Video gaming system with ultrasonic speakers

• US 8,903,104 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2013
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Turtle Beach Corporation
• Original Assignee: Turtle Beach Corporation
• Inventors: Norris, Elwood G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paul, Disler
• Application Number:
  US13/863,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20140307898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 381/77, 381/74, 381370-371, 381/381, 381/309, 463/35
• US Class Current: 381/77
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/14 Throat mountings for microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2217/03 Parametric transducers where sound is generated or captured by the acoustic demodulation of amplitude modulated ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/302 Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

A three-dimensional (3D) sound gaming application can include an ultrasonic sound system, one or more gamers, a gaming console and a throat microphone set. The ultrasonic sound system can include a digital signal processing (DSP) that can adjust the phase, delay, reverb, echo, gain, magnitude or other audio signal component of an audio signal or audio signal components received from the gaming console; an amplifier which can amplify the processed audio signal; and a pair of emitters which can emit ultrasonic signals to each of the gamer'"'"'s ears to produce a 3D sound effect. The throat microphone set can include a throat microphone which can integrate a low pass filter to attenuate any picked up, ultrasonic carrier frequency signals from the emitted ultrasonic waves. In addition, the throat microphone set can also include an ear speaker piece with one or more apertures for allowing sound produced by ultrasonic waves to enter the gamer'"'"'s ear canal.

Claims

1. A method of providing a three-dimensional gaming experience to a user, comprising:

providing a gaming system having a digital signal processor (“

DSP”

), an amplifier, and a plurality of ultrasonic emitters, wherein each of a user'"'"'s ears receives a directional ultrasonic wave column from at least one independent ultrasonic emitter;

providing an interface to interact with at least one other game user, the interface including an ear speaker piece placed in or around the user'"'"'s ear and at least one microphone;

configuring the microphone to receive voice input from the user; and

configuring the ear speaker piece to relay voice input from the at least one other game user into the user'"'"'s ear; and

adjusting the amplitude of the directional ultrasonic wave column directed toward the user'"'"'s ear having the ear speaker piece to compensate for any sound loss due to the presence of the ear speaker piece.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a plurality of holes through a frame of the ear speaker piece and configuring the holes to allow ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic emitters to pass through the ear speaker piece.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the microphone includes a throat microphone.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing a flexible frame; and

configuring the flexible frame to position the throat microphone against the user'"'"'s throat.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a low pass filter integrated into the microphone, the low pass filter configured to optimize the voice input by the user and to filter unwanted high frequency signals which may inhibit clear voice transmission to other users.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising independently adjusting the phase, delay, reverb, echo, gain or magnitude of each of the ultrasonic emitters to reflect the relative virtual location of a sound'"'"'s origin in relation to a character within a game controlled by the user.

7. A method of providing a user with a three-dimensional gaming experience comprising:

providing a plurality of ultrasonic emitters operably connected to a sound output of a gaming system;

independently directing each ultrasonic emitter toward one of a user'"'"'s ears, the ultrasonic emitters being operable to direct a plurality of directional sound columns to the user'"'"'s ears based on a virtual sound direction relating to a virtual origin from which a plurality of virtual sounds are generated; and

relaying to the ultrasonic emitters a signal relating to a plurality of virtual sounds such that the ultrasonic emitters project sound toward a user'"'"'s ears so as to reproduce the virtual sounds to create a realistic three-dimensional sound environment;

providing a multi-player communication interface including a user microphone and an ear speaker piece placed in or about the user'"'"'s ear, wherein the microphone is configured to relay a voice input from the user to at least one other user; and

configuring the ear speaker piece to relay sound to the user relating to voice input from the at least one other user;

wherein

a frame of the ear speaker piece includes a plurality of openings formed therein or therethrough, the openings being operable to allow directional sound to pass through the ear speaker piece into the user'"'"'s ear.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

adjusting the phase, delay, reverb, echo, gain or magnitude of the modulated ultrasonic wave column directed toward the user'"'"'s ear having the ear speaker piece fitted therein to compensate for sound loss due to the presence of the ear speaker piece in or about the user'"'"'s ear.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

a low pass filter integrated into the microphone wiring configured to filter high frequency interference signals.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the microphone includes a throat microphone.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a flexible frame; and

configuring the flexible frame to position the throat microphone against the user'"'"'s throat.

12. A method of providing a three-dimensional gaming experience to a user, comprising:

providing a gaming system having a digital signal processor (“

DSP”

), an amplifier, and a plurality of ultrasonic emitters, wherein each of a user'"'"'s ears receives a directional ultrasonic wave column from at least one independent ultrasonic emitter;

providing an interface to interact with at least one other game user, the interface including an ear speaker piece placed in or around the user'"'"'s ear and at least one microphone;

configuring the microphone to receive voice input from the user;

configuring the ear speaker piece to relay voice input from the at least one other game user into the user'"'"'s ear; and

providing a plurality of holes through a frame of the ear speaker piece and configuring the holes to allow ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic emitters to pass through the ear speaker piece.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

adjusting the amplitude of the directional ultrasonic wave column directed toward the user'"'"'s ear having the ear speaker piece to compensate for any sound loss due to the presence of the ear speaker piece.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the microphone includes a throat microphone.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing a flexible frame; and

configuring the flexible frame to position the throat microphone against the user'"'"'s throat.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing a low pass filter integrated into the microphone, the low pass filter configured to optimize the voice input by the user and to filter unwanted high frequency signals which may inhibit clear voice transmission to other users.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising independently adjusting the phase, delay, reverb, echo, gain or magnitude of each of the ultrasonic emitters to reflect the relative virtual location of a sound'"'"'s origin in relation to a character within a game controlled by the user.

18. A method of providing a user with a three-dimensional gaming experience comprising:

providing a plurality of ultrasonic emitters operably connected to a sound output of a gaming system;

independently directing each ultrasonic emitter toward one of a user'"'"'s ears, the ultrasonic emitters being operable to direct a plurality of directional sound columns to the user'"'"'s ears based on a virtual sound direction relating to a virtual origin from which a plurality of virtual sounds are generated;

relaying to the ultrasonic emitters a signal relating to a plurality of virtual sounds such that the ultrasonic emitters project sound toward a user'"'"'s ears so as to reproduce the virtual sounds to create a realistic three-dimensional sound environment;

providing a multi-player communication interface including a user microphone and an ear speaker piece placed in or about the user'"'"'s ear, wherein the microphone is configured to relay a voice input from the user to at least one other user;

configuring the ear speaker piece to relay sound to the user relating to voice input from the at least one other user; and

adjusting the phase, delay, reverb, echo, gain or magnitude of the modulated ultrasonic wave column directed toward the user'"'"'s ear having the ear speaker piece fitted therein to compensate for sound loss due to the presence of the ear speaker piece in or about the user'"'"'s ear.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a frame of the ear speaker piece includes a plurality of openings formed therein or therethrough, the openings being operable to allow directional sound to pass through the ear speaker piece into the user'"'"'s ear.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

a low pass filter integrated into the microphone wiring configured to filter high frequency interference signals.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the microphone includes a throat microphone.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

providing a flexible frame; and

configuring the flexible frame to position the throat microphone against the user'"'"'s throat.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

providing a low pass filter integrated into the microphone, the low pass filter configured to optimize the voice input by the user and to filter unwanted high frequency signals which may inhibit clear voice transmission to other users.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising independently adjusting the phase, delay, reverb, echo, gain or magnitude of each of the ultrasonic emitters to reflect the relative virtual location a sound'"'"'s origin in relation to a character within a game controlled by the user.