Multi-dimensional reproduction system

• US 5,272,757 A
• Filed: 01/09/1992
• Issued: 12/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IMAX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sonics Associates, Incorporated (IMAX Corporation)
• Inventors: McCroskey, Lynn A., Scofield, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Isen, Forester W.
• Application Number:
  US07/819,625
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 381/25, 381/1, 381/183, 381/187
• US Class Current: 381/381
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/005 For headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 5/00 Pseudo-stereo systems, e.g. in which additional channel signals are derived from monophonic signals by means of phase shifting, time delay or reverberation

Abstract

A multi-dimensional sound reproduction system is provided for receiving a binaural or other appropriately produced recording on left and right channels and outputting the recording to localized speakers (58) and (60). The localized speakers (58) and (60) are supported on a pair of glasses (70) in housings (80) and (82). Each of the speakers (58) and (60) are directed rearward toward the pinna (68) of the associated left and right ear of the individual and disposed proximate to the zygomatic arch of the listener (26). In this manner, the localized speakers (58) and (60) are separated from the opposite one of the ears of the listener (26) such as not to disturb the conch resonance or the unique pinna response of the listener'"'"'s ear. The low frequency end of the frequency spectrum for the binaural recording is filtered from the input to the localized speakers (58) and (60), summed and then output on external speaker (52). A display (64) is provided for outputting visual cues to the listener (26) to assist in localizing sound.

Claims

1. A multi-dimensional sound reproduction system for reproducing binaural audio signals having first and second channels, comprising:

a binaural audio signal source for generating first and second channels of binaural audio signals associated with the right and left ears, respectively, of a listener;

a first localized speaker for outputting as binaural sound the binaural audio signal associated with one ear of the listener;

a second localized speaker for outputting as binaural sound the binaural audio signal associated with the other ear of the listener; and

a support for supporting said first and second localized speakers in a substantially fixed position on opposite sides of the head of the listener and proximate to the zygomatic arch of the listener for substantially all positions of the head of the listener, and directed rearward toward the pinna of the left and right ears of the listener for substantially all positions of the head of the listener such that each of said first and second localized speakers does not substantially disturb the natural response of the ears of the listener relative to the binaural sound output by said first and second localized speakers, the disposition of said first and second localized speakers minimizing cross-talk between each of said first and second localized speakers and the ear on the respective opposite side of the head of the listener.

2. The sound reproduction system of claim 1 and further comprising a display device for outputting visual cues to the listener which, in conjunction with the audio signals, enhances the listener'"'"'s ability to localize binaural sound reproduced by said first and second localized speakers.

3. The sound reproduction system of claim 1 and further comprising:

at least one external speaker disposed away from the listener in a fixed position relative to the listener;

a filter circuit for extracting a predetermined portion of the frequency spectrum of at least one of the first and second channels of the audio signals, which predetermined portion is not adaptable to reproducing binaural recordings; and

a mixing circuit for outputting the extracted portion of the frequency spectrum from the at least one of the first and second channels of the audio signals to drive said external speaker.

4. The sound reproduction system of claim 3 wherein said filter circuit is operable to extract the predetermined portion of the frequency spectrum from both of the first and second channels of the audio signals, and said mixer is operable to combine the extracted portion of the frequency spectrum of the first and second channels of the audio signals into a monaural signal for output on said external speaker.

5. The sound reproduction system of claim 3 wherein the portion of the frequency spectrum of the first and second channels of the audio signals extracted by said filter circuit comprise the low frequency end of the frequency spectrum of the first and second channels of the audio signals.

6. The sound reproduction system of claim 1 wherein the binaural audio signal generates the first and second channels of the binaural audio signals on first and second outputs and further comprising:

a communication link for connecting the first and second outputs of said binaural audio signal source to said first and second localized speakers.

