Multi-mode ambient soundstage system

• US 20030118194A1
• Filed: 09/04/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Gharapetian, Ara H., Castro, Brian D., Neumann, Christopher, Prenta, Timothy, Leicht, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,454,022 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/002 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

Abstract

A multi-mode sound reproduction device is disclosed including a direct radiation sound device, a diffuse radiation sound device and a selection device in signal communication with both the direct radiation sound device and diffuse radiation sound device, the selection device capable of selecting between the direct radiation sound device for one mode of operation and the diffusion radiation sound device for another mode of operation in response to a received control signal.

Claims

1. A multi-mode sound reproduction system comprising:

a direct radiation device;

a sound array; and

a selection device in signal communication with both the direct radiation device and sound array, the selection device capable of selecting between the direct radiation device for one mode of operation and the combination of the sound array and direct radiation device for another mode of operation in response to a received control signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the direct radiation device includes a first direct radiation loudspeaker and a second direct radiation loudspeaker.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first direct radiation loudspeaker is a low frequency loudspeaker.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the low frequency loudspeaker is a dual-voice-coil type woofer loudspeaker.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the second direct radiation loudspeaker is high frequency loudspeaker.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the high frequency loudspeaker is a tweeter type loudspeaker.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sound array includes a sound array loudspeaker pair having a first sound array loudspeaker and a second sound array loudspeaker.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first sound array loudspeaker is midrange frequency loudspeaker.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second sound array loudspeaker is a high frequency loudspeaker.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the high frequency loudspeaker is a tweeter type loudspeaker.

11. The system of claim 7, further including a second loudspeaker pair having a third sound array loudspeaker and a fourth sound array loudspeaker.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the third sound array loudspeaker is midrange frequency loudspeaker.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the fourth sound array loudspeaker is a high frequency loudspeaker.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the high frequency loudspeaker is a tweeter type loudspeaker.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection device is in signal communication with controller.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the selection device is in signal communication with sound processor.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection device is in signal communication with sound processor.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the sound processor includes a surround sound processor.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the selection device selects the between a diffuse mode of operation and direct mode of operation.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the direct radiation device is a loudspeaker physically separated from the sound array.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the loudspeaker is BOSE 701®

loudspeaker.

22. A method for producing multi-mode sound, the method comprising:

receiving a control signal; and

determining the mode of operation of a system having a direct radiation device and sound array corresponding to the control signal.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising driving the direct radiation device in response to the determined mode being direct mode.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising driving a combination of the direct radiation device and sound array in response to the determined mode being diffuse mode.

25. A multi-mode sound system comprising:

means for receiving a control signal; and

means for determining the mode of operation of a system having a direct radiation device and sound array corresponding to the control signal.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising means for driving the direct radiation device in response to the determined mode being direct mode.

27. The system of claim 25, further comprising means for driving a combination of the direct radiation device and sound array in response to the determined mode being diffuse mode.

29. The signal-bearing medium of claim 25, further comprising logic for driving the direct radiation device in response to the determined mode being direct mode.

30. The signal-bearing medium of claim 25, further comprising logic for driving a combination of the direct radiation device and sound array in response to the determined mode being diffuse mode.

28. A signal-bearing medium having software for producing multi-mode sound, the signal-bearing medium comprising:

logic for receiving a control signal; and

logic for determining the mode of operation of a system having a direct radiation device and sound array corresponding to the control signal.