (303), a level adjuster (314), and a level adjuster (317). The delay equalizer (301) equalizes an FL signal using an equalizer characteristic EQ9 that converts a characteristic of an audio signal perceived as being reproduced at a position of an FL speaker (104) with respect to a viewing position to be perceived as being reproduced at a position of a virtual speaker (201) with respect to the viewing position. The delay equalizer (303) equalizes the FL signal using an equalizer characteristic (EQ12) that converts a characteristic of an audio signal perceived as being reproduced at a position of an SL speaker (106) with respect to a viewing position to be perceived as being reproduced at a position of the virtual speaker (201) with respect to the viewing position. The level adjuster (314) performs level adjustment, using a first coefficient K9, on an output signal of the delay equalizer (301).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuya Iwata
  • Patent number: 8837743
    Abstract: A surround sound system comprises a receiver (301) for receiving a multichannel spatial signal that comprises at least one surround channel. A directional ultrasound transducer (305) is used for emitting ultrasound towards a surface to reach a listening position (111) via a reflection of the surface. The ultrasound signal may specifically reach the listening position from the side, above or behind of a nominal listener. A first drive unit (303) generates a drive signal for the directional ultrasound transducer (301) from the surround channel. The use of an ultrasound transducer for providing the surround sound signal provides an improved spatial experience while allowing the speaker to be located e.g. to the front of the user. In particular, an ultrasound beam is much narrower and well defined than conventional audio beams and can accordingly better be directed to provide the desired reflections. In some scenarios, the ultrasound transducer (305) may be supplemented by an audio range loudspeaker (309).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Ronaldus Maria Aarts, Werner Paulus Josephus De Bruijn, William John Lamb, Aki Sakari Harma
  • Publication number: 20140241552
    Abstract: Provided is a sound reproduction device including a loudspeaker and a superdirective speaker. The loudspeaker is configured so that a sound pressure of audible sound produced therefrom decreases as the sound travels farther away from the loudspeaker. The superdirective speaker is configured so that a sound pressure of audible sound produced therefrom has a peak at a predetermined distance from the superdirective speaker, and is configured to use an ultrasonic wave as a carrier wave. The loudspeaker and the superdirective speaker are positioned such that a loudspeaker sound field of the audible sound produced from the loudspeaker and a superdirective speaker sound field of the audible sound produced from the superdirective speaker overlap with each other at a position of a listener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsu TAKEDA, Fumiyasu KONNO, Susumu FUKUSHIMA, Rihito SHOJI
  • Publication number: 20140219483
    Abstract: A location detecting apparatus for detecting a location of a speaker includes a communication unit which communicates with a plurality of speakers, a plurality of sensors which sense optical signals respectively output from the plurality of speakers; and a controller which determines locations of the plurality of speakers according to a result of the sensing by the plurality of sensors and control the communication unit to transmit the determined location information of the plurality of speakers to an external apparatus, wherein the external apparatus sets audio output channels corresponding to the plurality of speakers based on the determined location information of the plurality of speakers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seung-se HONG
  • Patent number: 8792666
    Abstract: When a listener 10 changes the reclining angle of a backrest part 101a of a seat 101 and a head 10a of the listener 10 is thereby caused to be present outside an audible area 120a of a directional loudspeaker 120 or when the reclining angle of a front seat 100 is changed and the head 10a of the listener 10 is thereby caused to be present outside the audible area 120a of the directional loudspeaker 120, a distance L2 to an obstacle exceeds 1 m as an upper limit of a standard listening range and it is determined that the head 10a of the listener 10 is present beyond the standard listening range, and the audio output of the directional loudspeaker 120 is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Riichiroh Koike, Takeshi Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 8767985
    Abstract: A headrest provided with several loudspeakers which normally reproduce an ambiophonic sound experience. The headrest generally includes a central section provided with at least one loudspeaker, one side section provided with at least one loudspeaker and a second side section provided with at least one loudspeaker. The side sections are arranged on either side of the center section, and extend substantially perpendicularly towards the top relative to the center section. The headrest is arranged in a way so it can be connected to an audio signal source capable of generating several different audio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventor: Luc Riopel
  • Patent number: 8767970
