System and method for localization of virtual sound
AssigneeDesper Products, Inc.
InventorsTheodore Calhoun Tanner, Jr., James Patrick Lester, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for providing improved virtual sound images. One or more spatial cues of an audio signal may be modulated within a described range to increase the clarity and perceived localization of a virtual sound image. Interaural time delay, interaural intensity difference and/or spectra may be varied at below the “just noticeable level” to cause the virtual source location to move slightly relative to the listener's head. Such variation assists the listener's auditory system in filtering out ambiguous spatial cue information from the audio signal. The resulting virtual sound image has a larger sweet spot and is less sensitive to head movement.
Claims24
A method for producing an output audio signal perceived by a listener to originate from a virtual source, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving an audio signal to be output on a speaker system at a position offset from the location of the virtual source;
- providing a spatial shift signal for modifying a spatial cue of the audio signal, wherein the spatial cue is selected from the group consisting of interaural time difference, interaural intensity difference and spectra;
- using the spatial shift signal to modify the spatial cue of the audio signal to produce a localized value for the spatial cue, wherein the localized value for the spatial cue approximates a value for the spatial cue that would be produced if the audio signal were actually output from the location of the virtual source;
- modulating the value of the spatial cue of the audio signal within a desired range around the localized value to enhance the ability of the listener to perceive the location of the virtual source;
- and
- outputting the modified and modulated audio signal from the speaker system.
A system for producing an output audio signal perceived by a listener to originate from a virtual source, the system comprising:
- a processor operatively coupled to a memory;
- the memory containing a spatial shift signal;
- the processor receiving an input audio signal and modifying the input audio signal in accordance with the spatial shift signal to produce at least two spatially shifted signals that, in combination, possess the approximate localized value of spatial cues that would be produced if signals were actually output from the location of the virtual source;
- a crosstalk compensation circuit;
- the crosstalk compensation circuit generating at least one crosstalk compensation signal to compensate for crosstalk between the at least two spatially shifted signals;
- a modulator for varying at least one spatial cue around the localized value for the at least two spatially shifted signals;
- and
- a speaker system for outputting the at least two spatially shifted signals with the varying spatial cue and the at least one crosstalk compensation signal.
A method for producing an output audio signal perceived by a listener to originate from a virtual source, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving an audio signal to be output on a speaker system at a position offset from the location of the virtual source;
- providing a spatial shift signal for modifying a spatial cue of the audio signal, wherein the spatial cue is selected from the group consisting of interaural time difference, interaural intensity difference and spectra;
- using the spatial shift signal to modify the spatial cue of the audio signal to produce a localized value for the spatial cue, wherein the localized value for the spatial cue approximates a value for the spatial cue that would be produced if the audio signal were actually output from the location of the virtual source;
- modulating the value of the spatial cue of the audio signal within a desired range around the localized value to enhance the ability of the listener to perceive the location of the virtual source, wherein the desired range within which the value of the spatial cue is modulated comprises a range below the just noticeable difference (“jnd”) level of the spatial cue;
- and
- outputting the modified and modulated audio signal from the speaker system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.