Sound system with source material and surround timbre response correction, specified front and surround loudspeaker directionality, and multi-loudspeaker surround

Claim 2

A sound system for reproducing the sound information in a plurality of sound channels, including left and right sound channels, in a relatively small room, such as in a home, wherein said sound information is equalized for reproduction in a large auditorium whose room-loudspeak system is aligned to a response curve having a high-frequency roll off, comprising loudspeaker means for generating, when located in its or their operating positions with respect to the room, in response to first and second input signals, first and second sound fields at listening positions within the room, and means for coupling, including means for coupling said left and right sound channels, as said first and second input signals, to said loudspeaker means, said means for coupling said left and right sound channels including frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of said left and right sound channels to compensate for errors that result from reproducing said large auditorium equalized sound information in said small room, said frequency response correcting means comprising a circuit having a transfer characteristic of a filter having a shelving response such that its characteristic response is relatively flat up to about 4 or 5 kHz, rolls off between about 4 to 5 kHz and about 10 kHz, and is relatively flat above about 10 kHz.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said system for reproducing the sound information in a plurality of sound channels is also for reproducing a surround sound channel, said system further comprising additional loudspeaker means for generating, when located in its or their operating positions with respect to the room, in response to a third input signal, a third sound field at listening positions within the room, and wherein said means for coupling also includes means for coupling said surround sound channel, as said third input signal, to said additional loudspeaker means.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 wherein the sound information in said plurality of sound channels is carried in left total and right total signals, and said means for coupling includes decoding means for generating signals representing said left, right, and surround sound channels in response to said left total and right total signals.

Claim 5

The system of claim 3 wherein said left total and right total signals are processed by said frequency response correcting means before said signals are applied to said decoding means.

Claim 6

The system of claim 3 wherein said decoding means processes said left total and right total signals and said frequency response correcting means processes the multiple sound channel outputs of said decoding means.

Claim 8

The system of claim 6 wherein said characteristic response, subject to a tolerance of about ±1 dB up to about 10 kHz and about ±2 dB from about 10 kHz to 20 kHz, is: ______________________________________ Hz dB Hz dB ______________________________________ 20 0.0 5k -1.1 100 0.0 6k -1.8 500 0.0 8k -2.8 1k 0.0 10k -4.2 2k -0.2 12k -5.2 3k15 -0.4 16k -5.4 4k -0.7 20k -5.7. ______________________________________

Claim 9

The system of claim 2 wherein said first and second sound fields each have a direct sound field component and a diffuse sound field component, the direct sound field component of each said sound field being predominant over the diffuse sound component of said sound field at listening positions within the room, and said third sound field has a direct sound component and a diffuse sound component, the diffuse sound component of said third sound field being predominant over the direct sound field component of said third sound field at listening positions within the room.

Claim 10

The system of claim 8 wherein said means for coupling said surround channel to said additional loudspeaker means includes surround sound channel frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of the surround sound channel to compensate for the listener perceived difference in timbre between the surround sound channel and the other sound channels.

Claim 11

The system of claim 9 wherein the frequency response of said surround sound channel frequency response correcting means, subject to a tolerance of about ±2 dB up to about 10 kHz and about ±4 dB from about 10 kHz to 20 kHz, is: ______________________________________ Hz dB Hz dB ______________________________________ 1000 0.0 5161 -2.3 1163 -1.5 5910 -4.2 1332 -2.4 6767 -5.8 1525 -2.2 7749 -5.6 1746 -1.7 8873 -3.6 2000 -1.3 10161 -1.8 2290 -2.6 11634 -2.0 2622 -2.7 13322 0.0 3002 -3.2 15254 +0.5 3438 -5.0 17467 +1.4 3936 -4.3 20000 -1.0 4507 -2.8. ______________________________________

Claim 12

The system of claim 9 wherein said surround sound channel frequency response correcting means includes decorrelating means for reducing the comb filter effect produced when the surround channel is reproduced by a plurality of loudspeaker means.

Claim 13

The system of claim 8 wherein said additional loudspeaker means includes first and second additional loudspeaker means, and said means for coupling said surround sound channel further includes decorrelating means for deriving from said surround sound channel two surround signals which, when reproduced by said first and second additional loudspeaker means located in their operating positions with respect to the room, generate first and second surround sound fields having low-interaural cross-correlation with respect to each other at listening positions within the room, and couples said two surround signals to said first and second additional loudspeaker means.

Claim 14

The system of claim 12 wherein said means for coupling said surround channel to said additional loudspeaker means includes surround sound channel frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of the surround sound channel to compensate for the listener perceived difference in timbre between the surround sound channel and the other sound channels.