    Abstract: A panner is provided that incorporates a surround sound decoder. The panner takes as input the desired panning effect that a user requests, separates sounds using surround sound decoding, and places the separated sounds in the desired places in an output sound field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron M. Eppolito
  • Publication number: 20140177883
    Abstract: The present invention provides angled loudspeaker cabinet enclosures utilized for sound reproduction. The invention mainly comprises a setup of loudspeaker cabinet enclosures which include front, centre and rear loudspeaker cabinet enclosure in various embodiments wherein the font surfaces of the speaker units are inclined to wherein the sound waves emanating from the speaker units directly reach the listener present at the direction of inclination of the front surface to provide clear, immersive and 360 degree angle coverage to the listener irrespective of the location of the listener with respect to the sound source by distributing sound waves uniformly across the listening area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Shakeel Naksh Bandi P Syed, Narayana Venkata Chalapathy Krishnappa, Shrinivaas Noah
  • Publication number: 20140153753
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method and system for generating image data, processing the image data to generate listener data indicative of at least one listener characteristic (e.g., position and/or size of each listener), and rendering at least one audio object (e.g., rendering an object based audio program) in response to the listener data (and optionally also listener identification data). For rendering a program indicative of audio objects, at least one speaker feed may be generated for driving at least one speaker to emit sound indicative of one of the objects and additional sound indicative of another one of the objects, where the sound is intended to be perceived by a listener at a first position with balance and delay appropriate to the first position, and the additional sound is intended to be perceived by a listener at a second position with balance and delay appropriate to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brett G. Crockett
  • Publication number: 20140146984
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for performing constrained dynamic amplitude panning in collaborative sound systems. A headend device comprising one or more processors may perform the techniques. The processors may be configured to identify, for a mobile device participating in a collaborative surround sound system, a specified location of a virtual speaker of the collaborative surround sound system and determine a constraint that impacts playback of audio signals rendered from an audio source by the mobile device. The processors may be further configure to perform dynamic spatial rendering of the audio source with the determined constraint to render audio signals that reduces the impact of the determined constraint during playback of the audio signals by the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Lae-Hoon Kim, Pei Xiang
  • Patent number: 8731209
    Abstract: In order to generate a multi-channel signal having a number of output channels greater than a number of input channels, a mixer is used for upmixing the input signal to form at least a direct channel signal and at least an ambience channel signal. A speech detector is provided for detecting a section of the input signal, the direct channel signal or the ambience channel signal in which speech portions occur. Based on this detection, a signal modifier modifies the input signal or the ambience channel signal in order to attenuate speech portions in the ambience channel signal, whereas such speech portions in the direct channel signal are attenuated to a lesser extent or not at all. A loudspeaker signal outputter then maps the direct channel signals and the ambience channel signals to loudspeaker signals which are associated to a defined reproduction scheme, such as, for example, a 5.1 scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Christian Uhle, Oliver Hellmuth, Juergen Herre, Harald Popp, Thorsten Kastner
  • Patent number: 8718285
    Abstract: An object decoding unit receives a plurality of pieces of coded acoustic information coded on an object basis and decodes the received coded acoustic information on an object basis to generate object signals. A rendering unit positions, for each acoustic signal resulting from synthesizing the object signals, a virtual sound source of each of the object signals resulting from the object-based decoding, in a listening space, and priority information indicating a priority of the acoustic signal is multiplexed with the coded acoustic information. The rendering unit determines, with reference to the priority indicated in the priority information or the number of object signals included in the acoustic signal, a size of an area of the listening space which is allocated to the acoustic signal, and positions, within the area, the virtual sound source of each of the object signals included in the acoustic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomokazu Ishikawa, Takeshi Norimatsu, Huan Zhou, Zhong Hai Shan, Kok Seng Chong
  • Patent number: 8705778
