Systems and methods for determining sound of a moving object

• US 7,835,530 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cristiano Avigni
• Original Assignee: Cristiano Avigni
• Inventors: Avigni, Cristiano
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lao; Lun-See
• Application Number:
  US10/301,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20030142829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,917 Days
• Field of Search: 381/26, 381104-109, 381/99, 381/100, 381 91- 92, 381/122, 381111-115, 381/77, 381/79, 381/82, 381/86, 381/56, 381/102, 455/88, 455/92, 455/68, 455/352, 455/343.2, 455/345, 455/95, 455/457, 455/500, 340/426.17, 340/573.1, 340/441, 340/457, 348148-149, 348/14.01, 348/14.09, 348/14.05
• US Class Current: 381/77
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/00 Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control

Abstract

A system for the capturing and relay of sounds from a moving object is described. A plurality of microphone units are positioned at various locations on the moving object to capture sounds. Signals are generated based on captured sounds and transmitted from the moving object to a central receiving station. The central receiving station then takes the signals received and processes such signals for transmission to a communications network for broadcasting the sounds to an audience.

Claims

1. A method for determining surround sound from a moving object, comprising the steps of:

coupling a plurality of first microphone units with the moving object to capture sounds from around the object, wherein coupling includes arranging the plurality of first microphone units such that one or more of the first microphone units captures sound in a direction perpendicular to forward movement of the moving object;

coupling a second, omni-directional microphone unit to a subjective location of the moving object, to omni-directionally capture sound around the subjective location;

transmitting signals indicative of the captured sounds to a central receiving station;

processing the signals together at the central receiving station, wherein processing comprises;

dividing the signals into high frequency signals and low frequency signals;

compressing the high and low frequency signals; and

adjusting volume for the high and low frequency signals; and

transmitting processed information, from the central receiving station, to a communications network, for replaying the surround sound from the moving object to an audience.

2. A method of claim 1, the communications network comprising a television network.

3. A method of claim 1, the step of transmitting signals further comprising wirelessly relaying the signal indicative of captured sounds from the microphone units to at least one transmitter.

4. A method of claim 1, the step of coupling comprising coupling each of the microphone units within a recessed area of the moving object, to reduce wind resistance noises generated by the units.

5. A method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of coupling an omni-directional microphone unit to a subjective location with the moving object and transmitting signals comprising transmitting an omni signal indicative of omni-directional sounds at the omni-directional microphone unit and to the central receiving station, the step of transmitting further comprising transmitting information, from the central receiving station, to the network for replaying the sounds, including the omni-directional sounds.

6. A method of claim 5, the step of coupling an omni-directional microphone comprising attaching the omni-directional microphone near to an ear of a person with the moving object.

7. A method of claim 6, the step of attaching comprising attaching the omni-directional microphone to a helmet of a race car driver.

8. A method of claim 1, the step of coupling the plurality of first microphone units comprising attaching at least four microphone units to extremities of the moving object.

9. A method of claim 8, the step of coupling the plurality of first microphone units comprising attaching the units to four extremities of a racing car.

10. A method of claim 1, further comprising capturing images from a camera with the moving object.

11. A method of claim 10, further comprising relaying the images to the network for replaying of the images to the audience.

12. A method of claim 1, further comprising one of mixing, compressing, and encoding, by the central receiving station, signals transmitted to the central receiving station.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein processing further comprises combining signals indicative of all captured sounds to create a single surround sound signal.

14. A system for capturing and reporting surround sound of a moving object to an audience, comprising:

a plurality of first microphone units for capturing sounds from around the moving object, the plurality of first microphone units arranged such that one or more of the first microphone units captures sound in a direction perpendicular to forward movement of the moving object;

a second, omni-directional microphone unit positioned with a subjective location, for omni-directionally capturing sound from the subjective location;

a transmission unit communicatively coupled to the first and second microphone units for transmitting information indicative of the sounds as wireless signals; and

a central receiving station, apart from the transmission unit, for capturing the wireless signals and relaying information about the signals;

a processing unit with the central receiving station, for processing together the wireless signals to;

divide the signals into high and low frequency signals,

compress the high and low frequency signals, and

adjust volume of the high and low frequency signals; and

a television network, the television network receiving the processed signals and the information about the signals and broadcasting the surround sound of the moving object to a television viewing audience.

