Directional sound generating device

Abstract

The sound generating device includes a housing having a front portion and an upper portion, a first electroacoustic transducer facing the front portion of the housing, a second electroacoustic transducer facing the upper portion of the housing, and a third electroacoustic transducer facing the upper portion of the housing. During audio playback, a first array is generated using the first electroacoustic transducer and the second electroacoustic transducer, the first array providing a left height component of the audio playback, and a second array is generated using the first electroacoustic transducer and the third electroacoustic transducer, the second array providing a right height component of the audio playback, and there is at least one processor configured to do so.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a sound generating device.

Background Art

[0002] The reproduction of object-based audio requires a height component to achieve a three-dimensional arrangement of acoustic objects. Audio devices and systems without overhead speakers are not natively configured to reproduce the height component of object-based audio.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0003] Aspects and examples are directed to a sound generating device that includes loudspeakers natively configured to provide surround sound output having several (typically five or seven) horizontal output channels that are in a substantially same plane and thus, without speakers located above the listening position, generate left and right loudspeaker arrays that provide left and right height components of audio reproduction.

[0004] All examples and features mentioned below can be combined in any technically possible way.

[0005] In one aspect, the sound generating device includes a housing having a front portion and an upper portion, a first electroacoustic transducer facing the front portion of the housing, a second electroacoustic transducer facing the upper portion of the housing, a third electroacoustic transducer facing the upper portion of the housing, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to generate a first array using the first electroacoustic transducer and the second electroacoustic transducer during audio playback, the first array providing a left height component of the audio playback, and generate a second array using the first electroacoustic transducer and the third electroacoustic transducer, the second array providing a right height component of the audio playback.

[0006] Some embodiments include one or any combination of the above and / or the following features. In some examples, the first electroacoustic transducer is disposed between the second electroacoustic transducer and the third electroacoustic transducer. In one example, the front portion and the upper portion of the housing are perpendicular to each other.

[0007] Some embodiments include one or any combination of the above and / or the following features. In some examples, all of the electroacoustic transducers used to generate the first array receive the same audio source signal, and all of the electroacoustic transducers used to generate the second array receive the same audio source signal. In one example, the first array and the second array each include an array filter applied to the audio source signal for each of the electroacoustic transducers of the respective array. In one example, the array filters for the second electroacoustic transducer and the third electroacoustic transducer include broadband filters.

[0008] Some embodiments include one or any combination of the above and / or the following features. In one example, an array filter for a first electroacoustic transducer rolls off above a predetermined frequency. In some examples, an array filter for a first electroacoustic transducer comprises a band-pass filter. In one example, the band-pass filter has a low-frequency threshold of about 600 Hz and a high-frequency cut-off of about 2 kHz. In one example, all of the array filters comprise non-minimum phase filters.

[0009] Some embodiments include one or any combination of the above and / or the following features. In some examples, the first array and the second array are applied only over an array frequency range. In one example, the array frequency range is from about 600 Hz to about 6 kHz. In one example, the first electroacoustic transducer has a bandwidth of from about 600 Hz to about 18 kHz.

[0010] Some embodiments include one or any combination of the above and / or the following features. In some examples, the housing has a left end and a right end, and the device further includes a fourth electroacoustic transducer facing the left end of the housing and a fifth electroacoustic transducer facing the right end of the housing. The processor is further configured to generate a third array using the first electroacoustic transducer, the second electroacoustic transducer, the third electroacoustic transducer, the fourth electroacoustic transducer, and the fifth electroacoustic transducer during audio playback, the third array providing a left component of the audio playback, and is further configured to generate a fourth array using the first electroacoustic transducer, the second electroacoustic transducer, the third electroacoustic transducer, the fourth electroacoustic transducer, and the fifth electroacoustic transducer, the fourth array providing a right component of the audio playback. In one example, the processor is further configured to generate a fifth array using the first electroacoustic transducer, the second electroacoustic transducer, the third electroacoustic transducer, the fourth electroacoustic transducer, and the fifth electroacoustic transducer during audio playback, the fifth array providing a center component of the audio playback. In one example, the processor is further configured to generate a sixth array based on a combination of the first array and the third array during audio playback, the sixth array providing a left surround component of the audio playback, and is further configured to generate a seventh array based on a combination of the second array and the fourth array, the seventh array providing a right surround component of the audio playback.

[0011] In another aspect, a computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable medium including encoded computer program logic, the computer program logic, when executed on a sound generating device including a housing having a front portion and an upper portion, a first electroacoustic transducer facing the front portion of the housing, a second electroacoustic transducer facing the upper portion of the housing, and a third electroacoustic transducer facing the upper portion of the housing, causes the sound generating device to generate a first array using the first electroacoustic transducer and the second electroacoustic transducer during audio playback, the first array providing a left height component of the audio playback, and to generate a second array using the first electroacoustic transducer and the third electroacoustic transducer, the second array providing a right height component of the audio playback.

[0012] Some embodiments include one or any combination of the above and / or the following features. In one example, the first electroacoustic transducer is disposed between the second electroacoustic transducer and the third electroacoustic transducer. In one example, all of the electroacoustic transducers used to generate the first array receive the same audio source signal, all of the electroacoustic transducers used to generate the second array receive the same audio source signal, and the first array and the second array each comprise an array filter applied to the audio source signal for each of the electroacoustic transducers of the respective array. In one example, the array filters for the second electroacoustic transducer and the third electroacoustic transducer comprise broadband filters, and the array filter for the first electroacoustic transducer comprises a bandpass filter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Various aspects of at least one example will be considered below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not intended to be drawn to scale. These drawings are included to provide illustration of the various aspects and examples and further understanding, and are incorporated herein and constitute a part of this specification, but are not intended as a definition of the limitations of the invention. In the figures, the same or almost the same components illustrated in the various figures may be denoted by like letters or numbers. For clarity, in all the figures, not all components may necessarily be labeled. In the figures,

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5A

Figure 5B

Figure 5C

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] An audio source for object-based audio such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X includes spatial metadata. To properly render object-based audio, an audio device(s) must have the ability to position sound in three-dimensional space. Audio devices such as soundbars, which are often used for audio in video applications, as well as conventional surround sound systems, are configured to produce generally horizontal acoustics within a plane that includes the expected listening position and thus cannot natively place acoustics within three-dimensional space. Thus, such audio devices and systems cannot faithfully reproduce object-based audio.

[0016] In some examples, the audio device is configured as a soundbar with a housing that is generally rectangular prism-shaped with a front portion generally facing the expected listening position in front of the TV / monitor, an upper portion facing up (towards the ceiling of the room), and upper portions facing left and right. In some examples, a center loudspeaker is in the front face and the left and right upward-facing loudspeakers are on the top face of the housing, each proximate to the left and right of the center loudspeaker.

[0017] The soundbar is designed to be placed near a TV or video monitor, usually just below it. The soundbar typically includes three to five loudspeakers all on generally the same plane. To reproduce object-based audio, the soundbar needs to be configured to develop conventional horizontal surround sound channels (e.g., center, left, right, left surround, and right surround), and also needs to be configured to develop left and right height components, but there are no loudspeakers positioned above the listener. In one example of the present disclosure, the left height component is provided using a loudspeaker array that includes a center loudspeaker and a left upward-facing loudspeaker. In one example, the right height component is provided using a loudspeaker array that includes a center loudspeaker and a right upward-facing loudspeaker.

[0018] Examples of the systems, methods, and devices described in this specification are not limited to applying to the details of the configuration and arrangement of the components described in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The systems, methods, and devices can be implemented in other examples and can be implemented or executed in various ways. Specific examples are provided herein for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. Specifically, the functions, components, elements, and features considered in connection with any one or more examples are not intended to be excluded from serving similar roles in any other example.

