Method and apparatus for enhancing the generation of three-dimensional sound in headphone devices
First Claim
1. A headphone device comprising:
- an assembly;
a first ear piece and a second ear piece coupled to the assembly, wherein the assembly is operable to facilitate the placement of the first and second ear piece in relation to a user'"'"'s ears;
a motion transducer coupled to the first ear piece or the second ear piece, wherein the motion transducer is operable to measure real-time pitch and roll movement associated with the user'"'"'s head;
an electronic compass coupled to the first ear piece or the second ear piece, wherein the electronic compass is operable to measure real-time yaw movement associated with the user'"'"'s head;
a microphone device coupled to the assembly and operable to detect external sound; and
a processing device associated with each of the first ear piece and the second ear piece for processing an audio signal according to a head-related-transfer-function selected from a plurality of head-related-transfer-functions on the basis of the measured pitch, roll, and yaw movement of the user'"'"'s head, and operable to receive the detected external sound, the processing device mixing the detected external sound with the audio signal,wherein the processed audio signal mixed with the external sound is applied to the first ear piece and second ear piece for generating a virtual three-dimensional sound corresponding to the selected head-related-transfer-function, andwherein in a safety utility mode external sound from a particular direction is amplified by the processing device, andwherein in a preselected sound detection mode external sound of a particular frequency is amplified by the processing device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A headphone device includes a first and a second ear piece coupled to an assembly, wherein the assembly facilitates the placement of the first and second ear piece in relation to a user'"'"'s ears. A motion transducer is coupled to the first or second ear piece, whereby the motion transducer measures real-time pitch and roll movement associated with the user'"'"'s head. An electronic compass is also coupled to the first or second ear piece, and measures real-time yaw movement associated with the user'"'"'s head. A processing device associated with each of the first and second ear piece processes an audio signal according to a head-related-transfer-function selected from a plurality of head-related-transfer-functions on the basis of the measured pitch, roll, and yaw movement of the user'"'"'s head. The processed audio signal is then applied to the first and second ear piece, and generates a virtual three-dimensional sound corresponding to the selected head-related-transfer-function.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A headphone device comprising:
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an assembly; a first ear piece and a second ear piece coupled to the assembly, wherein the assembly is operable to facilitate the placement of the first and second ear piece in relation to a user'"'"'s ears; a motion transducer coupled to the first ear piece or the second ear piece, wherein the motion transducer is operable to measure real-time pitch and roll movement associated with the user'"'"'s head; an electronic compass coupled to the first ear piece or the second ear piece, wherein the electronic compass is operable to measure real-time yaw movement associated with the user'"'"'s head; a microphone device coupled to the assembly and operable to detect external sound; and a processing device associated with each of the first ear piece and the second ear piece for processing an audio signal according to a head-related-transfer-function selected from a plurality of head-related-transfer-functions on the basis of the measured pitch, roll, and yaw movement of the user'"'"'s head, and operable to receive the detected external sound, the processing device mixing the detected external sound with the audio signal, wherein the processed audio signal mixed with the external sound is applied to the first ear piece and second ear piece for generating a virtual three-dimensional sound corresponding to the selected head-related-transfer-function, and wherein in a safety utility mode external sound from a particular direction is amplified by the processing device, and wherein in a preselected sound detection mode external sound of a particular frequency is amplified by the processing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Aheadphone device comprising:
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an assembly having a first and a second ear piece, wherein the assembly facilitates the placement of the first and second ear piece in relation to a user'"'"'s ears; a first sensory device coupled to the assembly and operable to generate first signal information corresponding to a pitch and roll movement associated with the user'"'"'s head; a second sensory device coupled to the assembly and operable generate second signal information corresponding to a yaw movement associated with the user'"'"'s head; a microphone device coupled to the assembly and operable to detect external sound; and a processing device operable to receive the generated first and second signal information, the processing device processing an audio signal according to a head-related-transfer-function selected from a plurality of head-related-transfer-functions on the basis of the generated first and second signal information, and operable to receive the detected external sound, the processing device mixing the detected external sound with the audio signal, wherein the processed audio signal is applied to the first and second ear piece for generating a virtual three-dimensional sound corresponding to the selected head-related-transfer-function, and wherein in a safety utility mode external sound from a particular direction is amplified by the processing device, and wherein in a preselected sound detection mode external sound of a particular frequency is amplified by the processing device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A headphone system adapted for use in a gaming environment, the headphone system comprising:
