3D Loudspeaker Panning Using Non-Overlapping Virtual Surfaces

The patent segments the 3D spatial space by introducing a horizontal plane that divides the speaker nodes into upper and lower groups. This segmentation prevents triangulation across the horizontal plane, creating separate virtual surfaces for objects above and below the plane. By segmenting the space in this way, the patent eliminates comb filtering issues that occur when triangles cross the horizontal plane, while maintaining accurate localization for objects at different elevations.

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively preventing the formation of triangles that would cross the horizontal plane. During the triangulation process, the system identifies and excludes any potential triangles that would span across the horizontal plane, thereby preventing comb filtering issues before they can occur. This preliminary prevention maintains audio quality while preserving the ability to position sound in 3D space using alternative triangulations within each half-space.

The patent applies local quality by treating objects above and below the horizontal plane differently through separate triangulation processes. For objects on or near the horizontal plane, the system uses speakers from only one side (above or below) to create localized, accurate representations. This localized approach improves localization precision for horizontal plane objects without requiring a complete redesign of the triangulation algorithm, maintaining computational simplicity while enhancing accuracy where it matters most.