Virtual Multichannel Speaker System

• US 20060280323A1
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CSR Technology Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CSR Technology Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Golner, Mitchell A., Goldberg, Paul R., Neidich, Michael I.
• Granted Patent: US 8,170,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/300
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers

Abstract

A virtual multichannel sound system is presented to improve audio reproduction by statically or dynamically conforming signal processing to specific speaker characteristics and/or arrangements. According to one such aspect, one or more dynamic signal processing algorithms driving two or more speakers are altered in response to the relative physical characteristics or arrangements of these speakers, where parameter information for these algorithms is either factory set, user input, or automatically supplied to the processor. Examples of such relative speaker differences include speaker spacing or alignment, speaker or enclosure compliance, and enclosure configuration. Another aspect is to alter the processing algorithms in response to common speaker characteristics for certain conditions of input signals. An example of this aspect is to alter the signal processing to improve bass response as a function of bass content in the signals being presented to the speakers and speaker size as well as relative speaker position.

Claims

1-3. -3. (canceled)

4. An apparatus comprising:

two or more speakers, each of said speakers comprised of one or more acoustic transducers;

a measuring device to determine one or more physical relational characteristic of said speakers;

an input circuit that provides one or more parameters derived from said physical relational characteristics of said speakers to said signal processors; and

at least one signal processor to apply acoustic processing to signals driving said plurality of acoustic transducers, wherein said acoustic processing is responsive to at least one of said parameters.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said speaker array comprises two speakers arranged in an enclosure which holds them a specified separation distance apart, and wherein said specified separation distance is fixed.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said speaker array comprises two speakers arranged in an enclosure which holds them a specified separation distance apart, and wherein said specified separation distance is adjustable.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said speaker array comprises:

a first speaker assembly placed in front of a listening area; and

a second speaker assembly placed to the rear of said listening area.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said speaker array further comprises:

a third speaker assembly placed to the left of said listening area; and

a fourth speaker assembly placed to the right of said listening area.

9. The apparatus of either of claims 7 or 8, wherein said physical relational characteristics include the relative locations of each of the two speaker assemblies.

10. A speaker assembly, comprising two fixed speakers mounted in a predetermined position with respect to each other, wherein each of said speakers includes one or more acoustic transducers, said speakers being responsive to a plurality of audio input signals from one or more signal processors, wherein said audio input signals are derived based on fixed input parameters determined by said predetermined position.

11. A speaker system comprising two speaker assemblies, a first one of said speaker assemblies mounted in front of a listening area and a second one of said speaker assemblies mounted behind said listening area, wherein each of said assemblies comprises two or more speakers mounted in a predetermined position with respect to each other, wherein each of said speakers includes one or more acoustic transducers, said speakers being responsive to a plurality of audio input signals from one or more signal processors, wherein said audio input signals are derived based on fixed input parameters of predetermined speaker relational characteristics of said speakers with respect to one another.

53. The speaker system of claim 11, wherein said fixed input parameters are determined by the distances between said speakers.

54. The speaker system of claim 11, wherein said fixed input parameters are determined by the azimuthal alignment of the speakers.

55. The speaker system of claim 11, wherein said audio input signals are based on the sizes of the speakers.

56. The speaker system of claim 11, wherein said audio input signals are based on the relative compliance of the speakers.

57. The speaker system of claim 11, wherein said audio input signals are based on the relative compliance of the speaker assemblies.

58. The speaker system of claim 11, wherein said audio input signals are based on the relative phase response exhibited by the speakers.

59. The speaker system of claim 11, wherein said audio input signals are based on the relative frequency response exhibited by the speakers.

12. A speaker system comprising four speaker assemblies, a first one of said speaker assemblies mounted in front of a listening area, a second one of said speaker assemblies mounted to the rear of said listening area, a third one of said speaker assemblies mounted to the right of said listening area and a fourth one of said speaker assemblies mounted to the left of said listening area, wherein each of said assemblies comprises two or more fixed speakers mounted in a predetermined position with respect to each other, wherein each of said speakers includes one or more acoustic transducers, said speakers being responsive to a plurality of audio input signals from one or more signal processors, wherein said audio input signals are derived based on fixed input parameters determined by said predetermined positions.

13. A speaker enclosure for providing enhanced two channel sound in response to a first and a second input signal, said enclosure comprising:

a pair of speakers, wherein a first of said speakers is responsive to said first input signal and a second of said speakers is responsive to said second input signal; and

an enclosure for said pair of speakers to hold them in a specified physical relation, wherein said enclosure provides data based on said specified physical relation as an output signal.

14. The speaker system of claim 13, wherein said specified physical relation is adjustable.

15. The speaker system of claim 14, wherein said speakers are essentially identical.

16. The speaker system of claim 15, wherein each of said speakers comprise a single acoustic transducer.

17. The speaker system of claim 15, wherein said specified physical relation comprises the distance between said speakers.

18. A method of processing audio signals for use in a plurality of speakers for the acoustic display of aural information, wherein some of the reproduced aural information appears to a listener to emanate from a virtual source which is spaced from the speakers, comprising:

receiving a plurality of audio signals;

providing one or more input parameters, wherein at least one of said input parameters is derived from the relative physical characteristics of said plurality of speakers;

producing a plurality of enhanced output signals for use in said speakers, wherein said output signals are derived from said plurality of audio signals in response to said one or more input parameters.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said relative physical characteristics include the relative position of said plurality speakers.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said relative physical characteristics include the relative alignment of said plurality speakers.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said relative physical characteristics include the relative compliance of said plurality speakers.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein said plurality of speakers are contained within enclosures, and wherein said relative physical characteristics include the relative compliance of said enclosures.

23. A sound reproduction system comprising:

a first speaker array comprising;

a pair of essentially identical speakers each comprising a single acoustic transducer, wherein a first of said speakers is responsive to a first input signal and a second of said speakers is responsive to a second input signal; and

an enclosure for said pair of single driver speakers to hold them in a specified physical relation, wherein said enclosure provides data based on said specified physical relation as an output signal; and

a signal processor for providing said first and second input signals comprising;

an audio input circuit to receive a plurality of audio signals;

a parameter circuit to receive one or more first input parameters, wherein at least one of said first input parameters is derived from said output signal provided by said first speaker array; and

an output circuit coupled to said parameter circuit to provide said input signals, wherein said input signals are derived by said output circuit from said plurality of audio signals in response to said one or more first input parameters.

24. The sound reproduction system of claim 23, wherein said specified physical relation is adjustable.

25. The sound reproduction system of claim 24, wherein said specified physical relation includes the distance between said pair of isolated speakers.

34. The sound reproduction system of either of claims 25 or 29, wherein said first speaker array is located in front of said listener, further comprising:

a plurality of rear speakers located to the rear of said listener, wherein said rear speakers are responsive to one or more of a plurality of rear input signals;

a rear audio input circuit to receive said plurality of audio signals; and

a rear output circuit to provide said plurality of rear input signals, wherein said rear input signals are derived by said rear output circuit from said plurality of audio signals.

35. The sound reproduction system of either of claims 25 or 29, wherein said first speaker array is located in front of said listener, further comprising:

a rear speaker array comprising;

a plurality of rear speakers located to the rear of said listener, wherein said rear speakers are responsive to one or more of a plurality of rear input signals; and

a rear signal processor for providing said plurality of rear input signals comprising;

an rear audio input circuit to receive said plurality of audio signals;

a rear parameter input circuit to receive one or more rear input parameters, wherein at least one of said rear input parameters is derived from the relative physical characteristics of said rear speaker array; and

a rear output circuit coupled to said rear parameter input circuit to provide said plurality of rear input signals, wherein said rear input signals are derived by said rear output circuit from said plurality of audio signals in response to said one or more rear input parameters.

