Multiple channel sound system using multi-speaker arrays

• US 8,363,865 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heather Bottum
• Original Assignee: Heather Bottum
• Inventors: Bottum, Heather
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Application Number:
  US12/434,740
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 381303-307, 381/310, 381/300, 381333-336
• US Class Current: 381/307
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/26 Spatial arrangements of separate transducers responsive to two or more frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/028 Structural combinations of loudspeakers with built-in power amplifiers, e.g. in the same acoustic enclosure H04R2499/10 takes precedence; Single (sub)woofer with two or more satellite loudspeakers for mid- and high-frequency band reproduction driven via the (sub)woofer H04R2205/026
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• 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

An apparatus that provides for the reproduction of 6.1 surround sound (or other formats of) audio programs using a minimum of two speaker cluster locations is disclosed. The current invention accurately produces surround sound effects with speakers in only two locations in lieu of the conventional six. A sub-woofer, in its normal configuration, can be used with the invention if desired. The left front, rear center, rear left and center signals are produced from a left cluster array. The right front, rear center, rear right and center signals are produced from a right cluster array. This configuration eliminates the need for a center speaker and for rear speakers. Such elimination of speaker locations, along with their associated wiring, produces a less cluttered look, and lends itself to use in listening rooms of smaller size.

Claims

1. A multi-channel/signal array comprising:

a left front cluster array positioned left of a television monitor;

a right front cluster array positioned right of the television monitor;

a subwoofer;

a rear cluster array;

said left front cluster array and said right front cluster array are provided with at least two discrete audio signals via a receiver unit, wherein said receiver unit is adapted to receive said at least two discrete audio signals having been generated via said receiver unit to said left front cluster array, to said right front cluster array and to said subwoofer;

said rear cluster array provided with at least two discrete audio signals via a receiver unit, wherein said receiver unit is adapted to receive and transmit said at least two discrete audio signals having been generated via said receiver unit to said rear cluster array and a signal to said subwoofer;

connection mechanism adapted to connect said left front cluster array, said right front cluster array, said rear cluster array and said subwoofer to said receiver unit;

a subwoofer signal is transmitted and accepted by said subwoofer;

a front center signal, a left main signal, and a left rear signal are transmitted and accepted by said left front cluster array thereby providing sound adapted to produce sound which appears to emanate from locations other than the sound'"'"'s source;

a front center signal, a right main signal, and a right rear signal are transmitted and accepted by said right front cluster array thereby providing sound adapted to produce sound which appears to emanate from locations other than the sound'"'"'s source; and

a right rear signal, a left rear signal and a center rear signal are transmitted and accepted by said rear cluster array, thereby proving sound adapted to produce sound which appears to emanate from locations other than the sound'"'"'s source.

2. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 1, wherein said left front cluster array comprises a left cluster enclosure for housing:

a first mid-bass woofer, said first mid-bass woofer utilizes a multiple voice coil for multiple channel mid-bass reproduction;

a second mid-bass woofer, said second mid-bass woofer utilizing a multiple voice coil for multiple channel mid-bass reproduction;

a first mid-high driver, said first mid-high driver utilizes a multiple voice coil; and

a second mid-high driver, said second mid-high driver utilizes a multiple voice coil.

3. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 2, wherein said right front cluster array comprises a right cluster enclosure for housing:

a third mid-bass woofer, said third mid-bass woofer utilizes a multiple voice coil for multiple channel mid-bass reproduction;

a fourth mid-bass woofer, said fourth mid-bass woofer utilizing a multiple voice coil for multiple channel mid-bass reproduction;

a third mid-high driver;

said third mid-high driver utilizes a multiple voice coil; and

a fourth mid-high driver, said fourth mid-high driver utilizes a multiple voice coil.

4. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 1, wherein said rear cluster array comprises a rear cluster enclosure for housing a plurality of separate sound signal producing devices in the mid-high driver range.

5. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 4, wherein at least one said sound producing device is forwardly positioned to direct sound directly at a listening position.

6. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 4, wherein said Plurality of sound producing devices are angularly positioned or located at other positions on the multi-channel/signal array.

7. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 4, wherein said plurality of sound producing devices are side-firing positioned, thus directing sound waves to opposite walls to produce a sound effect for each signal or channel which appears to emanate from opposite sides of a home theater room.

8. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 4, wherein said plurality of sound producing devices each utilize a multiple voice coil.

9. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 3, wherein said fourth mid-high driver and said second mid-high driver are capable of being angled towards the television monitor for positioning sound between said left front cluster array and said right front cluster array.

10. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 9, wherein said fourth mid-high driver and said second mid-high driver are angled at thirty degrees towards the television monitor.

11. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 2, wherein:

said first and said second mid-bass woofers are further amplified; and

said first and second mid-high drivers are amplified.

12. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 1, wherein said left front cluster array comprises a left cluster enclosure for housing:

a first mid-bass woofer, said first mid-bass woofer utilizes a multiple voice coil for multiple channel mid-bass reproduction;

a first mid-high driver, said first mid-high driver utilizes a multiple voice coil; and

a passive radiator.

13. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 12, wherein:

said first mid-high driver performs discretely; and

said second mid-high driver performs discretely.

14. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 8, wherein said plurality of sound producing devices are amplified.

15. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 3, wherein said left cluster enclosure and said right cluster enclosure are each further adapted to accommodate more than one channel and wherein:

said first mid-high driver and said third mid-high driver are each fed an identical signal; and

said second mid-high driver and said fourth mid-high driver are each fed an identical signal;

whereby a center channel speaker sound emulating a front center channel is created that appears to be coming from the center relative to the television monitor.

16. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 1, wherein said connection mechanism is a wireless communication mechanism.

17. A multi-channel/signal array comprising:

a left front cluster array positioned left of a television monitor;

a right front cluster array positioned right of the television monitor;

a subwoofer;

a left rear cluster array;

a right rear cluster array;

said left front cluster array and said right front cluster array are provided with at least two discrete audio signals via a receiver unit, wherein said receiver unit is adapted to receive and transmit said at least two discrete audio signals having been generated via said receiver unit to said left front cluster array, to said right front cluster array and a signal to said subwoofer;

said left rear cluster array and said right rear cluster array are provided with at least two discrete audio signals via said receiver unit, wherein said receiver unit is adapted to receive and transmit said at least two discrete audio signals having been generated via said receiver unit to said left rear cluster array, to said right rear array and a signal to said subwoofer;

connection mechanism adapted to connect said left front cluster array, said right front cluster array, said left rear cluster array, said right rear cluster array and said subwoofer to said receiver unit;

a subwoofer signal is transmitted from said receiver and accepted by said subwoofer;

a front center signal, a left main signal, and a left rear signal are transmitted and accepted by said left front cluster array thereby providing sound which appears to emanate from locations other than the left front cluster array;

said front center signal, a right main signal, and a right rear signal are transmitted and accepted by said right rear cluster array, thereby providing sound which appears to emanate from locations other than the right rear cluster array;

a front center signal, a right main signal, and a right rear signal are transmitted and accepted by said right front cluster array, thereby providing sound which appears to emanate from locations other than the right front cluster array; and

said front signal, a left rear signal, a right main signal and said center rear signal is transmitted and accepted by said left rear cluster array, thereby proving sound which appears to emanate from locations other than the sound'"'"'s source.

18. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 17, wherein said connection mechanism further comprises a wireless communication mechanism.

19. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 17, wherein said left front cluster array comprises a left cluster enclosure for housing:

a first mid-bass woofer, said first mid-bass woofer utilizes a multiple voice coil;

a second mid-bass woofer, said second mid-bass woofer utilizing a multiple voice coil for multiple channel mid-bass reproduction;

a first mid-high driver, said first mid-high driver utilizes a multiple voice coil; and

a second mid-high driver, said second mid-high driver utilizes a multiple voice coil.

20. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 19, wherein said right front cluster array comprises a right cluster enclosure for housing:

a third mid-bass woofer, said third mid-bass woofer utilizes a multiple voice coil for multiple channel mid-bass reproduction;

a fourth mid-bass woofer, said fourth mid-bass woofer utilizing a multiple voice coil for multiple channel mid-bass reproduction;

a third mid-high driver;

said third mid-high driver utilizes a multiple voice coil; and

a fourth mid-high driver, said fourth mid-high driver utilizes a multiple voice coil.

21. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 17, wherein said left rear cluster array and said right rear cluster array each comprises a rear cluster enclosure for housing a plurality of separate sound signal producing devices.

22. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 19, wherein said plurality of sound producing devices are forwardly positioned to direct sound directly at a listening position.

23. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 19, wherein said plurality of sound producing devices are angularly positioned relative to a listening position.

24. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 19, wherein said plurality of sound producing devices are side-firing positioned, thus directing sound waves to opposite walls to produce a sound effect for each signal or channel which appears to emanate from opposite sides of a home theater room.

25. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 19, wherein at least one of said plurality of sound producing devices each utilize a multiple voice coil.

26. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 19, wherein:

said first and said second mid-bass woofers are further amplified; and

said first and second mid-high drivers are amplified.

27. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 19, wherein said left front cluster array comprises a left cluster enclosure for housing:

a first mid-bass woofer, said first mid-bass woofer utilizes a multiple voice coil for multiple channel mid-bass reproduction;

a first mid-high driver, said first mid-high driver utilizes a multiple voice coil; and

a passive radiator.

28. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 17, wherein:

said first mid-high driver performs discretely; and

said second mid-high driver performs discretely.

29. The multi-channel/signal array of claim 19, wherein said plurality of sound producing devices are amplified.