EP1021062B1 - Procédé et dispositif pour la reproduction de signaux audio multicanaux - Google Patents

Procédé et dispositif pour la reproduction de signaux audio multicanaux Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1021062B1
EP1021062B1 EP20000100054 EP00100054A EP1021062B1 EP 1021062 B1 EP1021062 B1 EP 1021062B1 EP 20000100054 EP20000100054 EP 20000100054 EP 00100054 A EP00100054 A EP 00100054A EP 1021062 B1 EP1021062 B1 EP 1021062B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
surround
signals
virtual
channel signals
channel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP20000100054
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1021062A2 (fr
EP1021062A3 (fr
Inventor
Johannes Böhm
Andreas Aust
Jürgen Schmidt
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THOMSON LICENSING
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Thomson Licensing SAS
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Publication date
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Publication of EP1021062A2 publication Critical patent/EP1021062A2/fr
Publication of EP1021062A3 publication Critical patent/EP1021062A3/fr
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Publication of EP1021062B1 publication Critical patent/EP1021062B1/fr
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04SSTEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS 
    • H04S3/00Systems employing more than two channels, e.g. quadraphonic
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04SSTEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS 
    • H04S2400/00Details of stereophonic systems covered by H04S but not provided for in its groups
    • H04S2400/01Multi-channel, i.e. more than two input channels, sound reproduction with two speakers wherein the multi-channel information is substantially preserved

