Method and system for audio imaging

• US 20030223602A1
• Filed: 06/04/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elbit Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Elbit Systems Limited
• Inventors: Eichler, Uzi, Barak, Lior, Paz, Avner
• Application Number:
  US10/162,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20030223602A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/309
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/004 For headphones

Abstract

System for producing multi-dimensional sound to be heard by an aircraft crew member, the multi-dimensional sound being respective of an input signal received from a source and associated with a respective indicated input signal position, the system comprising an aircraft crew member position system, detecting the aircraft crew member position, a memory unit, storing a plurality of spatial sound models, a processor, coupled with the aircraft crew member position system, the memory unit and with the source, the processor retrieving a selected one of the spatial sound models from the memory unit, according to the indicated input signal position and the aircraft crew member position, the processor applying the selected spatial sound model to an audio signal respective of the input signal, thereby producing a plurality of audio channels, and a plurality of head-mounted sound reproducers, coupled with the processor, each the head-mounted sound reproducers being associated with and producing sound according to a respective one of the audio channels.

Claims

1. System for producing multi-dimensional sound to be heard by an aircraft crew member, the multi-dimensional sound being respective of at least one input signal received from at least one source and associated with a respective indicated input signal position, the system comprising:

an aircraft crew member position system, detecting said aircraft crew member position;

a memory unit, storing at least a plurality of spatial sound models;

a processor, coupled with said aircraft crew member position system, said memory unit and with said at least one source, said processor retrieving a selected one of said spatial sound models from said memory unit, according to said indicated input signal position and said aircraft crew member position, said processor applying said selected spatial sound model to an audio signal respective of said at least one input signal, thereby producing a plurality of audio channels; and

a plurality of head-mounted sound reproducers, coupled with said processor, each said head-mounted sound reproducers being associated with and producing sound according to a respective one of said audio channels.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one input signal is a warning indication.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one input signal is respective of the state of a component of the aircraft.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one input signal is respective of the voice of a transmitting user.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one input signal is a radio signal.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said indicated input signal position is respective of at least one preferred position of said at least one input signal.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said aircraft crew member position system is selected from the list consisting of:

electromagnetic detection system;

optical detection system; and

sonar system.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said aircraft crew member position system is coupled with a head-mounted device.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said head-mounted device is selected from the list consisting of:

helmet;

headset;

goggles; and

spectacles.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said spatial sound models is a head related transfer function.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the phase and frequency of each of said audio channels is respective of a selected one of said spatial sound models.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said spatial sound models is respective of the distance of said at least one source from said aircraft crew member.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said spatial sound models are respective of said aircraft crew member.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said spatial sound models is respective of the source type of said at least one input signal.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said aircraft crew member position system further comprises an aircraft position system coupled with said processor, and

wherein said aircraft position system detects the position of said aircraft.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the type of said aircraft is selected from the list consisting of:

airplane;

helicopter;

amphibian;

balloon;

glider;

unmanned aircraft; and

spacecraft.

17. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a source position system coupled with said processor, wherein said source position system detects said indicated input signal position.

18. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a signal interface coupled with said processor, said signal interface receiving said at least one input signal.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said signal interface multiplexes said at least one input signal.

20. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a radio receiver coupled with said processor, wherein said radio receiver receives said at least one input signal.

21. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an audio object memory coupled with said processor, wherein said audio object memory includes information respective of said indicated input signal position and of an alarm state respective of said at least one input signal.

22. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a multi channel analog to digital converter coupled with said processor, wherein said analog to digital converter converts analog ones of said at least one input signal from analog format to digital format.

23. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a digital to analog converter coupled with said processor and with said head-mounted sound reproducers, wherein said digital to analog converter converts signals received from said processor, from digital format to analog format.

24. The system according to claim 1, wherein said indicated input signal position is defined relative to said aircraft crew member position.