    Abstract: A method for generating and playing audio signals and a system for processing audio signals are disclosed. The method for generating audio signals includes: generating distance information about an audio signal corresponding to a view point position, according to obtained auxiliary video and direction information about the audio signal, where the auxiliary video is a disparity map or a depth map; encoding the direction information and distance information about the audio signal, and sending the encoded information. The apparatus for generating audio signals includes an audio signal distance information obtaining module and an audio signal encoding module. With the present invention, the position information, including direction information and distance information, about the audio signal may be obtained accurately in combination with a three-dimensional video signal and a three-dimensional audio signal, without increasing the size of a microphone array, and the audio signal is sent and played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wuzhou Zhan, Dongqi Wang
  • Patent number: 8699731
    Abstract: For generating a low-frequency channel for a low-frequency loudspeaker arranged at a predetermined low-frequency loudspeaker position, a plurality of audio objects are initially provided, each audio object having an object position and an object description associated with it. Hereafter, a calculation of an audio object scaling value is performed for each audio object on the basis of the object description, so that an actual amplitude state at least comes close to a target amplitude state at a reference playback position. Thereafter, each object signal is scaled with an associated audio object scaling value so as to then sum the scaled object signals. From the composite signal obtained there, a low-frequency channel is subsequently derived for the low-frequency loudspeaker, and is provided to the respective low-frequency loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Michael Beckinger, Sandra Brix
  • Patent number: 8696457
    Abstract: Game sound field creator is comprised of means for computing a spaced distance between a sound source and a player character, means for outputting sound track data to default speakers if the spaced distance is a first distance or shorter, means for stopping output of the sound track data if the spaced distance is a second distance or longer, means for computing a virtual development angle of each sound channel according to the spaced distance if the spaced distance is between the first distance and the second distance, means for converting a virtual development angle into an actual angle adding a direction of the sound source and means for reproducing the sound track data of each sound channel based upon the converted actual angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tsuchida, Minoru Tsuchihashi
  • Publication number: 20140086437
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a speaker, and a method and surround sound system for processing multi-channel audio signals in each of a plurality of audio output sources for generation of surround sound in a listening area. In particular, the system comprises a transmitter for transmitting a left channel (L) signal and a right channel (R) signal to a speaker. The speaker comprises a processing unit configured to (a) receive an audio signal having a left channel (L) signal and a right channel (R) signal; (b) process separately and independently the L and R audio signals to produce processed signals; and (c) mix the processed signals to produce the surround sound signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Swee Leong Alvin Koh, Kok Huan Ong
  • Patent number: 8681997
    Abstract: A system and method for performing efficient directed sound and/or data to a user utilizing position information. Various aspects may, for example, comprise determining position associated with one or more recipients of audio signals, determining one or more audio signal parameters based, at least in part, on such determined position information, and generating audio signals based on such determined audio signal parameters. For example, direction, timing, phasing and/or magnitude of such audio signals may be adapted based on a dynamic recipient positional environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Jeyhan Karaoguz
  • Patent number: 8675899
    Abstract: A front surround sound reproduction system which improves the performance of beam steering by using a speaker array arranged geometrically on two or more planes or on one curved surface, and a signal reproducing method of the system. The audio reproduction apparatus to reproduce a multi-channel audio signal by using a plurality of speakers includes a signal distribution unit to duplicate a multi-channel audio signal and to distribute the duplicated signals as one or more groups of multi-channel signals corresponding to one or more speaker array groups, a steering processing unit to form sound beams with steering angles predetermined in relation to each speaker array group, from the groups of multi-channel signals distributed by the signal distribution unit, and a speaker array unit having one or more speaker array groups to reproduce the sound beams of each group formed by the steering processing unit, in the speaker array group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-ho Jung
  • Patent number: 8670576
    Abstract: A method of processing an audio signal is disclosed. The present invention includes receiving a downmix signal including at least one object signal and object information extracted when the downmix signal is generated, receiving mix information including mode selection information, the mix information for controlling the object signal, bypassing the downmix signal or extracting a background object and at least one independent object from the downmix signal, based on the mode selection information, and if the downmix signal is bypassed, generating multi-channel information using the object information and the mix information, wherein the downmix signal corresponds to a mono signal and wherein the mode selection information includes information indicating which one of modes including a normal mode, a mode for controlling the background object, and a mode for controlling the at least one independent object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyen-O Oh, Yang Won Jung