Claim 15

The system of claim 13 wherein the frequency response of said surround sound channel frequency response correcting means, subject to a tolerance of about ±2 dB up to about 10 kHz and about ±4 dB from about 10 kHz to 20 kHz, is: ______________________________________ Hz dB Hz dB ______________________________________ 1000 0.0 5161 -2.3 1163 -1.5 5910 -4.2 1332 -2.4 6767 -5.8 1525 -2.2 7749 -5.6 1746 -1.7 8873 -3.6 2000 -1.3 10161 -1.8 2290 -2.6 11634 -2.0 2622 -2.7 13322 0.0 3002 -3.2 15254 +0.5 3438 -5.0 17467 +1.4 3936 -4.3 20000 -1.0 4507 -2.8. ______________________________________

Claim 16

The system of claim 13 wherein said decorrelating means is for reducing the comb filter effect produced when the surround channel is reproduced by a plurality of loudspeaker means.

Claim 17

The system of claim 15 wherein said decorrelating means includes means for shifting the pitch of said two surround signals with respect to each other.

Claim 18

The system of claim 1 wherein said system for reproducing the sound information contained in a plurality of sound channels is also for reproducing a center sound channel, said loudspeaker means generating, when located in its or their operating positions with respect to the room, in response to a further input signal, a further sound field at listening positions within the room, and said means for coupling also including means for coupling said center sound channel, as said further input signal, to said loudspeaker means, said means for coupling said center sound channel to said loudspeaker means including frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of said center sound channel to compensate for errors that result from reproducing said large auditorium equalized sound information in said small room, said frequency response, correcting means comprising a circuit having a transfer characteristic of a filter with a shelving response such that its characteristic response is relatively flat up to about 4 to 5 kHz, rolls off between about 4 to 5 kHz and about 10 kHz, and is relatively flat above about 10 kHz.

Claim 19

The system of claim 17 wherein the sound information in said plurality of sound channels is carried in left total and right total signals, and said means for coupling includes decoding means for generating signals representing said left, right, and center sound channels in response to said left total and right total signals.

Claim 20

The system of claim 18 wherein said left total and right total signals are processed by the frequency response correcting means before said signals are applied to said decoding means.

Claim 21

The system of claim 18 wherein said decoding means processes said left total and right total signals and said frequency response correcting means processes the multiple sound channel outputs of said decoding means.

Claim 22

The system of claim 17 wherein said system for reproducing the sound information contained in said plurality of sound channels is also for reproducing a surround sound channel, said system further comprising additional loudspeaker means for generating, when located in its or their operating positions with respect to the room, in response to a fourth input signal, a fourth sound field at listening positions within the room, and wherein said means for coupling includes means for coupling said surround sound channel, as said fourth signal, to said additional loudspeaker means.

Claim 23

The system of claim 21 wherein the sound information in said plurality of sound channels is carried in left total and right total signals, and said means for coupling includes decoding means for generating signals representing said left, center, right, and surround sound channels in response to said left total and right total signals.

Claim 24

The system of claim 22 wherein said left total and right total input signals are processed by the frequency response correcting means before said signals are applied to said decoding means.

Claim 25

The system of claim 22 wherein said decoding means processes said left total and right total input signals and said frequency response correcting means processes the multiple sound channel outputs of said decoding means.

Claim 27

The system of claim 25 wherein said decorrelating means includes means for shifting the pitch of said two surround signals with respect to each other.

Claim 29

The system of claim 27 wherein said characteristic response, subject to a tolerance of about ±1 dB up to about 10 kHz and about ±2 dB from about 10 kHz to 20 kHz, is: ______________________________________ Hz dB Hz dB ______________________________________ 20 0.0 5k -1.1 100 0.0 6k -1.8 500 0.0 8k -2.8 1k 0.0 10k -4.2 2k -0.2 12k -5.2 3k15 -0.4 16k -5.4 4k -0.7 20k -5.7. ______________________________________

Claim 30

The system of claim 21 wherein said first, second, and further sound fields each have a direct sound field component and a diffuse sound field component, the direct sound field component of each said sound field being predominant over the diffuse sound component of said sound field at listening positions within the room, and said third sound field has a direct sound component and a diffuse sound component, the diffuse sound component of said third sound field being predominant over the direct sound field component of said third sound field at listening positions within the room.

Claim 31

The system of claim 29 wherein said means for coupling said surround channel to said additional loudspeaker means includes surround sound channel frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of the surround sound channel to compensate for the listener perceived difference in timbre between the surround sound channel and the other sound channels.

