Sound-image position control apparatus

A sound image position control apparatus comprising:

• a first signal generation means for generating a signal corresponding to a first predetermined audio frequency range;
• a second signal generation means for generating a signal corresponding to a second predetermined audio frequency range, wherein the second predetermined audio frequency range is distinct from the first predetermined audio frequency range;
• a first virtual speaker positioning means for defining a position of a first virtual speaker with respect to an actual speaker position;
• a second virtual speaker positioning means for defining a position of a second virtual speaker with respect to an actual speaker position, the first and said second virtual speaker positioning means causing the first and second virtual speakers to be positioned so as to define a sound field enlarged with respect to a sound field defined by the actual speaker positions;
• a first mixing means for coupling a portion of the output from the first signal generation means and a portion of the output from the second signal generation means to the first virtual speaker positioning means in accordance with a first mixing ratio;
• a second mixing means for coupling a portion of the output from the first signal generation means and a portion of the output from the second signal generation means to the second virtual speaker positioning means in accordance with a second mixing ratio;
• a third mixing means for mixing a first signal output by the first virtual speaker positioning means with a first signal output by the second virtual speaker positioning means;
• and
• a fourth mixing means for mixing a second signal output by the first virtual speaker positioning means with a second signal output by the second virtual speaker positioning means,
• wherein a position of a generated audio signal is localized away from the first and second virtual speaker positions in accordance with the first and second mixing ratios.

A sound image position control apparatus comprising:

• a first signal generation means for generating a signal corresponding to a first predetermined audio frequency range;
• a second signal generation means for generating a signal corresponding to a second predetermined audio frequency range, wherein the second predetermined audio frequency range is distinct from the first predetermined audio frequency range;
• a first virtual speaker positioning means for defining a position of a first virtual speaker with respect to an actual speaker position, wherein the first virtual-speaker position control means comprises:
• a delay circuit having two delay times, the delay circuit delaying an input mixed signal by each of the delay times so as to output two delayed signals;
• and
• an allocation ratio applying means for applying a predetermined allocation ratio to the delayed signals, thus allocating the delayed signals to respective right-side and left-side speaker channels;
• a second virtual speaker positioning means for defining a position of a second virtual speaker with respect to an actual speaker position, the first and said second virtual speaker positioning means causing the first and second virtual speakers to be positioned so as to define a sound field enlarged with respect to a sound field defined by the actual speakerpositions;
• a first mixing means for coupling a portion of the output from the first signal generation means and a portion of the output from the second signal generation means to the first virtual speaker positioning means in accordance with a first mixing ratio;
• and
• a second mixing means for coupling a portion of the output from the first signal generation means and a portion of the output from the second signal generation means to the second virtual speaker positioning means in accordance with a second mixing ratio,
• wherein a position of a generated audio signal is localized away from the first and second virtual speaker positions in accordance with the first and second mixing ratios.

A sound image position control apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of real speakers, each of which converts a signal input thereto into a sound;
• a plurality of virtual speaker forming circuits coupled to the real speakers so as to define a virtual speaker sound field enlarged with respect to a sound field defined by positions of the plurality of real speakers, each of the plurality of virtual speaker forming circuits processing a signal input thereto so that a sound generated by at least two of the real speakers is localized at a position of a corresponding virtual speaker;
• and
• a distributing circuit which receives an input signal and then distributes it among at least two of the virtual speaker forming circuits at a distribution ratio determined in accordance with a frequency characteristic of the input signal,
• wherein a sound having a frequency range corresponding to the input signal is localized at a position in a space including the positions of at least two virtual speakers in accordance with the distribution ratio, and
• wherein each of the plurality of virtual speaker forming circuits includes a delay circuit which applies different delay times to a signal input to the virtual speaker forming circuits so as to produce two signals having different respective delay times, and a level control circuit which controls amplitude levels of the two signals output by the delay circuit.

A sound image position control apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of real speakers, each of which converts a signal input thereto into a sound;
• a plurality of virtual speaker forming circuits coupled to the real speakers so as to define a virtual speaker sound field enlarged with respect to a sound field defined by positions of the plurality of real speakers, each of the plurality of virtual speaker forming circuits processing a signal input thereto so that a sound generated by at least two of the real speakers is localized at a position of a corresponding virtual speaker;
• and
• a distributing circuit which receives an input signal and then distributes it among at least two of the virtual speaker forming circuits at a distribution ratio determined in accordance with a frequency characteristic of the input signal.
• wherein a sound having a frequency range corresponding to the input signal is localized at a position in a space including the positions of at least two virtual speakers in accordance with the distribution ratio, and
• wherein each of the plurality of virtual speaker forming circuits generates a right-side and a left-side signals by processing the signal input thereto, the fight-side and left-side signals being respectively supplied to the at least two of the real speakers.