Method and apparatus for presentation of on-line directional sound

• US 5,566,241 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 10/15/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Josephson, Norman A., Martin, Steven F., Lewis, Russell F., Cone, Dale A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/483,781
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 381/173, 381/25, 381/183, 381/187, 381/17, 381/74, 381/151, 381/190, 381/178, 381/182, 381/186, 181/129, 181/137, 181/144, 434/43, 434/44, 434/307 R, 348/121
• US Class Current: 381/113
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/00 Simulators for teaching or training purposes for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/22 including aircraft sound simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/307 by helmet-mounted projector or display G09B9/36 takes precedence; optical parts of head-up displays G02B27/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/002 Non-adaptive circuits, e.g. manually adjustable or static, for enhancing the sound image or the spatial distribution control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field H04S7/30

Abstract

This invention relates to sound systems and more particularly to such systems that present sound to a listener in a "full wrap-around" manner.

Claims

1. A sound system for use in creating the illusion of holgraphic sound in an artificial reality system, said sound system comprising:

a headband to be worn by a listener;

a plurality of discrete vibratory elements placed circumferentially around said headband, said elements each adapted for receiving electrical impulse signals and for producting sound waves in response thereto; and

a processor for selectively producing said electrical impulse signals to drive the discrete vibratory elements.

2. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein said vibratory elements are piezoelectric strips.

3. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein said artificial reality system is operable for creating artificial viewing environments for a plurality of viewers, said environments each including predefined structures, said artificial reality system comprising:

a geographical sensor connectable to each said viewer for providing data pertaining to the relative movement of each of said viewers;

a processor local to each of said viewers for accepting said data from each of said viewers and from a plurality of other viewers; and

a presentation media for providing views of said created environment to each of said viewers, said views controlled by said local processor and dependent upon said accepted data from each of said viewers and data from said other of said viewers; and

wherein said processor is further operative for coordinating the provision of said impulse signals to said elements in association with said provided views to each of said viewers.

4. The system set forth in claim 3 wherein said artificial environment for each of said viewers is created by said local processor and wherein the environment and said impulse signals for each of said viewers is unique to each of said viewers.

5. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein said artificial reality system is operable for creating an artificial viewing environment for a viewer, said environment including predefined structures, said artificial reality system comprising:

a geographical sensor connectable to said viewer for providing data pertaining to the relative movement of said viewer;

a processor local to said viewer for accepting said data from said viewer;

a presentation media for providing views of said created environment to said viewer, said views controlled by said local processor and dependent upon said accepted data from said viewer; and

wherein said processor is further operative for coordinating the provision of said impulse signals to said elements in association with said provided views to said viewer.

6. The method of creating a sound system comprising the steps of:

placing a headband around the head of a listener;

distributing a plurality of discrete vibratory elements circumferentially around said headband, said elements each adapted for receiving electrical impluse signals and for producing sound waves in response thereto; and

driving said discrete vibratory elements by a processor, said processor producing said electrical impluse signals.

7. The method set forth in claim 6 further comprising the step of:

providing electrical impulses to selected discrete elements in accordance with the direction of origin from which a particular sound is to be perceived by said listener.

8. The method set forth in claim 7 wherein said vibratory elements are piezoelectric elements.

9. The method set forth in claim 6 further comprising the step of:

associating said sound with an artificial reality system which is operable for creating artificial viewing environments for a plurality of listeners, said environments each including predefined structures.

10. The method set forth in claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

connecting a geographical sensor to each of said listeners for providing data pertaining to the relative movement of each of said listeners;

accepting, via a processor local to each said listener, said data from each of said listeners and from a plurality of other of said listeners; and

providing views of said created environment to each said listeners, said views controlled by said local processor and dependent upon said accepted data from each said listeners and data from said other of said listeners.

11. The method set forth in claim 9 wherein said artificial environment for each said listeners is created by said local processor and wherein the environment and said impulse signals for each of said listeners is unique to each of said listeners.