US5027403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video sound
Assignee: Bose Corp
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Filing: 1990-01-26
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Granted: 1991-06-25
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Expires: 2010-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A sound projection apparatus for a video display device having left and right speakers, first and second ambience speakers, and an amplifier having a right channel and left channel. In this system, connection of the left channel to a speaker produces a left signal; the right channel to a speaker produces a right signal; the left and right channels to ambience circuitry produces an ambience channel; the ambience channel to the positive input of the first ambience speaker produces a first ambience signal and the ambience channel to the negative input of the second ambience speaker produces a second ambience signal. The left and right speakers are forward facing, projecting sound directly from the television to a viewer. The first and second ambience speakers are side or rearward facing, projecting sound indirectly to the viewer. The projection apparatus may be formed as a single cohesive unit, within or near the television.
Inventors
- 👤 William Short
- 👤 Christopher Ickler
- 👤 Timothy Holl
- 👤 William Keezer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:13
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R5/00; H04R5/02; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/60; H04N5/607; H04N5/64; H04N5/642; H04S; H04S5/00; H04S5/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
Sound projection apparatus for a video and audio playback device, having a video display device, comprising; left and right speakers, left and right ambience speakers, an amplifier having a right channel and a left channel for carrying R and L signals respectively, and ambience circuitry, said left channel being coupled to said left speaker, said right channel being coupled to said right speaker, said left and right channels being coupled to said ambience circuitry, said ambience circuitry being coupled to said left ambience speaker and said right ambience speaker for radiating respective L-R and R-L ambience signals which ambience signals are essentially zero when said L and R signals are equal, wherein said right and left speakers are forward facing, projecting sound directly from the video display device to the viewer, wherein said left and right ambience speakers are positioned to respectively radiate primarily to the left and right of said video display device to provide a sound image perceived by a viewer to extend significantly to the side of said video display device when said L and R signals are unequal, and wherein said right and left speakers are located in front of the viewer to provide a sound image perceived by a viewer to come from said video display device when said L and R signals are equal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
Sound projection apparatus for a video and audio playback device, having a video display device, comprising; left and right speakers, left and right ambience speakers, an amplifier having a right channel and a left channel for carrying R and L signals respectively, and ambience circuitry, said left channel being coupled to said left speaker, said right channel being coupled to said right speaker, said left and right channels being coupled to said ambience circuitry, said ambience circuitry being coupled to said left ambience speaker and said right ambience speaker for radiating respective L-R and R-L ambience signals which ambience signals are essentially zero when said L and R signals are equal, wherein said right and left speakers are forward facing, projecting sound directly from the video display device to the viewer, wherein said left and right ambience speakers are positioned to respectively radiate primarily to the left and right of said video display device to provide a sound image perceived by a viewer to extend significantly to the side of said video display device when said L and R signals are unequal, and wherein said right and left speakers are located in front of the viewer to provide a sound image perceived by a viewer to come from said video display device when said L and R signals are equal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said left speaker is on the left side of said right speaker.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said left and right ambience speakers do not face forward along a line between 0° and 45° from a plane drawn perpendicular to the viewing plane of the video display device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said left and right ambience speakers are positioned such that said left ambience speaker is on the left side of said right ambience speaker.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said speakers are tweeters, and said apparatus further comprises a woofer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said right and left speakers face along a line between 0° to b 45° from a plane drawn perpendicular to the viewing plane of the video display device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising means for establishing the sound energy radiated by said left and right ambience speakers greater than the sound energy radiated by said left and right speakers by a predetermined audible difference.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said predetermined audible difference is substantially 5 db.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said left and right ambience speakers are positioned a significant distance to the left and right respectively of said video playback device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said distance is at least substantially three feet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said speakers are full range speakers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ambience circuitry includes ambient equalizing circuitry for establishing the spectral balance of said first and second ambience signals similar to that of the sound energy radiated by said left and right speakers for typical program material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said ambience equalizing circuitry is characterized by a frequency response having a gentle rolloff beginning at 2 kHz and substantially 3 db down at 15 kHz.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
Sound projection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising a variable gain bass circuit coupled to said left and right channels for amplifying a bass signal related to the sum of the bass spectral components in said L and said R signals, said variable gain being related to the ratio of the magnitudes of one of said left and right ambience signals and said sum.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
Sound projection apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein the said variable gain is a minimum when said L and R signals are equal and a maximum when only one of said L and R signals is zero.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
Sound projection apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said variable gain is approximately equal to ##EQU2##
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
Sound projection apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said speakers are full range speakers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
Sound projection apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said speakers are mid-range tweeters and further comprising, a woofer coupled to the output of said bass circuit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
220 words
