IP Library Granted Patent US 12,549,920
Granted Patent B2
US 12,549,920 · App. 18/408,051 · Granted Feb 10, 2026

Spatialized audio relative to a peripheral device

Inventors: Eric J. Freeman (Sutton, MA); David Avi Dick (Marlborough, MA); Wade P. Torres (Attleboro, MA); Daniel R. Tengelsen (Framingham, MA); Eric Raczka Bernstein (Cambridge, MA)
Assignee: Bose Corporation
H04S7/304H04S2420/01
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,549,920
App. No.
18/408,051
Granted
Feb 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques and devices are described for generating modified audio signals. The techniques include receiving an audio signal at a device, tracking a movement of the device, generating a first modified audio signal to spatialize the audio signal, generating a second modified audio signal to spatialize the audio signal, causing the first modified audio signal to be rendered using a first speaker of the device, and causing the second modified audio signal to be rendered using a second speaker of the device. In some cases, the first modified audio signal is generated using a first head-related transfer function (HRTF) and the movement of the device, and the second modified audio signal is generated using a second HRTF and the movement of the device, where the second HRTF is different from the first HRTF. Numerous variations and configurations will be apparent in view of this disclosure.

Claims (43)

1 . A computer program product for generating modified audio signals, the computer program product including a set of non-transitory computer-readable instructions stored in memory, the set of non-transitory computer-readable instructions being executable on at least one processor and configured to:

receive an audio signal at a device;

separate the audio signal into a pre-spatialized audio portion and a non-spatialized audio portion, wherein the pre-spatialized audio portion corresponds to a first frequency range and the non-spatialized audio portion corresponds to a second frequency range, and wherein each frequency of the first frequency range is greater than each frequency of the second frequency range;

track a movement of the device;

generate a first spatialized audio signal to spatialize the pre-spatialized audio portion, wherein the first spatialized audio signal is generated using a first head-related transfer function (HRTF) and the movement of the device;

generate a second spatialized audio signal to spatialize the pre-spatialized audio portion, wherein the second spatialized audio signal is generated using a second HRTF and the movement of the device, the second HRTF different from the first HRTF;

cause a combination of the first spatialized audio signal and the non-spatialized audio portion to be rendered using a first speaker of the device; and

cause a combination of the second spatialized audio signal and the non-spatialized audio portion to be rendered using a second speaker of the device.

2 . The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the movement of the device includes a rotational orientation of the device.

3 . The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the movement of the device includes a change in position of the device within an environment.

4 . The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the tracking of the movement of the device is performed using at least one of a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a global positioning sensor (GPS), a proximity sensor, a microphone, a lidar sensor, or a camera.

5 . The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the spatializing of the audio signal includes simulating at least two virtual sound sources.

6 . The computer program product of claim 5 , wherein the at least two virtual sound sources include a discrete, extracted, or phantom center channel.

7 . The computer program product of claim 5 , wherein the at least two virtual sound sources include a virtual surround sound system, and wherein the virtual surround sound system includes virtual height channels.

8 . The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the spatializing of the audio signal includes first order acoustic reflections.

9 . A device comprising:

a first speaker;

a second speaker; and

at least one processor configured to:

track a movement of the device,

separate the audio signal into a pre-spatialized audio portion and a non-spatialized audio portion, wherein the pre-spatialized audio portion corresponds to a first frequency range and the non-spatialized audio portion corresponds to a second frequency range, and wherein each frequency of the first frequency range is greater than each frequency of the second frequency range,

generate a first spatialized audio signal to spatialize the pre-spatialized audio portion of an audio signal, wherein the first spatialized audio signal is generated using a first head-related transfer function (HRTF) and the movement of the device,

generate a second spatialized audio signal to spatialize the pre-spatialized audio portion of the audio signal, wherein the second spatialized audio signal is generated using a second HRTF and the movement of the device, the second HRTF different from the first HRTF,

cause a combination of the first spatialized audio signal and the non-spatialized audio portion to be rendered using the first speaker, and

cause a combination of the second spatialized audio signal and the non-spatialized audio portion to be rendered using the second speaker.

