Method and apparatus for processing audio signal and audio playback system

• US 9,154,879 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Yoo, Jae Hyoun, Seo, Jeong Il, Kang, Kyeong Ok, Choi, Keun Woo
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US13/834,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20130322666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 381/300, 381/17, 381/59, 381/303, 381/304, 381/182
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2203/12 Beamforming aspects for stereophonic sound reproduction with loudspeaker arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

A Method for processing an audio signal to use a beamforming technique in a three-dimensional (3D) space is disclosed. The method may include generating a beamforming signal on a horizontal plane related to a sound source in a three-dimensional (3D) space and modulating the beamforming signal to head for a listener in the 3D space from the sound source.

Claims

1. A method for processing an audio signal, the method comprising:

generating a beamforming signal on a horizontal plane related to a sound source in a three-dimensional (3D) space; and

modulating the beamforming signal to be directed to a listener in the 3D space from the sound source,

wherein the modulating of the beamforming signal comprises;

modulating the beamforming signal using the beamforming signal on the horizontal plane and a beam angle in relation to the sound source and the listener, and

applying a difference value based on the beamforming signal on the horizontal plane and the beam angle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the difference value is determined based on a shortest distance from the horizontal plane to the listener and the beamforming signal on the horizontal plane.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sound source is generated based on at least one loudspeaker array.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating of the beamforming signal comprises:

generating the beamforming signal by outputting an audio signal based on a predetermined delay time from each loud speaker forming the loudspeaker array.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined delay time is set using a separation distance between loudspeakers forming the loudspeaker array and a beam angle on the horizontal plane.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program to implement the method of claim 1.

7. An apparatus for processing an audio signal, the apparatus comprising:

a generator to generate a beamforming signal on a horizontal plane related to a sound source in a three-dimensional (3D) space; and

a modulator to modulate the beamforming signal to be directed to a listener in the 3D space from the sound source,

wherein the modulator modulates the beamforming signal using the beamforming signal on the horizontal plane and a beam angle in relation to the sound source and the listener and applies a difference value based on the beamforming signal on the horizontal plane and the beam angle.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the difference value is determined based on a shortest distance from the horizontal plane to the listener and the beamforming signal on the horizontal plane.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sound source is generated based on at least one loudspeaker array.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the generator generates the beamforming signal by outputting an audio signal based on a predetermined delay time from each loud speaker forming the loudspeaker array.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the predetermined delay time is set using a separation distance between loudspeakers forming the loudspeaker array and a beam angle on the horizontal plane.

12. An audio playback system comprising:

an audio signal processing apparatus to generate a beamforming signal on a horizontal plane related to a sound source in a three-dimensional (3D) space and to modulate the beamforming signal to be directed to a listener in the 3D space from the sound source; and

a loudspeaker array to output the beamforming signal modulated by the audio signal processing apparatus through a plurality of loudspeakers,

wherein the audio signal processing apparatus modulates the beamforming signal using the beamforming signal on the horizontal plane and a beam angle in relation to the sound source and the listener and applies a difference value based on the beamforming signal on the horizontal plane and the beam angle.

13. The audio playback system of claim 12, wherein the audio signal processing apparatus generates the beamforming signal by outputting an audio signal based on a predetermined delay time from each loud speaker forming the loudspeaker array.

14. The audio playback system of claim 13, wherein the predetermined delay time is set using a separation distance between loudspeakers forming the loudspeaker array and a beam angle on the horizontal plane.