Enhanced concert audio system

• US 5,668,884 A
• Filed: 01/30/1995
• Issued: 09/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1992
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Clair Bros. Audio Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Clair Bros. Audio Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Clair, Roy Barry Jr., Borthwick, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, PING
• Application Number:
  US08/380,511
• Time in Patent Office: 960 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 receiver 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;

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 auxiliary electro-acoustic transducer in ambient sound, and

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 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 transmission means transmits said transmission signal via a single predetermined channel, wherein said at least one personal electro-acoustic transducer unit includes said delay means for delaying said second electrical signal 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.

2. An audio enhancement system according to claim 1, wherein said delay means comprising an adjustment means for permitting adjustment said period of delay time.

3. An audio enhancement system according to claim 2, wherein said adjustment means of said delay means includes a manual adjustment means for permitting an audience member to manually adjust said period of delay.

4. 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 electroacoustic 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 to be substantially equal to an amount of time required for said primary sound to reach said 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 auxiliary electro-acoustic transducer.

5. An audio enhancement system according to claim 4, wherein said electro-acoustic transducer unit can be carried in a single human hand.

6. 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 transmitting step includes transmitting said transmission signal via a single predetermined channel, said method including the further step of delaying said second electrical signal in said at least one personal electro-acoustic transducer unit by a period of time substantially equal to an amount of time required for said primary sound to reach said at least one personal electro-acoustic transducer unit.

7. An audio enhancement method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of permitting adjustment of said period of delay.

8. An audio enhancement method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of permitting an audience member to manually adjust said period of delay.