  • Publication number: 20140064527
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating an output signal having at least two output channels from an input signal having at least two input channels, has an ambient/direct decomposer, an ambient modification unit and a combination unit. The ambient/direct decomposer is adapted to decompose at least two input channels of the input signal such that each one of the at least two input channels is decomposed into a signal of a first signal group and into a signal of a second signal group. The ambient modification unit is adapted to modify a signal of the ambient signal group or a signal derived from a signal of the ambient signal group to obtain a modified signal as a first output channel. The combination unit is adapted to combine a signal of the ambient signal group or a signal derived from a signal of the ambient signal group and a signal of the direct signal group or a signal derived from a signal of the direct signal group as a second output channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Andreas WALTHER, Andreas SILZLE, Oliver HELLMUTH, Berhnhard GRILL, Harald POPP
  • Patent number: 8666014
    Abstract: A reproduction apparatus includes a setter configured to set at least one language, a separator configured to separate and output a video signal and an audio signal, a video signal processor configured to decode and encode the video signal, a first decoder configured to output a first center channel signal and a multi-channel signal generated by extraction of the first center channel signal, a second decoder configured to output a second center channel signal, and a selector configured to receive the first and second center channel signals and assign, according to a setting in the setter, the first and second center channel signals respectively to different outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8654997
    Abstract: An improved method and materials for retaining small loudspeakers to a platform composed of adjustable connecting miniaturized members utilizing international standards for surround sound in meters, but reduced to inches. One example would be a scale of one inch equaling one foot, but not limited to that particular miniature scale. The present invention utilizes any and all technical aspects of sound delivery and amplification in a miniature scale arrangement with the multi-directional surround sound. The speakers so mounted in measured inches from the center-point midway between the ears of the listener, delivers multi-directional sound in a re-creation of a musical, movie or gaming experience in the same perspective as being in a room with large speakers at high listening levels or a theater setting. Listening in the miniaturized setting, the listener will experience the same high levels in decibels as in the large room setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventors: Donald Eugene Meehan, Sr., Frances Rhodes Meehan
  • Patent number: 8654994
    Abstract: A method of processing an audio signal is disclosed. The present invention includes receiving a downmix signal including at least one object signal, and object information extracted when the downmix signal is generated, receiving mix information including mode selection information, the mix information for controlling the object signal, and generating a stereo output signal using the downmix signal or extracting a background object and at least one independent object from the downmix signal, based on the mode selection information, wherein the downmix signal corresponds to a mono signal, wherein the stereo output signal corresponds to a time-domain signal including a signal generated from decorrelating the downmix signal, and wherein the mode selection information includes information indicating which one of modes including a normal mode, a mode for controlling the background object, and a mode for controlling the at least one independent object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyen-O Oh, Yang Won Jung
  • Publication number: 20140044288
    Abstract: A method for processing audio signals can include receiving left and right front audio signals and left and right rear audio signals, where the left and right rear audio signals. In addition, the method can include applying at least one front perspective filter to each of the left and right front audio signals to yield filtered left and right front output signals, where the left and right front output signals each drive a front speaker. Moreover, the method can include applying at least one rear perspective filter to each of the left and right rear audio signals to yield left and right rear output signals, where the left and right rear output signals each drive a rear speaker to simulate a rear surround sound effect when positioned in front of a listener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: DTS LLC
    Inventors: Hideaki Kato, Alan D. Kraemer, Sarah Yang
  • Patent number: 8638947
