Surround sound virtualizer and method with dynamic range compression
US8867750B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 2009 |
| Grant date | Oct 21, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 20, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04S2420/01
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Method and system for generating output signals for reproduction by two physical speakers in response to input audio signals indicative of sound from multiple source locations including at least two rear locations. Typically, the input signals are indicative of sound from three front locations and two rear locations (left and right surround sources). A virtualizer generates left and right surround outputs useful for driving front loudspeakers to emit sound that a listener perceives as emitting from rear sources. Typically, the virtualizer generates left and right surround outputs by transforming rear source inputs in accordance with a head-related transfer function. To ensure that virtual channels are well heard in the presence of other channels, the virtualizer performs dynamic range compression on rear source inputs. The dynamic range compression is preferably accomplished by amplifying rear source inputs or partially processed versions thereof in a nonlinear way relative to front source inputs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.