System and methods for television with integrated sound projection system

• US 8,274,611 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rakuten Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America Inc. (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: DeMartin, Frank, Naranjo, David, Whitelaw, Jeffrey, Mortensen, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): KOSTAK, VICTOR R
• Application Number:
  US12/487,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20100042925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 348/738, 348/569, 381/61, 381/300, 381/303, 381/307, 345/440, 345/440.1
• US Class Current: 348/738
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/301 Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone

Abstract

Systems and methods that facilitate the use and operation of a television (TV) with an integrated sound projection system. The sound projector preferably comprises an array of speakers configurable to project beams that reflect off the walls and ceiling to create surround sound. In one embodiment, the user can use a graphical user interface-base menu system to move the sound beams around the viewing room while being presented with a graphical representation of the same. In another embodiment, a TV remote control unit can be equipped with a embedded microphone and microprocessor control to measure the audio level and transmit the level back to the TV to be used to automatically setup audio levels and delays in surround systems. In another embodiment, individual audio settings could be saved per each activity for a preferred viewing experience for a given activity.

Claims

1. A television comprising

a screen;

a sound projector;

a control system coupled to the screen and sound projector, wherein the control system causes the sound projector to project one or more sound beams into a room toward one or more target locations, and wherein the control system displays a graphical user interface on the screen, the graphical user interface including graphical representation of the projected path of the one or more sound beams and operable by a user to adjust the angles of the projected path of the one or more sound beams;

wherein the interface prompts a user to input information using a menu-driven format; and

wherein the interface prompts the user to input viewing room parameters.

2. The television of claim 1 wherein the interface prompts the user to input sound output mode selection.

3. The television of claim 1 wherein the menu-driven format includes one or more text entry areas and menu-driven choices.

5. The television of claim 2 wherein the control system causes the output of sound in an output mode associated with a selected viewing activity.

6. The television of claim 1 wherein the viewing room parameters include a room size, a first wall size, a TV location on first wall, a second wall size, and a distance from the TV location to a sofa location.

7. The television of claim 1 further comprising a remote control unit having an embedded microphone for calibration of sound projector.

8. The television of claim 7 wherein the remote control unit comprises

an amp coupled to the embedded microphone,

an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the amp and the micro processor,

non-volatile memory coupled to the micro processor, and

an IR transmitter coupled to the micro processor.

9. The television of claim 8 wherein the remote control unit further comprises dedicated function key coupled to the micro processor to cause the transmission of an IR signal to the TV to cause the control system to enter a sound calibration mode.

4. A television comprising

a screen;

a sound projector;

a control system coupled to the screen and sound projector, wherein the control system causes the sound projector to project one or more sound beams into a room toward one or more target locations, and wherein the control system displays a graphical user interface on the screen, the graphical user interface including graphical representation of the projected path of the one or more sound beams and operable by a user to adjust the angles of the projected path of the one or more sound beams;

wherein the interface prompts a user to input information using a menu-driven format; and

wherein the interface prompts the user to input sound beam angles.

10. A method comprising the steps of

prompting a user to enter a first parameter regarding room size, a second parameter regarding TV location, and a third parameter regarding viewing distance from TV,

calculating beam angles for sound beams emanating from a sound projector embedded in the TV,

drawing a first set of polygons corresponding to paths of the sound beams emanating from the sound projector, and

displaying the polygons on a screen of a TV.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of drawing a second set of polygons corresponding to paths of the sound beams emanating from the sound projector resulting from a change in beam angles entered by a user of the TV.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of

prompting a user to select a viewing activity,

prompting the user to select an audio mode of operation from a list of audio modes of operation including surround sound, stereo, mono targeted beam and dual target beam to be assigned to the viewing activity.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of

receiving instructions to begin a viewing activity selected by the user,

displaying video content on the display screen in accordance with the viewing activity, and

outputting sound corresponding to the video content in accordance with the audio mode assigned to the viewing activity.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of

receiving instructions to begin calibration of the sound projector embedded in a TV,

sending bursts of a test signals for each sound beam, and

receiving IR signals with the measured level of sound beams.