Method and system for surround sound beam-forming using vertically displaced drivers
First Claim
1. A method of audio beam-forming, comprising:
- providing a first signal to a first speaker driver, wherein said first signal contains main channel and surround channel information;
providing a second signal to a second speaker driver vertically displaced from said first speaker driver, wherein said second signal contains said main channel information and said surround channel information;
controlling a phase relationship between said surround channel information within said first signal and said surround channel information within said second signal to control propagation of said main channel and surround channel information in a predetermined direction toward a listening position, wherein said surround channel information is propagated with a first directivity pattern having substantial attenuation in said predetermined direction and at least one lobe having a directivity peak located substantially away from said predetermined direction, and wherein said main channel information is propagated with a second directivity pattern having a substantially peak amplitude in said predetermined direction; and
separating said surround channel information into a low frequency component and a beam-forming component, and wherein said providing said first signal further comprises generating said first signal in conformity with said main channel information and said low frequency component of said surround channel information independent of said controlled phase relationship, and said beam-forming component of said surround channel information as controlled by said controlling said phase relationship.
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Abstract
A method and system for surround sound beam-forming using vertically displaced drivers provides a low cost alternative to present external surround array systems. A pair of vertically displaced speaker drivers is supplied with surround and main channel information in a controlled phase relationship with respect to each driver such that the surround channel information is propagated in a directivity pattern substantially differing from that of the main channel information. The main channel information is generally directed at a listening area, while the surround channel information is directed away from the listening area and is substantially attenuated in the direction of the listening area, so that the surround channel information is heard as a diffuse reflected field. An electronic network provides for control of the surround channel phase relationship and combining of main and surround signals for providing inputs to individual power amplifiers for each driver.
40 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of audio beam-forming, comprising:
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providing a first signal to a first speaker driver, wherein said first signal contains main channel and surround channel information; providing a second signal to a second speaker driver vertically displaced from said first speaker driver, wherein said second signal contains said main channel information and said surround channel information; controlling a phase relationship between said surround channel information within said first signal and said surround channel information within said second signal to control propagation of said main channel and surround channel information in a predetermined direction toward a listening position, wherein said surround channel information is propagated with a first directivity pattern having substantial attenuation in said predetermined direction and at least one lobe having a directivity peak located substantially away from said predetermined direction, and wherein said main channel information is propagated with a second directivity pattern having a substantially peak amplitude in said predetermined direction; and separating said surround channel information into a low frequency component and a beam-forming component, and wherein said providing said first signal further comprises generating said first signal in conformity with said main channel information and said low frequency component of said surround channel information independent of said controlled phase relationship, and said beam-forming component of said surround channel information as controlled by said controlling said phase relationship. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for audio beam-forming, comprising:
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a first speaker driver; a second speaker driver vertically displaced from said first speaker driver; and an electronic network for receiving surround channel information and main channel information and supplying a first signal to said first speaker driver and a second signal to said second speaker driver generated in conformity with both said surround channel information and said main channel information, and wherein said electronic network controls a frequency dependent phase relationship between surround channel information in said first signal and said second signal, wherein said surround channel information is propagated with a first directivity pattern having substantial attenuation in said predetermined direction and at least one lobe having a directivity peak located substantially away from said predetermined direction, and wherein said main channel information is propagated with a second directivity pattern having substantially peak amplitude in said predetermined direction, and wherein the electronic network further comprises at least one first filter for separating said surround channel information into a low frequency component and a beam-forming component and a combiner for combining said main channel information, said low frequency component of said surround channel information that is not controlled by said frequency-dependent phase relationship, and said beamforming component of said surround channel information as controlled by said frequency-dependent phase relationship. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification