CN1114817A - Apparatus for cross fading sound imaging positions during playback over headphones - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system which can be used together with earphone and can position acoustic image point. It can accurately position the acoustic image point in any one point of one group of points around listener, and can smoothly change acoustic source position from one point to another point when the apparent acoustic source is moved relatively to the listener in the course of random variation. Said system also provides each channel with its respective acoustic positioner only containing scaler or time-delay circuit, so that it can use the same acoustic bearing filter with a lot of sound channels or called input channels.

Description

Be used for the relative listener device in conversion sound orientation gently

In general, the present invention relates to the processing of acoustic image point that the acoustical signal that is gone out by headphone reproduction is positioned, more particularly, the present invention relates to be used for the device that apparent sound orientation is handled in servo-actuated, so that it is in the servo-actuated processing procedure, sound with regard to as if changing and moving with respect to the listener is mild.

Although had the location that a large amount of designs is used in the acoustic image point when carrying out playback with two or more loud speakers, just arrived recently, just having can be for the acoustic image point location technology appearance of earphone use.From the mankind's sense of hearing function, also needing can be for earphone regeneration playback sonication technology that use, dissimilar.

The technology that can implement to determine accurate acoustic image point position when earphone is regenerated playback has been disclosed in No. 08/069870 U.S. Patent application of submitting on June 1st, 1993, and this application has transferred the application's assignee.Technology in the above-mentioned application has been that the application is with reference to employing.In above-mentioned application, system has front side and rear side sound position filtering device, and side filter carried out from left to right 180 ° servo-actuated processing before it can utilize, and carries out 180 ° servo-actuated from right to left with the back side filter then and handles.For regulating the scope and the orientation of apparent sound source, need many scalar to be set at the input and/or the output of filter.Therefore the circuit block that need put greatly and bigger filter power could be utilized front side and back side filter, and this a pair of filter that is used for left and right ear carries out moving of real acoustic image point location positioning harmony image point orientation.And in this aforementioned system, when the sound position during along the stepping of different orientation, azimuth, is also contained certain unsmooth property with respect to the listener in the sound.The non-smooth variation of this sound position is heard sometimes, and makes the people feel tired to make an uproar.Therefore, said system can not realize mild fading between different sound source positions.

Therefore, people need the acoustic positioning system that can use for earphone really, when this system should be able to be in apparent sound orientation changes with respect to listener's servo-actuated, guarantee the smooth variation between different azimuth.And, can reduce the system that the number and can continuing of parts is guaranteed to carry out the random process multichannel or claimed the ability of sound channel, then people are needed especially.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a kind of device that is used to handle the acoustical signal of headphone reproduction sound reproduction, it can make apparent sound orientation change big orientation with respect to headphones listener servo-actuated gently, and does not need a large amount of circuit blocks to realize this result.

Another object of the present invention provides a kind of device with the headphone reproduction acoustical signal, and it also is provided with flanking filter, thereby can determines to look the orientation of sound source with respect to headphones listener more accurately except front side, back side filter.

Another object of the present invention provides a kind of device with the headphone reproduction acoustical signal, it be provided with can with the universal filter system of a large amount of sonic locator Collaboration, these sonic locators are corresponding with different sound channels and the passage of importing the headphone reproduction playback system.

According to an aspect of the present invention, can be provided be stereo delay nemaline, be connected with each early reflection filter, be used to generate different orientation, azimuth or claim the FL-network of acoustic image point position, thereby can with a large amount of, be used with different sound channel or the corresponding sonic locator of title vocal input passage respectively.

Another aspect of the present invention, be to have disposed a large amount of sonic locators, wherein each all only includes scalar, multiplier and delay line, and do not include filter, thereby make sound position filtering device system, can be considered to be and the corresponding universal filter of a plurality of sonic locators that are used to import system.

Above-mentioned purpose, feature and advantage with other of the present invention can be by what describe in detail below, and the illustrative examples that is associated with accompanying drawing is better understood, and the identical reference number in the accompanying drawing is being represented same or analogous parts.