Claim 32

The system of claim 30 wherein the frequency response of said surround sound channel frequency response correcting means, subject to a tolerance of about ±2 dB up to about 10 kHz and about ±4 dB from about 10 kHz to 20 kHz, is: ______________________________________ Hz dB Hz dB ______________________________________ 1000 0.0 5161 -2.3 1163 -1.5 5910 -4.2 1332 -2.4 6767 -5.8 1525 -2.2 7749 -5.6 1746 -1.7 8873 -3.6 2000 -1.3 10161 -1.8 2290 -2.6 11634 -2.0 2622 -2.7 13322 0.0 3002 -3.2 15254 +0.5 3438 -5.0 17467 +1.4 3936 -4.3 20000 -1.0 4507 -2.8. ______________________________________

Claim 33

The system of claim 30 wherein said surround sound channel frequency response correcting means includes decorrelating means for reducing the comb filter effect when the surround channel is reproduced by a plurality of loudspeaker means.

Claim 35

The system of claim 30 wherein said additional loudspeaker means includes first and second additional loudspeaker means, and said means for coupling said surround sound channel further includes decorrelating means for deriving from said surround sound channel two surround signals which, when reproduced by said first and second additional loudspeaker means located in their operating positions with respect to the room, generate first and second surround sound fields having low-interaural cross-correlation with respect to each other at listening positions within the room, and couples said two surround signals to said first and second additional loudspeaker means.

Claim 36

The system of claim 34 wherein said means for coupling said surround channel to said additional loudspeaker means includes surround sound channel frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of the surround sound channel to compensate for the listener perceived difference in timbre between the surround sound channel and the other sound channels.

Claim 37

The system of claim 35 wherein the frequency response of said surround sound channel frequency response correcting means, subject to a tolerance of about ±2 dB up to about 10 kHz and about ±4 dB from about 10 kHz to 20 kHz, is: ______________________________________ Hz dB Hz dB ______________________________________ 1000 0.0 5161 -2.3 1163 -1.5 5910 -4.2 1332 -2.4 6767 -5.8 1525 -2.2 7749 -5.6 1746 -1.7 8873 -3.6 2000 -1.3 10161 -1.8 2290 -2.6 11634 -2.0 2622 -2.7 13322 0.0 3002 -3.2 15254 +0.5 3438 -5.0 17467 +1.4 3936 -4.3 20000 -1.0 4507 -2.8. ______________________________________

Claim 38

The system of claim 35 wherein said decorrelating means is for reducing the comb filter effect produced when the surround channel is reproduced by a plurality of loudspeaker means.

Claim 39

The system of claim 37 wherein said decorrelating means includes means for shifting the pitch of said two surround signals with respect to each other.

Claim 40

A sound system for reproducing the sound information in a plurality of sound channels, including left, right and surround sound channels, in a relatively small room, such as in a home, wherein said sound information is equalized for reproduction in a large auditorium whose room-loudspeaker system is aligned to a response curve having a high-frequency roll off, comprising loudspeaker means for generating, when located in its or their operating positions with respect to the room, in response to first and second input signals, first and second sound fields at listening positions within the room, first and second additional loudspeaker means for generating, when located in their operating positions with respect to the room, in response to a first surround input signal and a second surround input signal, a first surround sound field and a second surround sound field at listening positions within the room, and means for coupling, including means for coupling said left and right sound channels, as said first and second input signals, to said loudspeaker means, said means for coupling said left and right sound channels including frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of said left and right sound channels to compensate for errors that result from reproducing said large auditorium equalized sound information in said small room, and means for coupling said surround sound channel, said means for coupling said surround sound channel, deriving from said surround sound channel two surround signals which, when reproduced by said first and second additional loudspeaker means located in their operating positions with respect to the room, generate first and second surround sound fields having low-interaural cross-correlation with respect to each other at listening positions within the room, coupling said two surround signals to said first and second additional loudspeaker means, and including decorrelating means, said decorrelating means including means for shifting the pitch of said two surround signals with respect to each other.

Claim 41

A sound system for reproducing the sound information in a plurality of sound channels, including left, right and surround sound channels, in a relatively small room, such as in a home, wherein said sound information is equalized for reproduction in a large auditorium whose room-loudspeaker system is aligned to a response curve having a high-frequency roll off, comprising loudspeaker means for generating, when located in its or their operating positions with respect to the room, in response to first and second input signals, first and second sound fields at listening positions within the room, first and second additional loudspeaker means for generating, when located in their operating positions with respect to the room, in response to a first surround input signal and a second surround input signal, a first surround sound field and a second surround sound field at listening positions within the room, and means for coupling, including means for coupling said left and right sound channels, as said first and second input signals, to said loudspeaker means, said means for coupling said left and right sound channels including frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of said left and right sound channels to compensate for errors that result from reproducing said large auditorium equalized sound information in said small room, and means for coupling said surround sound channel, said means for coupling said surround sound channel, deriving from said surround sound channel two surround signals which, when reproduced by said first and second additional loudspeaker means located in their operating positions with respect to the room, generate first and second surround sound fields having low-interaural cross-correlation with respect to each other at listening positions within the room, coupling said two surround signals to said first and second additional loudspeaker means, and including decorrelating means, said decorrelating means including means for shifting the pitch of said two surround signals with respect to each other.

Claim 42

The system of claim 39 wherein the sound information in said plurality of sound channels is carried in left total and right total signals, and said means for coupling includes decoding means for generating signals representing said left, right, and surround sound channels in response to said left total and right total signals.

Claim 43

The system of claim 40 wherein said left total and right total signals are processed by said frequency response correcting means before said signals are applied to said decoding means.

Claim 44

The system of claim 40 wherein said decoding means processes said left total and right total signals and said frequency response correcting means processes the multiple sound channel outputs of said decoding means.

Claim 45

The system of claim 39 wherein said first and second sound fields each have a direct sound field component and a diffuse sound field component, the direct sound field component of each said sound field being predominant over the diffuse sound component of said sound field at listening positions within the room, and said surround sound fields each have a direct sound component and a diffuse sound component, the diffuse sound component of each said surround sound field being predominant over the direct sound field component of said surround sound field at listening positions within the room.

Claim 46

The system of claim 43 wherein said characteristic response, subject to a tolerance of about ±1 dB up to about 10 kHz and about ±2 dB from about 10 kHz to 20 kHz, is: ______________________________________ Hz dB Hz dB ______________________________________ 20 0.0 5k -1.1 100 0.0 6k -1.8 500 0.0 8k -2.8 1k 0.0 10k -4.2 2k -0.2 12k -5.2 3k15 -0.4 16k -5.4 4k -0.7 20k -5.7. ______________________________________

Claim 47

The system of claim 43 wherein said means for coupling said surround channel to said additional loudspeaker means includes surround sound channel frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of the surround sound channel to compensate for the listener perceived difference in timbre between the surround sound channel and the other sound channels.

Claim 48

The system of claim 43 wherein the frequency response of said surround sound channel frequency response correcting means, subject to a tolerance of about ±2 dB up to about 10 kHz and about ±4 dB from about 10 kHz to 20 kHz, is: ______________________________________ Hz dB Hz dB ______________________________________ 1000 0.0 5161 -2.3 1163 -1.5 5910 -4.2 1332 -2.4 6767 -5.8 1525 -2.2 7749 -5.6 1746 -1.7 8873 -3.6 2000 -1.3 10161 -1.8 2290 -2.6 11634 -2.0 2622 -2.7 13322 0.0 3002 -3.2 15254 +0.5 3438 -5.0 17467 +1.4 3936 -4.3 20000 -1.0 4507 -2.8. ______________________________________

Claim 49

The system of claim 39 wherein said system for reproducing the sound information contained in a plurality of sound channels is also for reproducing a center sound channel, said loudspeaker means generating, when located in its or their operating positions with respect to the room, in response to a further input signal, a further sound field at listening positions within the room, and said means for coupling also including means for coupling said center sound channel, as said further input signal, to said loudspeaker means, said means for coupling said center sound channel to said loudspeaker means including frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of said center sound channel to compensate for errors that result from reproducing said large auditorium equalized sound information in said small room.

Claim 50

The system of claim 47 wherein the sound information in said plurality of sound channels is carried in left total and right total signals, and said means for coupling includes decoding means for generating signals representing said left, center, right, and surround sound channel signals in response to said left total and right total signals.

Claim 51

The system of claim 48 wherein said left total and right total signals are processed by the frequency response correcting means before said signals are applied to said decoding means.

Claim 52

The system of claim 48 wherein said decoding means processes said left total and right total signals and said frequency response correcting means processes the multiple sound channel outputs of said decoding means.

Claim 53

The system of claim 47 wherein said first, second, and further sound fields each have a direct sound field component and a diffuse sound field component, the direct sound field component of each said sound field being predominant over the diffuse sound component of said sound field at listening positions within the room, and said surround sound fields each have a direct sound component and a diffuse sound component, the diffuse sound component of each said surround sound field being predominant over the direct sound field component of said surround sound field at listening positions within the room.

