US5521981A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sound positioner
Assignee: Focal Point LLC
•
Filing: 1994-01-06
•
Granted: 1996-05-28
•
Expires: 2014-01-06
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to the presentation of sound where it is desirable for the listener to perceive one or more sounds as coming from specified three-dimensional spatial locations. In particular, this invention provides economical means of presenting three dimensional binaural audio signals with adjustment of spatial positioning parameters in real time.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis S. Gehring
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:58
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04S; H04S1/00; H04S1/002; H04S1/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for playing back sounds with three-dimensional spatial position controllable in real time comprising: a preprocessing means for generating a plurality of binaurally preprocessed versions of an original sound, wherein each said binaurally preprocessed version is the result of convolving the original sound with a head related transfer function corresponding to a single predefined point on a sphere surrounding a listener; a storage means for storing said binaurally preprocessed versions of said sound; and a playback means comprising a means for mixing said binaurally preprocessed versions on playback to produce a left and right pair of binaural output signals conveying a desired three-dimensional spatial sound position and position interpreting means to translate said desired three-dimensional spatial sound position into control commands to control said mixing apparatus to produce said desired output signals during playback.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for playing back sounds with three-dimensional spatial position controllable in real time comprising: a preprocessing means for generating a plurality of binaurally preprocessed versions of an original sound, wherein each said binaurally preprocessed version is the result of convolving the original sound with a head related transfer function corresponding to a single predefined point on a sphere surrounding a listener; a storage means for storing said binaurally preprocessed versions of said sound; and a playback means comprising a means for mixing said binaurally preprocessed versions on playback to produce a left and right pair of binaural output signals conveying a desired three-dimensional spatial sound position and position interpreting means to translate said desired three-dimensional spatial sound position into control commands to control said mixing apparatus to produce said desired output signals during playback.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said predefined point on said sphere surrounding said listener has an azimuth and an elevation spaced rectilinearly, at substantially 90 degree increments with respect to each other predefined spherical position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least two of said binaurally preprocessed versions of said signal are bilaterally symmetrical in azimuth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein two of said bilaterally symmetrical, binaurally preprocessed versions are ipsilateral and contralateral binaural versions of said original sound.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said preprocessed versions of said binaural signal comprise ipsilateral, contralateral and median plane versions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said median plane versions comprise front, top, rear, and bottom versions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mixing means further comprises a means for adjusting volume and routing of said binaurally preprocessed versions to each of said left and right binaural output signals in proportion to said desired three-dimensional spatial sound position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said proportional control is linear in proportion to a spherical position intermediate said predefined spherical positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said volume adjusting means for further controls the volume of said left and right pair of binaural output signals in unison to provide control of a perceived distance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said playback means further comprises a means to controllably shift sound pitch while maintaining the desired three-dimensional spatial sound position.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for playing back sounds with three-dimensional spatial position controllable in real time comprising the steps of: preprocessing an original sound to generate a plurality of binaurally preprocessed versions of said sound, wherein each said binaurally preprocessed version is the result of convolving the original sound with a head related transfer function corresponding to a single predefined point on a sphere surrounding a listener; storing said binaurally preprocessed versions of said original sound; interpreting and translating a desired three-dimensional spatial coordinate position into control commands; mixing said binaurally preprocessed versions of said original sound according to said control commands to produce a left and right pair of binaural output signals conveying said desired three-dimensional spatial coordinate position; and playing back said left and right pair of binaural output signals on a playback means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for playing back sounds with three-dimensional spatial position controllable in real time comprising the steps of: preprocessing an original sound to generate a plurality of binaurally preprocessed versions of said sound, wherein each said binaurally preprocessed version is the result of convolving the original sound with a head related transfer function corresponding to a single predefined point on a sphere surrounding a listener; storing said binaurally preprocessed versions of said original sound; interpreting and translating a desired three-dimensional spatial coordinate position into control commands; mixing said binaurally preprocessed versions of said original sound according to said control commands to produce a left and right pair of binaural output signals conveying said desired three-dimensional spatial coordinate position; and playing back said left and right pair of binaural output signals on a playback means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11 wherein preprocessing creates at least two preprocessed versions of said sound, which are bilaterally symmetrical.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 12 wherein two of said bilaterally symmetrical, binaurally preprocessed versions are ipsilateral and contralateral versions of said sound.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 13 wherein preprocessing creates a plurality of binaurally preprocessed versions of said sound comprising ipsilateral, contralateral and median plane versions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said median plane versions created comprise front, top, rear, and bottom versions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the step of mixing further comprises the steps of volume adjusting each binaurally preprocessed version in real time in proportion to said desired spatial coordinate position and routing each volume adjusted, binaurally preprocessed version to said left and fight pair of binaural output signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said real-time volume adjustment is performed in linear proportion to a three-dimensional spatial coordinate position intermediate said predefined spatial coordinate positions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of volume adjusting said left and right pair of binaural output signals in unison to provide control of a perceived distance.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said step of playing back said left and right pair of binaural output signals comprises pitch shifting to controllably shift the pitch of said binaural output pair while maintaining the desired three-dimensional spatial coordinate position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4893342A
Cited
US5333200A
Cited
US5046097A
Cited
US5105462A
Cited
US5440639A
Cited
US5404406A
Cited
US5371799A
Cited
US5438623A
Cited
US5459790A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-05-28 | 1999-11-27 | 2000-05-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-05-28 | 2003-11-27 | 2004-05-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-05-28 | 2007-11-27 | 2008-05-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |