Enhanced concert audio system

• US 5,432,858 A
• Filed: 03/15/1994
• Issued: 07/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clair Bros. Audio Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Clair Bros. Audio Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Clair, Roy B. Jr., Borthwick, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, PING
• Application Number:
  US08/213,136
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 381/79, 381/80, 381/77, 381/82
• US Class Current: 381/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/02 Amplifying systems for the deaf
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/00 Stereophonic arrangements stereophonic pick-ups H04R9/16, H04R11/12, H04R17/08, H04R19/10

Abstract

A audio enhancement system and method of use with a sound system for producing primary sound from at least one main loudspeaker located at a main position. The audio enhancement system comprises at least one wireless transmitter, time delay circuitry, and plural augmented sound producing subsystems. Each sound subsystem is a portable unit arranged to be carried by a person located remote from the main loudspeaker and includes a wireless receiver and an associated transduce device, e.g., a pair of stereo headphones. The transmitter broadcasts an electrical signal which is representative of the electrical input signal provided to the main loudspeaker. The broadcast signal is received by the receiver and is demodulated and amplified to drive the transducer so that it produces augmented sound substantially in synchronism with the sound arriving from the main loudspeaker. To achieve that end the time delay circuitry delays the electrical signal which is provided to the transducer for a predetermined period of time corresponding generally to the time period it takes for the primary sound to propagate through the air from the main loudspeaker to the remote location at which the person is located.

Claims

1. An audio enhancement system comprising:

at least one main electro-acoustic transducer for generating a primary sound in response to a first electrical signal;

transmission means for converting said first electrical signal into a transmission signal and for wirelessly transmitting said transmission signal; and

at least one personal electro-acoustic transducer unit, said at least one personal electro-acoustic transducer unit including

at least one auxiliary electro-acoustic transducer having a low maximum output sound level, wherein said maximum output sound level can be heard by people only within a range of several feet of said electro-acoustic transducer in ambient sound,

a receiver for receiving and converting said transmission signal into a second electrical signal, said at least one auxiliary electro-acoustic transducer generating an augmenting sound in response to said second electrical signal, and

delay means for delaying said second electrical signal by a period of time, said delay means further comprising an automatic adjustment means for automatically adjusting said period of time such that said augmenting sound augments said primary sound to enhance audio perception by at least one user within said range of said auxiliary electro-acoustic transducer,

wherein said automatic adjustment means includes detecting means for detecting an air propagated signal generated substantially at said at least one main electro-acoustic transducer and, in response to said detected signal, for automatically adjusting said period of delay to be substantially equal to an amount of time required for said primary sound to reach said personal unit.

2. An audio enhancement system according to claim 1, wherein said primary sound generated by said at least one main electro-acoustic transducer includes said air propagated signal.

3. An audio enhancement system according to claim 1, wherein said electro-acoustic transducer unit is portable.

4. A personal electro-acoustic transducer unit comprising:

at least one auxiliary electro-acoustic transducer having a low maximum output sound level, wherein said maximum output sound level can be heard by people only within a range of several feet of said electro-acoustic transducer in ambient sound;

a receiver for receiving and converting a wirelessly transmitted signal corresponding to a primary sound generated at a distance into an electrical signal, said at least one auxiliary electro-acoustic transducer generating an augmenting sound in response to said electrical signal; and

delay means for delaying said electrical signal such that said augmenting sound augments said primary sound to enhance audio perception by at least one user within said range of said at least one auxiliary electro-acoustic transducer, wherein said delay means includes an automatic adjustment means for automatically adjusting said period of delay and wherein said automatic adjustment means includes detecting means for detecting an air propagated signal generated substantially at a location where said primary sound is generated and, in response to said detected signal, for automatically adjusting said period of delay to be substantially equal to an amount of time required for said primary sound to reach said personal unit.

5. A personal electro-acoustic transducer unit according to claim 4, wherein said primary sound includes said air propagated signal.

6. A personal electro-acoustic transducer unit according to claim 4, wherein said electro-acoustic transducer unit is portable.

7. A method of enhancing audio sound, said method comprising the steps of:

generating a primary sound in response to a first electrical signal;

converting said first electrical signal into a transmission signal;

wirelessly transmitting said transmission signal;

providing at least one personal electro-acoustic transducer unit, said at least one personal electro-acoustic transducer Unit including at least one auxiliary electro-acoustic transducer having a low maximum output sound level, wherein said maximum output sound level can be heard by people only within a range of several feet of said electro-acoustic transducer in ambient sound, and a receiver;

receiving and converting in said personal unit said transmission signal into a second electrical signal;

generating in said at least one auxiliary electro-acoustic transducer an augmenting sound in response to said second electrical signal; and

delaying at least one of said first and said second electrical signals by a period of time substantially equal to an amount of time required for said primary sound to reach said at least one personal unit, such that said augmenting sound augments said primary sound to enhance audio perception by at least one user within said range of said at least one auxiliary electro-acoustic transducer, wherein said automatic adjustment means includes detecting means, said method including the further steps of;

detecting an air propagated signal generated substantially at a source of said primary sound; and

,

in response to said detected signal, automatically adjusting said period of delay to be substantially equal to an amount of time required for said primary sound to reach said personal unit.

8. An audio enhancement method according to claim 7, wherein said air propagated signal is included in said primary sound.