Claim 54

The system of claim 51 wherein said means for coupling said surround channel to said additional loudspeaker means includes surround sound channel frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of the surround sound channel to compensate for the listener perceived difference in timbre between the surround sound channel and the other sound channels.

Claim 55

The system of claim 52 wherein the frequency response of said surround sound channel frequency response correcting means, subject to a tolerance of about ±2 dB up to about 10 kHz and about ±4 dB from about 10 kHz to 20 kHz, is: ______________________________________ Hz dB Hz dB ______________________________________ 1000 0.0 5161 -2.3 1163 -1.5 5910 -4.2 1332 -2.4 6767 -5.8 1525 -2.2 7749 -5.6 1746 -1.7 8873 -3.6 2000 -1.3 10161 -1.8 2290 -2.6 11634 -2.0 2622 -2.7 13322 0.0 3002 -3.2 15254 +0.5 3438 -5.0 17467 +1.4 3936 -4.3 20000 -1.0 4507 -2.8. ______________________________________

Claim 57

A sound system for reproducing the sound information in a plurality of sound channels, including left, right, and surround sound channels, in a room, comprising loudspeaker means for generating, when located in its or their operating positions with respect to the room, in response to first and second input signals, first and second sound fields in which the direct sound field component of each sound field is predominant over the diffuse sound field component at listening positions within the room, additional loudspeaker means for generating, when located in its or their operating positions with respect to the room, in response to a third input signal, a third sound field in which the diffuse sound field component is predominant over the direct sound field component at listening positions within the room, means for coupling said left and right sound channels, as said first and second input signals, to said loudspeaker means, and means for coupling said surround sound channel, as said third input signal, to said additional loudspeaker means, said means for coupling said surround channel to said additional loudspeaker means including surround sound channel frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of the surround channel to compensate for the listener perceived difference in timbre between the surround sound channel and the other sound channels, said surround channel frequency response correcting means having a frequency response, subject to a tolerance of about ±2 dB up to about 10 kHz and about ±4 dB from about 10 kHz to 20 kHz, of: ______________________________________ Hz dB Hz dB ______________________________________ 1000 0.0 5161 -2.3 1163 -1.5 5910 -4.2 1332 -2.4 6767 -5.8 1525 -2.2 7749 -5.6 1746 -1.7 8873 -3.6 2000 -1.3 10161 -1.8 2290 -2.6 11634 -2.0 2622 -2.7 13322 0.0 3002 -3.2 15254 +0.5 3438 -5.0 17467 +1.4 3936 -4.3 20000 -1.0 4507 -2.8. ______________________________________

Claim 58

A sound system for reproducing the sound information in a plurality of sound channels, including left, right, and surround sound channels, in a room, comprising loudspeaker means for generating, when located in its or their operating positions with respect to the room, in response to first and second input signals, first and second sound fields in which the direct sound field component of each sound field is predominant over the diffuse sound field component at listening positions within the room, additional loudspeaker means for generating, when located in its or their operating positions with respect to the room, in response to a third input signal, a third sound field in which the diffuse sound field component is predominant over the direct sound field component at listening positions within the room, means for coupling said left and right sound channels, as said first and second input signals, to said loudspeaker means, and means for coupling said surround sound channel, as said third input signal, to said additional loudspeaker means, said means for coupling said surround channel to said additional loudspeaker means including surround sound channel frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of the surround channel to compensate for the listener perceived difference in timbre between the surround sound channel and the other sound channels, said surround channel frequency response correcting means having a frequency response, subject to a tolerance of about ±2 dB up to about 10 kHz and about ±4 dB from about 10 kHz to 20 kHz, of: ______________________________________ Hz dB Hz dB ______________________________________ 1000 0.0 5161 -2.3 1163 -1.5 5910 -4.2 1332 -2.4 6767 -5.8 1525 -2.2 7749 -5.6 1746 -1.7 8873 -3.6 2000 -1.3 10161 -1.8 2290 -2.6 11634 -2.0 2622 -2.7 13322 0.0 3002 -3.2 15254 +0.5 3438 -5.0 17467 +1.4 3936 -4.3 20000 -1.0 4507 -2.8. ______________________________________

Claim 59

The system of claim 55 wherein said surround channel frequency response correcting means includes decorrelating means for reducing the comb filter effect when the surround channel is reproduced by a plurality of loudspeaker means.

Claim 60

The system of claim 55 wherein the system is for reproducing said sound information in a relatively small room, such as in a home, said sound information is equalized for reproduction in a large auditorium whose room-loudspeaker system is aligned to a response curve having a high-frequency roll off, and said means for coupling said left and right sound channels to said loudspeaker means includes frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of said left and right sound channels to compensate for errors that result from reproducing said large auditorium equalized sound information in said small room.

Claim 61

The system of claim 57 wherein said frequency response correcting means comprises a circuit having a transfer characteristic of a filter with a shelving response such that its characteristic response is relatively flat up to about 4 to 5 kHz, rolls off between about 4 to 5 kHz and about 10 kHz, and is relatively flat above about 10 kHz.

Claim 62

The system of claim 58 wherein said characteristic response, subject to a tolerance of about ±1 dB up to about 10 kHz and about ±2 dB from about 10 kHz to 20 kHz, is: ______________________________________ Hz dB Hz dB ______________________________________ 20 0 5k -1.1 100 0 6k3 -1.8 500 0 8k -2.8 1k 0 10k -4.2 2k -0.2 12k5 -5.2 3k15 -0.4 16k -5.4 4k -0.7 20k -5.7. ______________________________________

Claim 63

The system of claim 57 wherein said additional loudspeaker means includes first and second additional loudspeaker means, and said means for coupling said surround sound channel to said additional loudspeaker means further includes decorrelating means for deriving from said surround sound channel two surround signals which, when reproduced by said first and second additional loudspeaker means located in their operating positions with respect to the room, generate first and second surround sound fields having low-interaural cross-correlation with respect to each other at listening positions within the room, and said means for coupling said surround sound channel to said additional loudspeaker means couples said two surround signals to said first and second additional loudspeaker means.

Claim 64

The system of claim 60 wherein said decorrelating means includes means for shifting the pitch of said two surround signals with respect to each other.

Claim 66

The system of claim 55 wherein said additional loudspeaker means includes first and second additional loudspeaker means, said means for coupling said surround sound channel to said additional loudspeaker means further includes decorrelating means for deriving from said surround sound channel two surround signals which, when reproduced by said first and second additional loudspeaker means located in their operating positions with respect to the room, generate first and second surround sound fields having low-interaural cross-correlation with respect to each other at listening positions within the room, said means for coupling said surround sound channel to said additional loudspeaker means couples said two surround signals to said first and second additional loudspeaker means, and said decorrelating means includes means for shifting the pitch of said two surround signals with respect to each other.

Claim 67

The system of claim 55 wherein said system for reproducing the sound information in a plurality of sound channels is also for reproducing a center sound channel, said loudspeaker means generating, when located in its or their operating positions with respect to the room, in response to a fourth input signal a fourth sound field at listening positions within the room, and said means for coupling also coupling said center sound channel, as said fourth input signal, to said loudspeaker means.

Claim 68

The system of claim 64 wherein the system is for reproducing said sound information in a relatively small room, such as in a home, said sound information is equalized for reproduction in a large auditorium whose room-loudspeaker system is aligned to a response curve having a high-frequency roll off, and said means for coupling said left, center, and right sound channels to said loudspeaker means includes frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of said left, center, and right sound channels to compensate for errors that result from reproducing said large auditorium equalized sound information in said small room.

Claim 69

A sound system for reproducing the sound information in a plurality of sound channels, including left, right, and surround sound channels, in a room, comprising loudspeaker means for generating, when located in its or their operating positions with respect to the room, in response to first and second input signals, first and second sound fields in which the direct sound field component of each sound field is predominant over the diffuse sound field component at listening positions within the room, additional loudspeaker means, for generating, when located in its or their operating positions with respect to the room, in response to a third input signal, a third sound field in which the diffuse sound field component is predominant over the direct sound field component at listening positions within the room, said additional loudspeaker means including first and second additional loudspeaker means, means for coupling said left and right sound channels, as said first and second input signals, to said loudspeaker means, and means for coupling said surround sound channel, as said third input signal, to said additional loudspeaker means, said means for coupling said surround channel to said additional loudspeaker means including surround sound channel frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of the surround channel to compensate for the listener perceived difference in timbre between the surround sound channel and the other sound channels, and decorrelating means, including means for shifting the pitch of one signal with respect to the pitch of another, for deriving from said surround sound channel two surround signals which, when reproduced by said first and second additional loudspeaker means located in their operating positions with respect to the room, generate first and second surround sound fields having low-interaural cross-correlation with respect to each other at listening positions within the room, and coupling said two surround signals to said first and second additional loudspeaker means.

