IP Library Granted Patent US 9,232,312
Granted Patent B2
US 9,232,312 · App. 13/964,885 · Granted Jan 5, 2016

Multi-channel audio enhancement system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,232,312
App. No.
13/964,885
Granted
Jan 5, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for processing audio signals can include receiving left and right front audio signals and left and right rear audio signals, where the left and right rear audio signals. In addition, the method can include applying at least one front perspective filter to each of the left and right front audio signals to yield filtered left and right front output signals, where the left and right front output signals each drive a front speaker. Moreover, the method can include applying at least one rear perspective filter to each of the left and right rear audio signals to yield left and right rear output signals, where the left and right rear output signals each drive a rear speaker to simulate a rear surround sound effect when positioned in front of a listener.

Claims (34)

1. A method for processing audio signals, the method comprising:

receiving left and right front audio signals, the left and right front audio signals each comprising information about a front spatial position of a sound source relative to a listener;

receiving left and right rear audio signals, the left and right rear audio signals each comprising information about a rear spatial position of a sound source relative to a listener;

applying one or more definition filters to the left and right front audio signals to enhance the left and right front audio signals, the one or more definition filters configured to produce left and right front output signals;

providing the left and right front output signals to first front speakers;

applying at least one rear perspective filter to each of the left and right rear audio signals to yield left and right rear output signals; and

applying the left and right rear output signals to second front speakers, wherein the left and right rear output signals are each configured to drive one of the second front speakers to simulate a rear surround sound effect.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising enhancing dialog of at least one of (a) the left and right front audio signals and (b) a center front audio signal.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising enhancing a bass response associated with at least the filtered left and right front output signals.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one rear perspective filter comprises a combination of a high pass filter, a first low pass filter, and a second low pass filter.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the high pass filter has a corner frequency of about 13 kHz.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first low pass filter has a corner frequency of about 950 Hz.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second low pass filter has a corner frequency of about 8 kHz.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising processing at least a portion of the filtered left and right front output signals and the filtered left and right rear output signals with a crossover network.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is implemented by one or more processors.

10. A system for processing audio signals, the system comprising:

a definition module configured to:

receive left and right front audio signals each comprising information about a front spatial position of a sound source relative to a listener,

apply one or more definition filters to the left and right front audio signals to enhance the left and right front audio signals and thereby produce left and right front output signals, and

output the left and right front output signals for playback by first front speakers; and

at least one rear perspective filter configured to:

receive left and right rear audio signals each comprising information about a rear spatial position of a sound source relative to a listener,

filter each of the left and right rear audio signals to yield left and right rear output signals, and

output the left and right rear output signals for playback by second front speakers, wherein the left and right rear output signals are each configured to drive one of the second front speakers to simulate a rear surround sound effect.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a dialog clarity module configured to enhance dialog in at least one of (a) the left and right front audio signals and (b) a center front audio signal.

12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a bass management module configured to enhance a bass response associated with one or more of the filtered left and right front output signals and a subwoofer audio signal.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the dialog clarity module is configured to enhance dialog in at least one of (a) the left and right front audio signals and (b) a center front audio signal by emphasizing formants in a high frequency range of speech.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one rear perspective filter comprises a combination of a high pass filter, a first low pass filter, and a second low pass filter.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the high pass filter has a corner frequency of about 13 kHz.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first low pass filter has a corner frequency of about 950 Hz.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the second low pass filter has a corner frequency of about 8 kHz.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein one or both of the definition module and the at least one rear perspective filter are implemented by one or more processors.

19. The system of claim 10 , further comprising the first front speakers and second front speakers.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the second front speakers are in proximity with the first front speakers.

Assignments (5)
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Oct 27, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: VEVEO LLC (F.K.A. VEVEO, INC.); DTS, INC.; PHORUS, INC.; IBIQUITY DIGITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061786/0675 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2020
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: TESSERA, INC.; INVENSAS BONDING TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (F/K/A ZIPTRONIX, INC.); FOTONATION CORPORATION (F/K/A DIGITALOPTICS CORPORATION AND F/K/A DIGITALOPTICS CORPORATION MEMS); INVENSAS CORPORATION; TESSERA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, INC; DTS, INC.; DTS LLC; PHORUS, INC.; IBIQUITY DIGITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052920/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2020
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS INC.; VEVEO, INC.; INVENSAS CORPORATION; INVENSAS BONDING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TESSERA, INC.; TESSERA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DTS, INC.; PHORUS, INC.; IBIQUITY DIGITAL CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053468/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 20, 2018
From: DTS LLC
To: DTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 047119/0508 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 2, 2016
From: INVENSAS CORPORATION; TESSERA, INC.; TESSERA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; ZIPTRONIX, INC.; DIGITALOPTICS CORPORATION; DIGITALOPTICS CORPORATION MEMS; DTS, LLC; DTS, INC.; PHORUS, INC.; IBIQUITY DIGITAL CORPORATION
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040797/0001 →