Sound projection apparatus for a video and audio playback device, having a video display device, comprising; left and right speakers, first and second ambience speakers, an amplifier having a right channel and a left channel, and ambience circuitry, said left channel being coupled to a left speaker, said right channel being coupled to a right speaker, said left and right channels being coupled to said ambience circuitry, said ambience circuitry being coupled to said first ambience speaker and said second ambience speaker for radiating respective first and second ambience signals, wherein said right and left speakers are forward facing, projecting sound directly from the video display device to the viewer, wherein said first and second ambience speakers are positioned to provide a sound image perceived by a viewer to extend significantly to the left and right of said video display device, and wherein said right and left speakers are located in front of the viewer, wherein said ambience circuitry includes ambient equalizing circuitry for establishing the spectral balance of said first and second ambience signals similar to that of the sound energy radiated by said left and right speakers for typical program material, wherein said ambience equalizing circuitry is characterized by a frequency response having a gentle rolloff beginning at 2 kHz and substantially 3 db down at 15 kHz.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
220 words
Sound projection apparatus for a video and audio playback device, having a video display device, comprising; left and right speakers, first and second ambience speakers, an amplifier having a right channel and a left channel, and ambience circuitry, said left channel being coupled to a left speaker, said right channel being coupled to a right speaker, said left and right channels being coupled to said ambience circuitry, said ambience circuitry being coupled to said first ambience speaker and said second ambience speaker for radiating respective first and second ambience signals, wherein said right and left speakers are forward facing, projecting sound directly from the video display device to the viewer, wherein said first and second ambience speakers are positioned to provide a sound image perceived by a viewer to extend significantly to the left and right of said video display device, and wherein said right and left speakers are located in front of the viewer, wherein said ambience circuitry includes ambient equalizing circuitry for establishing the spectral balance of said first and second ambience signals similar to that of the sound energy radiated by said left and right speakers for typical program material, wherein said ambience equalizing circuitry is characterized by a frequency response having a gentle rolloff beginning at 2 kHz and substantially 3 db down at 15 kHz.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
253 words
A method for producing an improved sound from an audio and video playback device, having a video display device, comprising the steps of: providing a sound projection apparatus for said audio and video playback device, said apparatus comprising left and right speakers, left and right ambience speakers, an amplifier having a right channel and a left channel for carrying R and L signals respectively, and an ambience circuit, said right channel being coupled to said right speaker, said left channel being coupled to said left speaker, said left and right channels being coupled to said ambience circuit, said ambience circuit being coupled to said left ambience speaker and said right ambience speaker for radiating respective left and right ambience signals, positioning said left and right speakers to project sound directly from the video display device to a viewer, and positioning said left and right ambience speakers to radiate sound energy primarily to the left and right respectively to project sound indirectly to the viewer, applying said L and R signals to said left and right speakers respectively, differentially combining said L and R signals to provide an L-R signal and an R-L signal, and applying said L-R and said R-L signals to said left and right ambience speakers respectively to provide a sound image perceived by a viewer to extend significantly to the side of said video display device when said L and R signals are unequal and to come from said video display device when said L and R signals are equal.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
253 words
A method for producing an improved sound from an audio and video playback device, having a video display device, comprising the steps of: providing a sound projection apparatus for said audio and video playback device, said apparatus comprising left and right speakers, left and right ambience speakers, an amplifier having a right channel and a left channel for carrying R and L signals respectively, and an ambience circuit, said right channel being coupled to said right speaker, said left channel being coupled to said left speaker, said left and right channels being coupled to said ambience circuit, said ambience circuit being coupled to said left ambience speaker and said right ambience speaker for radiating respective left and right ambience signals, positioning said left and right speakers to project sound directly from the video display device to a viewer, and positioning said left and right ambience speakers to radiate sound energy primarily to the left and right respectively to project sound indirectly to the viewer, applying said L and R signals to said left and right speakers respectively, differentially combining said L and R signals to provide an L-R signal and an R-L signal, and applying said L-R and said R-L signals to said left and right ambience speakers respectively to provide a sound image perceived by a viewer to extend significantly to the side of said video display device when said L and R signals are unequal and to come from said video display device when said L and R signals are equal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
118 words
In a stereo system having left and right channels for transmitting left and right signals of a stereo signal apparatus comprising, a variable gain bass circuit coupled to said left and right channels for amplifying a bass signal related to the sum of the bass spectral components in said left and said right signals, ambience circuitry coupled to said left and right channels for providing a first ambience signal representative of said left signal minus said right signal and a second ambience signal representative of said right signal minus said left signal, and means for establishing said variable gain related to the ratio of the magnitudes of one of said first and second ambience signals and said sum.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
118 words
In a stereo system having left and right channels for transmitting left and right signals of a stereo signal apparatus comprising, a variable gain bass circuit coupled to said left and right channels for amplifying a bass signal related to the sum of the bass spectral components in said left and said right signals, ambience circuitry coupled to said left and right channels for providing a first ambience signal representative of said left signal minus said right signal and a second ambience signal representative of said right signal minus said left signal, and means for establishing said variable gain related to the ratio of the magnitudes of one of said first and second ambience signals and said sum.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
Stereo apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein the said variable gain is a minimum when said left and right signals are equal and a maximum when only one of said left and right signals is zero.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
43 words
Stereo apparatus in accordance with claim 22 wherein said variable gain is approximately equal to 1 plus A times the ratio of the magnitude of said left signal minus said right signal to the magnitude of said left signal plus said right signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-06-24 | 1994-12-24 | 1995-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-06-24 | 1998-12-24 | 1999-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-06-24 | 2002-12-24 | 2003-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |