EP0608937A1 - Tonsignalverarbeitungsanordnung zur Ableitung eines Mittelkanalsignals und audiovisuelles wiedergabesystem mit solcher Verarbeitungsanordnung - Google Patents

Tonsignalverarbeitungsanordnung zur Ableitung eines Mittelkanalsignals und audiovisuelles wiedergabesystem mit solcher Verarbeitungsanordnung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0608937A1
EP0608937A1 EP94200122A EP94200122A EP0608937A1 EP 0608937 A1 EP0608937 A1 EP 0608937A1 EP 94200122 A EP94200122 A EP 94200122A EP 94200122 A EP94200122 A EP 94200122A EP 0608937 A1 EP0608937 A1 EP 0608937A1
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Prior art keywords
signal
channel signal
filter
arrangement
signals
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EP94200122A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0608937B1 (de
Inventor
Leon Maria Van De Kerkhof
Paulus Maria Boers
Hendrikus De Kluijver
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Koninklijke Philips NV
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Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04S—STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS 
    • H04S5/00—Pseudo-stereo systems, e.g. in which additional channel signals are derived from monophonic signals by means of phase shifting, time delay or reverberation 
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04S—STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS 
    • H04S2400/00—Details of stereophonic systems covered by H04S but not provided for in its groups
    • H04S2400/05—Generation or adaptation of centre channel in multi-channel audio systems

