Audio/video system and method utilizing a head mounted apparatus with noise attenuation

• US 7,124,425 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1999
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Immersion Entertainment LLC
• Original Assignee: Immersion Entertainment LLC
• Inventors: Wood, Mark A., Anderson, Tazwell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, NGOC K
• Application Number:
  US09/386,613
• Time in Patent Office: 2,604 Days
• Field of Search: 345/8, 359630-633, 725/141, 725/153, 725/133, 725 62- 65, 725 68- 71, 725/73, 725/85, 725/114, 381370-372, 381/381, 348/143, 348157-158, 348/584, 348586-589, 348/825, 348/838
• US Class Current: 725/68
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21805 enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44012 involving rendering scenes according to scene graphs, e.g. MPEG-4 scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/005 For headphones

Abstract

A head mounted display in a video/audio system includes a display device, a head mount, noise reduction devices, and a speaker. The display device is coupled to the head mount and produces visual images based on received video signals. The head mount is mounted on the user'"'"'s head and is coupled to the noise reduction devices, which cover the user'"'"'s ears such that external noise is reduced. The noise reduction devices are coupled together via a strap that fits around the user head. The noise reduction devices are coupled to and house speakers that produce sound signals based on received audio signals. As a result, the user may see the video images produced by the display device and clearly hear the sounds produced by the speaker, and the external noise heard by the user is reduced.

Claims

1. A portable audio/visual device to be used at a sporting event by a user while watching the sporting event live, the portable audio/visual device comprising:

a receiver receiving a plurality of image signals associated with the sporting event and a plurality of audio signals associated with the sporting event, said receiver being configured to wirelessly receive said image and audio signals from a transmitter;

an user interface communicating with said receiver for selecting at least one of said image signals and at least one of said audio signals based on an input from a user to produce selected audio and image signals, wherein said selected image signal defines an image produced by a camera positioned at the sporting event;

a display communicating with said receiver, said display receiving said selected image signal and producing a visual image based on said selected image signal;

first and second noise reduction devices configured to be placed over the ears of a user; and

a first speaker provided in said first noise reduction device, said first speaker producing sounds based on said selected audio signal;

wherein said receiver is configured to receive said audio and image signals while at a stadium and where the sporting event is occurring, thereby permitting the user to carry said portable audio/visual device about the stadium and choose where to view said selected image signal and listen to said selected audio signal while roaming at the stadium during the sporting event.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a strap and a head mount coupled to said first and second noise reduction devices to retain said first and second noise reduction devices on the head of the user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sporting event is an auto race and said selected image signal defines an image produced by a camera positioned within a vehicle participating in the auto race.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the sporting event is an auto race and said selected audio signal defines a communication by a driver of a vehicle in the auto race.

5. The device of claims 1, wherein at least one of said selected audio and image signals are modulated, further comprising a demodulator demodulating at least one modulated selected audio and image signal.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said receiver receives a combined audio and image signal from the transmitter.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said receiver, user interface and display are commonly housed in a portable hand-held unit.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second noise reduction devices cover the users ears to reduce an amount of external noise heard by the user.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a head mount, said head mount and said first and second noise reduction devices having ridges and notches joining one another to selectively resist movement of said first and second noise reduction devices with respect to said head mount.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the sporting event is an auto race and at least a portion of said plurality of audio signals define different sounds associated with the auto race.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the sporting event is an auto race and at least one of said audio signals defines at least one of noise from vehicles participating in the auto race, comments of commentators and comments between a driver and the driver'"'"'s pit crew.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the sporting event is an auto race and at least a portion of said plurality of image signals define video images of the auto race.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said receiver includes a demodulator configured to demodulate and separate said image signals based on frequency.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said receiver includes a multiplexer configured to select one of said image signals based on the input from the user.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second noise reduction devices are mounted on a head mounted apparatus.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein said display is head mounted.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said image signals are separately transmitted to said receiver.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein said audio signals are separately transmitted to said receiver.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein said receiver includes a filter configured to output said selected image signal.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein said receiver includes a filter configured to output said selected audio signal.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the selected image signal is a video image signal.

22. An audio/visual system for providing select combinations of audio and image signals, the system to be used at a sporting event by a user while watching the sporting event live, the system comprising:

an interface device receiving a plurality of image signals and a plurality of audio signals associated with a sporting event, said interface device wirelessly transmitting said audio and image signals, wherein at least one of said image signals defines an image produced by a camera positioned at the sporting event;

a receiver to be carried by the user while at the sporting event, the receiver wirelessly receiving said audio and image signals the interface device, wherein the receiver is a portable unit and further comprises;

an user interface communicating with said receiver for selecting at least one of said image signals and at least one of said audio signals to produce selected audio and image signals, wherein the selection is based on an input from an user;

a display communicating with said receiver, said display receiving said selected image signal and producing a visual image defined by said selected image signal;

first and second noise reduction devices configured to be placed over the ears of a user; and

a first speaker coupled to said first noise reduction device, said first speaker producing sounds defined by said selected audio signal;

wherein said receiver configured to receive said audio and image signals while at a stadium and where the sporting event is occurring, thereby permitting the user to carry said receiver about the stadium and choose where to view said selected image signal and listen to said selected audio signal while roaming about the stadium the sporting event.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the receiver further comprises at least one of a strap and a head mount coupled to said first and second noise reduction devices to retain said first and second noise reduction devices on the head of the user.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the receiver further comprises a second speaker coupled to said second noise reduction device and configured to produce sounds defined by said selected audio signal.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the sporting event is an auto race and said selected image signal defines at least one image produced by a camera positioned within a vehicle participating in the auto race.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the sporting event is auto race and said selected audio signal defines a communication by a driver of a vehicle in the auto race.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the receiver further comprises a head mount, said first noise reduction device includes a first slot adapted to receive said head mount, said first slot defined by a wall of said first noise reduction device, said wall of said first noise reduction device including a series of first notches, said head mount having a first ridge that is sequentially received by said first notches as said head mount passes through said first slot.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein said receiver, user interface and display are commonly housed in a portable hand-held unit.

29. The system of claim 22, wherein said first and second noise reduction devices cover the users ears to reduce an amount of external noise heard by the user.

30. The system of claim 22, further comprising a head mount, said head mount and said first and second noise reduction devices having ridges and notches joining one another to resist movement of said first and second noise reduction devices with respect to said head mount.

31. The system of claim 22, wherein the sporting event is an auto race and at least a portion of said plurality of audio signals define different sounds associated with the auto race.

32. The system of claim 22, wherein the sporting event is an auto race and at least one of said audio signals defines at least one of noise from vehicles participating in the race, comments of commentators and comments between a driver and the driver'"'"'s pit crew.

33. The system of claim 22, wherein the sporting event is an auto race and at least a portion of said plurality of image signals define video images of the auto race.

34. The system of claim 22, wherein said receiver includes a demodulator configured to demodulate and separate said image signals based on frequency.

35. The system of claim 22, wherein said receiver includes a multiplexer configured to select one of said image signals based on the input from the user.

36. The system of claim 22, wherein and said first and second noise reduction devices are mounted on a head mounted apparatus.

37. The system of claim 22, wherein said display is head mounted.

38. The system of claim 22, wherein said image signals are separately transmitted to said receiver.

39. The system of claim 22, wherein said audio signals are separately transmitted to said receiver.

40. The system of claim 22, wherein said receiver includes a filter configured to output said selected image signal.

41. The system of claim 22, wherein said receiver includes a filter configured to output said selected audio signal.

42. The system of claim 22, wherein at least one of the image signals constitutes a dedicated individual camera view from a single camera located at the sporting event, said user interface selecting the image signal from the single camera and the display displaying the dedicated individual camera view continuously and uninterrupted until the user selects another one of the image signals.

43. The system of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of image signals constitute dedicated individual camera views from separate cameras located about the sporting event, said user interface selecting one of the cameras and the display displaying the corresponding dedicated individual camera view continuously and uninterrupted until the user selects another one of the individual camera views.

44. The system of claim 22, wherein the selected image signal displayed corresponds to an individual camera view from a single camera that is not controlled or selected by a television crew.

45. The system of claim 22, wherein at least one of the image signals selected by the user is not a television network signal.

46. The system of claim 22, wherein one of the image signals selected by the user correspond to a television network signal and at least one of the image signals selected by the user does not correspond to a television network signal.

47. The system of claim 22, wherein said user interface allows the user to control and switch between the image signals separately and independent of television network signals.

48. The system of claim 22, wherein the selected image signal is a video image signal.