Method and system for sound beam-forming using internal device speakers in conjunction with external speakers
First Claim
1. A consumer audio system having at least an audio playback capability, comprising:
- at least one internal speaker located within a housing of a consumer audio playback device;
at least one first amplifier internal to said housing and having at least one corresponding output connected to said at least one internal speaker;
at least one audio connector accessible at an external surface of said housing for providing at least one signal to at least one external speaker; and
an electronic network having at least one first output coupled to at least one input of said first amplifier and at least one second output coupled to said at least one audio connector, wherein said electronic network generates signals on said at least one first output and said at least one audio connector such that at least one beam is formed in a predetermined band of frequencies via phase alignment between each of said at least one internal speaker and a corresponding one of said at least one external speaker, wherein the phase alignment causes direction of sound resulting from combined sounds generated by the at least one internal speaker and the at least one external speaker away from a predetermined listening position.
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Abstract
A method and system for sound beam-forming using internal device speakers in conjunction with external speakers provides a low cost alternative to present external surround array systems. A processing circuit within an audio device or audio/visual (AV) device such as a digital television (DTV) generates signals for internal and external speakers that phase-align the internal speakers with the external speakers for beam-forming. The beam may be a surround beam directed away from a listening position so that surround channel information is only heard as reflections. Alternatively, the beam may be a “night mode” beam that concentrates sound at a particular location or multiple beams may be formed for picture-in-picture or other applications where it is desirable to provide multiple isolated listening locations.
36 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A consumer audio system having at least an audio playback capability, comprising:
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at least one internal speaker located within a housing of a consumer audio playback device; at least one first amplifier internal to said housing and having at least one corresponding output connected to said at least one internal speaker; at least one audio connector accessible at an external surface of said housing for providing at least one signal to at least one external speaker; and an electronic network having at least one first output coupled to at least one input of said first amplifier and at least one second output coupled to said at least one audio connector, wherein said electronic network generates signals on said at least one first output and said at least one audio connector such that at least one beam is formed in a predetermined band of frequencies via phase alignment between each of said at least one internal speaker and a corresponding one of said at least one external speaker, wherein the phase alignment causes direction of sound resulting from combined sounds generated by the at least one internal speaker and the at least one external speaker away from a predetermined listening position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of providing a beam from a consumer audio playback device, comprising:
- providing first signals to an internal speaker of said consumer audio device; and
providing second signals for operating at least one other speaker, such that a beam is formed via a frequency dependent phase-alignment between said internal speaker and said at least one other speaker, wherein the phase alignment causes direction of sound resulting from combined sounds generated by the at least one internal speaker and the at least one external speaker away from a predetermined listening position.
- providing first signals to an internal speaker of said consumer audio device; and
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24. A digital television, comprising:
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a housing; an audio-video decoder circuit for decoding received audio-video signals; a video display coupled to said audio-video decoder circuit for displaying video program information; a pair of internal speakers located within said housing; a first pair of amplifiers having corresponding outputs connected to terminals of said pair of internal speakers; a pair of connections for providing a pair of signals to a corresponding pair of external speakers; and an electronic network having a first pair of outputs coupled to corresponding inputs of said first pair of amplifiers and a second pair of outputs coupled corresponding ones of said pair of connections, wherein said electronic network generates signals on said first pair of outputs and said second pair of outputs such that directional control is provided in a predetermined band of frequencies via phase alignment between each of said internal speakers and a corresponding one of said pair of external speakers, wherein the phase alignment causes direction of sound resulting from combined sounds generated by the at least one internal speaker and the at least one external speaker away from a predetermined listening position.
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Specification