15. A system of claim 14, the transmission unit comprising a plurality of transmitters connected to an antenna.

16. A system of claim 15, each of the plurality of transmitters transmitting a wireless signal indicative of the sound captured by one of the plurality of first microphone units or the second microphone unit.

17. A system of claim 16, the plurality of transmitters configured for generating radio frequency wireless signals.

18. A system of claim 14, the transmission unit comprising:

a plurality of transmitters;

at least one encoder connected with the plurality of transmitters for encoding the information indicative of the sounds as at least one digital signal to be wirelessly transmitted; and

an antenna connected with the at least one encoder;

wherein the central receiving station has a means for decoding the at least one digital wireless signal received from the transmission unit.

19. A system of claim 18, the at least one encoder comprising two encoders.

20. A system of claim 14, the transmission unit comprising a plurality of cellular telephones connected to an antenna, the wireless signals being generated by the telephones as wireless telephone frequency signals and routed to the central receiving station through a telephone relay network.

21. A system of claim 14, further comprising at least one relay antenna for receiving the wireless signals from the transmission unit and retransmitting the signals to the central receiving station.

22. A system of claim 14, the moving object comprising a racecar, the plurality of microphone units configured for positioning within a plurality of recessed areas of the racing car for reducing wind resistance sound and to enhance directional listening of the units.

23. A system of claim 22, each of the microphone units comprising a directional microphone, the plurality of units being constructed and arranged with the moving object to capture sound perpendicular to forward movement of the moving object.

24. A system of claim 14, further comprising an omni-directional microphone unit for capturing omni-directional sounds of the moving object, wherein the transmission unit being communicatively coupled to the omni-directional microphone unit for transmitting transmits information indicative of the omni-directional sounds from the second, omni-directional microphone unit with the wireless signals.

25. A system of claim 24, the second, omni-directional microphone unit comprising an omni-directional microphone adjacent to an ear of a person with the moving object.

26. A system of claim 25, the person comprising a racecar driver.

27. A system of claim 14, the moving object comprising a racecar.

28. A system of claim 14, the central receiving station comprising means for one or more of mixing the wireless signals, compressing the wireless signals, and encoding the wireless signals.

29. A system of claim 14, the transmission unit comprising:

a processor configured to preamplify sound signals received from the plurality of microphone units, digitize the sound signals, and encode the sound signals to generate a digital signal stream;

a transmitter receiving the digital signal stream; and

an antenna connected with the transmitter to wireless communicate the digital signal stream.

30. A sound capturing and relaying system for a racecar, comprising:

a racecar having a cockpit for a driver of the car;

a plurality of first microphone units for capturing sounds of the racecar, each first microphone unit being mounted within a recessed area formed in the racecar, the recessed areas located distal to the cockpit;

wherein the plurality of first microphone units is arranged such that one or more of the first microphone units captures sound in a direction perpendicular to forward movement of the moving object;

a second microphone unit located proximal to at least one of the cockpit and a centerpoint of the racecar;

at least one transmission unit mounted to the racecar and communicatively coupled to the plurality of first microphone units and the second microphone unit for transmitting information indicative of the captured sounds from the plurality of first microphone units and the second microphone unit as wireless signals; and

a central receiving station and a communications network, the central receiving station capturing the wireless signals, processing the signals together, and relaying information about the signals to the communications network, the network broadcasting the surround sound of the racecar to an audience,

wherein processing the signals comprises;

dividing the signals into high frequency signals and low frequency signals;

compressing the high and low frequency signals; and

adjusting volume for the high and low frequency signals.