Downward-Firing Speaker Wall Reflection for Direct Audio Cues
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spatial audio systems are limited in home environments due to equipment costs and installation complexity, and ceiling speakers can only play back audio associated with height outputs, failing to provide direct audio cues for main outputs when direct speakers are not available.
Innovation Solution
The use of downward-firing speakers with angled drivers to reflect sound off walls, simulating direct speakers by incorporating a virtual direct filter that separates frequency bands and applies directional hearing models to enhance the perception of direct audio cues, allowing ceiling speakers to reproduce both height and main audio outputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If downward-firing speakers are used to reduce equipment cost and installation complexity, then the system becomes more suitable for home environments, but the speakers cannot provide direct audio cues for main outputs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses wall surfaces as intermediary reflectors to bounce sound from downward-firing speakers to the listening position. By positioning speakers to fire at specific angles toward reflective walls, the system creates indirect audio paths that simulate direct speaker placement, thereby recovering the lost direct audio cues without adding physical direct speakers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional horizontal speaker placement to vertical downward-firing configuration, utilizing the vertical dimension for sound projection. By directing sound downward at specific angles toward reflective surfaces, the system creates three-dimensional sound paths that can be perceived as coming from horizontal directions, effectively using spatial dimensionality to overcome the limitation of speaker orientation.
2Ease of manufacture
If ceiling speakers are used to simplify installation, then the system becomes easier to install, but the speakers can only play back height outputs and not main outputs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables ceiling-mounted downward-firing speakers to perform multiple functions: reproducing both height channel audio and main channel audio. By configuring speakers to utilize wall reflections, the same physical speaker system can deliver content from multiple audio channels, eliminating the need for separate direct speakers and enhancing system versatility without compromising installation simplicity.
3Reliability
If reflected sound is used to simulate direct speakers, then the spatial audio experience is improved, but the perception of directness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the reflection angle parameter by positioning downward-firing speakers at specific angles relative to reflective walls. By carefully controlling the angle of incidence and reflection, the system maximizes the directness perception of reflected sound while maintaining accurate spatial audio reproduction. This parameter optimization allows reflected sound to closely approximate the characteristics of direct sound.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables the full spatial audio experience in home environments with ceiling speakers alone, providing accurate and immersive audio reproduction by simulating direct speakers through reflected sound, improving the perception of audio objects' position and enhancing the overall audio experience.
Implementation Method 1
speakers and circuits for reflecting sound from a downward-firing speaker off a wall surface to a listening location
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments are directed to speakers and circuits that reflect sound off a wall surface (114) to a listening location at a distance from a speaker. The reflected sound (103) provides direct audio cues to reproduce audio objects that have direct audio components without the need for direct firing speakers. The speaker comprises sideward firing drivers (108) to reflect sound off of the wall surface (114) and represents a virtual direct speaker (116). A virtual direct filter is applied to the sideward-firing driver signal to improve the perception of direct audio transmitted by the sideward firing speaker (108) to provide optimum reproduction of the reflected sound. The virtual direct filter may be incorporated as part of a crossover circuit that separates the full band and sends high frequency sound to the sideward-firing driver (108).