Hybrid audio delivery system and method therefor

• US 9,741,359 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2014
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Cheung, Kwok Wai, Tong, Peter P., Thomas, C. Douglass
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US14/482,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20140376745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 381 98, 381150, 455 306, 455 941, 455213, 455350, 455 412, 4555661, 4555691
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/0208 Noise filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/403 loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/023 Transducers incorporated in garment, rucksacks or the like
• 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 25/405 by combining a plurality of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Methods and systems to produce audio output signals from audio input signals. In one embodiment, a first portion of the audio input signals can be pre-processed, with the output used to modulate ultrasonic carrier signals, thereby producing modulated ultrasonic signals. The modulated ultrasonic signals can be transformed into a first portion of the audio output signals, which is directional. Based on a second portion of the audio input signals, a standard audio speaker can output a second portion of the audio output signals. Another embodiment further produces distortion compensated signals based on the pre-processed signals. The distortion compensated signals can be subtracted from the second portion of the audio input signals to generate inputs for the standard audio speaker to output the second portion of the audio output signals. In yet another embodiment, noise can be added during pre-processing of the first portion of the audio input signals.

Claims

1. An electronic circuit for producing audio output signals from audio input signals, the audio input signals including at least low frequency signals and high frequency signals, the electronic circuit comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor coupled to the storage device, the processor to process at least the high frequency signals to produce pre-processed signals, and to produce distortion compensated signals at least based on the pre-processed signals;

wherein the electronic circuit to;

modulate ultrasonic carrier signals by the pre-processed signals to produce modulated ultrasonic signals for an ultrasonic speaker to output ultrasonic output signals to be transformed into at least a first portion of the audio output signals, the first portion of the audio output signals being directional, and

modify the low frequency signals at least based on the distortion compensated signals to produce standard-audio-speaker input signals for a standard audio speaker to output at least a second portion of the audio output signals.

2. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit to separate the audio input signals into at least the low frequency signals and the high frequency signals.

3. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 2,

wherein the electronic circuit at least to subtract the distortion compensated signals from the low frequency signals to produce the standard-audio-speaker input signals for the standard audio speaker, and

wherein the distortion compensated signals to compensate for at least some of the non-linear distortion in the first portion of the audio output signals produced from the transformation of the ultrasonic output signals.

4. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 2,

wherein the electronic circuit at least to subtract the distortion compensated signals from the low frequency signals to produce the standard-audio-speaker input signals for the standard audio speaker, and

wherein the distortion compensation signals to at least substantially simulate non-linear distortion effect due to self-demodulation of ultrasonic signals in air.

5. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 2,

wherein the electronic circuit at least to subtract the distortion compensated signals from the low frequency signals to produce the standard-audio-speaker input signals for the standard audio speaker, and

wherein the electronic circuit to at least twice differentiate at least a portion of the pre-processed signals to produce the distortion compensated signals.

6. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor to add noise to the pre-processed signals to improve privacy.

7. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit includes wireless communication components to enable the electronic circuit for wireless communication.

8. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit includes instructions to cancel echo.

9. An electronic circuit for producing audio output signals from audio input signals, the audio input signals including at least low frequency signals and high frequency signals, the electronic circuit comprising:

a storage device to store at least instructions;

a processor coupled to the storage device, the processor to execute at least a portion of the instructions,

wherein the instructions include at least instructions to process at least the high frequency signals to produce pre-processed signals, and to produce distortion compensated signals at least based on the pre-processed signals, and

wherein the electronic circuit to;

modulate ultrasonic carrier signals by the pre-processed signals to produce modulated ultrasonic signals for an ultrasonic speaker to output ultrasonic output signals to be transformed into at least a first portion of the audio output signals, the first portion of the audio output signals being directional, and

modify the low frequency signals at least based on the distortion compensated signals to produce input signals for a standard audio speaker to output at least a second portion of the audio output signals.

10. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 9, wherein the processor is a digital signal processor.

11. An electronic circuit for producing audio output signals from audio input signals, the audio input signals including at least low frequency signals and high frequency signals, the electronic circuit comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor coupled to the storage device,

wherein the electronic circuit to;

filter the audio input signals into the low frequency signals and the high frequency signals,

modulate ultrasonic carrier signals based on signals from the high frequency signals to produce modulated ultrasonic signals for an ultrasonic speaker to output ultrasonic output signals to be transformed into at least a first portion of the audio output signals, the first portion of the audio output signals being directional, and

produce input signals based on signals from the low frequency signals for a standard audio speaker to output at least a second portion of the audio output signals.

12. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 11,

wherein the processor to process at least the high frequency signals to produce pre-processed signals, and

wherein the electronic circuit to modulate the ultrasonic carrier signals by the pre-processed signals to produce the modulated ultrasonic signals for the ultrasonic speaker to output the ultrasonic output signals.

13. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 12,

wherein the processor to produce distortion compensated signals at least based on the pre-processed signals, and

wherein the electronic circuit to modify the low frequency signals at least based on the distortion compensation signals to produce the input signals for the standard audio speaker to output at least the second portion of the audio output signals.

14. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 11,

wherein the electronic circuit to have at least one of the modulated ultrasonic signals and the input signals for the standard audio speaker modified to compensate for at least some of the non-linear distortion due to the transformation of the ultrasonic output signals into the at least a first portion of the audio output signals in air.

15. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 14, wherein the ultrasonic signals have at least a frequency that is at or above 100 kHz.

16. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 14, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to be removably attachable to a mobile phone to allow the audio output signals to become audio output signals of the mobile phone.

17. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 16,

wherein an attribute of the first portion of the audio output signals is a direction, and

wherein the electronic circuit is configured to electronically steer at least the direction of the first portion of the audio output signals.

18. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 17, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to allow an external device to set the direction of the first portion of the audio output signals.

19. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 18, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to allow the position of the external device to set the direction of the first portion of the audio output signals.

20. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 19, wherein the ultrasonic signals have at least a frequency that is at or above 100 kHz.

21. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 11, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to operate as a wireless communication system.

22. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 21, wherein the wireless communication system is configured to operate as a mobile phone.

23. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 21, wherein the wireless communication system is configured to operate as a hearing aid.

24. An electronic circuit as recited in claim in claim 22,

wherein the mobile phone is configured to operate in at least a first mode and a second mode,

wherein in the first mode, the mobile phone is configured to output the audio output signals, and

wherein in the second mode, the mobile phone is configured to output another audio output signals that are produced from a standard audio speaker at least partially in the mobile phone, without using the ultrasonic speaker.

25. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 22, wherein the wireless communication system is also configured to operate as a hearing aid.

26. An electronic circuit as recited in claim in claim 24, wherein the mobile phone is configured to change from one mode to the other mode, from the first and the second modes, at least based on the orientation of the phone.

27. An electronic circuit as recited in claim in claim 24, wherein the mobile phone is configured to change from one mode to the other mode, from the first and the second modes, at least based on a position at the phone, with the position selectable by a user of the phone.

28. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 11,

wherein an attribute of the first portion of the audio output signals is a direction, and

wherein the electronic circuit is configured to electronically steer at least the direction of the first portion of the audio output signals.

29. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 28, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to allow an external device to set the direction of the first portion of the audio output signals.

30. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 29, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to allow the position of the external device to set the direction of the first portion of the audio output signals.

31. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 11 further comprising the ultrasonic speaker and the standard audio speaker.

32. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 11, wherein the electronic circuit is in a structure that includes the shape of a wedge having an angle relative to the horizontal direction, with the angle helping set the direction of at least the first portion of the audio output signals, the first portion of the audio output signals being directional.

33. An electronic circuit as recited in claim 11, wherein the standard audio speaker is a non-ultrasonic speaker.

34. An apparatus for producing audio output signals from audio input signals, the audio output signals including at least a first portion and a second portion, the apparatus comprising:

an ultrasonic speaker; and

a non-ultrasonic speaker,

wherein the ultrasonic speaker is configured to receive modulated ultrasonic signals to output ultrasonic output signals to be transformed into at least the first portion of the audio output signals, the first portion of the audio output signals being directional,

wherein the modulated ultrasonic signals are from modulating ultrasonic carrier signals at least based on high frequency signals,

wherein the non-ultrasonic speaker is configured to receive input signals to output at least the second portion of the audio output signals, with the input signals at least based on low frequency signals, and

wherein the low frequency signals and the high frequency signals are filtered outputs of the audio input signals.

