Sound processing system using spatial imaging techniques

• US 7,206,413 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2002
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: House, William Neal, Eid, Bradley F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grier; Laura A.
• Application Number:
  US10/210,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20030039366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• Field of Search: 381/27, 381/22, 381/307, 381/107, 381/104, 381/302, 381/86
• US Class Current: 381/22
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/002 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 3/02 of the matrix type, i.e. in which input signals are combined algebraically, e.g. after having been phase shifted with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 5/005 of the pseudo five- or more-channel type, e.g. virtual surround
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/00 Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/40 Visual indication of stereophonic sound image

Abstract

A sound processing system reduces the instances when only a center speaker is heard. The gain of a volume setting is adjusted for individual speakers in response to one or more input signals. The gain of the center speaker is attenuated in relation to the global volume setting. In addition or as an alternative, the gain of front and/or rear speakers is increased. A virtual center channel is generated for locations where the center speaker may not be heard.

Claims

1. A sound processing system, comprising:

a crossbar matrix mixer connected to a decoder;

where the crossbar matrix mixer is operable to receive at least one front input signal, a center input signal (CTR_IN) and at least one surround input signal,

where the crossbar matrix mixer is further operable to generate at least one front output signal to drive a front loudspeaker, a center output signal (CTR_OUT) to drive a center loudspeaker, and at least one surround output signal to drive a surround loudspeaker; and

where the crossbar matrix mixer is further operable to synthesize a virtual center channel with the at least one surround output signal by the combination of the at least one surround input signal and at least one of the at least one front input signal or at least a portion of the center input signal (CTR_IN), or a combination thereof, to drive said surround loudspeaker.

2. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the crossbar matrix mixer is further operable to generate the at least one surround output signal based on a predetermined percentage of the at least one front input signal and a predetermined percentage of the at least one surround input signal.

3. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the crossbar matrix mixer is further operable to generate the at least one surround output signal based on a predetermined percentage of the center input signal (CTR_IN) and a predetermined percentage of the at least one surround input signal.

4. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the at least one surround input signal comprises at least one rear input signal, and where the at least one surround output signal comprises at least one rear output signal.

5. The sound processing system according to claim 1,

where the at least one front input signal comprises a left front input signal (LF_IN) and a right front input signal (RF_IN);

where the at least one surround input signal comprises a left surround input signal (LS_IN) and a right surround input signal (RS_IN); and

where the at least one surround output signal comprises a left surround output signal (LS_OUT) and a right surround output signal (RS_OUT).

6. The sound processing system according to claim 1, further comprising an all-pass network configured to pass the at least one surround output signal therethrough to improve the imaging and stability perceivable by a listener of the virtual center channel.

7. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the surround output signal comprises about 80% of the surround input signal, and about 20% of the at least one front input signal.

8. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the surround output signal comprises about 60% of the surround input signal, and about 40% of the at least one front input signal.

9. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the surround output signal comprises between about 80% and about 60% of the surround input signal, and between about 20% and about 40% of the at least one front input signal.

10. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the surround output signal comprises about 80% of the surround input signal, and about 20% of the center input signal (CTR_IN).

11. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the front loudspeaker, the center loudspeaker and the surround loudspeaker are disposed in a vehicle, and where the surround loudspeaker is driveable with the surround output signal to create the virtual center channel for a rear seat area in the vehicle.

12. A sound processing system, comprising:

a crossbar matrix mixer connected to a decoder;

where the crossbar matrix mixer receives at least one front input signal, a center input signal (CTR_IN) and at least one surround input signal,

where the crossbar matrix mixer generates at least one front output signal, a center output signal (CTR_OUT), and at least one surround output signal,

where the crossbar matrix mixer generates a virtual center channel;

where the at least one front input signal comprises a left front input signal (LF_IN) and a right front input signal (RF_IN);

where the at least one surround input signal comprises a left surround input signal (LS_IN) and a right surround input signal (RS_IN);

where the at least one surround output signal comprises a left surround output signal (LS_OUT) and a right surround output signal (RS_OUT); and

where

LS_OUT=0.8 LS_IN+0.2 LF_IN, and

RS_OUT=0.8 RS_IN+0.2 RF_IN.

