公开(公告)号：US20190289397A1

公开(公告)日：2019-09-19

申请号：US16431629

申请日：2019-06-04

Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION

Inventor： Michael J. SMITHERS ,  Brett G. CROCKETT ,  Alan J. SEEFELDT ,  C. Phillip BROWN

IPC: H04R5/02 ,  H04S7/00 ,  H04R3/04 ,  H04R3/12 ,  H04R1/26 ,  H04R3/14

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a virtual height filter for use with or in an upward-firing speaker system that reflects sound off a ceiling to a listening location at a distance from a speaker, and that provides height cues to reproduce audio objects that have overhead audio components. A virtual height filter based on a directional hearing model is applied to the upward-firing driver signal to improve the perception of height for audio signals transmitted by the virtual height speaker to provide optimum reproduction of the overhead reflected sound. The virtual height filter is provided by any one or combination of analog or digital filter circuits, or mechanical structures including speaker grill, enclosure, or driver design or configuration.

公开(公告)号：US20200029150A1

公开(公告)日：2020-01-23

申请号：US16465820

申请日：2017-12-14

Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation

Inventor： James J. CROFT, III ,  Michael J. SMITHERS ,  Garth Norman SHOWALTER

IPC: H04R1/28

Abstract: A dual wave-column, dual-driver loudspeaker enclosure is described. The two drivers are cross-coupled through their respective front and back sides by two single exit wave-columns. At the ¼ wavelength frequency of the waveguide length, both drivers resonate with the waveguides, and cone motion is minimized while output is maximized. At the ½ wavelength frequency, the front wave of the first driver is in-phase with, the rear wave of the second driver such that the output is increased, reinforced, and smoothed at that frequency. At the ⅓ wavelength frequency, the two wave-column mouth outputs exhibit acoustic mutual coupling, which boosts acoustic output and reduces cone motion at the critical maximum displacement frequency.

公开(公告)号：US20210345060A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-04

申请号：US17286313

申请日：2019-10-14

Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation

Inventor： Charles Q. ROBINSON ,  Mark R. P. THOMAS ,  Michael J. SMITHERS

IPC: H04S7/00

Abstract: Some disclosed methods involve multi-band bass management. Some such examples may involve applying multiple high-pass and low-pass filter frequencies for the purpose of bass input management. Some disclosed methods treat at least some low-frequency signals as audio objects that can be panned. Some disclosed methods involve panning low and high frequencies separately. Following high-pass rendering, a power audit may determine a low-frequency deficit factor that is to be reproduced by subwoofers or other low-frequency-capable loudspeakers.

公开(公告)号：US20210211802A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-08

申请号：US17055985

申请日：2019-05-14

Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION

Inventor： Brian George ARNOTT ,  Nicholas Luke APPLETON ,  Juan Felix TORRES ,  William Thomas ROWLEY ,  Ho Young SUNG ,  Michael J. SMITHERS

IPC: H04R3/00 ,  H03G9/02 ,  H03G3/30

Abstract: An apparatus and method of excursion protection of a loudspeaker. The method includes attenuating selected bands in a transform domain, controlled by a feedback signal resulting from an excursion transfer function that has been modified according to the real-time operational characteristics of the loudspeaker. In this manner, the system reduces the amount of wideband attenuation needed to address the predicted excursion, resulting in a better listening experience.

公开(公告)号：US20200021909A1

公开(公告)日：2020-01-16

申请号：US16578328

申请日：2019-09-21

Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation

Inventor： Michael J. SMITHERS ,  Alan J. SEEFELDT

IPC: H04R1/40 ,  H04R1/02 ,  H04R1/30 ,  H04R3/04 ,  H04R1/34

Abstract: A speaker for transmitting reflected sound waves off an upper surface down to a listening environment, comprising: a cabinet containing a plurality of audio drivers, direct-firing drivers within the cabinet oriented to transmit sound along a horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to a front surface of the cabinet, and a pair of upward-firing slotted drivers placed proximate to ends of an top surface of the cabinet and oriented at an inclination angle relative to the horizontal axis. The slotted drivers are configured to create an overlapping reflected sound projection for high frequency sound when reflected down to a listening position located at a distance in front of the speaker pair. Such a speaker projects reflected sound that provides wider horizontal or side-to-side dispersion to better cover the listening area.

公开(公告)号：US20190052956A1

公开(公告)日：2019-02-14

申请号：US16079300

申请日：2017-02-22

Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION

Inventor： Michael J. SMITHERS ,  Garth Norman SHOWALTER

IPC: H04R1/34 ,  H04R9/04 ,  H04R9/06 ,  H04R9/02

Abstract: An acoustic manifold for altering a sound wavefront shape from a loudspeaker having a substantially planar driver, comprising a mounting surface configured to attach to a front surface of a case surrounding the driver and having two vertical openings matching corresponding vertical openings in the case to allow sound from the driver to project therethrough, and a waveguide portion coupled to the mounting surface and having a structure channeling sound projected from the driver through the two vertical openings to be combined in one output area. The structure has a plurality of reflective surfaces configured to create output sound that has a consistent dispersion pattern over a defined area. The manifold is configured to increase a vertical and/or horizontal beamwidth of the projected sound so that listeners positioned off an axis of the loudspeaker will hear a wide range of audible frequencies at a substantially similar sound level.

公开(公告)号：US20180242077A1

公开(公告)日：2018-08-23

申请号：US15752883

申请日：2016-08-11

Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation

Inventor： Michael J. SMITHERS ,  Alan J. SEEFELDT

IPC: H04R1/40 ,  H04R1/02 ,  H04R3/04 ,  H04R1/30

Abstract: A soundbar speaker for transmitting reflected sound waves off an upper surface down to a listening environment, comprising: a cabinet containing a plurality of audio drivers, direct-firing drivers within the cabinet oriented to transmit sound along a horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to a front surface of the cabinet, and a pair of upward-firing slotted drivers placed proximate to ends of an top surface of the cabinet and oriented at an inclination angle relative to the horizontal axis. The slotted drivers are configured to create an overlapping reflected sound projection for high frequency sound when reflected down to a listening position located at a distance in front of the speaker pair. Such a speaker projects reflected sound that provides wider horizontal or side-to-side dispersion to better cover the listening area.

公开(公告)号：US20170208392A1

公开(公告)日：2017-07-20

申请号：US15316498

申请日：2015-06-02

Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation

Inventor： Michael J. SMITHERS ,  Brett G. CROCKETT ,  Alan J. SEEFELDT ,  C. Phillip BROWN

IPC: H04R5/02 ,  H04S7/00 ,  H04R3/04 ,  H04R3/14

CPC classification number: H04R5/02 ,  H04R1/26 ,  H04R3/04 ,  H04R3/12 ,  H04R3/14 ,  H04S7/00 ,  H04S7/30 ,  H04S7/307 ,  H04S7/308 ,  H04S2400/11 ,  H04S2420/03

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a virtual height filter for use with or in an upward-firing speaker system that reflects sound off a ceiling to a listening location at a distance from a speaker, and that provides height cues to reproduce audio objects that have overhead audio components. A virtual height filter based on a directional hearing model is applied to the upward-firing driver signal to improve the perception of height for audio signals transmitted by the virtual height speaker to provide optimum reproduction of the overhead reflected sound. The virtual height filter is provided by any one or combination of analog or digital filter circuits, or mechanical structures including speaker grill, enclosure, or driver design or configuration.