7. The sound reproduction system of claim 6 wherein said communication link comprises a wireless communication link.

8. A multi-dimensional sound reproduction system for reproducing binaural audio signals having first and second channels, comprising:

a binaural audio signal source for generating first and second channels of binaural audio signals associated with the right and left ears, respectively, of a listener;

a first localized speaker for outputting as binaural sound the binaural audio signal associated with one ear of the listener;

a second localized speaker for outputting as binaural sound the binaural audio signal associated with the other ear of the listener;

a support member for being supported on the head of the listener; and

first and second speaker housings secured to said support member, each of said first and second speaker housings supporting said first and second localized speakers, respectively, in a position wherein said first and second localized speakers are disposed proximate to and away from the associated one of the left and right ears of the listener;

wherein said first and second speaker housings secure and orient said associated first and second localized speakers, respectively, such that they are directed rearward toward the associated one of the pinnas of the associated one of the left and right ears of the listener and slightly forward thereof, such that each of said first and second localized speakers does not substantially disturb the natural response of the ears of the listener relative to the binaural sound output by said first and second localized speakers.

9. The sound reproduction system of claim 8 wherein said first and second localized speakers are supported by said associated first and second speaker housings, respectively, such that they are disposed proximate to the zygomatic arch of the listener on the associated side of the listener'"'"'s head.

10. The sound reproduction system of claim 8 wherein each of said first and second speaker housings includes a cavity for being disposed about the rear of said associated first and second localized speakers to provide the proper acoustic termination for said associated first and second localized speakers.

11. A method for reproducing binaural audio signals having first and second channels, comprising the steps of:

generating the first and second channels of binaural audio signals associated with the left and right ears of a listener, respectively;

disposing a first localized speaker proximate to the zygomatic arch of one of the left and right ears of the listener for substantially all positions of the head of the listener, and directed rearward toward the pinna of the one of the left and right ears of the listener for substantially all positions of the head of the listener, and in such a position that the first localized speaker does not substantially disturb the natural frequency response of the ears of the listener relative to the binaural sound output by the first localized speaker, the first localized speaker being sufficiently close to the head, such that cross-talk between the first localized speaker and the ear of the listener on the opposite side of the head is substantially minimized;

disposing a second localized speaker on the opposite side of the head from the first localized speaker and proximate to the zygomatic arch of the other of the left and right ears of the listener for substantially all positions of the head of the listener, and directed rearward toward the pinna of the other of the left and right ears of the listener for substantially all positions of the head of the listener, and in such a position that the second localized speaker does not substantially disturb the natural frequency response of the ears of the listener relative to the binaural sound output by the second localized speaker, the second localized speaker being sufficiently close to the head such that cross-talk between the second localized speaker and the ear on the opposite side of the head is substantially minimized;

inputting the first channel of the audio signal to the first localized speaker and outputting binaural sound therefrom;

inputting the second channel of the audio signal to the second localized speaker and outputting binaural sound therefrom; and

supporting the first and second localized speakers in their respective position such that the relative positions are substantially fixed relative to the head of the listener and for substantially all positions of the head of the listener.

12. The method of claim 11 and further comprising:

extracting a predetermined portion of the frequency spectrum from at least one of the first and second channels of the binaural audio signals, which predetermined portion is not adaptable to reproducing binaural recordings;

providing an external speaker that is in a fixed position relative to the listener and disposed away from the listener; and

outputting the extracted portion of the frequency spectrum of the first or second channel of the binaural audio signals to the speaker.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of extracting is operable to extract the predetermined portion of the frequency spectrum from both the first and second channels of the binaural audio signals.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the extracted portion comprises the lower end of the frequency spectrum that extends from a predetermined frequency point downward in frequency.

15. The method of claim 11 and further comprising outputting visual cues to the listener which, in conjunction with the binaural audio signals, enhance the listener'"'"'s ability to integrate the visual and auditory cues.

16. The method of claim 11 and further comprising:

generating the binaural audio signals on the first and second channels at a point remote from the listener and not connected thereto; and

transmitting the binaural audio signals over a communication link to the first and second localized speakers.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the communication link is a wireless communication link.