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an assembly having a first and a second ear piece, wherein the assembly facilitates the placement of the first and second ear piece in relation to a user'"'"'s ears; a first sensory device coupled to the assembly and operable to generate first signal information corresponding to a pitch and roll movement associated with the user'"'"'s head; a second sensory device coupled to the assembly and operable generate second signal information corresponding to a yaw movement associated with the user'"'"'s head; a communications device operable to receive the first and second signal information for transmission to the gaming environment; a microphone device coupled to the assembly and operable to detect external sound; and a processing device coupled to the communication device for receiving third signal information from the gaming environment based on the transmitted first and second signal information, the processing device operable to process an audio signal according to a head-related-transfer-function selected from a plurality of head-transfer-funtions on the basis of the third signal information, and operable to receive the detected external sound, the processing device mixing the detected external sound with the audio signal, wherein the processed audio signal is applied to the first and second ear piece for generating a virtual three-dimensional sound corresponding to the selected head-related-transfer-function, and wherein in a safety utility mode external sound from a particular direction is amplified by the processing device, and wherein in a preselected sound detection mode external sound of a particular frequency is amplified by the processing device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A headphone device comprising:
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an assembly having a first and a second ear piece, wherein the assembly facilitates the placement of the first and second ear piece in relation to a user'"'"'s ears; a first sensory device coupled to the assembly and operable to generate first signal information corresponding to a pitch and roll movement associated with the user'"'"'s head; a second sensory device coupled to the assembly and operable to generate second signal information corresponding to a yaw movement associated with the user'"'"'s head; a microphone system coupled to the assembly and operable to detect external sound; and a processing device operable to receive the generated first and second signal information for detecting position information associated with the user'"'"'s head, and operable to receive the detected external sound for determining the direction of the external sound, the processing device mixing the detected external sound with an audio signal based on the detected position information and the direction of the external sound, wherein the external sound mixed with the audio signal is processed according to a head-related-transfer-function selected from a plurality of head-related-transfer-functions on the basis of the detected position information, the external sound mixed with the audio signal being applied to the first and second ear piece for generating a virtual three-dimensional sound corresponding to the selected head-related-transfer-function, and wherein in a safety utility mode external sound from a particular direction is amplified by the processing device, and wherein in a preselected sound detection mode external sound of a particular frequency is amplified by the processing device. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A headphone device including a first and a second ear piece, the headphone device comprising:
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a motion sensing device operable to; (i) generate first signal information corresponding to a pitch and roll movement associated with a user'"'"'s head; (ii) generate second signal information corresponding to a yaw movement associated with the user'"'"'s head; a microphone device coupled to the assembly and operable to detect external sound; and a processing device operable to receive the generated first and second signal information, and process an audio signal according to a head-related-transfer-function on the basis of the received first and second signal information, and operable to receive the detected external sound, the processing device mixing the detected external sound with the audio signal, wherein the processed audio signal is applied to the first and second ear piece and generates a virtual three-dimensional sound corresponding to the selected head-related-transfer-function, and wherein in a safety utility mode external sound from a particular direction is amplified by the processing device, and wherein in a preselected sound detection mode external sound of a particular frequency is amplified by the processing device. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of generating three-dimensional sound in a headphone device including a first and a second ear piece, the method comprising:
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generating first signal information corresponding to a pitch and roll movement associated with a user'"'"'s head; generating second signal information corresponding to a yaw movement associated with the user'"'"'s head; processing the generated first and second signal information for determining position information associated the user'"'"'s head; detecting external sound; and processing an audio signal according to a head-related-transfer-function selected on the basis of the determined position information; mixing the detected external sound with the audio signal, wherein the processed audio signal is applied to the first and second ear piece for generating a virtual three-dimensional sound corresponding to the selected head-related-transfer-function, and wherein in a safety utility mode external sound from a particular direction is amplified, and wherein in a preselected sound detection mode external sound of a particular frequency is amplified. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification