Method for automatically adjusting the sound and visual parameters of a home theatre system

• US 7,095,455 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2001
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Jordan, Richard J., Ahmad, Omar M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grier, Laura A.
• Application Number:
  US09/813,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20020136414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,980 Days
• Field of Search: 381/300, 381/307, 381/56, 381/58, 381/113, 348/602, 348/603, 348180-181
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/00 Systems employing more than two channels, e.g. quadraphonic H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/301 Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/302 Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation H04S7/301 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

A system is provided for setting various acoustic and visual parameters to improve the reproduction of audio signals and visual signals. The system incorporates a hand-held remote control device which operates the main surround sound unit (e.g., home theatre receiver and/or digital decoder) and the display device via electromagnetic link, for example. The remote control includes a sensor capable of detecting various types of signals emitted by a number of speakers, and a processor that makes adjustments to the signal provided to each of the speaker based on the signal received from that speaker.

Claims

1. A method for automatically adjusting at least one of a predetermined plurality of parameters in a home theatre system, the method including the steps of:

sending a visual test signal based upon a predetermined setting to a hand-held remote control, wherein the visual test signal is designed to set a home theatre system;

detecting the visual test signal by the hand-held remote control;

processing the visual test signal by the hand-held remote control to determine an adjustment information based upon the predetermined setting so that the visual test signal when adjusted to the adjustment information is substantially similar to the predetermined setting; and

producing an adjusted visual test signal that modifies the test signal based upon the adjustment information to substantially match the predetermined setting, where the visual test signal is a visual video test signal.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

sending the adjusted visual test signal to the hand-held remote control;

detecting the adjusted visual test signal by the hand-held remote control;

wherein if the adjusted visual test signal is not substantially similar to the predetermined setting then;

processing the adjusted visual test signal by the hand-held remote control to determine a second adjustment information based upon the predetermined setting so that the adjusted visual test signal when adjusted to the second adjustment information is substantially similar to the predetermined setting; and

producing a second adjusted test signal that modifies the adjusted visual test signal based upon the second adjustment information to substantially match the predetermined setting.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the processing is done by a digital signal processor to process the visual test signal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the processing is done by an analog signal processor to process the visual test signal.

5. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

providing an output device to display information relating to the adjustment processing.

6. A method for automatically adjusting at least one of a predetermined plurality of parameters in a home theatre system, the method including the steps of:

sending a visual test signal based upon a predetermined setting to a hand-held remote control receiver, wherein the visual test signal is designed to set a home theatre system;

detecting the visual test signal by the hand-held remote control receiver;

processing the visual test signal by the receiver to determine an adjustment information based upon the predetermined setting so that the visual test signal when adjusted to the adjustment information is substantially similar to the predetermined setting; and

producing an adjusted test signal that modifies the visual test signal based upon the adjustment information to substantially match the predetermined setting, where the visual test signal is a visual video test signal,

sending the adjusted visual test signal to the hand-held remote control receiver;

detecting the adjusted visual test signal by the hand-held remote control receiver;

wherein if thee adjusted visual test signal is not substantially similar to the predetermined setting then;

processing the adjusted visual test signal by the hand-held remote control receiver to determine a second adjustment information based upon the predetermined setting so that the adjusted visual test signal when adjusted to the second adjustment information is substantially similar to the predetermined setting; and

producing a second adjusted visual test signal that modifies the adjusted test signal based upon the second adjustment information to substantially match the predetermined setting.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the processing is done by a digital signal processor to process the visual test signal.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the processing is done by an analog signal processor to process the visual test signal.

9. The method of claim 6, further including the steps of:

providing an output device to display information relating to the adjustment processing.

10. A method of adjusting at least one of a predetermined plurality of parameters in a home video system, the method including:

sending a test video signal based upon a predetermined setting to a hand-held remote control;

receiving the test video signal by the hand-held remote control;

processing the test video signal received by the hand-held remote control to determine an adjustment information based upon the predetermined setting so that the test video signal when adjusted to the adjustment information is substantially similar to the predetermined setting; and

producing an adjusted test signal that modifies the test video signal based upon the adjustment information to substantially match the predetermined setting.

11. The method of claim 10, where the processing is done by a processor within the hand-held remote control.

12. The method of claim 10, where the hand-held remote control has a sensor to detect the test video signal.

13. The method of claim 10, further including:

sending the adjusted test signal to the hand-held remote control;

receiving the adjusted test signal by the hand-held remote control;

where if the adjusted test signal is not substantially similar to the predetermined setting then;

processing the adjusted test signal by the hand-held remote control to determine a second adjustment information based upon the predetermined setting so that the adjusted test signal when adjusted to the second adjustment information is substantially similar to the predetermined setting; and

producing a second adjusted test signal that modifies the adjusted test signal based upon the second adjustment information to substantially match the predetermined setting.