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the reproduction of multi-channel audio signals, in particular for reproduction by virtual surround systems.
  • a spatial representation of audio signals is possible by means of multi-channel sound reproduction, called surround sound hereinafter.
  • the multi-channel sound usually comprises three channels L, C, R (Left, Centre, Right), which are arranged spatially in front of the listener, and two channels Ls, Rs (Left surround, Right surround), which are arranged spatially behind the listener.
  • a sixth channel for special effects may possibly be provided.
  • each channel is reproduced by means of a separate loudspeaker. If such a multi-channel sound loudspeaker system is not available or cannot be used owing to installation problems, it is possible also to obtain approximately identical acoustics just using the front or main loudspeakers, by means of a so-called virtual surround system.
  • the signal of the centre channel is in this case split equally between the two loudspeakers, with the result that the centre signal C seems to come from a so-called phantom point directly in front of the listener.
  • the surround channels Ls, Rs are fed to the two main channels L, R, the virtual surround effect being attained by these surround channels being processed beforehand. This is done by taking account of the propagation time differences and a shift in the frequency characteristic which the surround signals experience when they reach the listener from the direction of the surround sound sources. This can be done with the aid of the so-called head related transfer functions (HRTFs), which describe the route to the auditory canal inputs, it being necessary to use the individually applicable HRTF for each of the sound incidence directions.
  • HRTFs head related transfer functions
  • the invention is based on the object of specifying a method for improving the acoustic impression during the reproduction of multi-channel audio signals. This object is achieved by means of the method specified in Claim 1.
  • the invention is based on the insight that the spatial perception of sounds situated behind the listener is improved if the listener moves his head slightly. According to the invention, this improvement in the acoustics can also be achieved if, instead of the head movement, the virtual surround sources are moved.
  • the method for the reproduction of multi-channel audio signals comprising main channel signals and one or more surround channel signals, the surround channel signals being processed for the purpose of mapping the surround channels onto the main channels before being fed to the main channel signals and being reproduced by means of the main loudspeakers, consists in the fact that the virtual position of at least one surround loudspeaker is varied in order to improve the acoustics.
  • the main channel signals comprise two front channel signals
  • the surround channel signals comprise a centre channel signal and also two rear channel signals
  • the surround loudspeakers have two rear loudspeakers, if only the virtual position of the rear loudspeakers is varied by alteration of the rear channel signals.
  • the virtual position of the rear loudspeakers can be described in particular by a filtering of the rear channel signals.
  • the virtual position of the rear loudspeakers is advantageously varied by alteration of the filter parameters.
  • the virtual position of the rear loudspeakers may be varied exclusively or additionally by means of a different propagation delay, amplification or matrixing of the rear channel signals.
  • the multi-channel audio signals may be, in particular, MPEG2, Dolby AC3 or Dolby ProLogic signals.
  • an apparatus for the reproduction of multi-channel audio signals having a processor unit for mapping the surround channels onto the main channels, after mapping the processed surround channel signals being fed to adders and being added to the main channel signals by means of the said adders, consists in the fact that the processor unit varies the virtual position of at least one surround loudspeaker in order to improve the acoustics.
  • the processor unit preferably comprises one or more filters, the filter parameters describing the virtual position of the surround loudspeakers.
  • the processor unit is fed a filter control signal which has a constant periodicity and/or is varied as a function of the amplitude of the front channel signals.
  • the processor unit additionally has, individually or in combination, one or more delay stages, amplifier stages and also matrix stages.
  • Figure 1 illustrates two possible embodiments of the method according to the invention.
  • an arrangement comprising two real loudspeakers SL, SR and three virtual loudspeakers SC, SLs, SRs is shown in each case for different instants 1a, 1b, 1c and 2a, 2b, 2c, respectively.
  • the loudspeakers SL and SR are arranged in front of the listener Z on the left and right
  • the virtual loudspeaker SC is arranged between the former loudspeakers and the virtual loudspeakers SLs
  • SRs are arranged behind the listener on the left and right.
  • the listener Z is situated in the so-called "sweet spot", which is defined by the fact that the listener Z is situated exactly in the middle between the two front loudspeakers SL and SR, the front loudspeakers L and R and the listener Z approximately forming an equilateral triangle.
  • This condition can easily be fulfilled for multimedia PCs, since the user usually sits in front of the monitor and the loudspeakers are situated to the sides of the monitor. It is likewise the case with stereo televisions, since television viewers prefer to look straight at the screen in order thus to obtain both a good visual impression and stereo sound.
  • the actual position of the virtual loudspeakers Ls, Rs is, in an exemplary manner, 125° and -125°, respectively, referring to the centre loudspeaker SC.
  • this configuration of the virtual loudspeakers can now be rotated for example firstly in the clockwise direction (1a), then back to the starting position (1b), then in the anticlockwise direction (1c) etc.
  • the centre loudspeaker SC is likewise virtual, in which case the virtual position, as in the present example, can be fixed or else likewise rotated (not illustrated).
  • the virtual loudspeakers SLs, SRs can instead be moved forwards (2a) and backwards (2c) referring to the starting position (2b).
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a simplified block diagram of an apparatus without the centre channel being taken into account, in which a processor unit Proc converts the multi-channel audio signals L, C, R, Ls and Rs, in the manner according to the invention, into virtual surround signals L', R' with improved acoustics.
  • the signal of the centre channel C is split equally between the two input signals L and R, it being usual for there to be attenuation by 3 dB.
  • the addition to the channels L, R is effected by adder units Add1, Add2.
  • the two rear surround channels Ls, Rs are processed by the processor unit Proc in such a way that the virtual surround sources are moved in the manner described in Figure 1 .
  • the resultant output signals Ls' and Rs' are then likewise added to the front channel signals L, R.
  • the processor unit Proc is in this case driven by a filter control signal FiltCntr.
  • This filter control signal may have a constant periodicity or be determined by the amplitude of the front channels.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a simplified block diagram of an apparatus with the centre channel being taken into account.
  • the signal of the centre channel C is not split between the input signals, but rather is processed by the processor unit Proc in the same way as the rear surround signals, in which case particular attention should be paid to ensuring that an unstable sound impression is not produced.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of the processor unit Proc.
  • the surround signals Ls, Rs are respectively fed to a filter Fls, Frs.
  • These filters then contain filter sets which reproduce the arrangement of the virtual surround loudspeakers.
  • a control unit (not illustrated in the figure) then transmits the filter control signal FiltCntr to the two filters Fls, Frs and simulates a dynamic slight movement of the virtual surround sources by corresponding variation of the filter sets of the two filters.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment, in which the filter coefficients of the filters Fls, Frs are fixed and a propagation delay is instead effected in the two channels.
  • delay stages T1a, T1b are provided for the left surround channel and delay stages T2a, T2b are provided for the right surround channel.
  • a delay can be effected by the front delay stages T1a, T2a, the rear delay stages T1b, T2b or by both delay stages.
  • Figure 6 shows a third exemplary embodiment, in which the loudness of the two channels is altered instead of the filter coefficients being varied.
  • the variation of the loudness may be effected by the front amplifier stages A1a, A2a, by the rear amplifier stages A1b, A2b or by both amplifier stages.
  • Figure 7 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment in which the movement of the virtual surround sources is changed by variation of parameters of a matrix stage.
  • the variation may be effected either upstream of the filters in the matrix stage M1, or downstream of the filters in the matrix stage M2 or in both matrix stages.
  • the configuration of the processor unit Proc is not restricted to the abovementioned exemplary embodiments; thus, by way of example, a combination of the abovementioned exemplary embodiments is also conceivable. Furthermore, the processor unit, filters, delay stages, amplifier stages and matrix stages do not have to be present as separate units. Finally, the method according to the invention can be carried out entirely or partly by corresponding software.
  • the centre channel can also be processed in the same way as the rear surround signals.
  • the invention can also be used if multi-channel audio signals with just one rear channel are present (so-called single surround, such as e.g. ProLogic).
  • the rear channel is decomposed into two rear channels, decorrelation of the channels being recommended.
  • the altered virtual starting position of the signals is then taken into account by adapted filters Fls, Frs.
  • the invention can be used for the reproduction of multi-channel-sound audio signals by a wide variety of audio reproduction apparatuses such as, for example, DVD players, computers with sound cards, headphones, radio receivers or television receivers.
  • the signals may be, for example, MPEG2, Dolby AC3 or Dolby ProLogic signals.