[0019] The examples disclosed in this specification can be combined with other examples in any manner consistent with at least one of the principles disclosed herein. Moreover, references to "an example", "some examples", "an alternate example", "various examples", "one example", etc. are not necessarily mutually exclusive, and are intended to indicate that the particular features, structures, or characteristics described may be included in at least one example. The appearance of such terms in this specification does not necessarily indicate that all refer to the same example.

[0020] Also, the expressions and terms used in this specification are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered limiting. Any reference in this specification to an example, component, element, act, or function of a device, computer program product, system, and method in the singular may also include embodiments that include a plurality, and any reference in the plural to any example, component, element, operation, or function in this specification may also include embodiments that include only the singular. Therefore, a reference in the singular or plural is not intended to limit the system or method of the present disclosure, their components, acts, or elements. The use of "including", "comprising", "having", "containing", "involving", and variations thereof in this specification means including the items listed below and their equivalents, as well as other items. References to "or" can be construed as inclusive such that all terms described by "or" can indicate any one of the terms described, two or more of the terms described, and all of the terms described.

[0021] An active loudspeaker array incorporates two or more speakers or elements, and each loudspeaker is driven by its own digital signal processor (DSP) and amplifier channel. Generally, an active loudspeaker array has the following characteristics: two or more loudspeakers, all speakers receive the same source channel signal, a unique transfer function for each speaker driven by each source channel input, and an array filter (magnitude and phase for each frequency) exists. If there are multiple source channels, the additional source channels are added immediately before the individual loudspeakers, along with the array filters associated with them.

[0022] In one example, the minimum speaker set solution includes five loudspeakers disposed within a housing. In some examples, the housing has a generally rectangular prism shape with a front face and a top face that are substantially perpendicular. Substantially perpendicular means that the front face is planar or nearly planar, the top face is planar or nearly planar (e.g., the faces may be rounded but generally approximate a plane), and the front face and the top face are approximately 90 degrees to each other, generally within about ±15 degrees, and generally at most within about ±45 degrees. In one example, the central loudspeaker on the front face is a "tweeter" having a resonant frequency optimized to cover the midrange and high-frequency ranges (in some examples, from about 600 Hz to about 18 kHz). In one example, this central speaker is the main central channel speaker. In one example, the central speaker is directly facing the expected listening position. In one example, the left and right upward or "upfiring" speakers face directly upward (e.g., their main radiation axes are approximately 90 degrees relative to the main radiation axis of the central speaker) and are placed near the central speaker (e.g., as close as possible considering hardware and housing constraints in some examples) and are full-range (bass generating) loudspeakers. In some examples, the left and right upfiring speakers are positioned within the housing such that their main radiation axes cross the main radiation axis of the central speaker and face upward. The angle between the main radiation axes of the left and right upfiring speakers and the main radiation axis of the central speaker can range from about 30 degrees to about 150 degrees in embodiments. Also, in some examples, there is a left speaker at or near the left end of the housing and a right speaker at or near the right end of the housing. In some examples, both the left and right speakers are full-range speakers, and when the ends of the housing are substantially planar and generally perpendicular to the front face of the housing, they generally face straight left and straight right within a range of approximately ±15 to 45 degrees from perpendicular with respect to the main radiation axis of the central speaker and with respect to the ends of the housing. Note that the housing does not necessarily have to have a face. For example, the housing may include a support structure that holds the loudspeakers and other hardware, and the loudspeakers are arranged as described above. The structure may be more decorative on the outside and may be completely or partially enclosed or covered such that it is configured to allow sound to pass to the external environment at least in the portion above the loudspeakers.

[0023] With this loudspeaker arrangement, the device and system are configured to achieve up to five unique active acoustic arrays, namely center, left, right, left height, and right height. For surround source channels, a combination of the left height array and the left height array is used to create the left surround channel, and similarly, a combination of the right height array and the right height array is used to create the right surround channel. The active arrays cover much of the midrange frequencies, while the directivity of the individual speakers takes over the high-frequency range. In one example, the low-frequency range is not arrayed. Instead, all four full-range speakers (i.e., all except the center speaker) are driven in phase for maximum efficiency.

[0024] Generally, for the height channels, it is desirable to attenuate the energy projected forward towards the listening space. The configuration as described above, having a center speaker at the front of the enclosure and upper-facing speakers on the left and right that are close to the center speaker at the top of the enclosure, is beneficial for the left and right height arrays and also has a minimal impact on the center channel array.

[0025] In the examples of this specification, the sound generating device includes a housing having a front portion and an upper portion. There is a first electroacoustic transducer facing the front portion of the housing, a second electroacoustic transducer facing the upper portion of the housing, and a third electroacoustic transducer facing the upper portion of the housing. During audio playback, the device uses the first electroacoustic transducer and the second electroacoustic transducer to generate a first array, and the first array provides the left height component of the audio playback. It uses the first electroacoustic transducer and the third electroacoustic transducer to generate a second array, and the second array is configured with processing capabilities to provide the right height component of the audio playback. In one example, the first array and the second array are applied only over the array frequency range. The array frequency range, in some examples, is from about 600 Hz to about 6 kHz, or more generally, from the non-arrayed low frequencies (which may include the lowest frequency in some examples) to the high frequencies where the directivity of the individual speakers takes over, which depends in part on the specific speaker design and, in some examples, can be from about this 6 kHz target to about ±3 kHz. The examples of this specification also include a computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes encoded computer program logic that, when executed, achieves the functions described herein.

[0026] In one example, the first electroacoustic transducer is disposed between the second electroacoustic transducer and the third electroacoustic transducer. In a particular example, the front portion and the upper portion of the housing are perpendicular to each other. In one example, the first electroacoustic transducer is a tweeter having a bandwidth of about 600 Hz to about 18 kHz, and the second and third transducers are full-range transducers.

[0027] In some examples, all of the electroacoustic transducers used to generate the first array receive the same audio source signal, and all of the electroacoustic transducers used to generate the second array receive the same audio source signal. The first array and the second array each comprise an array filter applied to the audio source signal for each of the electroacoustic transducers of the respective array. In one example, the array filters for the second electroacoustic transducer and the third electroacoustic transducer comprise broadband filters. More specifically, in some examples, the array filter for the first electroacoustic transducer rolls off above a predetermined frequency. In one example, the array filter for the first electroacoustic transducer comprises a bandpass filter. In a particular non-limiting embodiment, the bandpass filter has a low frequency threshold of about 600 Hz and a high frequency cutoff of about 2 kHz. In some examples, the low frequency threshold ranges from about 200 Hz to about 600 Hz. In some examples, the high frequency cutoff ranges from about 2 kHz to about 4 kHz. All array filters are typically non-minimum phase filters.

[0028] In an example of the present disclosure, the housing also has a left end and a right end, and the device includes a fourth electroacoustic transducer facing the left end of the housing and a fifth electroacoustic transducer facing the right end of the housing. In this example, during audio playback, the processor uses both the first electroacoustic transducer, the second electroacoustic transducer, the third electroacoustic transducer, the fourth electroacoustic transducer, and the fifth electroacoustic transducer to generate a third array and a fourth array. The third array provides the left component of the audio playback, and the fourth array provides the right component of the audio playback.

[0029] In one example, the processor also generates a fifth array that also uses a first electroacoustic transducer, a second electroacoustic transducer, a third electroacoustic transducer, a fourth electroacoustic transducer, and a fifth electroacoustic transducer. The fifth array provides a central component of the audio reproduction. In examples having left and right surround components, the processor generates sixth and seventh arrays, the sixth array providing a left surround component and the seventh array providing a right surround component. In some examples, the sixth array is based on a combination of the first and third arrays. In some examples, the seventh array is based on a combination of the second and fourth arrays.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a sound generating device 10 (e.g., a sound bar) within a listening space 48, with the user 50 represented by a head viewed from behind. The sound bar housing 12 (shown in phantom lines so that its sides and speakers can be seen) has a generally rectangular prism shape with six generally elongated, generally flat, and generally vertical sides including a front portion 14, an upper portion 16, a left end 18, and a right end 20 (not numbered on the bottom and back and not further described herein). The sound bar need not have a flat surface, need not have a rectangular prism shape, and need not have vertical sides. However, generally, the sound bar includes an elongated housing having a front portion, an upper portion, a left end, and a right end.