10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the movement of the device includes a rotational orientation of the device.

11 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the movement of the device includes a change in position of the device within an environment.

12 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the tracking of the movement of the device is performed using at least one of a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a global positioning sensor (GPS), a proximity sensor, a microphone, a lidar sensor, or a camera.

13 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the spatializing of the audio signal includes simulating at least two virtual sound sources, wherein the at least two virtual sound sources include a discrete, extracted, or phantom center channel.

14 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the at least two virtual sound sources include a virtual surround sound system, wherein the virtual surround sound system includes virtual height channels.

15 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the spatializing of the audio signal includes first order acoustic reflections.

16 . A method for generating modified audio signals comprising:

receiving an audio signal at a device;

separating the audio signal into a pre-spatialized audio portion and a non-spatialized audio portion, wherein the pre-spatialized audio portion corresponds to a first frequency range and the non-spatialized audio portion corresponds to a second frequency range, and wherein each frequency of the first frequency range is greater than each frequency of the second frequency range;

tracking a movement of the device;

generating a first spatialized audio signal to spatialize the pre-spatialized audio portion, wherein the first spatialized audio signal is generated using a first head-related transfer function (HRTF) and the movement of the device;

generating a second spatialized audio signal to spatialize the pre-spatialized audio portion, wherein the second spatialized audio signal is generated using a second HRTF and the movement of the device, the second HRTF different from the first HRTF;

causing a combination of the first spatialized audio signal and the non-spatialized audio portion to be rendered using a first speaker of the device; and

causing a combination of the second spatialized audio signal and the non-spatialized audio portion to be rendered using a second speaker of the device.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the spatializing of the audio signal includes simulating at least two virtual sound sources.

18 . The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the non-spatialized audio portion corresponds to a subwoofer channel.

