Sound processing system using spatial imaging techniques
First Claim
Patent Images
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, andwhere 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.
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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.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A sound processing system for a vehicle, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for processing sound in a vehicle, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for processing sound in a vehicle comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for processing sound in a vehicle, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for processing sound in a vehicle, comprising:
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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.
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30. A method for processing sound in a vehicle, comprising:
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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.
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Specification