[0031] In one example described herein, device 10 includes five loudspeakers, all of which are configured to be arranged under the control of a processor (not shown in FIG. 1). The center speaker 30 is supported to face from the front of the housing 14. Ideally, due to the design of device 10, device 10 is arranged in the listening space 48 such that the main radiation axis of the center speaker 30 is directed towards the listener 50. The left and right upward speakers 32 and 34 are carried such that they face the upper part of the housing 16, and due to the design of device 10, their main radiation axes are directed upward and are substantially perpendicular to the axis of the center speaker 30 or at a non-perpendicular angle as described above. In one example, speakers 32 and 34 are arranged to the left and right, respectively, near the center speaker 30. In one example, speakers 32 and 34 are as close as physically possible to speaker 30, considering the particular speakers used as well as the soundbar structure and function. As described in more detail elsewhere herein, speakers 30 and 32 are arranged to provide the left height component of the audio output, and their main radiation axes generally descend along line 33 that blocks both speakers, and speakers 30 and 34 are arranged to provide the right height component of the audio output, and their main radiation axes generally descend along line 35 that blocks both speakers.

[0032] Figure 2 is a block diagram of the active element 60 of the sound generating device 10. The audio signal input 62 may or may not be achieved wirelessly. In the case of a soundbar, the audio input is often received from a television or monitor and typically uses a hard connection such as an HDMI (registered trademark) or optical cable. Wireless audio input is usually achieved using Bluetooth or WiFi. However, the techniques and means by which audio is received are not limited. The processor 64 is configured to receive the input audio and, when executed, generate an array as described herein that achieves an audio output using a set of transducers 70 (including transducers 30, 32, 34, 36, and 38), using a non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes encoded computer program logic. In some examples, the processor 64 is a DSP.

[0033] Figure 3 is a block diagram of an audio source and filter 80 for a loudspeaker array for a sound generating device. In this example, the array is a left height array. In this example, two audio channel sources 82 and 84 are used. In one example, sources 82 and 84 are the left height source channel and the right height source channel within a Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 audio stream, where the.2 indicates two height source channels. However, for any or all of the arrays described, there may be one, two, or more audio channel sources. In the subject devices, systems, and methods, one or more audio sources are used to create different components of audio reproduction, such as audio reproduction having two or more height components (e.g., 5.1.2 output, or a 5.0.2 output without a subwoofer that can be created using only the soundbar described herein).

[0034] As described above, in order to play object-based audio, the soundbar needs to be configured to develop conventional horizontal surround sound channels (e.g., center, left, right, left surround, and right surround), and also needs to be configured to develop left and right height components, but there are no loudspeakers located above the listener. In one example of the present disclosure, the left height component is provided using a loudspeaker array including a center loudspeaker 30 and an upper left-facing loudspeaker 32. In one example, the right height component is provided using a loudspeaker array including a center loudspeaker 30 and an upper right-facing loudspeaker 34. Also, there are array filters for each audio channel source and each transducer of the array. Thus, in the example shown in FIG. 3 where the left height array includes two transducers 30 and 32, there are four array filters 86, 88, 90, and 92, and each filter is configured for one source channel and one output transducer. In some examples, the two height arrays are super-directional arrays that maximize the directivity in the upward and away direction from the listening position and minimize the acoustic energy directed towards the listening position. Also, in some examples, the array filters are non-minimum phase filters of at least 12th order, preferably at least 16th order.

