Immersive sound system

• US 10,440,455 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2015
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Willowbrook Capital Advisors, LLC
• Original Assignee: Willowbrook Capital Advisors, LLC
• Inventors: Fox, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Elahee, Md S
• Application Number:
  US14/676,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20150208151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 381301, 2972173, 2972174
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17823 Reference signals, e.g. ambient acoustic environment
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17857 Geometric disposition, e.g. placement of microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17861 using additional means for damping sound, e.g. using sound absorbing panels
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17873 using a reference signal without an error signal, e.g. pure feedforward
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/12 Rooms, e.g. ANC inside a room, office, concert hall or automobile cabin
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/025 Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/227 using transducers reproducing the same frequency band
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/26 Spatial arrangements of separate transducers responsive to two or more frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/002 Damping circuit arrangements for transducers, e.g. motional feedback circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/02 for preventing acoustic reaction , i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/453
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/023 in a chair, pillow

Abstract

Sound control and audio output systems and methods for an entertainment venue are described. The sound control and audio output systems include an in-seat speaker arrangement. The in-seat speaker arrangement includes a theater chair having a back section and a seat section, one or more top speakers arranged around a headrest area of the back section of the theater chair, and a lower speaker disposed within the seat section of the theater chair.

Claims

1. A theater chair having an in-seat speaker arrangement, the theater chair comprising:

a back section having a front side, a rear side, and a headrest area;

a seat section;

one or more top front speakers disposed within the headrest area of the back section of the theater chair and facing a forward direction, wherein the one or more top front speakers are positioned such that the one or more top front speakers direct sound emitted therefrom through the front side of the back section to an occupant of the theater chair;

a rear speaker disposed within the back section of the theater chair, the rear speaker facing a rearward direction opposite the forward direction at which the one or more top front speakers are facing such that the rear speaker directs sound emitted therefrom through the rear side of the back section rearward of the theater chair and away from the occupant of the theater chair; and

a lower speaker disposed within the seat section of the theater chair.

2. The theater chair of claim 1, wherein the top front speakers comprise four speakers arranged to provide immersive audio to the headrest area.

3. The theater chair of claim 1, wherein the rear speaker is oriented such that it is operable to present sound to an occupant of a second theater chair positioned behind the theater chair.

4. The theater chair of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more top front speakers presents sound to a single ear-area, wherein the single ear-area is areas in front of the headrest in which a viewer is likely to place their ears.

5. The theater chair of claim 4, wherein the one or more top front speakers comprise parabolic reflecting structures configured to focus the sound to the single ear-area.

6. A seat comprising:

a chair having;

a back section with a headrest; and

a seat section; and

an in-seat speaker arrangement including;

a first top speaker positioned proximate a first lateral side of the headrest;

a second top speaker positioned proximate an opposing second lateral side of the headrest;

a first concave element of the headrest positioned to receive first sound waves emitted by the first top speaker and structured to focus the first sound waves into a first narrow sound beam toward a first ear of an occupant of the seat; and

a second concave element of the headrest positioned to receive second sound waves emitted by the second top speaker and structured to focus the second sound waves into a second narrow sound beam toward a second ear of the occupant of the seat.

7. The seat of claim 6, further comprising one or more lower speakers disposed within the seat section of the chair, wherein the one or more lower speakers comprise woofer or subwoofer speakers.

8. The seat of claim 6, wherein the first top speaker and the second top speaker comprise full spectrum speakers.

9. The seat of claim 6, wherein the first top speaker and the second top speaker are coupled to separate audio channels.

11. The seat of claim 6, further comprising a rear speaker disposed within the back section of the theater chair, the rear speaker facing a rearward direction opposite a direction at which the one or more top front speakers are facing such that the rear speaker directs sound emitted therefrom through a rear side of the back section rearward of the seat.

10. Seating for a venue, the seating comprising:

a first chair including;

a first back section;

a first seat section;

a first speaker disposed within the first back section of the first chair, the first speaker facing a forward direction such that the first speaker directs sound emitted therefrom through a front side of the first back section to a first occupant of the first chair; and

a second speaker disposed within the first seat section of the first chair, the second speaker positioned such that sound or vibrations emitted therefrom propagate in an upward direction to the first occupant of the first chair; and

a second chair positioned in front of the first chair, the second chair including;

a second back section;

a second seat section; and

a third speaker disposed within the second back section of the second chair, the third speaker facing a rearward direction opposite the forward direction at which the first speaker is facing such that the third speaker directs sound emitted therefrom in the rearward direction away from a second occupant sitting in the second chair and (ii) through a rear side of the second back section to the first occupant of the first chair;

wherein (i) the first speaker and the second speaker of the first chair and (ii) the third speaker of the second chair cooperatively provide sound waves to the first occupant of the first chair from underneath, forward of, and behind the first occupant.