Phase-staggered multi-channel signal panning

• US 8,035,024 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2003
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NRI R&D Patent Licensing, LLC (Advanced Touchscreen and Gesture Technologies, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lester F. Ludwig
• Inventors: Ludwig, Lester F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fletcher; Marlo
• Application Number:
  US10/702,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20040163528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,897 Days
• Field of Search: 846/00, 84609-610, 846/15, 84622-625, 846/34, 846/45, 84649-650, 846/53, 84659-660, 846/66, 381 61- 63, 381 17- 28
• US Class Current: 84/645
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/00 Details of electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0058 Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system G10H1/0083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0066 using a MIDI interface
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/348 Switches actuated by parts of the body other than fingers
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/46 Volume control
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/521 Hall effect transducers or similar magnetic field sensing semiconductor devices, e.g. for string vibration sensing or key movement sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/525 Piezoelectric transducers for vibration sensing or vibration excitation in the audio range; Piezoelectric strain sensing, e.g. as key velocity sensor; Piezoelectric actuators, e.g. key actuation in response to a control voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/095 Spint zither, i.e. mimicking any neckless stringed instrument in which the strings do not extend beyond the sounding board
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/101 Spint koto, i.e. mimicking any traditional asian-style plucked zither with movable bridges
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/115 Spint sitar, i.e. mimicking any long-necked plucked string instrument with a large number of additional non-playable sympathetic resonating strings or an additional gourd-like resonating chamber
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/145 Spint guitar keyboard, i.e. mimicking a combination of a guitar-like instrument, with or without strings, and a piano-like keyboard, e.g. with white and black keys arranged like on a piano
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/271 Spint gong, i.e. mimicking circular flat, nippled or bowl-shaped metallic percussion instruments G10H2230/321 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/18 using a string, e.g. electric guitar mechanical features G10D1/085
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/26 : using electric feedback
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 84/10 : Feedback

Abstract

This invention provides a signal processing and signal synthesis technique from a family of signal processing and signal synthesis techniques designed to readily interwork or be used individually in creating new forms of rich musical timbres. Phase staggered multi-channel signal panning creates spatial perturbation and chase effects for subtle or dramatic application, and may be swept with control signals from a low-frequency oscillator, transient envelope, or other source. Phase-staggering and modulation parameters may be recalled from stored program control or modulated in real-time by arbitrary control signals, including those derived from the original input signal. The invention may be used individually or in conjunction with other signal processing and signal synthesis techniques in creating new forms of rich musical timbres. The invention may also be used in spatially-distributed timbre construction.

Claims

1. A system for controlled staggered panning of multi-channel audio signals, said system comprising:

a master time-varying control signal;

a processor for generating at least three panning control signals responsive to a distinct phase-staggered function of said master time-varying control signal; and

at least three controllable audio signal panning elements individually structured for panning a separate incoming audio signal responsive to an associated one of said at least three panning control signals.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said master time-varying control signal varies periodically.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said master time-varying control signal varies according to a triggered transient signal.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein each panning control signal of said at least three panning control signals are provided to a mixer unit, and wherein said mixer unit mixes each panning control signal of said at least three panning control signals to produce a plurality of mixed output signals.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein each panning element of said at least three controllable audio signal panning elements are integrated with said mixer unit.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of mixed output signals comprise a stereo output.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of mixed output signals and said processor are configured to provide location modulation comprising two spatial dimensions.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of mixed output signals and said processor are configured to provide location modulation comprising three spatial dimensions.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said distinct phase-staggered functions is determined responsive to an incoming MIDI signal.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said master time-varying control signal varies periodically as controlled by an incoming MIDI signal.

11. The system according to claim 3, wherein said triggered transient signal is controlled by an incoming MIDI signal.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system provides one signal processing layer of a multi-layered signal processing system.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system is incorporated into a spatially-distributed timbral realization system.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least three controllable audio signal panning elements produces a plurality of outgoing audio signals according to an associated one of said at least three panning control signals.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least three panning control signals further comprises a time-varying value, and wherein amplitude of said time-varying value of each of said panning control signals is adjustable.

16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising:

an incoming control signal for adjusting said amplitude of said time-varying value of each of said panning control signals.

17. A method for controlled staggered panning of multi-channel audio signals, said method comprising:

receiving at least three incoming audio signals at an associated at least three controllable signal panning elements, wherein each panning element of said at least three controllable signal panning elements receives one of said at least three incoming audio signals;

producing a plurality of outgoing panned audio signals at each panning element of said at least three controllable signal panning elements in response to a separate panning control signal associated with each of said at least three controllable signal panning elements; and

generating said panning control signal for each panning element of said at least three controllable signal panning elements, wherein each panning control signal of said at least three panning control signals is generated using an associated function of a common time-varying control signal, wherein the common time-varying control signal varies periodically.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said common time-varying control signal varies according to a triggered transient signal.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein each panning control signal of said at least three panning control signals are provided to a mixer unit, and wherein said mixer unit mixes each panning control signal of said at least three panning control signals to produce a plurality of mixed output signals.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein each panning element of said at least three controllable signal panning elements are integrated with said mixer unit.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of mixed output signals comprise a stereo output.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of mixed output signals provide location modulation comprising two spatial dimensions.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of mixed output signals provide location modulation comprising three spatial dimensions.

24. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one of said plurality of associated functions used to generate each of said plurality of panning control signals is controlled by an incoming MIDI

25. The method according to claim 17, wherein said time-varying control signal varies periodically as controlled by an incoming MIDI signal.

26. The method according to claim 18, wherein said triggered transient signal is controlled by an incoming MIDI signal.

27. The method according to claim 17, wherein said method is implemented within one signal processing layer of a multi-layered signal processing system.

28. The method according to claim 17, wherein said method is implemented within a spatially-distributed timbral realization system.

29. The method according to claim 17, said method further comprising:

adjusting amplitude of a time-varying value of each of said at least three panning control signals.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said adjusting is responsive to an incoming control signal.