Claim 70

A sound system for reproducing the sound information in a plurality of sound channels, including left, right, and surround sound channels, in a room, comprising loudspeaker means for generating, when located in its or their operating positions with respect to the room, in response to first and second input signals, first and second sound fields in which the direct sound field component of each sound field is predominant over the diffuse sound field component at listening positions within the room, additional loudspeaker means, for generating, when located in its or their operating positions with respect to the room, in response to a third input signal, a third sound field in which the diffuse sound field component is predominant over the direct sound field component at listening positions within the room, said additional loudspeaker means including first and second additional loudspeaker means, means for coupling said left and right sound channels, as said first and second input signals, to said loudspeaker means, and means for coupling said surround sound channel, as said third input signal, to said additional loudspeaker means, said means for coupling said surround channel to said additional loudspeaker means including surround sound channel frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of the surround channel to compensate for the listener perceived difference in timbre between the surround sound channel and the other sound channels, and decorrelating means, including means for shifting the pitch of one signal with respect to the pitch of another, for deriving from said surround sound channel two surround signals which, when reproduced by said first and second additional loudspeaker means located in their operating positions with respect to the room, generate first and second surround sound fields having low-interaural cross-correlation with respect to each other at listening positions within the room, and coupling said two surround signals to said first and second additional loudspeaker means.

Claim 71

A decoder for use in a system for reproducing in a relatively small room, such as in a home, the sound information in a plurality of sound channels and carried in left total and right total signals, said plurality of sound channels including left, right, and surround sound channels, wherein said sound information is equalized for reproduction in a large auditorium whose room-loudspeaker system is aligned to a response curve having a high-frequency roll off, said system comprising loudspeaker means, including first and second surround loudspeaker means for reproducing the surround sound channel, comprising decoding means for generating left, right, and surround sound channel signals in response to said left total and right total input signals, frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of at least said left and right sound channels to compensate for errors that result from reproducing said large auditorium equalized sound information in said small room, and decorrelating means for deriving from said surround sound channel two surround signals which, when reproduced by first and second loudspeaker means located in their operating positions with respect to the room, generate first and second surround sound fields having low-interaural cross-correlation with respect to each other at listening positions within the room, said decorrelating means including means for shifting the pitch of said two surround signals with respect to each other.

Claim 72

A decoder for use in a system for reproducing in a relatively small room, such as in a home, the sound information in a plurality of sound channels and carried in left total and right total signals, said plurality of sound channels including left, right, and surround sound channels, wherein said sound information is equalized for reproduction in a large auditorium whose room-loudspeaker system is aligned to a response curve having a high-frequency roll off, said system comprising loudspeaker means, including first and second surround loudspeaker means for reproducing the surround sound channel, comprising decoding means for generating left, right, and surround sound channel signals in response to said left total and right total input signals, frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of at least said left and right sound channels to compensate for errors that result from reproducing said large auditorium equalized sound information in said small room, and decorrelating means for deriving from said surround sound channel two surround signals which, when reproduced by first and second loudspeaker means located in their operating positions with respect to the room, generate first and second surround sound fields having low-interaural cross-correlation with respect to each other at listening positions within the room, said decorrelating means including means for shifting the pitch of said two surround signals with respect to each other.

Claim 73

The decoder of claim 67 wherein said frequency response correcting means is further for correcting the frequency response of said surround channel to compensate for errors that result from reproducing said large auditorium equalized sound information in said small room.

Claim 74

A decoder for use in a system for reproducing in a relatively small room, such as in a house, the sound information in a plurality of sound channels and carried in left total and right total signals, said plurality of sound channels including left, center, right and surround sound channels, wherein said sound information is equalized for reproduction in a large auditorium whose room-loudspeaker system is aligned to a response curve having a high-frequency roll off, said system comprising loudspeaker means, including first and second surround loudspeaker means for reproducing the surround sound channel, comprising decoding means for generating left, center, right and surround sound channel signals in response to said left total and right total input signals, and frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of at least said left, center, and right sound channels to compensate for errors that result from reproducing said large auditorium equalized sound information in said small room, and decorrelating means for deriving from said surround sound channel two surround signals which, when reproduced by first and second loudspeaker means located in their operating positions with respect to the room, generate first and second surround sound fields having low-interaural cross-correlation with respect to each other at listening positions within the room, said decorrelating means including means for shifting the pitch of said two surround signals with respect to each other.