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an audio signal processing arrangement for deriving a centre channel signal from a stereophonic signal that includes a left and a right channel signal.
  • the invention further relates to an audio visual reproduction system comprising a picture display device, a first loudspeaker for reproducing a left channel signal, a second loudspeaker for reproducing a right channel signal and a third loudspeaker for reproducing a centre channel signal, the audio visual reproduction system comprising an audio signal processing arrangement of the type defined above.
  • a centre channel signal in a stereophonic reproduction system has the effect that the position of the perceived virtual sound sources depends less on the position taken up by the listener with respect to the left and right loudspeakers. This is especially important in the case where the reproduction of stereophonic information is combined with a picture display device such as, for example, television with a stereophonic reproduction system. For, when a displayed audio visual programme is followed, it is important that the position of the virtual sound sources be not perceived far from the position of the picture screen.
  • a circuit for deriving a centre channel signal is known from US 4,034,344.
  • the circuit described in above Patent there is determined by comparison whether the low-frequency region of the audio signal spectrum comprises correlating components.
  • the low-frequency signal components in the left channel signal are multiplied by the low-frequency components in the right channel signal.
  • the DC component of the result of the multiplication is compared with the sum of the DC components of the rectified channel signals.
  • a larger or smaller part of the sum of low-frequency components of the left and right channel signals is used as a centre channel signal.
  • a drawback of prior-art circuit is the relatively small degree of accuracy with which the correlation is determined.
  • the arrangement comprises first filter means for splitting off signal components from the left channel signal at least within one frequency band which filter means have at least one adjustable filter parameter, first comparator means for comparing with the right channel signal the signal split off from the left channel signal by the adjustable filter, and adjusting means for adjusting in response to the result of the comparison the adjustable filter parameter(s) to a value at which the signal power of the difference between the compared signals is, in essence, minimal according to a given criterion, second filter means for splitting off signal components from the right channel signal at least within said frequency band which second filter means have at least one adjustable filter parameter, second comparator means for comparing with the left channel signal the signal split off from the right channel signal by the adjustable filter, and adjusting means for adjusting in response to the result of the comparison the adjustable filter parameter(s) to a value at which the signal power of the difference between the compared signals is, in essence, minimal according to a given criterion, and signal processing means for deriv
  • An embodiment for the arrangement according to the invention is characterized, in that the signal deriving means comprise signal combining means for combining the output signals of the first and second filter means to become the centre channel signal.
  • the centre channel signal comprises the output signals of the filters. Since the filter parameters are set to values at which there is a minimum signal power of the difference between the compared signals, these output signals form the correlated components in the left and right channel signals. This means that only correlated components from the left and right channel signals are used for the centre channel signal, whereas the uncorrelated components, which largely contribute to the stereo image, are not used. The contribution made to the stereo image by the uncorrelated components is therefore not disturbed in the arrangement according to the invention. This is in contrast with the arrangement described in US 4,024,344, in which the left and right channel signals are represented equally strongly in the centre channel signal and thus result in a disturbance which is noticeable in the stereo image.
  • the virtual sound sources in the stereo image generally differ both in place and frequency. Therefore, it is advantageous to split off the correlated signal components for different frequency bands. In this manner there is then achieved that the correlated components for different sound sources are split off independently.
  • An embodiment of the invention in which this is realised is characterized, in that the arrangement comprises a first filter bank for splitting up the left channel signal into a plurality of left sub-signals whose frequency spectra are situated in different frequency bands, a second filter bank for splitting up the right channel signal into a plurality of right sub-signals whose frequency spectra correspond to the frequency bands the left channel signal is split up into, the splitter means being arranged for splitting up correlated signal portions into a plurality of different frequency bands on the basis of the left and right sub-signals.
  • the frequency bands in such a way that the ratio between the lowest and highest frequency within a band is the same for all the frequency bands. This is advantageous in that the low-frequency bands have a larger frequency resolution. Since the sound sources at low frequencies have most energy, these sources had rather be separated. This splitting up is in keeping with the analysis of sources by the human auditory system.
  • a further embodiment for the arrangement is characterized, in that the arrangement comprises signal removing means for removing from the left and right channel signals the components split off for the benefit of the centre channel signal. This achieves that the total signal power is unaffected by the splitting off for the benefit of the centre channel signal.
  • Fig. 1 shows in a diagram an audio signal processing arrangement for deriving a centre channel signal from a left and a right channel signal of a stereophonic signal.
  • the arrangement has an input 1 and an input 2 for receiving a left channel signal L and a right channel signal R respectively.
  • the channel signals L and R are fed to a splitter circuit 3 for splitting off from at least one of the signals L and R signal components that are identical to the signal components in the other channel signal.
  • the component split off from the left channel signal L is referenced Lc and the signal split off from the right channel signal R is referenced Rc.
  • the signals Lc and Rc that have been split off are combined by a customary signal combining circuit, for example, an adder 4 to become the centre channel signal C.
  • the identical components Lc and Rc that have been split off are subtracted from the original channel signals L and C by customary subtracter circuits 5 and 6.
  • the left and right channel signals obtained after subtraction are referenced L' and R'.
  • Fig. 2 shows an embodiment for the splitter circuit in greater detail.
  • the splitter circuit comprises a filter 20 having at least an adjustable filter parameter.
  • An input of the filter 20 is coupled to the input 1 for receiving the left channel signal L.
  • the output of the filter is coupled to a first input of a comparator circuit 21.
  • a second input of the comparator circuit 21 is supplied with the right channel signal.
  • the comparator circuit 21 is of a customary type that detects the difference between the signal supplied to the two inputs.
  • a signal representing the detected difference is applied to an adjusting circuit 22 for adjusting the filter parameters of filter 20.
  • the adjusting circuit 22 is of a type that adjusts, in response to the detected difference, the filter parameters to a value at which the signal power of the difference between the two compared signals is, in essence, minimal according to a given criterion.
  • a suitable criterion is the what is commonly referred to as Least Mean Square criterion, for which the mean square of the difference signal is minimal. If the filter 20 is a digital filter having a transfer function the filter parameters may then be obtained from the relations below when the Least Mean Square criterion is implemented.
  • C n (k+1) C n (k) + ⁇ .e(k).x(k-n)
  • ⁇ is a convergence parameter determining the rate of adaptation
  • e(k) is the error signal during sample k
  • x(k-n) is a sample that is shifted by n positions relative to x(k).
  • the output signal of the filter forms a signal component of the left channel signal that shows much correlation with the right channel signal. This signal component may then also be used for the centre channel signal.
  • a filter 23 an adjusting circuit 24 and a comparator circuit 25
  • a signal component that has maximum correlation with the left channel signal is split off from the right channel signal.
  • the signal components at the outputs of the filters 20 and 32 are added together by the adder circuit 4.
  • the output signal of the adder circuit 4 forms the centre channel signal.
  • An attenuator 26 can be inserted between the filter 20 and the adder circuit and it attenuates the output signal of the filter 20 by a specific factor before applying this signal to the adder circuit 4 and the subtracter circuit 5. In that case there is inserted, preferably between filter 23, adder circuit 4 and subtracter circuit 6, an attenuator 27 that has the same attenuation factor.
  • an attenuator 27 that has the same attenuation factor.
  • Filters having a plurality of adjustable filter parameters have been described hereinbefore.
  • the use of filters having only a single filter parameter is also alternatively possible. In that case the what is commonly referred to as Newton method is pre-eminently suitable for deriving the filter parameter, as will be explained hereinafter.
  • the filter values c' and c'' can be determined according to the following relations: and Since the stereo image does not change rapidly, it is advantageous to slightly attenuate the adaptation of the filter parameters c' and c'', for example, by means of a low-pass filtering operation.
  • the centre channel signal may be derived from the output signals of the filters having the transfer functions c' and c''. Alternatively, however, it is possible to derive the centre channel signal indirectly from the filter adjustment.
  • Fig. 5 shows an embodiment for the arrangement according to the invention, in which the centre channel signal is indirectly derived from the filter adjustments.
  • the adjusting circuits 22 and 24 are of a type determining the value of c' and c'' according to the previously discussed Newton method.
  • the filters 20 and 23 are adjusted according to the determined values of c' and c''. Since the filters have only a single adjustable filter parameter, for the filters it may be sufficient to have an amplifier with an adjustable gain factor.
  • the adjusting circuits 22 and 24 are coupled to a circuit 50 to supply the values c' and c'' to the circuit 50.
  • the circuit 50 is of a type selecting the smaller value from the two received values c' and c''.
  • the circuit 50 determines a value a2 that is equal to the squared selected smaller value.
  • the value a2 is applied to a first input of a multiplier 51.
  • a second input of the multiplier 51 is supplied with the left channel signal.
  • the output of the multiplier 51 produces a signal equal to a2.L.
  • a multiplier 52 produces a signal that is equal to a2R.
  • An adder circuit 53 derives the centre channel signal C from the signals a2L and a2R.
  • the signal a2L is subtracted from the left channel signal by a subtracter circuit 54. In this manner the adapted left channel signal L' is obtained. Similarly, the adapted right channel signal R' is derived from the right channel signal R and the signal a2R by subtracter circuit 55.
  • the virtual sound sources generally differ both in place and frequency. Therefore, it is advantageous to split off the correlated signal components for different frequency bands. In this manner the correlated components for different sound sources are split off independently.
  • An embodiment in which this is realised is shown in Fig. 4.
  • This embodiment comprises a filter bank 30 splitting up the left channel signal into a plurality of sub-signals L1, ..., Ln having different frequency bands B1, ..., Bn.
  • Fig. 4 shows an attractive subdivision of the channel signal.
  • BA denotes the width of the frequency spectrum of the channel signal L.
  • the subdivision into the frequency bands is preferably such that the ratio between the lowest and highest frequencies in the band is essentially equal for all the bands. This is advantageous in that a better splitting off of the input signal is obtained in sources that can be controlled independently.
  • the right channel signal is split up by a filter bank 31 into sub-signals R1, ..., Rn whose frequency spectra correspond to those of the sub-signals L1, ..., Ln.
  • a centre channel signal is derived referenced C1, ..., Cn by n splitter circuits 35(1), ..., 35(n) (similar to the splitter circuit shown in Fig. 2).
  • the centre channel signal C split off from the left channel signal is then formed from the split-off signals L1c, ..., Lnc by a signal combining circuit 33, for example, a restoring filter of a customary type.
  • the signal components R1c, ..., R2c split off from the sub-signals R1, ..., Rn may similarly be combined by a signal combining circuit 34 to the total signal Rc split off from the right channel signal.
  • the adder circuit 4 is then again instrumental in forming the centre channel signal C from this signal Rc.
  • the split-off components Lc and Rc are removed from the left and right channel signals by the subtracter circuits 5 and 6.
  • Fig. 6 shows an embodiment for an audio visual reproduction system according to the invention.
  • the system comprises a picture display device which includes a picture display element 60, for example, formed by a cathode ray tube, and a picture signal processor 61.
  • the system includes an input stage 66 for recovering a picture signal and a stereophonic signal from a received input signal, for example, a television signal.
  • the picture signal processor 61 renders the picture signal suitable for the picture display element 60 used.
  • the audio visual reproduction system further includes an audio signal processor 65 of a type described with reference to the drawing Figs. 1 to 5.
  • the audio signal processor 65 is coupled to the input stage 62 for receiving the left channel signal (L) and the right channel signal (R). Furthermore, the processor 65 is coupled to the loudspeakers 62, 63, 64 for supplying the adapted left channel signal L', the adapted right channel signal R' and the centre channel signal C to these loudspeakers.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Stereophonic System (AREA)
EP19940200122 1993-01-27 1994-01-19 Tonsignalverarbeitungsanordnung zur Ableitung eines Mittelkanalsignals und audiovisuelles Wiedergabesystem mit solcher Verarbeitungsanordnung Expired - Lifetime EP0608937B1 (de)

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EP19940200122 EP0608937B1 (de) 1993-01-27 1994-01-19 Tonsignalverarbeitungsanordnung zur Ableitung eines Mittelkanalsignals und audiovisuelles Wiedergabesystem mit solcher Verarbeitungsanordnung

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EP93200208 1993-01-27
EP93200208 1993-01-27
EP19940200122 EP0608937B1 (de) 1993-01-27 1994-01-19 Tonsignalverarbeitungsanordnung zur Ableitung eines Mittelkanalsignals und audiovisuelles Wiedergabesystem mit solcher Verarbeitungsanordnung

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Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007106324A1 (en) * 2006-03-13 2007-09-20 Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation Rendering center channel audio
EP2099238A1 (de) * 2008-03-05 2009-09-09 Yamaha Corporation Tonsignalausgabevorrichtung, Tonsignalausgabeverfahren und computerlesbares Aufzeichnungsmedium
EP1784048A3 (de) * 2005-11-02 2010-07-07 Sony Corporation Signalverarbeitungsvorrichtung und Verfahren
US8139774B2 (en) 2010-03-03 2012-03-20 Bose Corporation Multi-element directional acoustic arrays
US8160259B2 (en) 2006-07-21 2012-04-17 Sony Corporation Audio signal processing apparatus, audio signal processing method, and program
US8265301B2 (en) 2005-08-31 2012-09-11 Sony Corporation Audio signal processing apparatus, audio signal processing method, program, and input apparatus
US8265310B2 (en) 2010-03-03 2012-09-11 Bose Corporation Multi-element directional acoustic arrays
US8311238B2 (en) 2005-11-11 2012-11-13 Sony Corporation Audio signal processing apparatus, and audio signal processing method
US8368715B2 (en) 2006-07-21 2013-02-05 Sony Corporation Audio signal processing apparatus, audio signal processing method, and audio signal processing program
US8553894B2 (en) 2010-08-12 2013-10-08 Bose Corporation Active and passive directional acoustic radiating
US8615097B2 (en) 2008-02-21 2013-12-24 Bose Corportion Waveguide electroacoustical transducing
CN104350768A (zh) * 2012-03-27 2015-02-11 无线电广播技术研究所有限公司 用于混合至少两个音频信号的布置
WO2015049334A1 (de) * 2013-10-02 2015-04-09 Stormingswiss Gmbh Verfahren und vorrichtung zum downmixen eines multikanalsignals und zum upmixen eines downmixsignals
DE102014100049A1 (de) * 2014-01-05 2015-07-09 Kronoton Gmbh Verfahren zur Audiowiedergabe in einem Mehrkanaltonsystem
US9451355B1 (en) 2015-03-31 2016-09-20 Bose Corporation Directional acoustic device
USRE46811E1 (en) 2008-05-02 2018-04-24 Bose Corporation Passive directional acoustic radiating
US10057701B2 (en) 2015-03-31 2018-08-21 Bose Corporation Method of manufacturing a loudspeaker

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8077815B1 (en) 2004-11-16 2011-12-13 Adobe Systems Incorporated System and method for processing multi-channel digital audio signals
CN101384106B (zh) * 2007-09-07 2010-09-29 宏碁股份有限公司 电子装置

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4024344A (en) * 1974-11-16 1977-05-17 Dolby Laboratories, Inc. Center channel derivation for stereophonic cinema sound
WO1990016136A1 (en) * 1989-06-15 1990-12-27 British Telecommunications Public Limited Company Polyphonic coding

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4024344A (en) * 1974-11-16 1977-05-17 Dolby Laboratories, Inc. Center channel derivation for stereophonic cinema sound
WO1990016136A1 (en) * 1989-06-15 1990-12-27 British Telecommunications Public Limited Company Polyphonic coding

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8265301B2 (en) 2005-08-31 2012-09-11 Sony Corporation Audio signal processing apparatus, audio signal processing method, program, and input apparatus
EP1784048A3 (de) * 2005-11-02 2010-07-07 Sony Corporation Signalverarbeitungsvorrichtung und Verfahren
US8311238B2 (en) 2005-11-11 2012-11-13 Sony Corporation Audio signal processing apparatus, and audio signal processing method
CN101401456B (zh) * 2006-03-13 2013-01-02 杜比实验室特许公司 呈现中央声道音频的方法和装置
US8045719B2 (en) 2006-03-13 2011-10-25 Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation Rendering center channel audio
WO2007106324A1 (en) * 2006-03-13 2007-09-20 Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation Rendering center channel audio
US8160259B2 (en) 2006-07-21 2012-04-17 Sony Corporation Audio signal processing apparatus, audio signal processing method, and program
US8368715B2 (en) 2006-07-21 2013-02-05 Sony Corporation Audio signal processing apparatus, audio signal processing method, and audio signal processing program
US8615097B2 (en) 2008-02-21 2013-12-24 Bose Corportion Waveguide electroacoustical transducing
EP2099238A1 (de) * 2008-03-05 2009-09-09 Yamaha Corporation Tonsignalausgabevorrichtung, Tonsignalausgabeverfahren und computerlesbares Aufzeichnungsmedium
US8189795B2 (en) 2008-03-05 2012-05-29 Yamaha Corporation Sound signal outputting device, sound signal outputting method, and computer-readable recording medium
USRE46811E1 (en) 2008-05-02 2018-04-24 Bose Corporation Passive directional acoustic radiating
US8139774B2 (en) 2010-03-03 2012-03-20 Bose Corporation Multi-element directional acoustic arrays
US8265310B2 (en) 2010-03-03 2012-09-11 Bose Corporation Multi-element directional acoustic arrays
US8553894B2 (en) 2010-08-12 2013-10-08 Bose Corporation Active and passive directional acoustic radiating
CN104350768A (zh) * 2012-03-27 2015-02-11 无线电广播技术研究所有限公司 用于混合至少两个音频信号的布置
WO2015049334A1 (de) * 2013-10-02 2015-04-09 Stormingswiss Gmbh Verfahren und vorrichtung zum downmixen eines multikanalsignals und zum upmixen eines downmixsignals
DE102014100049A1 (de) * 2014-01-05 2015-07-09 Kronoton Gmbh Verfahren zur Audiowiedergabe in einem Mehrkanaltonsystem
US11153702B2 (en) 2014-01-05 2021-10-19 Kronoton Gmbh Method for audio reproduction in a multi-channel sound system
US9451355B1 (en) 2015-03-31 2016-09-20 Bose Corporation Directional acoustic device
US10057701B2 (en) 2015-03-31 2018-08-21 Bose Corporation Method of manufacturing a loudspeaker

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