Voice-to-remaining audio (VRA) interactive center channel downmix

• US 6,442,278 B1
• Filed: 05/26/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Hearing Enhancement Company, LLC
• Inventors: Saunders, William R., Vaudrey, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Isen, Forester W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grier, Laura A.
• Application Number:
  US09/580,203
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 381/27, 381/18, 381/104, 381/107, 381/307
• US Class Current: 381/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/407 Circuits for combining signals of a plurality of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

A method for decoding an audio signal includes receiving a digital audio signal having a plurality of channels defined thereon, wherein one of the plurality of channels is a center channel and at least one of the other of said plurality of channels is a remaining audio channel; comparing the center channel with the at least one of the other of the plurality of channels to determine a ratio of the center channel to the other of the plurality of channels; and automatically adjusting the center channel and the at least one of the plurality of other channels when a predetermined value for the ratio is not met.

Claims

1. A method for decoding an audio signal comprising:

receiving a digital audio signal having a plurality of channels defined thereon, wherein one of said plurality of channels is a center channel and at least one of the other of said plurality of channels is a remaining audio channel;

comparing said center channel with said at least one of the other of said plurality of channels to determine a ratio of said center channel to said other of said plurality of channels; and

automatically adjusting said center channel and said at least one of said plurality of other channels when a predetermined value for said ratio is not met.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting said center channel and said at least one of said plurality of other channels when the value of the ratio exceeds said predetermined value.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting said center channel and said at least one of said plurality of other channels when the value of the ratio is below said predetermined value.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said center channel is a mostly voice channel.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said center channel is a voice channel.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one of the other of said plurality of channels comprises a non-voice channel.

7. An audio system for optimizing a playing of an audio program for end users comprising:

a receiver receiving an encoded audio signal, said encoded audio signal including a preferred audio signal and a remaining audio signal;

a decoder coupled to said receiver and decoding said encode audio signal to recreate a preferred audio signal and a remaining audio signal;

a first user adjustable amplifier coupled to said decoder and adjusting said preferred audio signal;

a second user adjustable amplifier coupled to said decoder and adjusting said remaining audio signal;

a processor connected to said decoder comparing a ratio of said preferred audio signal to said remaining audio signal and outputting a value; and

a controller for automatically adjusting said ratio of said preferred audio signal to said remaining audio signal when a predetermined value of said ratio is not met.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the preferred audio signal is adjusted when the ratio exceeds said predetermined value.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the preferred audio signal is adjusted when the ratio is below said predetermined value.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the remaining audio signal is adjusted when the ratio exceeds said predetermined value.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the remaining audio signal is adjusted when the ratio is below said predetermined value.

12. The system according to claim 7, wherein said preferred audio signal includes a mostly voice signal.

13. The system according to claim 7, wherein said preferred audio signal includes a voice signal.

14. The system according to claim 7, wherein said remaining audio signal includes a non-voice signal.