    Abstract: An angle-dependent operating device and method for obtaining a pseudo-stereophonic audio signals, such as through the parameterization of a fictitious opening angle ?+?, where ? is the fictitious left-hand opening angle (situated to the left of the main axis of the monophonic audio signal to be stereophonized), and ? is the fictitious right-hand opening angle (situated to the right of the main axis of the monophonic audio signal to be stereophonized), where it may be that ???. This is provided for the situation of fictitious opening angles ?+? which are asymmetric with respect to the principal axis of the monophonic audio signal to be stereophonized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Stormingswiss GmbH
    Inventor: Clemens Par
  • Patent number: 8638945
    Abstract: An encoding method and apparatus and a decoding method and apparatus are provided. The decoding method includes skipping extension information included in an input bitstream, extracting a three-dimensional (3D) down-mix signal and spatial information from the input bitstream, removing 3D effects from the 3D down-mix signal by performing a 3D rendering operation on the 3D down-mix signal, and generating a multi-channel signal using a down-mix signal obtained by the removal and the spatial information. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently encode multi-channel signals with 3D effects and to adaptively restore and reproduce audio signals with optimum sound quality according to the characteristics of an audio reproduction environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yang Won Jung, Hee Suk Pang, Hyen O Oh, Dong Soo Kim, Jae Hyun Lim
  • Patent number: 8638959
    Abstract: A reduced acoustic signature loudspeaker system includes left and right loudspeaker assemblies that include cabinets having a plurality of sides. A full range acoustic driver/array is mounted to the first side and facing a side wall of a listening space, the second side forms the rear of the loudspeaker assembly to which is mounted a set of input terminals. The full range on-axis directional acoustic output of each loudspeaker assembly is directed outward toward the left and right side walls respectively of the listening space at an azimuth of approximately 180+/?45 degrees. No acoustic output of the loud speaker system is directed toward the listening space or directed vertically, up or down and the first sides of the left and right loud speaker assemblies are separated by a distance of at least approximately 1.0 feet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventor: Loring C. Hall
  • Publication number: 20140016802
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described for compensating for loudspeaker positions using hierarchical three-dimensional (3D) audio coding. An apparatus comprising or more processors may perform the techniques. The processors may be configured to perform a first transform that is based on a spherical wave model on a first set of audio channel information for a first geometry of speakers to generate a first hierarchical set of elements that describes a sound field. The processors may further be configured to perform a second transform in a frequency domain on the first hierarchical set of elements to generate a second set of audio channel information for a second geometry of speakers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventor: Dipanjan Sen
  • Patent number: 8624975
    Abstract: The present invention refers to an audio module for a video surveillance system, a video surveillance system and a method for keeping a plurality of locations under surveillance. Video surveillance systems are widely used to monitor critical locations of public or private buildings or institutes like private homes, museums, prisons, factories, hazardous areas and so on from one or more central surveillance rooms. Commonly, the surveillance rooms are equipped with a plurality of monitors each displaying one of the critical locations or a mosaic display, which is divided in a plurality of cameos, whereby each cameo displays one of the critical locations. Additionally audio signals corresponding to the images displayed on the single monitors or cameos can be played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Johan Groenenboom
  • Patent number: 8620673
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose an audio decoding method, including: determining that bitstreams to be decoded are monophony coding layer and first stereo enhancement layer bitstreams; decoding the monophony coding layer to obtain a monophony decoded frequency-domain signal; reconstructing left and right channel frequency-domain signals in a first sub-band region by utilizing the monophony decoded frequency-domain signal after an energy adjustment; and reconstructing left and right channel frequency-domain signals in a second sub-band region by utilizing the monophony decoded frequency-domain signal without the energy adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qi Zhang, Libin Zhang
  • Patent number: 8611546
    Abstract: A radio configured to dynamically control cancellation of undesired signals in an audio stream. The radio includes a noise cancellation processor configured to receive an audio stream from a user and to alter information in the audio stream by filtering out undesired signals in the audio stream. The radio also includes a receiving component configured to receive a data packet from a remote device, to retrieve configuration information from the data packet, and to dynamically apply the configuration information, while the radio is being used by a user, to settings associated with the noise cancellation processor. A dynamically enabled noise cancellation processor suppresses undesired signals associated with a subsequent incoming audio stream provided by the user and transmits at least one of an altered audio stream or an unaltered audio stream to the remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Williams, Blake C. Moselle, Matthew E. Simms, Charles B. Swope
