Solid Cinema Screen Audio Image Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cinema screens, such as LED screens, are opaque or semi-opaque to sound waves, preventing loudspeakers behind the screen from effectively transmitting sound to audience members, leading to a misalignment between the audio image and visual sound source, which diminishes the immersive experience.
Innovation Solution
The method involves orienting a loudspeaker's center axis to intersect with the display screen, reflecting sound off the screen towards the audience, and using auxiliary loudspeakers positioned near the ceiling or sides to compensate for sound wave obstruction, while adjusting signal processing to align the audio image with the visual sound source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If loudspeakers are positioned behind the cinema screen, then the audio image can be aligned with the visual sound source, but the opaque or semi-opaque screen material prevents sound waves from effectively transmitting to the audience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reflective surface (mirror or acoustic reflector) as an intermediary element between the loudspeaker and the audience. The loudspeaker positioned behind the screen directs sound waves onto this reflective surface, which then redirects the sound waves to the audience area, bypassing the obstruction caused by the opaque screen material while maintaining proper audio-visual alignment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial dimension of sound wave propagation by using a reflective surface positioned at an angle (typically 45 degrees) to redirect sound waves from a vertical path (from screen to audience) to a horizontal path (from reflector to audience), effectively routing sound around the screen obstruction
2Object-generated harmful factors
If loudspeakers are spatially displaced from the screen (above, side, or below), then sound waves can travel to the audience unimpeded, but a spatial offset is introduced between the audio image and the visual sound source
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective surface acts as a mediator that allows the loudspeaker to remain positioned behind the screen (maintaining audio-visual alignment) while still delivering sound to the audience. The reflector mediates between the constrained loudspeaker position and the audience's listening position, eliminating the need to displace the loudspeaker
3Manufacturing precision
If signal processing techniques are used to adjust the audio image, then alignment with visual sound source can be achieved, but tonal distortions are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electronic signal processing approach (software/digital domain) with a physical acoustic approach (hardware/analog domain). Instead of using digital signal processing to adjust audio image alignment, the system uses the physical geometry of the loudspeaker, screen, and reflective surface to achieve natural alignment, thereby avoiding tonal distortions introduced by signal processing
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 approach improves the alignment and quality of sound by reducing tonal distortions associated with signal processing techniques, enabling high-quality audio reproduction even with screens that block sound waves, and minimizing the offset between the audio image and visual sound source.
Implementation Method 1
A reflection of the first sound off of the display screen is directed towards a display screen viewing position
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for an audiovisual system having a display screen that is solid and/or otherwise non-transparent to sound. The sound output from a loudspeaker is oriented to intersect with a portion of the display screen, and a reflection of the sound off of the display screen is directed toward a viewing position in the audiovisual system. Further signal processing techniques to generate sound for output by a loudspeaker oriented at the display screen and other loudspeakers are disclosed. Additionally, other signal processing and control techniques are disclosed that affect audio and video output in the audiovisual system.