19 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the non-spatialized audio portion corresponds to a subwoofer channel.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the non-spatialized audio portion corresponds to a subwoofer channel.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2025
From: BOSE CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 070438/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2024
From: FREEMAN, ERIC J; DICK, DAVID AVI; TORRES, WADE P; TENGELSEN, DANIEL R; BERNSTEIN, ERIC RACZKA
To: BOSE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066995/0687 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17713147 · Apr 4, 2022
Continuation 16904087 · Jun 17, 2020
Related Publication 20240147183A1 · May 2, 2024
References Cited (110)
US 6446002B1 · Barton · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 7305097B2 · Rosen et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7630500B1 · Beckman et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 8325936B2 · Eichfeld et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 9066191B2 · Strauss et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9075127B2 · Hess et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9215545B2 · Dublin et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9352701B2 · Vautin et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9445197B2 · Oswald et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9571925B1 · Fish · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9674630B2 · Mateos Sole et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9706327B2 · Brannmark et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9743187B2 · Bender · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9913065B2 · Vautin et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9955261B2 · Ojala et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10056068B2 · Oswald et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10057679B2 · Fish · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10123145B2 · Vautin et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10694286B2 · Fish · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10694313B2 · Zilberman et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10721521B1 · Robinson et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10812926B2 · Asada et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11202137B1 · Kemmerer et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20050190936A1 · Miura · 2005 [cited by examiner]
US 20070160217A1 · Chun · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080008342A1 · Sauk · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080101589A1 · Horowitz et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080170730A1 · Azizi et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080273708A1 · Sandgren et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080273722A1 · Aylward et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080273724A1 · Hartung et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080304677A1 · Abolfathi et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090046864A1 · Mahabub et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090214045A1 · Fukui et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100226499A1 · De Bruijn et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100329466A1 · Berge · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20120008806A1 · Hess · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120070005A1 · Inou et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120093320A1 · Flaks et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120140945A1 · Harris · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130041648A1 · Osman · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130121515A1 · Hooley et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130194164A1 · Sugden et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140153751A1 · Wells · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140198918A1 · Li et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140314256A1 · Fincham et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140334637A1 · Oswald et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150092965A1 · Umminger et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150119130A1 · Lovitt · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150208166A1 · Raghuvanshi et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160100250A1 · Baskin et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160140949A1 · Fan et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160286316A1 · Bleacher et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160360224A1 · Laroche et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160360334A1 · Wu et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170078820A1 · Brandenburg et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170085990A1 · Sladeczek et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170230749A1 · Fish · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170272890A1 · Oh · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20170325043A1 · Jot · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20180020312A1 · Visser et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180077514A1 · Lee et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180091922A1 · Satongar et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180124513A1 · Kim et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180146290A1 · Christoph et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180220253A1 · Kärkkäinen · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180232471A1 · Schissler et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190037334A1 · Acharya · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190058943A1 · Fish · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190104363A1 · Vautin et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190187244A1 · Riccardi et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190313201A1 · Torres et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190357000A1 · Karkkainen et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200037097A1 · Torres et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200107147A1 · Munoz et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200275207A1 · Zilberman et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200413213A1 · Konagai · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210058730A1 · Raghuvanshi · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210084357A1 · Tajik · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210400417A1 · Freeman et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220082688A1 · Torres · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230089225A1 · Wang · 2023 [cited by examiner]
CN 115735363A · 2023 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010147529A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013535861A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015050493A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2020515959A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2013061268A2 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018127901A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020035335A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021258102A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2022061342A2 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and the Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, International Patent Application No. PCT/US2021/071464, pp. 1-16, dated Feb. 24, 2022. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and the Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, International Patent Application No. PCT/US2021/070709, pp. 1-11, dated Oct. 5, 2021. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and the Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, International Patent Application No. PCT/US2019/024618, pp. 1-15, dated Jun. 19, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Jot et al., “Augmented Reality Headphone Environment Rendering”, Audio Engineering Society Conference Paper, 2016, pp. 1-6. [cited by applicant]
Vera Erbes et al., “Extending the closed form image source model for source directivity (Digital appendix)”, Proceedings Daga 2018 Munich, Mar. 22, 2018 (Mar. 22, 2018), pp. 1298-1301, XP055685529, doi: 10.14279/deposit… [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and the Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, International Patent Application No. PCT/US2020/053068, pp. 1-15, dated Dec. 4, 2020. [cited by applicant]
The First Office Action, Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-577723, dated Mar. 19, 2024, pp. 1-10, with pp. 1-5 being a translation. [cited by applicant]
Communication Pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC, European Patent Application No. 21739890.8, dated Nov. 15, 2024, pp. 1-7. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action, U.S. Appl. No. 18/173,606, dated Feb. 27, 2025, pp. 1-20. [cited by applicant]
The Second Office Action, Japan Patent Application No. 2022-577723, dated Aug. 28, 2024, pp. 1-10, with pp. 1-5 being a translation. [cited by applicant]
“Omnidirectional.”, Sweetwater, Nov. 3, 1997, www.sweetwater.com/insync/omnidirectional/#:-:text=Speakers%20are%20omnidirectional%20if%20they,beam%E2%80%9D%20or%20be%20very%20directional. (Year: 1997). [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action, U.S. Appl. No. 18/408,051, dated Apr. 11, 2025, pp. 1-15. [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report On Patentability, International Patent Application No. PCT/US2020/053068, pp. 1-11, dated Apr. 5, 2022. [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report On Patentability, International Patent Application No. PCT/US2020/070709, pp. 1-7, dated Dec. 13, 2022. [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report On Patentability, International Patent Application No. PCT/US2021/0071464, pp. 1-13, dated Mar. 30, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Tajik et al., U.S. Appl. No. 62/631,418 (Year: 2018). [cited by applicant]
The International Search Report and the Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, International Patent Application No. PCT/US2021/072012, pp. 1-14, dated Feb. 11, 2022. [cited by applicant]
The International Search Report and the Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, International Patent Application No. PCT/US2021/072072, pp. 1-13, dated Mar. 10, 2022. [cited by applicant]