Sound processing system using spatial imaging techniques

• US 20030039366A1
• Filed: 07/31/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: House, William, Eid, Bradley
• Granted Patent: US 7,206,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/27
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• 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 3/02 of the matrix type, i.e. in which input signals are combined algebraically, e.g. after having been phase shifted with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 5/005 of the pseudo five- or more-channel type, e.g. virtual surround
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/00 Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/40 Visual indication of stereophonic sound image

Abstract

A sound processing system reduces the instances when only a center speaker is heard. The gain of a volume setting is adjusted for individual speakers in response to one or more input signals. The gain of the center speaker is attenuated in relation to the global volume setting. In addition or as an alternative, the gain of front and/or rear speakers is increased. A virtual center channel is generated for locations where the center speaker may not be heard.

Claims

1. A sound processing system, comprising:

a crossbar matrix mixer;

a center channel volume compensator connected to the crossbar matrix mixer, the center channel volume compensator to receive a center output signal from the crossbar matrix mixer; and

at least one of a front channel volume compensator and a rear channel volume compensator connected to the crossbar matrix mixer, the front channel volume compensator to receive at least one front output signal from the crossbar matrix mixer, the rear channel volume compensator to receive at least one rear output signal from the crossbar matrix mixer; and

where the center channel volume compensator attenuates a global volume gain for the center output signal in response to an input signal,

where the front channel volume compensator increases the global volume gain for the at least one front output signal in response to the input signal, and

where the rear channel volume compensator increases the global volume gain for the at least one rear output signal in response to the input signal.

2. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the input signal comprises a low volume setting.

3. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the input signal comprises a vehicle speed.

4. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the input signal comprises an ambient noise level.

5. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the input signal comprises a sound pressure level.

6. The sound processing system according to claim 5, further comprising at least one door-mounted speaker in a vehicle, where the at least one door-mounted speaker receives at least one of the front and rear output signals.

7. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the at least one front output signal comprises at least one of a left front output signal and a right front output signal

8. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the at least one rear output signal comprises at least one of a right surround output signal, a right rear output signal, a left surround output signal, and a left rear output signal.

9. The sound processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a decoder connected to the crossbar matrix mixer, the decoder to provide multiple decoded signals to the crossbar matrix mixer in response to audio signals.

10. The sound processing system according to claim 9, where the decoder generates a front input signal, a center input signal, and a rear input signal, and where the crossbar matrix mixer generates a virtual center channel in response to the rear input signal and at least one of the center input signal and the front input signal.

11. A sound processing system, comprising:

a crossbar matrix mixer;

a door-mounted speaker compensator connected to the crossbar matrix mixer;

at least one door-mounted speaker connected to the door-mounted speaker compensator; and

where the door-mounted speaker receives at least one output signal from the crossbar matrix mixer, and

where the door-mounted speaker compensator adjusts the at least one output signal in response to an input signal.

12. The sound processing system according to claim 11, where the door-mounted speaker compensator applies additional gain to the at least one output signal in response to the input signal.

13. The sound processing system according to claim 11, where the input signal comprises at least one vehicle operation parameter.

14. A sound processing system, comprising:

a crossbar matrix mixer connected to a decoder; and

where the crossbar matrix mixer receives at least one front input signal,

a center input signal (CTR_IN) and at least one surround input signal,

where the crossbar matrix mixer generates at least one front output signal, a center output signal (CTR_OUT), and at least one surround output signal, and where the crossbar matrix mixer generates a virtual center channel.

15. The sound processing system according to claim 14, further comprising an all-pass network connected to receive the at least one surround output signal.

16. The sound processing system according to claim 14, where the crossbar matrix mixer generates the at least one surround output signal in response to the at least one front input signal and the at least one surround input signal.

17. The sound processing system according to claim 14, where the crossbar matrix mixer generates the at least one surround output signal in response to the center input signal and the at least one surround input signal.

18. The sound processing system according to claim 14, where the at least one surround input signal comprises at least one rear input signal, and where the at least one surround output signal comprises at least one rear output signal.

19. The sound processing system according to claim 14,

where the at least one front input signal comprises a left front input signal (LF_IN) and a right front input signal (RF_IN);

where the at least one surround input signal comprises a left surround input signal (LS_IN) and a right surround input signal (RS_IN); and

where the at least one surround output signal comprises a left surround output signal (LS_OUT) and a right surround output signal (RS_OUT).

20. The sound processing system according to claim 19, where

LS_OUT=0.8 LS_IN+0.2 LF_IN, and

RS_OUT=0.8 RS_IN+0.2 RF_IN.

21. The sound processing system according to claim 19, where the decoder comprises a Logic7®

decoder, and where

LS_OUT=0.6 LS_IN+0.4 LF_IN, and

RS_OUT=0.6 RS_IN+0.4 RF_IN.

22. The sound processing system according to claim 19, where the decoder comprises a discrete decoder, and where

LS_OUT=0.8 LS_IN+0.2 CTR_IN, and

RS_OUT=0.8 RS_IN+0.2 CTR_IN.

23. A method for processing sound, comprising:

attenuating a volume gain for a center output signal in response to an input signal; and

increasing the volume gain for at least one front output signal in response to the input signal.

24. The method for processing sound according to claim 23, further comprising increasing the volume gain for at least one rear output signal in response to the input signal.

25. The method for processing sound according to claim 23, where the input signal comprises at least one of a low volume setting, a vehicle speed, an ambient noise level, and a sound pressure level.

26. The method for processing sound according to claim 23, further comprising generating a virtual center channel.

27. A method for processing sound, comprising:

attenuating a volume gain for a center output signal in response to an input signal; and

increasing the volume gain for at least one rear output signal in response to the input signal.

28. The method for processing sound according to claim 27, further comprising generating a virtual center channel.

29. A method for processing sound, comprising:

receiving a front input signal, a center input signal, and a rear input signal;

mixing the rear input signal with at least one of the front input signal and the center input signal; and

generating a virtual center channel.

30. The method for processing sound according to claim 29, where a rear output signal comprises about 80 percent of the rear input signal and about 20 percent of the front input signal.

31. The method of processing sound according to claim 29, where a rear output signal comprises about 60 percent of the rear input signal and about 40 percent of the front input signal.

32. The method for processing sound according to claim 29, where a rear output signal comprises about 80 percent of the rear input signal and about 20 percent of the center input signal.