35. An apparatus for producing audio output signals from audio input signals, the audio input signals including at least low frequency signals and high frequency signals, the apparatus comprising:

a first speaker device, wherein the first speaker device includes at least;

circuitry to at least modify at least a portion of the high frequency signals to form modified high frequency signals;

a modulator to modulate ultrasonic signals at least based on the modified high frequency signals; and

an ultrasonic speaker to output ultrasonic output signals at least based on the modulated ultrasonic signals, with the ultrasonic output signals to be transformed into at least a first portion of the audio output signals, the first portion of the audio output signals being directional,

wherein the circuitry to at least modify the at least a portion of the high frequency signals to compensate for at least some of the non-linear distortion due to the transformation of the ultrasonic output signals into the at least a first portion of the audio output signals in air, and

wherein the apparatus further comprises a filter to filter out the at least a portion of the high frequency signals from at least a portion of the audio input signals, for the circuitry to at least modify.

36. An apparatus as recited in claim 35 further comprising a second speaker device, wherein the second speaker device comprises another ultrasonic speaker to output ultrasonic output signals based on at least a portion of the audio input signals, with the ultrasonic output signals to be transformed into at least a second portion of the audio output signals, the second portion of the audio output signals being directional.

37. An apparatus as recited in claim 36, wherein, in operation, the first speaker device and the second speaker device are to be positioned separately but both in the vicinity of the neck of a user, to at least direct the first portion of the audio output signals in a direction generally toward a first ear of the user, and to at least direct the second portion of the audio output signals in a direction generally toward a second ear of the user.

38. An apparatus as recited in claim 36, wherein, in operation, the first speaker device is to be positioned in the vicinity of a first shoulder of a user, and wherein, in operation, the second speaker device is to be positioned in the vicinity of a second shoulder of the user.

39. An apparatus as recited in claim 35, wherein the apparatus is wearable by a user.

40. An apparatus as recited in claim 35, wherein, in operation, the first speaker device is to be positioned in the vicinity of the neck of a user to at least direct the first portion of the audio output signals in a direction generally toward a first ear of the user.

41. An apparatus as recited in claim 35, wherein, in operation, the first speaker device is to be positioned in the vicinity of a first shoulder of a user.

42. An apparatus as recited in claim 35, wherein, in operation, the first speaker device is to be worn by the user via a piece of material circling around at least a portion of the neck of a user.

43. An apparatus as recited in claim 35 further comprising a microphone.

44. An apparatus as recited in claim 35 further comprising a non-ultrasonic speaker to output at least a second portion of the audio output signals, at least based on at least a portion of the low frequency signals.

45. An apparatus as recited in claim 44, wherein, in operation, the first speaker device is to be positioned closer to a first shoulder than a second shoulder of a user.

46. An apparatus as recited in claim 44 further comprising another ultrasonic speaker to output ultrasonic output signals from at least a portion of the audio input signals to form a third portion of the audio output signals, which is directional.

47. An apparatus as recited in claim 46, wherein, in operation, the first speaker device and the another ultrasonic speaker are to be positioned separately and in the vicinity of the neck of a user, to at least direct the first portion of the audio output signals in a direction generally toward a first side of the user, and to at least direct the third portion of the audio output signals in a direction generally toward a second side of the user.

48. An apparatus as recited in claim 44 further comprising wireless communication components to enable the apparatus for wireless communication.

49. An apparatus as recited in claim 48 further comprising a microphone.

50. An apparatus as recited in claim 49 further comprising another ultrasonic speaker to output ultrasonic output signals from at least a portion of the audio input signals to form a third portion of the audio output signals, which is directional.

51. An apparatus as recited in claim 50 wherein, in operation, the first speaker device and the another ultrasonic speaker are to be positioned separately and in the vicinity of the neck of a user, to at least direct the first portion of the audio output signals in a direction generally toward a first side of the user, and to at least direct the third portion of the audio output signals in a direction generally toward a second side of the user.