Fig. 1 is that a width of cloth schematically illustrates figure, and it shows the relativeness of listener and sound source, and sound source can be positioned at different positions.

Fig. 2 has schematically shown a kind of headphone reproduction treatment system of structure according to one embodiment of present invention with the block diagram form.

Fig. 3 shows the figure that schematically illustrates that can be used in by a locator among the embodiment shown in Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is for being coupling in the schematic diagram by a stereo delay line among the embodiment shown in Figure 2.

The present invention relates to the servo-actuated treatment technology, adopt this technology that apparent sound position is moved with respect to the people who listens to this acoustical signal that reveals again with earphone.The invention provides a kind of apparent sound source position that can make and be positioned at the system that also can carry out the servo-actuated processing around the arbitrfary point on listener's the circle successively by these points.In Fig. 1, the listener is by label 10 expression, and supposes that this listener listens to reproducing signal with earphone and be the stereophonic program of a standard, and this listener 10 can find and be positioned at a little typical sound source at 12 places so, promptly is positioned at the sound source in his dead ahead.In the present embodiment, the circle of the apparent sound position that expresses possibility is divided into 120 parts artificially, make former zero position be positioned at listener's left side, and increase progressively around listener's clockwise direction, so that make position 30 be positioned at the dead ahead, position 90 is positioned at the dead astern, and position 0 or 119 and 60 lays respectively at listener 10 both sides.Can be divided into respectively four quadrants around this circle of listener corresponding to front side 14, rear side 16, left side 18 and right side 20.These quadrants are relevant with the filter that is generally used for auditory localization.

In following the present invention, the apparent position of sound source 12 is moved with respect to headphones listener 10, and a feature of the present invention just is to provide mild filtration or fade between corresponding quadrant.This transitional region between front side quadrant 14 and right side quadrant 18 is illustrated by cross-hauling part 22.Certainly, should be appreciated that, will be divided into its number around listener's circumference and be not equal to 120 several portions, and be divided into technology, also comprise in the present invention more than more a plurality of parts of four quadrants part.And, representing so-called coverage with respect to listener 10 radial distance, promptly look distance on the orientation to this by listener 10.Fig. 2 show expression apparent sound source position be arranged in Fig. 1 120 position of orientation any the time an embodiment, wherein each all has many possible positions that are positioned within the coverage scope.

By above-mentioned, in the described system of the patent application of the application's list of references, be provided with front side and back side filter, each is responsible for the sound orientation of 180 degree scopes.And on the other hand in the present invention, be provided with the filter that is used for front side, rear side and the left and right sides, therefore can locate more accurately the sound bearing.If for instance, azimuth position filter 32 can be used for front side quadrant sound source position, and another second party parallactic angle position filtering device 34 can be used for the rear side sound source position.Although figure 1 illustrates the quadrant of two sides, can only a single azimuth position filter 36 be set for them.Since it is believed that the hearing of human left and right ear is similar each other, thus in a low-cost system of the present invention, can only one one-sided location filtering device be set to a side, and obtain the signal of opposite side with inversion mode.

In by the described system of above-mentioned patent application, have, such as a large amount of scaler and analog, they are added in the system and are disposed in subsequently all places filter.And in the present invention, only being provided with a universal filter system, the latter can regulate a large amount of locator of each passage of adaptive response or sound channel.For example, one first locator 38 can be sent signal along the six roots of sensation line shown in the label 40 into azimuth position filter 32,34,36.This six roots of sensation line is being exported left side and the right-side signal that is used for front side, rear side and two side positions.The thin portion of locator 38 and how obtained the method for some output signals by a single input signal describes with reference to Fig. 3.But it should be noted that the signal by this six roots of sensation line 40 output is that so-called non-coverage has been decided signal, promptly this signal is only corresponding to real orientation, and ignored the distance to the apparent sound source by the listener.On the other hand, locator 38 can also produce so-called coverage on by the six roots of sensation additional signal lines shown in the label 42 and decide signal, and this also describes with reference to Fig. 3.This six roots of sensation line is being exported the left and right signal that is used for front side, rear side and two side positions, and is supplied to each unit relevant with the early reflection filter.