36. The sound reproduction system of claim 35, wherein at least one of said first input parameters and said rear input parameters are derived from the relative position said rear speaker array with respect to said first speaker array.

37. The sound reproduction system of claim 35, wherein said front and rear signal processors are combined in a single circuit.

38. The sound reproduction system of claim 35, wherein said rear input signals are enhanced multichannel signals.

26. A sound reproduction system, wherein some of the reproduced sound appears to a listener to emanate from a virtual source which is spaced from the speakers, comprising:

a first speaker array comprising;

a plurality of speakers, wherein said speakers are responsive to one or more of a plurality of input signals; and

a signal processor for providing said plurality of input signals comprising;

an audio input circuit to receive a plurality of audio signals;

a parameter input circuit to receive one or more first input parameters, wherein at least one of said first input parameters is derived from the relative physical characteristics of said first speaker array; and

an output circuit coupled to said parameter input circuit to provide said plurality of input signals, wherein said input signals are enhanced signals derived by said output circuit from said plurality of audio signals in response to said one or more first input parameters.

27. The sound reproduction system of claim 26, wherein said first speaker array further comprises an enclosure for holding said speakers in a specified physical relation.

28. The sound reproduction system of claim 27, wherein said plurality of speakers is a pair of essentially identical speakers each comprising a single acoustic transducer.

29. The sound reproduction system of claim 26, wherein said relative physical characteristics include the relative position of said plurality speakers.

30. The sound reproduction system of claim 29, wherein said first speaker array further comprises:

a locator to provide data derived form the spatial relation of said first speaker array; and

wherein said relative position of said plurality speakers is derived from said data.

31. The sound reproduction system of claim 26, wherein said relative physical characteristics include the relative alignment of said plurality speakers.

32. The sound reproduction system of claim 26, wherein said relative physical characteristics include the relative compliance of said plurality speakers.

33. The sound reproduction system of claim 26, wherein said plurality of speakers are contained within enclosures and wherein said relative physical characteristics include the relative compliance of said enclosures.

39. A sound reproduction system for providing the acoustic display of aural information to a listener, wherein some of the reproduced aural information appears to said listener to emanate from a virtual source which is spaced from the speakers, comprising:

a pair of front speakers placed in front of said listener, wherein a first of said front speakers is responsive to a first front input signal and a second of said front speakers is responsive to a second front input signal;

a pair of rear speakers placed to the rear of said listener, wherein a first of said rear speakers is responsive to a first rear input signal and a second of said rear speakers is responsive to a second rear input signal; and

at least one signal processor to supply said front and rear input signals, wherein said input signals are enhanced signals derived by said at least one signal processor from a plurality of audio signals in response to the relative physical characteristics of said speakers.

40. The sound reproduction system of claim 39, further comprising:

a pair of left speakers placed to the left of said listener, wherein a first of said left speakers is responsive to a first left input signal and a second of said left speakers is responsive to a second left input signal; and

a pair of right speakers placed to the right of said listener, wherein a first of said right speakers is responsive to a first right input signal and a second of said right speakers is responsive to a second right input signal; and

wherein said at least one signal processor additionally supplies said left and right input signals.

41. The sound reproduction system of either of claims 39 or 40, wherein said relative physical characteristics comprise the relative positions of said speakers.

42-52. -52. (canceled)

60-75. -75. (canceled)

76. A method of producing a sound environment in a listening area from a first array of two or more first speakers mounted in a first shared enclosure for placement in front of the listening area and a second array of two or more second speakers mounted in a second shared enclosure for placement to the rear of said listening area, each of said first speakers comprised of one or more acoustic transducers and responsive to a respective one of a plurality of front audio input signals supplied from one or more signal processors and each of said second speakers comprised of one or more acoustic transducers and responsive to a respective one of a plurality of rear audio input signals supplied from said one or more signal processors, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of initial audio signals at said one or more signal processors;