25. Method for producing multi-dimensional sound to be heard by an aircraft crew member, the method comprising the procedures of:

detecting a listening position of said aircraft crew member;

selecting a spatial sound model according to said detected listening position and an indicated audio signal position;

applying said selected spatial sound model to an audio signal, thereby producing a plurality of audio signals; and

producing said multi-channel sound by a plurality of head-mounted sound reproducers, according to said audio signals.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising a preliminary procedure of retrieving said audio signal and said indicated audio signal position from a memory unit, said audio signal and said indicated audio signal position being respective of an input signal.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising a preliminary procedure of receiving said input signal.

28. The method according to claim 25, further comprising a preliminary procedure of detecting said indicated audio signal position, said indicated audio signal position being respective of said audio signal.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising a preliminary procedure of receiving said audio signal.

30. The method according to claim 25, further comprising a procedure of detecting the position of the aircraft, before said procedure of selecting.

31. The method according to claim 25, wherein said selecting procedure is performed according to said detected listening position and the distance between said listening position and said indicated audio signal position.

32. The method according to claim 25, wherein said selecting procedure is performed according to said detected listening position and the source type of said audio signal.

33. The method according to claim 25, wherein said selecting procedure is performed according to the hearing characteristics of said aircraft crew member.

34. The method according to claim 25, wherein said selecting procedure comprises a sub-procedure of associating said indicated audio signal position with a preferred position of said audio signal.

35. The method according to claim 25, wherein said selecting procedure comprises a sub-procedure of associating the phase and frequency of each of said audio signals with said selected spatial sound model.

36. The method according to claim 25, further comprising a procedure of converting said audio signal from analog format to digital format, before said procedure of applying.

37. The method according to claim 25, further comprising a procedure of converting said audio signals from digital format to analog format, after said procedure of applying.

38. System for producing multi-dimensional sound in an aircraft, the multi-dimensional sound being respective of at least one input signal received from at least one source and associated with a respective indicated input signal position, the system comprising:

a memory unit, storing at least a plurality of spatial sound models;

a processor, coupled with said memory unit and with said at least one source, said processor retrieving a selected one of said spatial sound models from said memory unit, according to said indicated input signal position, said processor applying said selected spatial sound model to an audio signal respective of said at least one input signal, thereby producing a plurality of audio channels; and

a plurality of sound reproducers, coupled with said processor and located at substantially fixed positions within said aircraft, each said sound reproducers being associated with and producing sound according to a respective one of said audio channels.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein said at least one input signal is a warning indication.

40. The system according to claim 38, wherein said at least one input signal is respective of the state of a component located in said aircraft.

41. The system according to claim 38, wherein said at least one input signal is respective of the voice of a transmitting user.

42. The system according to claim 38, wherein said at least one input signal is a radio signal.

43. The system according to claim 38, wherein said indicated input signal position is respective of at least one preferred position of said at least one input signal.

44. The system according to claim 38, wherein each of said spatial sound models is respective of the source type of said at least one input signal.

45. The system according to claim 38, wherein each of said spatial sound models is respective of the distance of said at least one source from said aircraft.

46. The system according to claim 38, further comprising a source position system coupled with said processor, wherein said source position system detects said indicated input signal position.

47. The system according to claim 38, further comprising a signal interface coupled with said processor, said signal interface receiving said at least one input signal.

48. The system according to claim 47, wherein said signal interface multiplexes said at least one input signal.

49. The system according to claim 38, further comprising a radio receiver coupled with said processor, wherein said radio receiver receives said at least one input signal.

50. The system according to claim 38, further comprising an audio object memory coupled with said processor, wherein said audio object memory includes information respective of said indicated input signal position and of an alarm state respective of said at least one input signal.

51. The system according to claim 38, further comprising a multi channel analog to digital converter coupled with said processor, wherein said analog to digital converter converts analog ones of said at least one input signal from analog format to digital format.

52. The system according to claim 38, further comprising a digital to analog converter coupled with said processor and with said sound reproducers, wherein said digital to analog converter converts signals received from said processor, from digital format to analog format.

53. The system according to claim 38, further comprising an aircraft position system coupled with said processor, wherein said aircraft position system detects the position of said aircraft.

54. The system according to claim 38, wherein said processor retrieves said selected spatial sound model from said memory unit, according to the location and the type of each of said sound producers.