Auditorium simulator economizes on delay line bandwidth

Claim 2

For use with an acoustic signal reproduction system having within an enclosed listening space at least two spatially separated speaker means for reproducing acoustic waves from corresponding electrical signals, apparatus for providing output electrical signals to drive one of said speaker means so that when the other of said speaker means is simultaneously driven by other electrical signals, said speaker means produce acoustic waves which tend to simulate the ambience of a space larger than the actual enclosed listening space, the input electrical signals for said apparatus being derived from said other signals; said apparatus comprising, in combination: means for separating each of said input electrical signal into first and second components so that said first component includes primarily those audio frequencies, which when reproduced acoustically provide a binaural time displacement which tends to be unambiguously perceived by a listener, and said second component includes primarily those audio frequencies which when acoustically reproduced provide a binaural time displacement which does not tend to be unambiguously perceived by said listener, means for delaying for a predetermined period of time said first component with respect to said second component so as to provide a time-delayed signal; and means for combining said time-delayed signal with said second component to provide a combined signal as said output electrical signal of said apparatus.

Claim 3

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for separating includes low pass filter means for separating said first component from said input signal.

Claim 4

Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said first component includes primarily those audio frequencies in the range between about 200 Hz and about 1500 Hz.

Claim 5

Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said second component primarily includes only those audio frequencies which when acoustically reproduced provide binaural time displacement which tends to be ambiguously perceived by said listener.

Claim 6

Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said means for separating also includes high pass filter means for separating said second component from said input signal.

Claim 7

Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said second component includes primarily those audio frequencies in the range above about 1500 Hz.

Claim 8

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for separating includes bandpass filter means for passing said first component and said second component primarily includes those audio frequencies which when acoustically reproduced provide binaural time displacement which tends to be imperceivable or tends to be ambiguously perceived by said listener.

Claim 9

Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means for separating includes low and high pass filter means for passing said second component.

Claim 10

Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said first component includes those audio frequencies between about 200 and 1500 Hz and said second component includes those audio frequencies below about 200 Hz and above about 1500 Hz.

Claim 11

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said predetermined period of time varies between about zero and 100 milliseconds.

Claim 12

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for separating said input signal includes bandpass filter means for passing said first component, high pass filter means for passing said second component and low pass filter means for passing a third component.

Claim 13

Apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said third component primarily includes those audio frequencies which when acoustically reproduced provide binaural time displacement which tends to be imperceivable, said apparatus, further including means for simultaneously driving said other speaker means with said other electrical signals and said third component.

Claim 14

Apparatus in accordance with claim 12, further including means for maintaining the spectral balance of the acoustic output signals of said speaker means.

Claim 15

For use with an acoustic signal reproduction system having within an enclosed listening space, a plurality of spatially separated speaker means for reproducing acoustic waves from corresponding electrical signals, apparatus for providing a plurality of output electrical signals to drive at least a corresponding plurality of said speaker means so that when at least one other speaker means simultaneously driven by other electrical signals, said speaker means produce acoustic waves which tend to simulate the ambience of a space larger than the actual enclosed listening space, the input signal for said apparatus, being derived from said other signals; said apparatus comprising in combination: means for separating an input electrical signal into first and second components, said first component including primarily those audio frequencies, which when reproduced acoustically provide a binaural time displacement which tends to be unambiguously perceived by a listener, and said second component including primarily those audio frequencies which when acoustically reproduced provide a binarual time displacement, which does not tend to be unambiguously perceived by said listener, means for delaying for a predetermined period of time said first component with respect to said second component so as to provide a plurality of time delayed signals; and means for combining each of said time delayed signals with said second component to provide a corresponding plurality of combined signals as said plurality of output electrical signals.

Claim 16

For use with an acoustic signal reproduction system having within an enclosed listening space, a plurality of spatially separated speaker means for reproducing acoustic waves from corresponding electrical signals, apparatus for providing a plurality of output electrical signals to drive at least a corresponding plurality of said speaker means so that when at least one other speaker means simultaneously driven by other electrical signals, said speaker means produce acoustic waves which tend to simulate the ambience of a space larger than the actual enclosed listening space, the input signal for said apparatus, being derived from said other signals; said apparatus comprising in combination: means for separating an input electrical signal into first and second components, said first component including primarily those audio frequencies, which when reproduced acoustically provide a binaural time displacement which tends to be unambiguously perceived by a listener, and said second component including primarily those audio frequencies which when acoustically reproduced provide a binarual time displacement, which does not tend to be unambiguously perceived by said listener, means for delaying for a predetermined period of time said first component with respect to said second component so as to provide a plurality of time delayed signals; and means for combining each of said time delayed signals with said second component to provide a corresponding plurality of combined signals as said plurality of output electrical signals.