Described in above-mentioned still undelegated patent application, by any sound source produced in the room, can make the typical acoustic signals in listener's ear, form by three parts.It is direct sound wave part, it has decided signal corresponding to above-mentioned non-coverage, the early reflection part, it is to be made of a large amount of signals passed through wall, ceiling, ground return before arriving listener's ear after, and the third part that is called as reverberation, it is sound came back reflective in the room before final disappearance a repeatedly reflective sound wave.Therefore, so-called early reflection filter provides relevant to the main information of listener to distance between sound source.

Early reflection filter configuration in front side is at point 44 places, and rear side early reflection filter configuration is at point 46 places, and early reflection filter configuration in side is at point 48 places.Therefore, front side early reflection filter 44 receives the front side left and right signal of locator 38, and the early stage filter 46 of rear side receives the rear side left and right signal of locator 38, and side early reflection filter 48 receives the side left and right signal of locator 38.This mentions once more and nonessential left side and the right-side signal of providing handled, because the counter-rotating of signal will be converted into the right side to the left side.The mode of two delay lines of these early reflection filter 44,46,48 available configuration is perfect in addition, and these two delay lines all have the input signal of oneself, thereby make it form so-called stereo filter.The operation of this stereo filter and will be described as shown in Figure 4 below.

As mentioned above, send by sound source, pass to the sound that is positioned at indoor listener and it is believed that and can be divided into three parts.Third part is the reverberation part, it weakens rapidly with the disappearance of sound, this part comprises certain coverage information, so need to superpose respectively by the signal with the left and right output line output shown in the label 42 with adder 50,52, has decided signal with the left and right coverage that forms after superposeing.Line 54 left coverage range signals of output and the right coverage of line 56 outputs has been decided signal, these signals are admitted to pseudo-random sequence generator 58, to produce pseudo-order corresponding to multiple early reflection, just look like they be by within doors different surfaces reflect like that.Similarly, these signals on the line 54,56 also are admitted to reverberation unit 62, forming the reverberation process of type, the latter corresponding to after the general time by each wall in room pass to weakening of listener ping.

With separately the left signal of signal adder 64 stack by front side filter 44, rear side filter 46, side filter 48, pseudo-random binary sequence generator 58 and 62 outputs of reverberation generator, and the right signal that superposes separately with signal adder 66.Send into signal superimposer 68 by the output signal after adder 64 stacks, and receive the fixed side signal of exporting by locator 38 along the line 70 of non-coverage by another input of the latter.The signal of signal adder 68 outputs is sent into side surface direction angle position filtering device 36.Similarly, the right side output signal after the stack is sent into signal adder 74, and its another input reception has been decided signal by the non-coverage on the right side of locator 38 72 outputs along the line.Output signal with signal adder 74 is fed through azimuth position filter 36 as right side information then.

This shows, utilize this universal filter system, promptly can be to carrying out suitable filtering by a locator 38 known three parts that can occur that produce, acoustical signal.Then real left and right output signal is superposeed respectively to produce the output signal of supply earphone.More particularly be exactly,, to produce the left and right output signal of supplying with the earphone both sides respectively thus with adder 78 its right signals of stack with the left signal of signal adder 76 stacks by 32,34,36 outputs of position filtering device.

As mentioned above, the present invention generally only is provided with certain universal filter system, just can have a large amount of handling the passage that uses or claim sound channel for the sound position.These passages or claim sound channel can corresponding to, such as by the quantity of the sound channel that sound synthesizer generated.Therefore, one second locator 80 will provide the signal that is provided with first locator 38 40 corresponding six output signals 82, and be connected with azimuth position filter 32,34,36.For the sake of simplicity, this real connection is not shown on figure.Similarly, locator 80 also provides along the line 84 and has decided corresponding six coverages of signal set output signal by eight coverages shown in the label 42, and will be connected with reverberation unit 62 with filter 44 to 48 pseudo-random binary sequence generators 58.For the sake of simplicity, this real connection is not shown on figure.And, the present invention can also comprise arbitrary number, be the locator of representative by locator 86, the latter also has by two groups of output signals shown in the label 56,92.

Fig. 3 illustrates in greater detail in this class locator 38,80 or 86.Be exactly, it to be cut apart non-coverage shown in label among Fig. 2 40 has been decided signal and the coverage shown in label among Fig. 2 42 has been decided signal to form specifically at signal of point 100 places input.As shown in Figure 2, so-called locator produces six groups of stereo output signal groups.The left and right non-coverage that is respectively front side, rear side, side has been decided signal, and the left and right coverage that is respectively front side, rear side, side has been decided signal.In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, the signal of being imported by point 100 is supplied to delay line 104 by showing device 102 surely, to be separated into the input signal of left and right passage.This can implement in the mode that produces left and right signal by select different electric current output in delay line.Left signal output current along the line 106 is supplied to front side, rear side, side scaler, similarly, right signal along the line 108 is supplied to three corresponding scaler.Specifically be exactly that front left side scaler 110, left rear side scaler 112 and left surface scaler 114 receive the left signal of being supplied with by line 106, and the signal after will having calibrated accordingly is supplied to variable scaler 116,118,120 respectively.The output of each variable scaler is by the signal indication on three shown in the label 122.Similarly, the right non-coverage on the line 108 has been decided signal and has been supplied to scaler 124,126,128, and variable scaler 130,132,134 is sent in its output respectively.Like this, three non-coverages in the right side have been decided signal and will be supplied to by on three lines shown in the label 136.It should be noted that the signal on the line 122 and 136 is being represented three pairs of stereophonic signals that non-coverage is fixed, shown in label among Fig. 2 40.

Available following manner is implemented acoustic image point and has been decided the servo-actuated processing of signal or claimed mobile with respect to non-coverage, promptly right poor with the first from left that produces by the delay buffer output current, regulate variable locator 116,118,120,130,132 and 134 in the lump, be supplied to the amount of the input signal of each azimuth position filtering device 32,34,36 with control.Like this, each passage or title sound channel can be with respect to the servo-actuated productions independently of other any input channel.

As described, can send into the early reflection filter by the signal that coverage is fixed, so it can be supplied to a left side, front side scaler 140, the right scaler 142 in front side, rear side left side scaler 144, the right scaler 146 of rear side, side left side scaler 148 and a left side, side scaler 150 by signal scaler 138.Variable scaler 152,154,156,158,160,162 is sent in the output of these six scaler respectively.By regulating variable scaler 152 to 162, it is mobile with respect to the servo-actuated production or the title of front side, rear side and side to realize that non-coverage has been decided signal.Therefore, by the fixed signal of coverage of these variable scaler 164,166,168 outputs along the line, corresponding among Fig. 2 by locator 38 output, decided signal by the coverage shown in the label 42.

Fig. 4 functionally shows an early reflection filter shown in label among Fig. 2 44,46,48, and it can use the delay line of filter effect to constitute optimum structure.Therefore in Fig. 4, shown left and right filter can be, one 16 intermediate section tapped delay line just in fact, and promptly just moving peak value is homophase, negative operation peak value is anti-phase.This homophase, inverted peaks are spontaneous.Therefore, can whether suitable according to positive and negative operation peak value, select the output of filter in the taps in 16 fens of cause delay line.

Therefore as shown in Figure 2, the locator of the ad hoc structure that only simply constitutes by scaler and delay line as long as adopt the filter construction do not comprise any complexity, can realize the servo-actuated processing, the formation of these locators is relatively cheap, and all can be used to constitute the universal filter system.By control, can realize suitable servo-actuated processing to each scaler in the locator.And, can be to each passage or the title channel configuration locator separately of system.