[0035] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary amplitude response curve of an exemplary filter set 100 for the left and right height arrays described above, using a height array of sound generating devices, e.g., a center speaker and either a left or right upward-facing speaker. Filter response 102 is a broadband filter for a left or right height (or upward) loudspeaker, and filter response 104 is a bandpass filter for the center speaker. In some examples, as further described above, this bandpass filter has a low frequency threshold of about 300 Hz to about 600 Hz and a high frequency cutoff of about 2 kHz to about 4 kHz. These filters achieve arraying at midrange frequencies (further described above and typically defined as about 600 Hz to about 2 kHz). At higher frequencies, the distance between transducers limits the ability to array, and when the distance between transducers is greater than about half the wavelength of sound, there is no directivity control achievable by arraying. Also, most loudspeakers become directional at higher frequencies, e.g., above about 6 kHz, depending on the loudspeaker structure. Thus, as the frequency increases, the effect of arraying decreases. Thus, the five active arrays cover much of the midrange frequencies, while the directivity of the individual speakers takes over the high frequency range. In some examples, arraying is not used in the low frequency range. Instead, all four full-range speakers are driven in phase for maximum efficiency. Thus, the audio system can include a subwoofer, but can generate bass without the need for a subwoofer.

[0036] Figures 5A, 5B, and 5C are exemplary three-dimensional directivity representations for the left playback channel, left height playback channel, and center playback channel of an exemplary sound generation device, respectively. Using the five speaker layouts described in the soundbar configuration as the basis of the acoustic system design, independent spatial coverage for different ATMOS or other object-based audio rendering channels is achieved. As an example, FIGS. 5A-5C show the three-dimensional acoustic radiation patterns at the sample midrange frequency for the left array, left height array, and center array. In one example, the midrange frequency is from about 600 Hz to about 900 Hz. In one example, the sound pressure level (SPL) scale is in dB and shows a range of 20 dB. The right array and right height array are mirror images of the illustrated left array and left height array. As described above, the surround channels drive both arrays on a given side (left or right) with adjustable relative gain such that the combination of the surround channels produces an immersive sound presentation everywhere except in front of the primary listening space.

[0037] In FIGS. 5A to 5C, X is the left-right direction (X = 0 with the listening space at the center), Y is the front-back direction, Z is the vertical direction, and the sound pressure level is shown on a 20 dB scale. The origin of the plot is labeled 112 in FIG. 5A. The left array output (FIG. 5A) has a main lobe 116 directed leftward along the Y-axis at Y = 0, and smaller side lobes 117 are directed in the opposite direction. The side lobes are not perceptually important relative to the main lobe. The left height array output (FIG. 5B) has a main lobe 122 directed upward and to the left at an angle of about 45 degrees rearward (away from the listener) and upward and to the left, and smaller side lobes 123 directed in the opposite direction. To achieve a unique left-right height presentation, the angle of height should be in the range of about 30 to 60 degrees with respect to the vertical (Z) axis. The height output is away from the user rather than towards the user, which is because the center speaker is naturally at the front of the soundbar housing and the height speakers are at the top of the housing, so the height speakers are located slightly behind the center speaker. Thus, the left and right height array directions (33 and 35 in FIG. 1) are slightly rearward. The height channel sound reaches the listener after reflection from the ceiling and thus has essentially the same effect as the sound emitted from a speaker located above the listener. The center array output (FIG. 5C) has a main lobe 132 directed outward along the Y-axis towards the listening position at X = 0, and smaller side lobes 133 directed in the opposite direction. As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the main lobe points in the desired direction, and for the left, right, left height, and right height outputs, the energy directed towards the listening space is minimized, and the desired goal is to have at least a 15 dB difference in SPL between the main direction and the direction of the listening space.

[0038] The elements of the drawings are illustrated and described as individual elements of the block diagrams. These can be implemented as one or more of analog circuits or digital circuits. Alternatively, or additionally, these may be implemented by one or more microprocessors executing software instructions. The software instructions can include digital signal processing instructions. Operations can be performed by analog circuits or by a microprocessor executing software that performs operations equivalent to analog operations. Signal lines can be implemented as individual analog signal lines or digital signal lines, as individual digital signal lines performing appropriate signal processing for processing separate signals, and / or as elements of a wireless communication system.