Claim 75

A decoder for use in a system for reproducing in a relatively small room, such as in a house, the sound information in a plurality of sound channels and carried in left total and right total signals, said plurality of sound channels including left, center, right and surround sound channels, wherein said sound information is equalized for reproduction in a large auditorium whose room-loudspeaker system is aligned to a response curve having a high-frequency roll off, said system comprising loudspeaker means, including first and second surround loudspeaker means for reproducing the surround sound channel, comprising decoding means for generating left, center, right and surround sound channel signals in response to said left total and right total input signals, and frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of at least said left, center, and right sound channels to compensate for errors that result from reproducing said large auditorium equalized sound information in said small room, and decorrelating means for deriving from said surround sound channel two surround signals which, when reproduced by first and second loudspeaker means located in their operating positions with respect to the room, generate first and second surround sound fields having low-interaural cross-correlation with respect to each other at listening positions within the room, said decorrelating means including means for shifting the pitch of said two surround signals with respect to each other.

Claim 76

The decoder of claim 69 wherein said frequency response correcting means is further for correcting the frequency response of said surround channel to compensate for errors that result from reproducing said large auditorium equalized sound information in said small room.

Claim 77

The decoder of claims 67, 68, 69, or 70 further comprising surround channel frequency response correcting means for correcting the frequency response of the surround channel to compensate for the listener perceived difference in timbre between the surround sound channel and the other sound channels.

Claim 80

The method of claim 72 wherein said characteristic of said frequency response change of said signal, subject to a tolerance of about ±1 dB up to about 10 kHz and about ±2 dB from about 10 kHz to 20 kHz, is: ______________________________________ Hz dB Hz dB ______________________________________ 20 0.0 5k -1.1 100 0.0 6k -1.8 500 0.0 8k -2.8 1k 0.0 10k -4.2 2k -0.2 12k -5.2 3k15 -0.4 16k -5.4 4k -0.7 20k -5.7. ______________________________________

Claim 83

The method of claim 74 wherein the sound system is for reproducing said sound information in a relatively small room, such as in a home, said sound information is equalized for reproduction in a large auditorium whose room-loudspeaker system is aligned to a response curve having a high-frequency roll-off, and the method additionally comprises changing the frequency response of said signal to correct the frequency response errors that result from reproducing said large auditorium equalized sound information in said small room.

Claim 84

The method of claim 75 wherein the characteristic of said additional frequency response change of said signal is that of a filter with a shelving frequency response, being relatively flat below 4 to 5 kHz, rolling off between about 4 to 5 kHz and about 10 kHz, and being relatively flat above about 10 kHz.

Claim 85

The method of claim 76 wherein said characteristic of said additional frequency response change of said signal, subject to a tolerance of about ±1 dB up to about 10 kHz and about ±2 dB from about 10 kHz to 20 kHz, is: ______________________________________ Hz dB Hz dB ______________________________________ 20 0 5k -1.1 100 0 6k -1.8 500 0 8k -2.8 1k 0 10k -4.2 2k -0.2 12k -5.2 3k5 -0.4 16k -5.4 4k -0.7 20k -5.7. ______________________________________

Claim 86

The method of claim 74 wherein the sound system is for reproducing said sound information in a relatively small room, such as in a home, said sound information is equalized for reproduction in a large auditorium whose room-loudspeaker system is aligned to a response curve having a high-frequency roll-off, and the frequency response of said signal is further changed to correct the frequency response errors that result from reproducing said large auditorium equalized sound information in said small room, the characteristic of the total frequency response change of said signal, subject to a tolerance of about ±2 dB up to about 10 kHz and about ±4 dB from about 10 kHz to 20 kHz, being: ______________________________________ Hz dB Hz dB ______________________________________ 1000 0.0 5161 -3.8 1163 -1.5 5910 -6.0 1332 -2.4 6767 -7.9 1525 -2.3 7749 -8.1 1746 -1.8 8873 -7.1 2000 -1.5 10161 -6.1 2290 -2.8 11634 -6.9 2622 -3.0 13322 -5.2 3002 -3.6 15254 -4.7 3438 -5.5 17467 -4.1 3936 -5.0 20000 -6.7 4507 -3.7. ______________________________________

Claim 89

The method of claim 79 wherein said characteristic of said frequency response change of said signal, subject to a tolerance of about ±1 dB up to about 10 kHz and about ±2 dB from about 10 kHz to 20 kHz, is: ______________________________________ Hz dB Hz dB ______________________________________ 20 0.0 5k -1.1 100 0.0 6k -1.8 500 0.0 8k -2.8 1k 0.0 10k -4.2 2k -0.2 12k -5.2 3k15 -0.4 16k -5.4 4k -0.7 20k -5.7. ______________________________________