13. A sound processing system, comprising:

a crossbar matrix mixer connected to a decoder;

where the crossbar matrix mixer receives at least one front input signal, a center input signal (CTR_IN) and at least one surround input signal,

where the crossbar matrix mixer generates at least one front output signal, a center output signal (CTR_OUT), and at least one surround output signal,

where the crossbar matrix mixer generates a virtual center channel;

where the at least one front input signal comprises a left front input signal (LF_IN) and a right front input signal (RF_IN);

where the at least one surround input signal comprises a left surround input signal (LS_IN) and a right surround input signal (RS_IN);

where the at least one surround output signal comprises a left surround output signal (LS_OUT) and a right surround output signal (RS_OUT); and

where the decoder comprises a Logic7®

decoder, and where

LS_OUT=0.6 LS_IN+0.4 LF_IN, and

RS_OUT=0.6 RS_IN+0.4 RF_IN.

14. A sound processing system, comprising:

a crossbar matrix mixer connected to a decoder;

where the crossbar matrix mixer receives at least one front input signal, a center input signal (CTR_IN) and at least one surround input signal,

where the crossbar in matrix mixer generates at least one front output signal, a center output signal (CTR_OUT), and at least one surround output signal,

where the crossbar matrix mixer generates a virtual center channel;

where the at least one front input signal comprises a left front input signal (LF_IN) and a right front input signal (RF_IN);

where the at least one surround input signal comprises a left surround input signal (LS_IN) and a right surround input signal (RS_IN);

where the at least one surround output signal comprises a left surround output signal (LS_OUT) and a right surround output signal (RS_OUT); and

where the decoder comprises a discrete decoder, and where

LS_OUT=0.8 LS_IN+0.2 CTR_IN, and

RS_OUT=0.8 RS_IN+0.2 CTR_IN.

15. A method for processing sound, comprising:

receiving a front input signal, a center input signal, and a rear input signal;

mixing the rear input signal with at least one of the front input signal and the center input signal; and

generating a virtual center channel;

where a rear output signal comprises about 80 percent of the rear input signal and about 20 percent of the front input signal.

16. A method for processing sound, comprising:

receiving a front input signal, a center input signal, and a rear input signal;

mixing the rear input signal with at least one of the front input signal and the center input signal; and

generating a virtual center channel;

where a rear output signal comprises about 60 percent of the rear input signal and about 40 percent of the front input signal.

17. A method for processing sound, comprising:

receiving a front input signal, a center input signal, and a rear input signal;

mixing the rear input signal with at least one of the front input signal and the center input signal; and

generating a virtual center channel;

where a rear output signal comprises about 80 percent of the rear input signal and about 20 percent of the center input signal.

18. The method for processing sound according to claim 17, where the rear input signal is a surround-sound input signal.

19. A method for processing sound, comprising:

receiving a front input signal, a center input signal, and a surround-sound input signal;

mixing a predetermined percentage of the surround-sound input signal with at least one of predetermined percentage of the front input signal or a predetermined percentage of the center input signal, or a combination thereof, to generate a surround output signal that is useable to drive a surround loudspeaker in a vehicle and to also synthesize a virtual center channel for a rear seat location in the vehicle; and

mixing the front input signal, the center input signal or the surround-sound input signal, or combinations thereof, to generate a front output signal that is useable to drive a front loudspeaker in the vehicle, and to generate a center output signal that is useable to drive a center loudspeaker in the vehicle.

20. The method for processing sound, according to claim 19, where the surround output channel comprises about 80 percent of the surround-sound input signal and about 20 percent of the front input signal.

21. The method for processing sound, according to claim. 19, where mixing a predetermined percentage of the surround-sound input signal comprises mixing about 60 percent of the surround-sound input signal with about 40 percent of the front input signal.

22. The method for processing sound, according to claim 19, where mixing a predetermined percentage of the surround-sound input signal comprises mixing between about 80 percent and about 60 percent of the surround-sound input signal with between about 20 percent and about 40 percent of the front input signal.

23. The method for processing sound, according to claim 19, where mixing a predetermined percentage of the surround-sound input signal comprises mixing about 80% of the surround input signal with about 20% of the center input signal (CTR_IN).

24. A method for processing sound, comprising:

receiving a surround input signal and at least one of;

a center input signal or a front input signal;

mixing at least one of a predetermined percentage of the center input signal or a predetermined percentage of the front input signal, or a combination thereof, with a predetermined percentage of the surround input signal

in response to the mixing step, generating a surround output signal that is operable to drive a surround loudspeaker to produce a synthesized virtual center channel; and

mixing the surround input signal, the front input signal or the center input signal, or combinations thereof, to generate a front output signal and a center output signal that are operable to drive a front loudspeaker and a center loudspeaker, respectively.

25. The method for processing sound according to claim 24, where the surround output signal comprises a rear output signal comprising about 80 percent of the surround input signal and about 20 percent of the front input signal.

26. The method of processing sound according to claim 24, where the surround output signal comprises a rear output signal comprising about 60 percent of the surround input signal and about 40 percent of the front input signal.

27. The method for processing sound according to claim 24, where the surround output signal comprises a rear output signal comprising about 80 percent of the surround input signal and about 20 percent of the center input signal.

28. The method for processing sound according to claim 24, where the surround output signal comprises a side output signal comprising about 80 percent of the surround input signal and about 20 percent of the front input signal.

29. The method of processing sound according to claim 24, where the surround output signal comprises a side output signal comprising about 60 percent of the surround input signal and about 40 percent of the front input signal.

30. The method for processing sound according to claim 24, where surround output signal comprises a side output signal comprising about 80 percent of the surround input signal and about 20 percent of the center input signal.

31. The method for processing sound, according to claim 24, where generating a surround sound output signal comprises mixing between about 80 percent and about 60 percent of the surround-sound input signal with between about 20 percent and about 40 percent of the front input signal to produce the synthesized virtual center channel when the surround loudspeaker is driven.

32. A sound procrssing system, comprising:

a crossbar matrix mixer; and

a decoder in communication with the crossbar matrix mixer,

where the decoder is configured to provide discrete signals comprising a front input signal, a center input signal, (CTR_IN) and a surround input signal to the crossbar matrix mixer,

where the crossbar matrix mixer is configured to mix a discrete surround output signal as a function of at least one of a predetermined percentage of the front input signal or a predetermined percentage of the center input signal (CTR_IN), or a combination thereof, and a predetermined percentage of the surround input signal, the surround output signal operable to drive a surround loudspeaker, and

where the crossbar matrix mixer is further configured to mix a discrete front output signal and a discrete center output signal (CTR_OUT) as a function of the front input signal, the center input signal (CTR_IN) or the surround input signal, or combinations thereof, the discrete front input signal operable to drive a front loudspeaker, and the discrete center output signal operable to drive a center loudspeaker.

33. The sound processing system of claim 32, where the surround loudspeaker comprises a left surround loudspeaker and a right surround loudspeaker, and where the discrete surround output signal comprises a left surround output signal operable to drive the left surround loudspeaker and a right surround output signal operable to drive the right surround loudspeaker, and where the crossbar matrix mixer is further configured to mix the left surround output signal and the right surround output signal to synthesize a virtual center channel that is producible when the left and right surround loudspeakers are driven.

34. The sound processing system of claim 33, where the synthesized virtual center channel is configured to be volume attenuated by attenuation of the left and right surround output signals.

35. The sound processing system of claim 34, where attenuation of the left and right surround output signals is enabled based on an input signal.

36. The sound processing system of claim 33, where the surround output signal is configured to drive a surround loudspeaker in a vehicle to produce a virtual center channel for a rear seating area of the vehicle.

37. The sound processing system of claim 32, where the front input signal includes a discrete right front input signal and a discrete left front input signal, the surround input signal includes a discrete fight surround input signal and a discrete left surround input signal, and the discrete surround output signal comprises a left side output signal and a right side output signal, where the crossbar matrix mixer is further configured to mix the left side output signal as a function of the discrete left front input signal or the center input signal (CTR_IN), or combinations thereof, and the discrete left surround input signal and mix the right side output signal as a function of the discrete right front input signal or the center input signal (CTR_IN), or combinations thereof, and the discrete right surround input signal.

38. The sound processing system of claim 32, where the crossbar matrix mixer is further configured to mix a discrete rear output signal as a function of at least the front input signal and the surround input signal.

39. The sound processing system of claim 32, where at least one of the discrete surround output signal or the discrete front output signal or combinations thereof, is configured to be changed in magnitude with respect to the discrete center output signal (CTR_OUT) in response to an input signal.

40. The sound processing system of claim 39, where the input signal is a source identification input signal indicative of an audio source that is one of an AM source, an FM source, a cassette tape source, a CD source, a DVD audio source and a DVD) video source.

41. The sound processing system according to claim 39, where the input signal comprises at least one of a predetermined ambient noise level or a predetermined sound pressure level.

42. The sound processing system of claim 32, where the discrete center output signal (CTR_OUT) is configured to be changed in magnitude with respect to at least one of the discrete surround output signal or the discrete front output signal, or combinations thereof, in response to an input signal.

43. The sound processing system of claim 42, where the input signal is a source selection input signal indicative of an audio source that is one of an AM source, an FM source, a cassette tape source, a CD source, a DVD audio source and a DVD video source.

44. The sound processing system according to claim 42, where the input signal comprises at least one of a predetermined ambient noise level or a predetermined sound pressure level.