Claims (6)

  1. Procédé de traitement de signaux audio multicanaux pour la reproduction par un système surround virtuel, dans lequel les hauts-parleurs surround virtuels sont affectés aux signaux de canaux surround, comprenant les étapes suivantes :
    réception des signaux de canaux principaux (L, R) et un ou plusieurs signaux de canaux surround (C, Ls, Rs);
    variation de la position des hauts-parleurs arrière virtuels (SLs, SRs) avec une périodicité constante et/ou en tant que fonction de l'amplitude des signaux de canaux avant (L, R) générant des signaux surround virtuels à partir des signaux de canaux surround traités et des signaux de canaux principaux ; et
    sortie des signaux surround virtuels générés pour la reproduction.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les signaux de canaux principaux comprennent deux signaux de canaux avant (L, R), les signaux de canaux surround comprenant un signal de canal central (C) et deux signaux de canaux arrière (Ls, Rs), la position des hauts-parleurs arrière virtuels étant variée par altération des signaux de canaux arrière (Ls, Rs)
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 2 dans lequel un filtrage des signaux de canal arrière (Ls, Rs) décrit la position des hauts-parleurs arrière virtuels (SLs, SRs)
  4. Procédé selon la revendication 3, dans lequel la position des hauts-parleurs arrière virtuels (SLs, SRs) est variée par altération des paramètres de filtre.
  5. Procédé selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la position des hauts-parleurs arrière virtuels (SLs, SRs) est variée exclusivement ou de manière supplémentaire par le biais d'un délai de propagation différent, amplification ou matrice des signaux de canal arrière (Ls, Rs).
  6. Procédé selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les signaux audio multicanaux sont des signaux MPEG2, Dolby AC3 ou Dolby ProLogic.
EP20000100054 1999-01-13 2000-01-05 Procédé et dispositif pour la reproduction de signaux audio multicanaux Expired - Lifetime EP1021062B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE1999100961 DE19900961A1 (de) 1999-01-13 1999-01-13 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Wiedergabe von Mehrkanaltonsignalen
DE19900961 1999-01-13

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1021062A2 EP1021062A2 (fr) 2000-07-19
EP1021062A3 EP1021062A3 (fr) 2003-09-17
EP1021062B1 true EP1021062B1 (fr) 2012-12-12

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EP20000100054 Expired - Lifetime EP1021062B1 (fr) 1999-01-13 2000-01-05 Procédé et dispositif pour la reproduction de signaux audio multicanaux

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EP (1) EP1021062B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2000228800A (fr)
DE (1) DE19900961A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100741302B1 (ko) * 2000-08-28 2007-07-23 코닌클리케 필립스 일렉트로닉스 엔.브이. 사운드들을 발생시키기 위한 시스템
KR101097000B1 (ko) 2004-03-11 2011-12-20 피에스에스 벨기에 엔브이 사운드 신호들을 프로세싱하는 방법 및 시스템
DE102004043521A1 (de) 2004-09-08 2006-03-23 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Erzeugen eines Multikanalsignals oder eines Parameterdatensatzes
US20070055510A1 (en) 2005-07-19 2007-03-08 Johannes Hilpert Concept for bridging the gap between parametric multi-channel audio coding and matrixed-surround multi-channel coding
JP2007116365A (ja) * 2005-10-19 2007-05-10 Sony Corp マルチチャンネル音響システム及びバーチャルスピーカ音声生成方法
JP5513887B2 (ja) * 2006-09-14 2014-06-04 コーニンクレッカ フィリップス エヌ ヴェ 多チャネル信号のためのスイートスポット操作
JP2009212944A (ja) * 2008-03-05 2009-09-17 Yamaha Corp 音響装置
JP6313641B2 (ja) * 2014-03-25 2018-04-18 日本放送協会 チャンネル数変換装置

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4159397A (en) * 1977-05-08 1979-06-26 Victor Company Of Japan, Limited Acoustic translation of quadraphonic signals for two- and four-speaker sound reproduction
KR940011504B1 (ko) * 1991-12-07 1994-12-19 삼성전자주식회사 2채널 음장재생 장치 및 방법
EP0563929B1 (fr) * 1992-04-03 1998-12-30 Yamaha Corporation Méthode pour commander la position de l' image d'une source de son
DK0746960T3 (da) * 1994-02-25 2000-02-28 Henrik Moller Binaural syntese, head-related transfer functions samt anvendelser deraf
US6236730B1 (en) * 1997-05-19 2001-05-22 Qsound Labs, Inc. Full sound enhancement using multi-input sound signals

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EP1021062A2 (fr) 2000-07-19
JP2000228800A (ja) 2000-08-15
DE19900961A1 (de) 2000-07-20
EP1021062A3 (fr) 2003-09-17

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