IP Library Granted Patent US 12,267,663
Granted Patent B2
US 12,267,663 · App. 17/957,441 · Granted Apr 1, 2025

Method and system for surround sound processing in an audio device

Inventor: Richard Kulavik (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc.
H04S3/004H04R5/033H04S5/005H04S2400/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,267,663
App. No.
17/957,441
Granted
Apr 1, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An audio headset may receive a plurality of audio signals corresponding to plurality of surround sound channels. The headset may determine, via its audio processing circuitry, context and/or content of the audio signals. The audio processing circuitry may process the audio signals to generate stereo signals carrying one or more virtual surround channels, wherein the processing comprises automatically controlling, based on the context and the content of the audio signals, a simulated acoustic environment of the virtual surround channels.

Claims (34)

1. A method, comprising:

in an audio device:

receiving a plurality of audio channels;

determining an acoustic environment according to a type of audio carried by the audio channels;

simulating the acoustic environment via one or more virtual channels; and

generating stereo signals according to the one or more virtual channels.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type of audio comprises one of game audio, music audio and movie audio.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the type of audio is game audio, the acoustic environment is different than when the type of audio is music audio.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the type of audio is game audio, the acoustic environment is different than when the type of audio is movie audio.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the type of audio is movie audio, the acoustic environment is different than when the type of audio is music audio.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the type of the audio is music audio, side audio channels and rear audio channels, of the plurality of audio channels, are attenuated.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the type of the audio is game audio, the acoustic environment comprises a scenario in a game that is generating the game audio.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the type of the audio is game audio, the acoustic environment comprises a viewpoint of a player in a game that is generating the game audio.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein in a first acoustic environment, a listener perceives a source of one of the virtual channels as being closer, relative to a second acoustic environment.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual channels comprise a center channel.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:

detecting the type of audio, carried by the audio channels, according to a particular sound stored in the audio device.

12. A system, comprising:

an audio device configured to:

receive a plurality of audio channels;

determine an acoustic environment according to a type of audio carried by the audio channels;

simulate the acoustic environment via one or more virtual channels; and

generate stereo signals according to the one or more virtual channels.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the type of audio comprises one of game audio, music audio and movie audio.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein when the type of audio is game audio, the audio device is configured to simulate a different acoustic environment than when the type of audio is music audio.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein when the type of audio is game audio, the audio device is configured to simulate a different acoustic environment than when the type of audio is movie audio.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein when the type of audio is movie audio, the audio device is configured to simulate a different acoustic environment than when the type of audio is music audio.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein when the type of the audio is music audio, the audio device is configured to attenuate side audio channels and rear audio channels, of the plurality of audio channels.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein when the type of the audio is game audio, the audio device is configured to simulate the acoustic environment according to a scenario in a game that is generating the game audio.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein when the type of the audio is game audio, the audio device is configured to simulate the acoustic environment from a viewpoint of a player in a game that is generating the game audio.

20. The system of claim 12 , wherein the audio device is configured to simulate a first acoustic environment such that a listener perceives a source of one of the virtual channels as being closer, relative to a second acoustic environment.

21. The system of claim 12 , wherein the virtual channels comprise a center channel.

22. The system of claim 12 , wherein the audio device is configured to:

detect the type of audio, carried by the audio channels, according to a particular sound stored in the audio device.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 075315/0067 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2026
From: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 075311/0625 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 4, 2025
From: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 072338/0059 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2025
From: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
To: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 072337/0391 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2024
From: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
To: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066797/0517 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 17123755 · Dec 16, 2020
Continuation 16871463 · May 11, 2020
Continuation 16353565 · Mar 14, 2019
Continuation 15659161 · Jul 25, 2017
Continuation 14449236 · Aug 1, 2014
Provisional Application 61888586 · Oct 9, 2013
Related Publication 20230033891A1 · Feb 2, 2023
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