Surround sound applications and devices for vertically-oriented content

• US 10,154,344 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2016
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas Mitchell Dair
• Original Assignee: Thomas Mitchell Dair
• Inventors: Dair, Thomas Mitchell
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): GANMAVO, KUASSI A
• Application Number:
  US15/360,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20170150263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/20 Automatic control H03G3/005 takes precedence; combined with volume compression or expansion H03G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/01 Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers for hearing aids H04R25/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/01 Multi-channel, i.e. more than two input channels, sound reproduction with two speakers wherein the multi-channel information is substantially preserved
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/05 Generation or adaptation of centre channel in multi-channel audio systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/002 Non-adaptive circuits, e.g. manually adjustable or static, for enhancing the sound image or the spatial distribution control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field H04S7/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/008 in which the audio signals are in digital form, i.e. employing more than two discrete digital channels data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02

Abstract

Examples described herein include surround sound systems for vertically-oriented displays and televisions that may leverage existing audio formats, recording techniques and audio authoring tools specifically for vertical display applications. Audio speakers and the vertically-oriented display may all be arranged on a single vertical plane to deliver visual image and spatial audio sound and sound effects on the vertical (e.g. top and bottom) and horizontal (e.g. left and right) axes in relation to the user. Speakers can be positioned separate from the vertically-oriented display as a method or integrated with the display using a frame system or within the housing of a display or television device itself.

Claims

1. An audio system for a display having a vertically-oriented aspect ratio comprising:

a frame back;

a front housing configured to mate with the frame back;

a plurality of speakers mounted between the frame back and the front housing around a perimeter of the display and configured to provide audio that is spatially coordinated with images displayed on the display; and

a center channel speaker mounted on an automated moveable base, wherein the center channel speaker is configured to emit sound associated with images displayed on the display and to move autonomously in response to images or video displayed on the display.

2. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of speakers comprises a top speaker configured to provide audio that is vertically spatially coordinated with images displayed at a top of the display.

3. The audio system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of speakers further comprises a bottom speaker configured to provide audio that is spatially coordinated with images displayed at a bottom of the display.

4. The audio system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of speakers further comprises a pair of center channel speakers positioned on either side of the display.

5. The audio system of claim 3, wherein the bottom speaker and the top speaker are aligned along a vertical axis of the display.

6. The audio system of claim 3, wherein the bottom speaker is located at a lower corner of the display and the top speaker is located at an upper corner of the display.

7. The audio system of claim 3, further comprising a subwoofer located external to the frame back and the front housing.

8. The audio system of claim 7, further comprising a second center channel speaker mounted on the subwoofer.

9. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the second center channel speaker is further configured to provide audio that is spatially coordinated with images or video displayed on the display and a location of the second center channel speaker.

10. A method of providing audio for a display having a vertically-oriented aspect ratio comprising, while the display is installed in a vertical stand or on a wall:

emitting sounds from a first pair of speakers positioned at a lower end of the display, wherein the sounds emitted from the first pair of speakers are associated an object in a video displayed on the display, wherein the object is displayed at the lower end of the display; and

in response to vertical movement of the object within the video from the lower end of the display to an upper end of the display;

emitting sounds associated with the object in the video from a second pair of speakers positioned at the upper end of the display; and

stopping emission of the sounds associated with the object in the video from the first pair of speakers; and

autonomously moving a center channel speaker mounted on an automated moveable base in response to the video displayed on the display, wherein the center channel speaker is configured to emit sound associated with the video displayed on the display.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising emitting sounds from a third pair of speakers positioned on either side of the display between the upper end and the lower end of the display, wherein the sounds emitted from the third pair of speakers are associated the video displayed on the display.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein further in response to the vertical movement of the object within the video from the lower end of the display to an upper end of the display, prior to emitting sounds associated with the object in the video from the second pair of speakers and after stopping emission of the sounds associated with the object in the video from the first pair of speakers:

emitting sounds associated with the object in the video from the third pair of speakers positioned between the upper end and the lower end of the display; and

stopping emission of the sounds associated with the object in the video from the third pair of speakers as the object transitions out of an area between the upper end and the lower end of the display.