  • Publication number: 20130329922
    Abstract: Methods and systems of reproducing object-based audio are disclosed. In some embodiments, vector base amplitude panning (VBAP) is used for playing back an object's audio. Using the positioning of sound reproduction devices and object's location information, rendering can determine which sound reproduction devices are used for playing back the object's audio. For example, a triangle in which the object is positioned at a given time can be identified. The triangle can have sound reproduction devices as vertices, and the object's audio can be rendered on the sound reproduction devices corresponding to the vertices of the triangle. In some embodiments, ambiguities associated with VBAP-based rendering are identified and resolved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: DTS LLC
    Inventors: Pierre-Anthony Stivell Lemieux, Wallace Dressler, Jean-Marc Jot
  • Patent number: 8594350
    Abstract: An example set-up method for a loudspeaker system capable of generating at least one directed beam of audio sound includes emitting directional beams of set-up sound signals from the loudspeaker system into a room, registering at least one reflection of the emitted signals at one or more locations within the room, and evaluating the registered reflected signals to obtain data for use in configuring the surround sound system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Hooley, Paul Thomas Troughton, David Charles William Richards, David Christopher Turner
  • Patent number: 8594336
    Abstract: A sound image localization apparatus comprises an L direct output section that produces an output signal by inputting an audio signal of a rear left audio input channel to a filter having a characteristic obtained by dividing RLD by LD, an L cross output section that produces an output signal by inputting the audio signal of the rear left audio input channel to a filter having a characteristic obtained by dividing RLC by LC, an R cross output section that produces an output signal by inputting an audio signal of a rear right audio input channel to a filter having a characteristic obtained by dividing RRC by RC, an R direct output section that produces an output signal by inputting the audio signal of the rear right audio input channel to a filter having a characteristic obtained by dividing RRD by RD, a first adding section that adds a difference signal between the output signal of the L direct output section and the output signal of the R cross output section to an audio signal of a front left audio input ch
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki Katayama
  • Publication number: 20130301857
    Abstract: The number of digital-analog converters is decreased in an audio processing apparatus that outputs an audio signal to not only a device disposed in a main room but also a device disposed in a sub-room. The audio processing apparatus includes a digital-analog conversion unit for outputting an extended left audio signal and an extended right audio signal in an analog format, or for outputting a sub-room left audio signal and a sub-room right audio signal in the analog format; and an input switch unit that switches between a supply of a combination of the extended left audio signal and the extended right audio signal to the digital-analog conversion unit and a supply of a combination of the sub-room left audio signal and the sub-room right audio signal to the digital-analog conversion unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: ONKYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazutoshi MURAKAMI
  • Patent number: 8577482
    Abstract: A transient detector is provided for generating an ambience signal suitable for being emitted via loudspeakers for which there is no special loudspeaker signal to detect a transient period. A synthesis signal generator produces a synthesis signal which fulfills the transient condition on the one hand and the continuity condition for the synthesis signal on the other hand. A signal substituter will then substitute a portion of the examination signal by the synthesis signal to obtain an ambience signal for the surround channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V
    Inventors: Juergen Herre, Stefan Geyersberger, Oliver Hellmuth, Andreas Walther, Christiaan Janssen
  • Publication number: 20130287234
    Abstract: A ceiling speaker mountable in a ceiling tile for mounting in a suspended ceiling of a room, includes a central woofer, and at least four surrounding pivoting tweeters that are independently adjustable so as to provide broad flat coverage throughout the room. A crossover network directs low frequency signals to the woofer and high frequency signals to the tweeters and an optional stereo separator circuit directs left and right signals to different pairs of the tweeters. A method for adjusting sound dispersion produced by the ceiling speaker is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: KRAMER ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventor: Joseph Kramer
  • Patent number: 8565455