Claim 17

Apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said means for delaying includes a plurality of delay lines for delaying said first component for a corresponding number of predetermined time periods to provide each of said delay signals.

Claim 18

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein said delay lines are connected in parallel arrangement.

Claim 19

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein said delay lines are connected in series arrangement.

Claim 20

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein said means for delaying further includes means for encoding said component, means for multiplexing each of said delay signals, means for decoding said delay signals and means for demultiplexing said decoded delay signals.

Claim 21

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said other electrical signals include left and right channel stereophonic signals and said input signal to said apparatus is the monaural mixed sum of said stereophonic signals.

Claim 24

A stereophonic system for reproducing acoustic waves from corresponding electrical left and right channel signals so as to simulate to the listener the ambience of a room larger than the actual enclosed listening space, said system comprising, in combination: means for mixing said left and right channel signals so as to provide a monaural input signal; means for separating said input electrical signal into first and second components, said first component including primarily those audio frequencies, which when reproduced acoustically, provide a binaural time displacement which can be unambiguously perceived by said listener, said second component comprising primarily those audio frequencies which when reproduced acoustically provide a binaural time displacement, the perception of which by said listener tends not to be unambiguous; means for delaying for a predetermined period of time said first component with respect to said second component so as to provide at least one delayed signal; means for combining said time delayed signal with said second component to provide a combined signal; and a loudspeaker system having a plurality of spatially separable speaker means, at least one of said speaker means being connected to be driven by said right channel signal, at least one of said speaker means being connected to be simultaneously driven by said left channel signal, and at least one of said speaker means being connected to be simultaneously driven by said combined signal.

Claim 25

A stereophonic system for reproducing acoustic waves from corresponding electrical left and right channel signals so as to simulate to the listener the ambience of a room larger than the actual enclosed listening space, said system comprising, in combination: means for mixing said left and right channel signals so as to provide a monaural input signal; means for separating said input electrical signal into first and second components, said first component including primarily those audio frequencies, which when reproduced acoustically, provide a binaural time displacement which can be unambiguously perceived by said listener, said second component comprising primarily those audio frequencies which when reproduced acoustically provide a binaural time displacement, the perception of which by said listener tends not to be unambiguous; means for delaying for a predetermined period of time said first component with respect to said second component so as to provide at least one delayed signal; means for combining said time delayed signal with said second component to provide a combined signal; and a loudspeaker system having a plurality of spatially separable speaker means, at least one of said speaker means being connected to be driven by said right channel signal, at least one of said speaker means being connected to be simultaneously driven by said left channel signal, and at least one of said speaker means being connected to be simultaneously driven by said combined signal.

Claim 26

For use with an acoustic signal reproduction system having within an enclosed listening space at least two spatially separated speaker means for reproducing acoustic waves from corresponding electrical signals, apparatus for providing output electrical signals to drive one of said speaker means so that when the other of said speaker means is simultaneously driven by other electrical signals, said speaker means produce acoustic waves which tend to simulate the ambience of a space larger than the actual enclosed listening space, the input electrical signals for said apparatus being derived from said other signals; said apparatus comprising, in combination: means for separating each of said input electrical signals into first and second components so that said first component includes primarily relatively low audio frequencies, and said second component includes primarily relatively high audio frequencies, means for delaying for a predetermined period of time said first component with respect to said second component so as to provide a time-delayed signal; and means for combining said time-delayed signal with said second component to provide a combined signal as said output electrical signal of said apparatus.

Claim 27

For use with an acoustic signal reproduction system having within an enclosed listening space at least two spatially separated speaker means for reproducing acoustic waves from corresponding electrical signals, apparatus for providing output electrical signals to drive one of said speaker means so that when the other of said speaker means is simultaneously driven by other electrical signals, said speaker means produce acoustic waves which tend to simulate the ambience of a space larger than the actual enclosed listening space, the input electrical signals for said apparatus being derived from said other signals; said apparatus comprising, in combination: means for separating each of said input electrical signals into first and second components so that said first component includes primarily relatively low audio frequencies, and said second component includes primarily relatively high audio frequencies, means for delaying for a predetermined period of time said first component with respect to said second component so as to provide a time-delayed signal; and means for combining said time-delayed signal with said second component to provide a combined signal as said output electrical signal of said apparatus.