System and method for audio reproduction

• US 9,571,950 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2015
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Star Company Scientific Technologies Advanced Research Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Star Company Scientific Technologies Advanced Research Company LLC
• Inventors: Thompson, Evan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US14/847,602
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 381/1, 381/2, 381/17, 381/22, 381/26, 381/57, 381/61, 381/63, 381/92, 381/97, 381/98, 381/103, 381/300, 381/310, 381/18, 381/20, 381/23, 381/104, 702/141, 704/226, 704/500, 704/503, 455/450
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/00 Two-channel systems H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/05 Generation or adaptation of centre channel in multi-channel audio systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/07 Generation or adaptation of the Low Frequency Effect [LFE] channel, e.g. distribution or signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/02 of the matrix type, i.e. in which input signals are combined algebraically, e.g. after having been phase shifted with respect to each other

Abstract

Systems and methods of audio reproduction are described. In one embodiment, one or more processors can be configured, for example, to receive an L channel signal and an R channel signal, to combine the L channel signal and the R channel signal, to average the combined signal, to detect an impulse signal in the averaged signal, to multiply the impulse signal, to scale the multiplied impulse signal, and to add the scaled impulse signal to the averaged signal to form a resultant signal. Sound can be generated, for example, by speakers based on at least the resultant signal.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

(a) combining, by one or more processors, an L channel signal and an R channel signal;

(b) averaging, by the one or more processors, the combined signal;

(c) detecting, by the one or more processors, an impulse signal in the averaged signal;

(d) enhancing, by the one or more processors, the impulse signal;

(e) combining the enhanced portion of the impulse signal to the averaged signal to form a resultant signal; and

(f) generating audio based on the resultant signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the enhancing is based on at least user inputs and previously detected impulse signals.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein (c) comprises detecting a substantial change in the averaged signal.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein (a) comprises combining the L channel signal, the R channel signal and an LF channel signal.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein (c) to (e) restores, in time, a sharp front edge or a sharp back edge in the impulse signal.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein (b) includes sampling the combined signal, and averaging the sampled combined signals.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the sampled combined signals are stored in a buffer, and wherein contents of the buffer are averaged.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the received L channel signal and the received R channel signal are digital signals.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising converting the added signal into an analog signal.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the L channel signal, the R channel signal, the combined signal, the averaged signal, the enhanced signal and the added signal are digital signals.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the enhanced impulse signal accentuates woofer or subwoofer frequencies in the added signal.

12. A system, comprising:

one or more processors that are configured to;

receive an L channel signal and an R channel signal,

combine the L channel signal and the R channel signal,

average the combined signal,

detect an impulse signal in the averaged signal,

enhance a portion of the detected impulse signal, and

add the enhanced impulse signal to the averaged signal to form a resultant signal,

wherein audio is generated based on at least the resultant signal.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the portion of the detected impulse signal that is enhanced is amplified over a period of time that is shorter than the impulse signal duration, wherein the period of time occurs at a front edge or a back edge of the impulse signal.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive the L channel signal, the R channel signal and an LF channel signal, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to combine the L channel signal, the R channel signal and the LF channel signal.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the one or more processors enhance and add to overcome a smoothing of a front edge or a back edge of the impulse signal.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the smoothing of the front edge or the back edge of the impulse signal occurred due to pass filtering of the impulse signal.

17. The system according to claim 12, wherein the enhanced impulse signal accentuates woofer or subwoofer frequencies in the added signal.

18. A signal processor, comprising:

one or more circuits that are configured to;

receive an L channel signal and an R channel signal,

combine the L channel signal and the R channel signal,

average the combined signal,

detect an impulse signal in the averaged signal,

enhance the impulse signal, and

add the enhanced impulse signal to the averaged signal to form a resultant signal,

wherein audio is generated based on at least the resultant signal.

19. The signal processor according to claim 18, wherein the enhancing of the impulse signal occurs over a fraction of the impulse period.