Above description be based on that a most preferred embodiment of the present invention carries out, but obviously, those skilled in the art can obtain multiple modification and remodeling under the condition that does not break away from theme of the present invention and scope, these are limited by following claim.

Claims (16)

1. be used for the device with respect to listener's localization of sound source apparent orientation of using earphone, it comprises:

Be used for producing several coverages and decided the localizer assembly that signal and non-coverage have been decided signal by input signal, thereby including several its values, described localizer assembly can regulate several variable signal scaler that generate described some output signals corresponding to some servo-actuated processing signals of input

The first acoustic fix ranging filter assembly, the non-coverage that is used to receive by described localizer assembly output has been decided signal, and produce and to have the left and right output signal that is arranged in the apparent sound bearing listeners head outside, that select by corresponding described servo-actuated variable signal

Rising tone positioning filter assembly, be used for receiving by the coverage of described localizer assembly output and decided signal and produced to have the left and right output signal that is positioned at apparent sound bearing outside the listeners head, that select by corresponding described servo-actuated variable signal

Be used for left and right signal with the output of the described first and second acoustic fix ranging filter assemblies and make up assembly respectively with the left and right signal that produces the left and right transducer of supplying with earphone respectively.

2. device as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that described localizer assembly comprises several locators, wherein each all accepts specific, different input signals, and generate separately several coverages set output signal and non-coverage set output signal, described several non-coverages set output signal are supplied to the described first acoustic fix ranging filter assembly, and described several coverages set output signal be supplied to described rising tone positioning filter assembly.

3. device as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that the described first acoustic fix ranging filter assembly comprises being respectively applied for determines to look orientation front side parallactic angle filter, rear side azimuth filter and the side azimuth filter of sound source with respect to orientation, listener front side, and described scaler assembly comprises front left side, rear side, the variable scaler in side and forward right side, rear side, the variable scaler in side, has decided signal to produce the described non-coverage that is supplied to described front side parallactic angle filter, described rear side azimuth filter and azimuth, described side filter respectively.

4. device as claimed in claim 3, it is characterized in that described localizer assembly also includes the delay line that is used to receive described input signal, it is used for producing the left output signal of supplying with front left side, rear side, the variable scaler in side in first intermediate section tap place, and produces the right output signal of supplying with forward right side, rear side, the variable scaler in side in second intermediate section tap place.

5. device as claimed in claim 4, it is characterized in that described localizer assembly also includes second front left side, rear side, the variable scaler in side and second forward right side, rear side, the variable scaler in side, they are used to receive described input signal and produce the set output signal of coverage separately of supplying with described rising tone positioning filter assembly.

6. device as claimed in claim 5, it is characterized in that described rising tone positioning filter assembly comprises front side, rear side and side early reflection filter, they are used for receiving respectively by the described coverage of described front left side, rear side, the variable scaler in side and described right front, back, the variable scaler output in side set output signal.

7. device as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that by the coverage of described scaler assembly output set output signal, add received, be positioned at listeners head outside the relevant distance ranging corrected signal in apparent sound bearing.

8. to reveal the device with the corresponding signal of sound that is taken place by sound source again, it comprises the apparent direction that is used to make sound source with respect to location, the selectable angle of earphone user:

Front side, rear side, sound azimuth position, side filter, wherein each all is used to generate the left and right output signal that is supplied to the earphone transducer respectively, and provide be positioned at the listeners head outside, look sound source position with the signal level of the left and right signal of being imported is corresponding after selected

Front side, rear side, side reflection position filtering device, wherein each all is used to generate the left and right output signal that is supplied to the earphone transducer respectively, and provide be positioned at the listeners head outside, look the sound source position signal with the signal level of the left and right signal of being imported is corresponding after selected

The sonic locator assembly, be used to receive with the corresponding input signal of sound that sends by sound source and be supplied to several variable scaler, the latter also receives the conditioning signal that is used to regulate by the signal level of described variable scaler output, and the signal of being exported by described variable scaler is supplied to described front side, rear side, side sound azimuth position filter and described front side, rear side, side early reflection filter respectively.