    Abstract: A method and a system are described providing multiple display systems with an enhanced acoustics experience. A source audio signal having a plurality of source audio channels is generated from an audio signal source. The system includes a plurality of speakers connected to a plurality of display systems. A speaker configuration gatherer determines the spatial configuration of the speakers. An audio signal processor is provided to generate synthesized audio signal based on the contents of the source audio signal and spatial configuration of the speakers. The synthesized audio signal is mapped and delivered to the speakers to produce an enhanced sound field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Devon Worrell, Vishnu Balraj, Srikanth Kambhatla, Kar Leong Wong
  • Publication number: 20130251178
    Abstract: An audio apparatus, an audio signal transmission method, and an audio system are provided. The audio signal transmission method includes: wirelessly receiving an audio signal from a first external device; converting the received audio signal into audio signals of multi-channels; and wirelessly transmitting an audio signal of at least one of the multi-channels to at least one of second external devices. Therefore, the audio apparatus wirelessly communicates with a plurality of external devices, and thus a user can connect an audio device to an external device without using wired cables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eung-sik YOON, Yong-jin KANG
  • Publication number: 20130236039
    Abstract: An advantage of Ambisonics representation is that the reproduction of the sound field can be adapted individually to nearly any given loudspeaker position arrangement. The invention allows systematic adaptation of the playback of spatial sound field-oriented audio to its linked visible objects, by applying space warping processing as disclosed in EP 11305845.7. The reference size (or the viewing angle from a reference listening position) of the screen used in the content production is encoded and transmitted as metadata together with the content, or the decoder knows the actual size of the target screen with respect to a fixed reference screen size. The decoder warps the sound field in such a manner that all sound objects in the direction of the screen are compressed or stretched according to the ratio of the size of the target screen and the size of the reference screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Peter Jax, Johannes Boehm, William Redmann
  • Publication number: 20130223658
    Abstract: A surround sound system for reproducing a spatial sound field in a sound control region within a room having at least one sound reflective surface. The system uses multiple steerable loudspeakers located about the sound control region, each loudspeaker having a plurality of different individual directional response channels being controlled by respective speaker input signals to generate sound waves emanating from the loudspeaker with a desired overall directional response. A control unit connected drives each of the loudspeakers and has pre-configured filters based on measured acoustic transfer functions for the room for filtering the input spatial audio signals to generate the speaker input signals for all the loudspeakers to generate sound waves with co-ordinated overall directional responses that combine together at the sound control region in the form of either direct sound or reflected sound from the reflective surface(s) of the room to reproduce the spatial sound field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Terence Betlehem, Mark Alistair Poletti
  • Publication number: 20130208928
    Abstract: A ZONE4 left audio signal Z4L is output without releasing a connection of a surround left speaker SSL. When determining that a playback of the ZONE4 left audio signal Z4L is set by a user manipulation, a controller 2 controls switches S11b and S13b in an on state, and controls switches S11a, S13a, and S13c in an off state. Accordingly, the ZONE4 left audio signal Z4L is supplied from a DSP to an amplifier 12a through the switch S11b, amplified by the amplifier 12a, and supplied to a surround back left/ZONE4 left SP terminal 14b through the switch S13b. A surround left SP terminal 14a is an output terminal dedicated to a surround left audio signal, so that the ZONE4 left audio signal Z4L can be output without releasing the connection of the surround left speaker SSL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: ONKYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Onkyo Corporation
  • Patent number: 8509464
    Abstract: A method for processing audio signals can include applying at least one front perspective filter to each of left and right front audio signals to yield filtered left and right front output signals, where the left and right front output signals each drive a front speaker. Moreover, the method can include applying at least one rear perspective filter to each of left and right rear audio signals to yield left and right rear output signals, where the left and right rear output signals each drive a rear speaker to simulate a rear surround sound effect when positioned in front of a listener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: DTS LLC
    Inventors: Hideaki Kato, Alan Kraemer, Sarah Yang
  • Patent number: 8509463