modifying said initial audio signals in said one or more signal processors based on one or more first parameters of the physical relational characteristics of said first speakers with respect to one another as mounted in the first shared enclosure to produce said plurality of front audio input signals, wherein at least one of said first parameters of the physical relational characteristics of said first speakers as mounted in the first shared enclosure is predetermined;

modifying said initial audio signals in said one or more signal processors based on one or more second parameters of the physical relational characteristics of said second speakers with respect to one another as mounted in the second shared enclosure to produce said plurality of rear audio input signals, wherein at least one of said second parameters of the physical relational characteristics of said second speakers as mounted in the first shared enclosure is predetermined;

supplying said plurality of front audio input signals to said respective first speakers; and

supplying said plurality of rear audio input signals to said respective second speakers.

77. A method of producing a sound environment in a listening area from a plurality of arrays for deployment at a plurality of locations on the periphery of the listening area, each of said arrays comprising two or more speakers mounted in a shared enclosure, each of said speakers comprised of one or more acoustic transducers and responsive to a respective one of a plurality of audio input signals supplied from one or more signal processors, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of initial audio signals at said one or more signal processors;

modifying said initial audio signals in said one or more signal processors based on one or more parameters of the physical relational characteristics of said speakers with respect to one another as mounted in the shared enclosures to produce said plurality of audio input signals, wherein at least one of said parameters of the physical relational characteristics of said speakers with respect to one another as mounted in the shared enclosures is predetermined; and

supplying said plurality of audio input signals to said respective speakers.

78. The method of claim 77, further comprising:

deploying said plurality of arrays at said plurality of locations.

79. The method of claim 77, wherein a first of said plurality of locations is in front of the listening area and a second of said plurality of locations is in rear of the listening area.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein a third of said plurality of locations is to the left of the listening area and a fourth of said plurality of locations is to the right of the listening area.

81. (canceled)

82. A sound reproduction system comprising:

a first speaker array for mounting in the front of a listening area, the first speaker array comprising two or more first speakers responsive to a respective plurality of front input signals and mounted in a first enclosure to hold said first speakers in a specified physical relation with respect to one another;

a second speaker array for mounting to the rear of the listening area, the second speaker array comprising two or more second speakers responsive to a respective plurality of rear input signals and mounted in a second enclosure to hold said second speakers in a specified physical relation with respect to one another; and

one or more signal processors for providing said plurality of front and rear speaker input signals comprising;

an audio input circuit to receive a plurality of initial audio signals;

a processing portion to derive said respective plurality of front speaker input signals from said plurality of initial audio signals based on one or more parameters of the specified physical relation of the first speakers with respect to one another as held by the first enclosure and to derive said respective plurality of rear speaker input signals from said plurality of initial audio signal based on one or more parameters of the specified physical relation of the second speakers with respect to one another as held by the second enclosure; and

an output circuit coupled to said processing portion to provide said respective plurality of front speaker input signals to said first speaker array and to provide said respective plurality of rear speaker input signals to said second speaker array.

83. A sound reproduction system comprising:

a plurality of arrays for deployment at a plurality of locations on the periphery of a listening area, each of said speaker arrays comprising two or more speakers responsive to a respective plurality of input signals and mounted in an enclosure to hold said speakers in a specified physical relation with respect to one another; and

one or more signal processors for providing said plurality of speaker input signals comprising;

an audio input circuit to receive a plurality of initial audio signals;

a processing portion to derive said respective plurality of speaker input signals from said plurality of initial audio signals based on one or more parameters of the specified physical relation of the speakers in the speaker array with respect to one another as held by the enclosures; and

an output circuit coupled to said processing portion to provide said respective plurality of speaker input signals to said speaker array.

84. The sound reproduction system of claim 83, wherein a first of said plurality of locations is in front of the listening area and a second of said plurality of locations is in rear of the listening area.

85. The sound reproduction system of claim 84, wherein a third of said plurality of locations is to the left of the listening area and a fourth of said plurality of locations is to the right of the listening area.