[0039] When a process is represented or suggested in a block diagram, steps can be performed by one element or multiple elements. These steps can be performed together or at different times. The elements performing the activities may be physically the same, or may be in proximity to each other, or may be physically separate. One element may perform the activities of two or more blocks. The audio signal may or may not be encoded and may be transmitted in either digital or analog form. Conventional audio signal processing devices and operations may be omitted from the drawings.

[0040] Examples of the systems and methods described herein include computer components and computer-implemented steps that will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that computer-implemented steps may be stored as computer-executable instructions on a computer-readable medium such as, for example, a hard disk, optical disk, flash ROM, non-volatile ROM, and RAM. Further, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that computer-executable instructions may be executed on various processors such as, for example, a microprocessor, digital signal processor, gate array, etc. For ease of explanation, not all steps or elements of the systems and methods are described herein as part of a computer system, but those skilled in the art will recognize that each step or element may have a corresponding computer system or software component. Thus, such computer systems and / or software components are enabled by, and within the scope of, their corresponding steps or elements (i.e., their functionality).

[0041] The functions, methods, and / or components of the methods and systems disclosed herein according to various aspects and embodiments may be implemented or executed in digital signal processors (DSPs) and / or other circuits suitable for performing signal processing and other functions, analog or digital, according to the aspects and embodiments disclosed herein. Additionally or alternatively, a microprocessor, logic controller, logic circuit, field programmable gate array(s) (FPGA), application specific integrated circuit(s) (ASIC), general purpose computing processor(s), microcontroller(s), etc., or any combination thereof may be suitable and may include analog or digital circuit components and / or other components for any particular implementation.

[0042] The functions and components disclosed herein may operate in the digital domain, the analog domain, or a combination of the two, and certain embodiments include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and / or a digital-to-analog converter(s) (DAC), where appropriate, despite the lack of description of an ADC or DAC in the various figures. Further, the functions and components disclosed herein may operate in the time domain, the frequency domain, or a combination of the two, and certain embodiments include various forms of Fourier or similar analysis, synthesis, and / or transformation to adapt to processing in the various domains.

[0043] Any suitable hardware and / or software, including firmware, may be configured to execute or implement the components of the aspects and embodiments disclosed herein, and the various implementations of the aspects and embodiments may include components and / or functions in addition to those disclosed. The various implementations may include stored instructions of a digital signal processor and / or other circuitry to enable the circuitry to perform, at least in part, the functions described herein.

[0044] Although some aspects of at least one embodiment have been described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to them. Such changes, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure and are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only, and the scope of the invention should be determined from the proper construction of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0045] 10 Sound generation device 12 Sound bar housing 14 Front of the housing 16 Top of the housing 18 Left end 20 Right end 30 Center loudspeaker 32 Transducer 34 Transducer 36 Transducer 48 Listening space 50 Listener 50 User 60 Active element 62 Audio signal input 64 Processor 70 Transducer set (including transducers 30, 32, 34, 36, and 38) 80 Filter 82 Audio channel source 84 Audio channel source 86 Array filter 88 Array filter 90 Array filter 100 Exemplary filter set 102 Filter response 104 Filter response 116 Main lobe 117 Side lobe 122 Main lobe 123 Side lobe 132 Main lobe 133 Side lobe