    Abstract: There is provided a multi-mode sound reproduction system for reproduction of both stereophonic signals and multi-channel audio signals. The system includes a first pair of speakers positioned on a left portion of a user, the user being at a pre-determined facing, the first pair of speakers comprising a first primary speaker which is stackable with a first secondary speaker; a second pair of speakers positioned on a right portion of the user, the user being at the pre-determined facing, the second pair of speakers comprising a second primary speaker which is stackable with a second secondary speaker. The system may preferably include an arrangement of electronic components for controlling output of audio signals from the first pair and the second pair of speakers. It is preferable that in a first mode with the first and second pair of speakers in an unstacked configuration, the signals do not pass through the arrangement of electronic components prior to output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Aik Hee Daniel Goh, Kok Fah Lee, Hwee Bun Tan
  • Patent number: 8494183
    Abstract: A switching section causes the first amplification section to amplify the expansion left audio signal and supply the amplified expansion left audio signal to the first speaker terminal and causing the second amplification section to amplify the expansion right audio signal and supply the amplified expansion right audio signal to the second speaker terminal when the Bi-Amp function is not used. The switching section causes the first amplification section to amplify the left audio signal for Bi-Amp and supply the amplified left audio signal for Bi-Amp the first speaker terminal and causing the second amplification section to amplify the right audio signal for Bi-Amp and supply the amplified right audio signal for Bi-Amp to the second speaker terminal when the Bi-Amp function is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Onkyo Corporation
    Inventors: Tadaharu Sunaga, Susumu Koaze, Junichi Kobayashi, Norio Etoh, Yataro Yajima, Shintaro Jo, Ayako Nakatani, Yohei Koike
  • Patent number: 8488819
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a media signal and method thereof are disclosed, by which the media signal can be converted to a surround signal by using spatial information of the media signal. The present invention provides a method of processing a signal, the method comprising of generating source mapping information corresponding to each source of multi-sources by using spatial information indicating features between the multi-sources; generating sub-rendering in formation by applying filter information giving a surround effect to the source mapping in formation per the source; generating rendering information for generating a surround signal by integrating the at least one of the sub-rendering information; and generating the surround signal by applying the rendering information to a downmix signal generated by downmixing the multi-sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hee Suk Pang, Dong Soo Kim, Jae Hyun Lim, Hyen O Oh, Yang-Won Jung
  • Patent number: 8472631
    Abstract: An audio enhancement system and method for use receives a group of multi-channel audio signals and provides a simulated surround sound environment through playback of only two output signals. The multi-channel audio signals comprise a pair of front signals intended for playback from a forward sound stage and a pair of rear signals intended for playback from a rear sound stage. The front and rear signals are modified in pairs by separating an ambient component of each pair of signals from a direct component and processing at least some of the components with a head-related transfer function. Processing of the individual audio signal components is determined by an intended playback position of the corresponding original audio signals. The individual audio signal components are then selectively combined with the original audio signals to form two enhanced output signals for generating a surround sound experience upon playback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: DTS LLC
    Inventors: Arnold I. Klayman, Alan D. Kraemer
  • Patent number: 8472652
    Abstract: An audio reproduction system includes an arrangement of audio speakers of a first kind having a first degree of directivity in combination with at least one audio speaker of a second kind having a second degree of directivity. In order to create a virtual sound source at a desired distance to a listener's position, the second degree of directivity is substantially larger than the first degree of directivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Aki Sakari Harma
  • Patent number: 8452028
    Abstract: A dynamic surround channel volume control applies a variable gain control to the surround channels of a multi-channel system. Thus the levels of the surround channels are related to the main volume control of the system. This maintains a predictable relationship between the surround channels and the main or front channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: THX, Ltd.
    Inventors: John Dahl, Casey Divine
  • Publication number: 20130129123
    Abstract: A system to reproduce multi channel sound. A first wireless transceiver wirelessly receives audio data and acoustically reproduces a front center channel. A second wireless transceiver wirelessly receives the audio data and acoustically reproduces a front right channel. A third wireless transceiver wirelessly receives the audio data and acoustically reproduces a front left channel. A fourth wireless transceiver wirelessly receives the audio data and acoustically reproduces a rear right channel. And a fifth wireless transceiver wirelessly receives the audio data and acoustically reproduces a rear left channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Texas Instruments Incorporated