SURROUND SOUND APPLICATIONS AND DEVICES FOR VERTICALLY-ORIENTED CONTENT

• US 20170150263A1
• Filed: 11/23/2016
• Published: 05/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas Mitchell Dair
• Original Assignee: Thomas Mitchell Dair
• Inventors: DAIR, THOMAS MITCHELL
• Granted Patent: US 10,154,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/20 Automatic control H03G3/005 takes precedence; combined with volume compression or expansion H03G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/01 Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers for hearing aids H04R25/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/01 Multi-channel, i.e. more than two input channels, sound reproduction with two speakers wherein the multi-channel information is substantially preserved
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/05 Generation or adaptation of centre channel in multi-channel audio systems
• 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 3/008 in which the audio signals are in digital form, i.e. employing more than two discrete digital channels data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02

Abstract

Examples described herein include surround sound systems for vertically-oriented displays and televisions that may leverage existing audio formats, recording techniques and audio authoring tools specifically for vertical display applications. Audio speakers and the vertically-oriented display may all be arranged on a single vertical plane to deliver visual image and spatial audio sound and sound effects on the vertical (e.g. top and bottom) and horizontal (e.g. left and right) axes in relation to the user. Speakers can be positioned separate from the vertically-oriented display as a method or integrated with the display using a frame system or within the housing of a display or television device itself.

Claims

1. An audio frame comprising:

a frame back;

a frame front configured to mate with the frame back, the frame back and the frame front configured to encase a vertically-oriented display; and

speakers mounted to the frame back, the speakers including;

two center channel speakers on either side of a middle of a vertical axis of the vertically-oriented display;

two top channel speakers on either side of an upper end of the vertical axis of the vertically-oriented display; and

two bottom channel speakers on either side of a lower end of the vertical axis of the vertically-oriented display.

2. The audio frame of claim 1, wherein the two top channel speakers are configured to project sounds associated with images displayed at the upper end of the vertically-oriented display.

3. The audio frame of claim 1, wherein the two bottom channel speakers are configured to project sounds associated with images displayed at the lower end of the vertically oriented-display.

4. The audio frame of claim 1, further comprising:

a top center channel speaker positioned along the vertical axis of the vertically-oriented display at the upper end of the vertically-oriented display.

5. The audio frame of claim 1, further comprising:

a bottom center channel speaker positioned along the vertical axis of the vertically-oriented display at the lower end of the vertically-oriented display.

6. The audio frame of claim 1, further comprising:

two middle channel speakers positioned on either side the vertical axis of the vertically-oriented display between the center channel speakers and the bottom channel speakers.

7. The audio frame of claim 1, wherein the frame front comprises a plurality of openings aligned with the speakers.

8. An audio system for a vertically-oriented display comprising:

a frame back;

a front housing configured to mate with the frame back; and

a plurality of speakers mounted between the frame back and the front housing around a perimeter of the vertically-oriented display and configured to provide audio that is spatially coordinated with images displayed on the vertically-oriented display.

9. The audio system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of speakers comprises a top speaker configured to provide audio that is vertically spatially coordinated with images displayed at a top of the vertically-oriented display.

10. The audio system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of speakers further comprises a bottom speaker configured to provide audio that is spatially coordinated with images displayed at a bottom of the vertically-oriented display.

11. The audio system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of speakers further comprises a pair of center channel speakers positioned on either side of the vertically-oriented display.

12. The audio system of claim 10, wherein the bottom speaker and the top speaker are aligned along a vertical axis of the vertically-oriented display,

13. The audio system of claim 10, wherein the bottom speaker is located at a lower corner of the vertically-oriented display and the top speaker is located at an upper corner of the vertically-oriented display.

14. The audio system of claim 10, further comprising a subwoofer located external to the frame back and the front housing.

15. The audio system of claim 14, further comprising a second center channel speaker mounted on the subwoofer.

16. The audio system of claim 10, further comprising a second center channel speaker mounted on an automated movable base.

17. The audio system of claim 16, wherein the second center channel speaker is configured to move autonomously based on images displayed on the vertically-oriented display.

18. The audio system of claim 17, wherein the second center channel speaker is further configured to provide audio that is spatially coordinated with images displayed on the vertically-oriented display and a location of the second center channel speaker.

19. A method of providing audio for a vertically-oriented display comprising:

routing a first surround sound channel to a first pair of speakers positioned at an upper end of the vertically-oriented display; and

routing a second surround sound channel to a second pair of speakers positioned at a lower end of the vertically-oriented display,

wherein the first surround sound channel is configured to provide sound associated with images displayed at the upper end of the vertically-oriented display and the second surround sound channel is configured to provide sound associated with images displayed at the lower end of the vertically-oriented display.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising routing a third surround sound channel to a third pair of speakers positioned on either side of the vertically-oriented display between the upper end and the lower end of the vertically oriented display.