Claims

Claim 1 An audio generating device, comprising: a housing having a front portion and an upper portion; a first electroacoustic transducer facing the front portion of the housing; a second electroacoustic transducer facing the upper portion of the housing; a third electroacoustic transducer facing the upper portion of the housing; at least one processor; wherein the at least one processor is configured to, during audio playback, generate a first array using the first electroacoustic transducer and the second electroacoustic transducer, the first array providing a left height component of the audio playback; generate a second array using the first electroacoustic transducer and the third electroacoustic transducer, the second array providing a right height component of the audio playback. An audio generating device configured as such. Claim 2 The audio generating device according to claim 1, wherein the first electroacoustic transducer is disposed between the second electroacoustic transducer and the third electroacoustic transducer. Claim 3 The audio generating device according to claim 1, wherein the front portion and the upper portion of the housing are perpendicular to each other. Claim 4 The audio generating device according to claim 1, wherein all of the electroacoustic transducers used to generate the first array receive the same audio source signal, and all of the electroacoustic transducers used to generate the second array receive the same audio source signal. Claim 5 The audio generating device according to claim 4, wherein each of the first array and the second array comprises an array filter applied to the audio source signal for each of the electroacoustic transducers of the respective array. Claim 6 The audio generating device according to claim 5, wherein the array filters for the second electroacoustic transducer and the third electroacoustic transducer comprise broadband filters. Claim 7 The audio generating device according to claim 5, wherein the array filter for the first electroacoustic transducer rolls off above a predetermined frequency. Claim 8 The audio generating device according to claim 5, wherein the array filter for the first electroacoustic transducer comprises a bandpass filter. Claim 9 The band-pass filter has a low-frequency threshold of approximately 600 Hz and a high-frequency cut-off of approximately 2 kHz, and the sound generation device according to claim 8.

10. All of the array filters include a non-minimum phase filter, and the sound generation device according to claim 5.

11. The first array and the second array are applied only over an array frequency range, and the sound generation device according to claim 1.

12. The array frequency range is from approximately 600 Hz to approximately 6 kHz, and the sound generation device according to claim 11.

13. The first electroacoustic transducer has a bandwidth of from approximately 600 Hz to approximately 18 kHz, and the sound generation device according to claim 1.

14. The housing has a left end and a right end, the device further includes a fourth electroacoustic transducer facing the left end of the housing and a fifth electroacoustic transducer facing the right end of the housing, the processor is further configured to generate a third array using the first electroacoustic transducer, the second electroacoustic transducer, the third electroacoustic transducer, the fourth electroacoustic transducer, and the fifth electroacoustic transducer during audio playback, the third array provides a left component of the audio playback, the processor is further configured to generate a fourth array using the first electroacoustic transducer, the second electroacoustic transducer, the third electroacoustic transducer, the fourth electroacoustic transducer, and the fifth electroacoustic transducer during audio playback, the fourth array provides a right component of the audio playback, and the sound generation device according to claim 1.

15. The processor is further configured to generate a fifth array using the first electroacoustic transducer, the second electroacoustic transducer, the third electroacoustic transducer, the fourth electroacoustic transducer, and the fifth electroacoustic transducer during audio playback, and the fifth array provides a central component of the audio playback, and the sound generation device according to claim 14.

16. The processor is further configured to generate a sixth array based on a combination of the first array and the third array during audio playback, the sixth array providing a left surround component of the audio playback, and the processor is further configured to generate a seventh array based on a combination of the second array and the fourth array during audio playback, the seventh array providing a right surround component of the audio playback. The sound generating device according to claim 15. **Claim 17** A computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable medium including encoded computer program logic, the computer program logic, when executed on a sound generating device including a housing having a front portion and an upper portion, a first electroacoustic transducer facing the front portion of the housing, a second electroacoustic transducer facing the upper portion of the housing, and a third electroacoustic transducer facing the upper portion of the housing, causes the sound generating device, during audio playback, to generate a first array using the first electroacoustic transducer and the second electroacoustic transducer, the first array providing a left height component of the audio playback, to generate a second array using the first electroacoustic transducer and the third electroacoustic transducer, the second array providing a right height component of the audio playback. The computer program product. **Claim 18** The computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the first electroacoustic transducer is disposed between the second electroacoustic transducer and the third electroacoustic transducer. **Claim 19** All of the electroacoustic transducers used to generate the first array receive the same audio source signal, all of the electroacoustic transducers used to generate the second array receive the same audio source signal, and the first array and the second array each comprise an array filter applied to the audio source signal for each of the electroacoustic transducers of the respective array. The computer program product according to claim 17. **Claim 20** The array filter for the second electroacoustic transducer and the third electroacoustic transducer includes a broadband filter, and the array filter for the first electroacoustic transducer includes a bandpass filter, the computer program product according to claim 19.

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