Sound processing system using spatial imaging techniques

• US 8,031,879 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: House, William Neal, Eid, Bradley F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran; Con P
• Application Number:
  US11/299,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20060088175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,122 Days
• Field of Search: 328/27, 328/86, 328/302, 328/20, 328/123, 381/27, 381/86, 381/302, 381/20, 381/123, 381/119, 381/104, 381/307, 381/300, 381/71.4, 381/73.1, 381/1, 381/111, 381/17, 381/18, 381/19, 381/21, 381/22, 381/23
• US Class Current: 381/86
• 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 for a vehicle, comprising:

a crossbar matrix mixer configured to receive a front input signal, a center input signal and a rear input signal;

a center channel volume compensator connected to the crossbar matrix mixer, the center channel volume compensator configured to receive a center output signal from the crossbar matrix mixer; and

at least one of a front channel volume and a rear channel volume compensator connected to the crossbar matrix mixer, the front channel volume compensator configured to receive at least one front output signal from the crossbar matrix mixer, the rear channel volume compensator configured to receive at least one rear output signal from the crossbar matrix mixer; and

where the center channel volume compensator independently and selectively adjusts a volume gain for the center output signal in response to an input signal,

where the front channel volume compensator independently increases the volume gain for the front output signal in response to the input signal,

where the rear channel volume compensator independently increases the volume gain for the rear output signal in response to the input signal, and

where at least one of the front input signal and the center input signal is combined with the rear input signal by the crossbar matrix mixer to synthesize a virtual center channel in a rear seating area of the vehicle.

2. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the input signal comprises a volume setting of an audio system in a vehicle.

3. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the input signal comprises a vehicle speed.

4. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the input signal comprises an ambient noise level in a vehicle.

5. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the input signal comprises a sound pressure level in a vehicle.

6. The sound processing system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one door-mounted speaker in a vehicle, where the at least one door-mounted speaker receives at least one of the front and rear output signals.

7. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the at least one front output signal comprises at least one of a left front output signal or a right front output signal, or a combination thereof.

8. The sound processing system according to claim 1, where the at least one rear output signal comprises at least one of a right surround output signal, a right rear output signal, a left surround output signal, or a left rear output signal, or combinations thereof.

9. The sound processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a decoder connected to the crossbar matrix mixer, the decoder configured to provide multiple decoded signals to the crossbar matrix mixer in response to audio signals.

10. The sound processing system according to claim 9, where the decoder generates the front input signal, the center input signal, and the rear input signal.

11. A method for processing sound in a vehicle, comprising:

attenuating a volume gain for a center signal with a processor in response to an input signal, the input signal being other than an audio signal representative of audible sound;

increasing the volume gain for at least one front signal with the processor in response to the input signal; and

creating, with the processor, a virtual center channel for a rear seating area of the vehicle using the center channel signal and the at least one front signal.

12. The method of claim 11, where the input signal is indicative of an operational parameter related to operation of a vehicle.

13. The method for processing sound according to claim 11, further comprising increasing the volume gain with the processor for at least one rear signal in response to the input signal.

14. The method for processing sound according to claim 11, where the input signal indicates a top-up/top-down status of a convertible top.

15. The method of processing sound according to claim 11, where the input signal indicates a vehicle started/vehicle stopped status of a vehicle.

16. A method for processing sound in a vehicle comprising:

attenuating a volume gain for a center signal with a processor in response to an input signal, the input signal being other than an audio signal representative of audible sound;

increasing the volume gain for at least one rear signal with the processor in response to the input signal; and

creating a virtual center channel with the processor using the center channel signal and the at least one rear signal, the virtual center channel created for a rear seating location in the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, where the input signal is indicative of an operational parameter related to operation of a vehicle.

18. The method for processing sound according to claim 16, further comprising increasing the volume gain for at least one rear signal with the processor in response to the input signal.

19. The method for processing sound according to claim 16, where the input signal indicates a top-up/top-down status of a convertible top.

20. The method of processing sound according to claim 16, where the input signal indicates a vehicle started/vehicle stopped status of a vehicle.

21. The method of processing sound according to claim 16, where the input signal indicates a windows-up/windows-down status of a vehicle.

22. A method for processing sound in a vehicle, comprising:

sensing an input signal with a processor;

selectively adjusting a volume gain for a center signal with a center channel volume compensator in response to the input signal;

selectively adjusting a volume gain for at least one of a front signal or a rear signal, or combinations thereof, with a respective front channel volume compensator or a rear channel volume compensator in response to the input signal; and

creating a virtual center channel with the processor using the rear signal and at least one of the front signal or the center signal, the virtual center channel created for a rear seating location in the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 22, where selectively adjusting the volume gain for at least one of a front signal or a rear signal, or combinations thereof, comprises increasing the volume gain of at least one of the front output signal or the rear output signal, or combinations thereof, with respect to the center output signal.

24. The method of claim 22, where sensing an input signal comprises sensing a volume input signal from an audio system in a vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24, where selectively adjusting a volume gain for a center signal comprises attenuating the volume gain of the center signal with respect to at least one of the front output signal or the rear output signal, or combinations thereof, when the volume input signal is equal or less than a threshold volume level.

26. The method of claim 22, where sensing an input signal comprises sensing an ambient noise level in a vehicle.

27. The method of claim 22, where sensing an input signal comprises sensing a sound pressure level in a vehicle.

28. The method of claim 22, where the volume gain for at least one of the front signal or the rear signal is increased with respect to the volume gain for the center signal.

29. A method for processing sound in a vehicle, comprising:

attenuating a volume gain for a center signal with a processor in response to an input signal that is indicative of a level of ambient noise being experienced by a user in a vehicle; and

increasing the volume gain for at least one of a front signal or a rear signal, or a combination of the front signal and the rear signal with the processor in response to the input signal; and

creating a virtual center channel with processor using the rear signal and at least one of the front signal of the center signal, the virtual center channel created for a rear seating location in the vehicle.

30. A method for processing sound in a vehicle, comprising:

receiving an input signal indicative of a level of ambient noise in a vehicle, a front input signal, a center input signal, and a rear input signal with a processor;

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

creating a virtual center channel with the processor, the virtual center channel created from the rear input signal mixed with at least one of the front input signal or the center input signal for a rear seating location in the vehicle.