9. be used to locate and determine sound source with respect to using directly and the device in the listener's of the transducer that listener's ear joins apparent orientation, it comprises:

Receive acoustic output signal and generate several coverages set output signal and non-coverage sonic locator of set output signal, described acoustic fix ranging is put and is comprised several variable signal scaler, the latter's value can change with respect to the respective input signals servo-actuated regulates, to generate described several output signals

First filter assembly is used for receiving described non-coverage set output signal from described sonic locator, and generates to have and be positioned at the left and right output signal of looking the sound bearing listeners head outside, that selected by corresponding servo-actuated variable signal,

Second filter assembly is used for receiving described coverage set output signal from described sonic locator, and generates to have and be positioned at the left and right output signal of looking the sound bearing listeners head outside, that selected by corresponding servo-actuated variable signal,

Be used for the left and right output signal by the output of first and second filter assemblies is made up respectively and generates the assembly of the left and right signal that is supplied to one of described transducer respectively.

10. device as claimed in claim 9, it is characterized in that described localizer assembly comprises several locators, wherein each all receives specific, different input signals, and generate separately several coverages set output signal and non-coverage set output signal, described several non-effective range output signals are supplied to described first filter assembly, and described several coverages set output signal be supplied to described second filter assembly

11. device as claimed in claim 9, it is characterized in that described first filter assembly comprises being respectively applied for determines the front side parallactic angle filter of apparent sound source with respect to the orientation in orientation, listener front side, rear side azimuth filter and azimuth, side filter, and described scaler assembly comprises front left side, rear side, the forward right side of the variable scaler in side, rear side, the variable scaler in side, has decided signal to generate the described non-coverage that is supplied to described front side parallactic angle filter, described rear side orientation device filter and azimuth, described side filter respectively.

12. device as claimed in claim 11, it is characterized in that described sonic locator also includes the delay line that is used to receive described acoustic input signal, it is used for producing the left output signal that is supplied to front left side, rear side, the variable scaler in side in first intermediate section tap place, and the tapping place produces the right output signal that is supplied to forward right side, rear side, the variable scaler in side in the middle of second.

13. device as claimed in claim 12, it is characterized in that described sonic locator also includes second front left side, rear side, the variable scaler in side and second forward right side, rear side, the variable scaler in side, they are used to receive described input signal and generate the set output signal of coverage separately that is supplied to described second filter assembly.

14. device as claimed in claim 13, it is characterized in that described second filter assembly includes front side, rear side and side early reflection filter, the described coverage that they are used for receiving respectively described front left side, rear side, the variable scaler in side and described forward right side, rear side, the variable scaler in side is set output signal.

15. device as claimed in claim 9, the described coverage that it is characterized in that described sound scaler is set output signal, add received, be positioned at listeners head outside the relevant range determination corrected signal in apparent sound bearing.

16. the listener who is used to make sound source apparent direction to abut against near the transducer the ear with respect to use relocates selectively to bear the device with the corresponding signal of sound that is taken place by sound source again, it comprises:

Front side, rear side, sound azimuth position, side filter, wherein each all is used to generate the left and right output signal that is supplied to one of transducer respectively, and provide be positioned at the listeners head outside, with the corresponding apparent sound source position signal after selected of the signal level of the left and right signal of being imported

The sonic locator assembly, be used to receive with the corresponding input signal of sound that sends by sound source and be supplied to several variable scaler, the latter also receives the conditioning signal that is used to regulate by the signal level of described variable scaler output, and the signal of being exported by described variable scaler is supplied to described front side, rear side, side sound azimuth position filter and described front side, rear side, side early reflection filter respectively.

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