Augmented reality (AR) audio with position and action triggered virtual sound effects
US8831255B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 8, 2012 |
| Grant date | Sep 9, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 9, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04S2420/01
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An augmented reality (AR) audio system for augmenting environment or ambient sound with sounds from a virtual speaker or sound source positioned at a location in the space surrounding an AR participant. The sound from the virtual speaker may be triggered by an action of the listener and/or by the location or relative orientation of the listener. The AR audio system includes stereo earphones receiving an augmented audio track from a control unit, and binaural microphones are provided to capture ambient sounds. The control unit operates to process trigger signals and retrieve one or more augmentation sounds. The control unit uses an AR audio mixer to combine the ambient sound from the microphones with the augmentation sounds to generate left and right ear augmented audio or binaural audio, which may be modified for acoustic effects of the environment including virtual objects in the environment or virtual characteristics of real objects.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.