Sound processing system using spatial imaging techniques

• US 20060088175A1
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: House, William, Eid, Bradley
• Granted Patent: US 8,031,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/104
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/002 Non-adaptive circuits, e.g. manually adjustable or static, for enhancing the sound image or the spatial distribution control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field H04S7/30
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 5/005 of the pseudo five- or more-channel type, e.g. virtual surround
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/00 Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/40 Visual indication of stereophonic sound image

Abstract

A sound processing system reduces the instances when only a center speaker is heard. The gain of a volume setting is adjusted for individual speakers in response to one or more input signals. The gain of the center speaker is attenuated in relation to the global volume setting. In addition or as an alternative, the gain of front and/or rear speakers is increased. A virtual center channel is generated for locations where the center speaker may not be heard.

Claims

1-59. -59. (canceled)

60. A sound processing system for a vehicle, comprising:

a crossbar matrix mixer;

a center channel volume compensator connected to the crossbar matrix mixer, the center channel volume compensator configured to receive a center output signal from the crossbar matrix mixer; and

at least one of a front channel volume and a rear channel volume compensator connected to the crossbar matrix mixer, the front channel volume compensator configured to receive at least one front output signal from the crossbar matrix mixer, the rear channel volume compensator configured to receive at least one rear output signal from the crossbar matrix mixer; and

where the center channel volume compensator selectively adjusts a volume gain for the center output signal in response to an input signal,

where the front channel volume compensator increases the volume gain for the front output signal in response to the input signal, and

where the rear channel volume compensator increases the volume gain for the rear output signal in response to the input signal.

61. The sound processing system according to claim 60, where the input signal comprises a volume setting of an audio system in a vehicle.

62. The sound processing system according to claim 60, where the input signal comprises a vehicle speed.

63. The sound processing system according to claim 60, where the input signal comprises an ambient noise level in a vehicle.

64. The sound processing system according to claim 60, where the input signal comprises a sound pressure level in a vehicle.

65. The sound processing system according to claim 60, further comprising at least one door-mounted speaker in a vehicle, where the at least one door-mounted speaker receives at least one of the front and rear output signals.

66. The sound processing system according to claim 60, where the at least one front output signal comprises at least one of a left front output signal or a right front output signal, or a combination thereof.

67. The sound processing system according to claim 60, where the at least one rear output signal comprises at least one of a right surround output signal, a right rear output signal, a left surround output signal, or a left rear output signal, or combinations thereof.

68. The sound processing system according to claim 60, further comprising a decoder connected to the crossbar matrix mixer, the decoder configured to provide multiple decoded signals to the crossbar matrix mixer in response to audio signals.

69. The sound processing system according to claim 68, where the decoder generates a front input signal, a center input signal, and a rear input signal, and where the crossbar matrix mixer generates a virtual center channel in response to the rear input signal and at least one of the center input signal or the front input signal, or combinations thereof.

70. A method for processing sound in a vehicle, comprising:

attenuating a volume gain for a center output signal in response to an input signal;

increasing the volume gain for at least one front output signal in response to the input signal; and

generating a virtual center channel.

71. The method of claim 70, where the input signal is indicative of an operational parameter related to operation of a vehicle.

72. The method for processing sound according to claim 70, further comprising increasing the volume gain for at least one rear output signal in response to the input signal.

73. The method for processing sound according to claim 70, where the input signal indicates a top-up/top-down status of a convertible top.

74. The method of processing sound according to claim 70, where the input signal indicates a vehicle started/vehicle stopped status of a vehicle.

75. A method for processing sound in a vehicle comprising:

attenuating a volume gain for a center output signal in response to an input signal;

increasing the volume gain for at least one rear output signal in response to the input signal; and

generating a virtual center channel.

76. The method of claim 75, where the input signal is indicative of an operational parameter related to operation of a vehicle.

77. The method for processing sound according to claim 75, further comprising increasing the volume gain for at least one rear output signal in response to the input signal.

78. The method for processing sound according to claim 75, where the input signal indicates a top-up/top-down status of a convertible top.

79. The method of processing sound according to claim 75, where the input signal indicates a vehicle started/vehicle stopped status of a vehicle.

80. The method of processing sound according to claim 75, where the input signal indicates a windows-up/windows-down status of a vehicle.

81. A method for processing sound in a vehicle, comprising:

sensing an input signal;

selectively adjusting a volume gain for a center output signal with a center channel volume compensator in response to the input signal; and

selectively adjusting a volume gain for at least one of a front output signal or a rear output signal, or combinations thereof, with a respective front channel volume compensator or a rear channel volume compensator in response to the input signal.

82. The method of claim 81, where selectively adjusting the volume gain for at least one of a front output signal or a rear output signal, or combinations thereof, comprises increasing the volume gain of at least one of the front output signal or the rear output signal, or combinations thereof, with respect to the center output signal.

83. The method of claim 81, where sensing an input signal comprises sensing a volume input signal from an audio system in a vehicle.

84. The method of claim 81, where sensing an input signal comprises sensing an ambient noise level in a vehicle.

85. The method of claim 81, where sensing an input signal comprises sensing a sound pressure level in a vehicle.

86. The method of claim 81, where selectively adjusting a volume gain for a center output signal comprises attenuating the volume gain of the center output signal with respect to at least one of the front output signal or the rear output signal, or combinations thereof, when the volume input signal is equal or less than a threshold volume level.

87. The method of claim 81, where the volume gain for at least one of the front output signal or the rear output signal is increased with respect to the volume gain for the center channel.

88. A sound processing system for a vehicle, comprising:

an audio source;

a crossbar matrix mixer connected to the audio source and configured to receive an audio signal from the audio source; and

a door-mounted speaker compensator connected to the crossbar matrix mixer;

at least one door-mounted speaker connected to the door-mounted speaker compensator;

where the door-mounted speaker receives at least one output signal from the crossbar matrix mixer, and

an input signal indicative of an ambient noise level in the vehicle, where the door-mounted speaker compensator is configured to adjust a volume gain of the at least one output signal in response to the input signal, and drive the at least one door-mounted speaker with the adjusted at least one output signal.

89. The sound processing system according to claim 88, where the input signal is an input to the door mounted speaker compensator.

90. The sound processing system according to claim 88, where the door-mounted speaker compensator applies additional gain to the at least one output signal in response to the input signal.

91. The sound processing system according to claim 88, where the input signal is a real-time signal indicative of a sound pressure level in an interior of the vehicle.

92. The sound processing system according to claim 88, where the input signal is a real-time signal indicative of a sound pressure level at a door location in the vehicle.

93. The sound processing system according to claim 88, where the input signal comprises a speed of the vehicle.

94. The sound processing system according to claim 88, where the input signal comprises a plurality of signals, and the signals include signals indicative of a sound pressure level in an interior of the vehicle and a speed of the vehicle.

95. A method for processing sound in a vehicle, comprising:

adjusting a volume gain for a center output signal in response to an input signal that is indicative of a level of ambient noise being experienced by a user in a vehicle; and

increasing the volume gain for at least one of a front output signal or a rear output signal, or a combination thereof in response to the input signal.

96. A method for processing sound in a vehicle, comprising:

receiving an input signal indicative of a level of ambient noise in a vehicle, a front input signal, a center input signal, and a rear input signal;

mixing the rear input signal with at least one of the front input signal and the center input signal based on the input signal; and

generating a virtual center channel.