Angle detection apparatus and audio reproduction apparatus using it

• US 5,717,767 A
• Filed: 07/31/1995
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamada, Yuji, Inanaga, Kiyofumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): RICHARDSON, SCO
• Application Number:
  US08/448,334
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 381/25, 381/74, 381/17, 381/18, 75/504.12, 75/504.13
• US Class Current: 381/309
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/0335 Earpiece support, e.g. headbands or neckrests for monophonic headphones H04R1/105
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/007 in which the audio signals are in digital form data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/01 Multi-channel, i.e. more than two input channels, sound reproduction with two speakers wherein the multi-channel information is substantially preserved
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2420/01 Enhancing the perception of the sound image or of the spatial distribution using head related transfer functions [HRTF's] or equivalents thereof, e.g. interaural time difference [ITD] or interaural level difference [ILD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/004 For headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/304 For headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/306 For headphones

Abstract

According to the present invention, when an audio signal is reproduced through headphones, the same localization, sound field and so on as those obtained when the sound is reproduced by loudspeakers located in a predetermined relationship upon reproduction of the sound by the loudspeakers can be obtained. Particularly, gyration of a head of a listener is detected by using a vibratory gyroscope suitable for detection of the gyration of the head. Even when a vibratory gyroscope (175A), (175B) or (175C) is attached to an attachment position which is a head band (177) of a headphones (170) or a left arm (17L) or a right arm (17R) thereof, it is possible to detect the gyration of the head of the listener.

Claims

1. An audio reproduction apparatus comprising:

a signal source for supplying audio signals to a plurality of channels;

storing means for measuring an impulse response from a virtual sound source position with respect to a reference direction of a listener relative to both ears of the listener being fixed and recording said impulse response, or for measuring a difference in time and level between audio signals from said virtual sound source position with respect to said reference direction of said listener at each of a plurality of angles which can be recognized by said listener and storing a control signal representing said difference in time and level between said audio signals from said virtual sound source position;

vibratory gyroscope means for detecting a movement of a head of said listener with respect to said reference direction at each of a plurality of predetermined angles and outputting a digitized angle detection signal;

address signal conversion means for converting an angle detection signal detected by said vibratory gyroscope means into an address signal;

control means for correcting said audio signals supplied to said plurality of channels by said signal source based on said impulse response or said control signal stored in said storing means and producing corrected audio signals; and

audio reproduction means for reproducing said corrected audio signals corrected by said control means, wherein

an address of said storing means is designated by said address signal from said address signal conversion means based on said angle detection signal from said vibratory gyroscope means, said angle detection signal being proportional to an angular velocity of said vibratory gyroscope means,

said impulse response or said control signal stored in said storing means is read out therefrom,

said audio signals are corrected by said control means based on said impulse response or said control signal, and

said audio signals are corrected in response to movement of said head of said listener in a real-time fashion.

2. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibratory gyroscope means includes:

a detection unit for detecting said movement of said head of said listener with respect to said reference direction at each of said plurality of predetermined angles and outputting an analog angle detection signal, and

an analog-to-digital converting unit for converting said analog angle detection signal from said detection unit into a digital signal.

3. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibratory gyroscope means is formed of a bidirectional digital output vibratory gyroscope which detects said movement of said head of said listener with respect to said reference direction at each of said plurality of predetermined angles, outputs a digital signal, and performs a predetermined signal processing in accordance with an external command signal.

4. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said vibratory gyroscope means is formed of a vibratory gyroscope which has a vibration drive unit and a vibration detection unit,

at least the of said vibration drive unit and said vibration detection unit is formed of a piezoelectric body, and

said vibratory gyroscope detects said movement of said head of said listener with respect to said reference direction at each of said plurality of predetermined angles to output said angle detection signal.

5. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibratory gyroscope means includes:

a regular triangular prism vibrator having first and second piezoelectric ceramics provided at respective first and second side surfaces and a feedback piezoelectric ceramic at a third side surface of said prism vibrator,

a differential amplifier circuit for calculating a difference between an output signal from said first piezoelectric ceramic and an output signal from said second piezoelectric ceramic,

an oscillator circuit supplied with an output signal from said feedback piezoelectric ceramic,

a phase correction circuit supplied with an output signal from said oscillator circuit, said phase correction circuit correcting phases of said output signal from said first piezoelectric ceramic and said output signal from said second piezoelectric ceramic, and

a synchronous detector circuit supplied with an output signal from said phase correction circuit and an output signal from said differential amplifier circuit and subjecting said output signal from said differential amplifier circuit to synchronous detection.

6. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibratory gyroscope means is formed of at least one angle detection means utilizing a galvanomagnetic effect for detecting respective movements of heads of at least one listener with respect to said reference direction at each of said plurality of predetermined angles and outputting respective angle detection signals.

7. An audio reproduction apparatus comprising:

a signal source for supplying audio signals to a plurality of channels;

storing means for measuring an impulse response from a virtual sound source position with respect to a reference direction of a listener relative to both ears of the listener being fixed and recording said impulse response, or for measuring a difference in time and level between audio signals from said virtual sound source position with respect to said reference direction of said listener at each of a plurality of angles which can be recognized by said listener and storing a control signal representing said difference in time and level between said audio signals from said virtual sound source position;

vibratory gyroscope means including a vibration drive unit and a vibration detection unit, at least one of said vibration drive unit and said vibration detection unit being formed of a piezoelectric body, said vibratory gyroscope means detecting a movement of a head of said listener with respect to said reference direction at each of a plurality of predetermined angles to output an angle detection signal;

address signal conversion means for converting said angle detection signal detected by said vibratory gyroscope means into an address signal;

control means for correcting said audio signals supplied to said plurality of channels by said signal source based on said impulse response or said control signal stored in said storing means and producing corrected audio signals; and

audio reproduction means for reproducing said corrected audio signals corrected by said control means, wherein

an address of said storing means is designated by said address signal from said address signal conversion means based on said angle detection signal from said vibratory gyroscope means, said angle detection signal being proportional to an angular velocity of said vibratory gyroscope means,

said impulse response or said control signal stored in said storing means is read out therefrom,

said audio signals are corrected by said control means based on said impulse response or said control signal, and

said audio signals are corrected in response to said movement of said head of said listener in a real-time fashion.

8. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said vibratory gyroscope means includes:

a regular triangular prism vibrator having first and second piezoelectric ceramics provided at respective first and second side surfaces and a feedback piezoelectric ceramic at a third side surface of said prism vibrator,

a differential amplifier circuit for calculating a difference between an output signal from said first piezoelectric ceramic and an output signal from said second piezoelectric ceramic,

an oscillator circuit supplied with an output signal from said feedback piezoelectric ceramic,

a phase correction circuit supplied with an output signal from said oscillator circuit, said phase correction circuit correcting phases of said output signal from said first piezoelectric ceramic and said output signal from said second piezoelectric ceramic, and

a synchronous detector circuit supplied with an output signal from said phase correction circuit and an output signal from said differential amplifier circuit and subjecting said output signal from said differential amplifier circuit to synchronous detection.

9. An audio reproduction apparatus comprising:

a signal source for supplying audio signals to a plurality of channels;

storing means for measuring an impulse response from a virtual sound source position with respect to a reference direction of a head of a listener relative to both ears of the listener being fixed and storing said impulse response, or for measuring a difference in time and level between audio signals from said virtual sound source position with respect to said reference direction of said listener at each of a plurality of angles which can be recognized by said listener and storing a control signal representing said difference in time and level between said audio signals from said virtual sound source position;

vibratory gyroscope means having at least one vibratory gyroscope, said vibratory gyroscope means detecting a head movement of at least one listener with respect to said reference direction to output a respective angle detection signal for each of said at least one vibratory gyroscope;

address signal conversion means for converting each respective angle detection signal representing an angle detected by a respective one of said at least one vibratory gyroscope into a respective address signal;

control means for correcting said audio signals supplied to said plurality of channels by said signal source based on said impulse response or said control signal stored in said storing means and producing corrected audio signals; and

audio reproduction means having at least one head attachment body for attaching to a respective head of said at least one listener, each head attachment body being provided with at least one vibratory gyroscope, said audio reproduction means reproducing said corrected audio signals corrected by said control means, wherein

an address of said storing means is designated by said respective address signal from said address signal conversion means based on said respective angle detection signal, each angle detection signal being proportional to an angular velocity of a respective one of said at least one vibratory gyroscope and supplied from said at least one vibratory gyroscope provided on said audio reproduction means,

correction is carried out based on said impulse response or said control signal stored in said storing means, and

said audio signals are corrected in response to said head movement of said at least one listener in a real-time fashion.

10. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of said at least one vibratory gyroscope is attached to one of said at least one head attachment body.

11. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

said audio reproduction means further comprises a sound generating body, and

said vibratory gyroscope is connected to said sound generating body.

12. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of said at least one vibratory gyroscope is provided at a connection cable of said audio reproduction means.

13. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of said at least one vibratory gyroscope is provided at a respective portion projected from a main body portion of said audio reproduction means.

14. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

said audio reproduction means further comprises a head attachment portion independent of a main body portion of said audio reproduction means, and

one of said at least one vibratory gyroscope is provided in said head attachment portion.

15. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of said at least one vibratory gyroscope includes a vibration drive unit and a vibration detection unit, at least one of said vibration drive unit and said vibration detection unit being formed of a piezoelectric body, each of said at least one vibratory gyroscope detecting said a head movement of one of said at least one listener with respect to said reference direction at each of said plurality of predetermined angles to output said respective angle detection signal.

16. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said vibratory gyroscope includes at least one angle detection means utilizing a galvanomagnetic effect for detecting said head movement of at least one listener with respect to said reference direction and outputting signals.

17. An audio reproduction apparatus comprising:

a signal source for supplying audio signals to a plurality of channels;

storing means for measuring an impulse response from a virtual sound source position with respect to a reference direction of a head of a listener relative to both ears of the listener in accordance with a movement of the listener'"'"'s head and storing the impulse response, or for measuring a difference in time and level between audio signals from the virtual sound source position with respect to the reference direction of the listener at each of a plurality of angles which can be recognized by the listener and storing a control signal representing the difference in time and level between the audio signals from the virtual sound source;

angle detection means utilizing a galvanomagnetic effect for detecting head movements of the at least one listener with respect to the reference direction to output an angle detection signal;

address signal conversion means for converting an angle detected by the angle detection means utilizing the galvanomagnetic effect into an address signal;

control means for correcting the audio signals supplied to the plurality of channels from the signal source based on the impulse response or control signal stored in the storing means; and

audio reproduction means having a head attachment body capable of attaching to each of the heads of the at least one listener, the head attachment body being provided with the angle detection means, the audio reproduction means reproducing the audio signals corrected by the control means, wherein

an address of the storing means is designated by the address signal from the address signal conversion means based on the angle detection signal in response to an angle supplied from the angle detection means utilizing the galvanomagnetic effect provided on the head attachment body of the audio reproduction means,

the impulse response or the control signal stored in the storing means is read out based on the address signal from the address signal conversion means,

the audio signals are corrected by the control means based on the impulse response or the control signal, and

the audio signals are corrected in response to the movements of the heads of the at least one listener in a real-time fashion.

18. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the angle detection means utilizing the galvanomagnetic effect is a galvanomagnetic effect sensor utilizing geomagnetism in which detection coils are perpendicular to each other.

19. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the angle detection means utilizing the galvanomagnetic effect is a Hall effect galvanomagnetic effect sensor.

20. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the angle detection means utilizing the galvanomagnetic effect is a galvanomagnetic effect sensor utilizing a magnetoresistance effect.

21. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the angle detection means utilizing the galvanomagnetic effect is a planar Hall effect galvanomagnetic effect sensor.

22. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the angle detection means utilizing the galvanomagnetic effect is a Suhl effect galvanomagnetic effect sensor.

23. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the angle detection means utilizing the galvanomagnetic effect is a galvanomagnetic effect sensor utilizing a Ettingshausen effect.

24. An audio reproduction apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the angle detection means utilizing the galvanomagnetic effect produces an output signal representing a predetermined angle when a predetermined external magnetic field is applied.

25. An audio reproduction apparatus comprising:

a signal source for supplying audio signals to at least one channel;

storing means or calculating means for measuring or calculating transfer characteristics from a virtual sound source position with respect to a reference direction of a head of a listener relative to both ears of the listener at each of a plurality of angles which the listener can recognize and storing the transfer characteristics or outputting the same in a real-time fashion, and/or for storing or calculating an arrival time and a sound pressure level of an audio signal from the virtual sound source position with respect to the reference direction of the listener relative to both ears of the listener at each of the plurality of angles which can be recognized by the listener or a control signal representing the arrival time and the sound pressure level of the audio signal from the virtual sound source position;

vibratory gyroscope means for detecting movements of heads of at least one listener with respect to the reference direction at each of the plurality of angles to output an angle detection signal;

control means for correcting the audio signals supplied to the at least one channel from the signal source based on the transfer characteristics or the control signal from the storing means or the calculating means; and

audio reproduction means having a head attachment body for attaching to each each head of the at least one listener, the audio reproduction means being provided with the vibratory gyroscope means and reproducing the audio signals corrected by the control means, wherein

based on a signal in response to an angle supplied from the vibratory gyroscope means provided on the audio reproduction means, correction is carried out in response to the impulse response or the control signal from the storing means or the calculating means, and

the audio signals are corrected in response to the movements of the heads of the at least one listener in a real-time fashion.