METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SURROUND SOUND BEAM-FORMING USING THE OVERLAPPING PORTION OF DRIVER FREQUENCY RANGES
First Claim
1. A method of audio beam-forming, comprising:
- providing a first signal to a first speaker driver, wherein said first speaker driver has a first response substantially extending over a first frequency range, and wherein said first signal contains main channel and surround channel information;
providing a second signal to a second speaker driver, wherein said second speaker driver has a second response substantially extending over a second frequency range, wherein substantial portions of said first and second frequency range lie outside of an overlapping frequency range of said first and second response, and wherein said second signal contains said main program and said surround channel information; and
controlling a phase relationship between said surround channel information within said first signal and said surround channel information within said second signal in said overlapping frequency range, such that said surround channel information is propagated with a first directivity pattern differing substantially from a second directivity pattern in which said main channel information is propagated.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for surround sound beam-forming using the overlapping portion of driver frequency ranges provides a low cost alternative to present external surround array systems. The overlapping frequency range of a pair of speaker drivers, generally a low-frequency and a high-frequency driver, is supplied with a surround channel information in a controlled phase relationship such that the surround channel information is propagated in a directivity pattern substantially differing from that of main channel information supplied to the low and high frequency drivers. The main channel information is generally directed at a listening area, while the surround channel information is directed away from the listening area so that the surround channel information is heard as a diffuse reflected field. An electronic network provides for control of the surround channel phase relationship and combining of main and surround signals via either an active or passive circuit.
-
Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A method of audio beam-forming, comprising:
-
providing a first signal to a first speaker driver, wherein said first speaker driver has a first response substantially extending over a first frequency range, and wherein said first signal contains main channel and surround channel information;
providing a second signal to a second speaker driver, wherein said second speaker driver has a second response substantially extending over a second frequency range, wherein substantial portions of said first and second frequency range lie outside of an overlapping frequency range of said first and second response, and wherein said second signal contains said main program and said surround channel information; and
controlling a phase relationship between said surround channel information within said first signal and said surround channel information within said second signal in said overlapping frequency range, such that said surround channel information is propagated with a first directivity pattern differing substantially from a second directivity pattern in which said main channel information is propagated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A system for audio beam-forming, comprising:
-
a first speaker driver having a first response substantially extending over a first frequency range;
a second speaker driver having a second response substantially extending over a second frequency range, wherein substantial portions of said first and second frequency range lie outside of an overlapping frequency range of said first and second responses; and
an electronic network for receiving surround channel information and main channel information and supplying a first signal to said first speaker driver and a second signal to said second speaker driver generated in conformity with both said surround channel information and said main channel information, and wherein said electronic network controls a frequency dependent phase relationship between surround channel information in said first signal and said second signal in said overlapping frequency range, such that said surround channel information is propagated with a first directivity pattern differing substantially from a second directivity pattern in which said main channel information is propagated. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A speaker, comprising:
-
a cabinet;
a first speaker driver having a first frequency response range and mounted within said cabinet;
a second speaker driver having a second frequency response range extending over a substantially lower range than said first frequency response range and mounted within said cabinet, and wherein said first frequency response range and said second frequency response range overlap in an overlapping frequency range; and
an electronic circuit for receiving a surround channel signal bearing surround channel information and a main channel signal bearing main channel information and supplying a first signal to said first speaker driver and a second signal to said second speaker driver generated in conformity with both said surround channel signal and said main channel signal, and wherein said electronic circuit controls a frequency dependent phase relationship between said surround channel information in said first signal and said second signal in said overlapping frequency range, such that said surround channel information is propagated with a first directivity pattern differing substantially from a second directivity pattern in which said main channel information is propagated. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. An electronic device, comprising:
-
an input connection for receiving a source of program information including surround channel and main channel information;
a first output connection for providing a first signal to a high-frequency speaker driver;
a second output connection for providing a second signal to a low-frequency speaker driver, wherein a frequency range of said low-frequency driver and a second frequency range of said high-frequency driver have an overlapping frequency range; and
an electronic circuit for receiving said surround channel information and said main channel information and supplying said first signal to said first output connection and said second signal to said second output connection, wherein said first and second signals are generated in conformity with both said surround channel information and said main channel information, and wherein said electronic circuit controls a frequency dependent phase relationship between said surround channel information in said first signal and said second signal in said overlapping frequency range, such that said surround channel information is propagated with a first directivity pattern differing substantially from a second directivity pattern in which said main channel information is propagated. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
-
Specification