US 12,219,341 B2
System and method for virtual sound effect with invisible loudspeaker(s)
Shao-Fu Shih, Stamford, CT (US); James Zheng, Shenzhen (CN); and ZhuoChao Zheng, Shenzhen (CN)
Assigned to Harman International Industries, Incorporated, Stamford, CT (US)
Appl. No. 17/788,452
Filed by HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED, Stamford, CT (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 30, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/067466
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 23, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/138421, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 8, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/955,844, filed on Dec. 31, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0011591 A1, Jan. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. H04S 7/00 (2006.01); H04R 5/02 (2006.01)
CPC H04S 7/303 (2013.01) [H04R 5/02 (2013.01); H04R 2499/11 (2013.01); H04S 2400/01 (2013.01); H04S 2420/01 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for providing a virtual sound effect in a listening environment, the apparatus comprising:
at least one controller; and
an audio playback device including the at least one controller that is programmed to:
receive an audio input signal from an audio input source;
apply a head related transfer function (HRTF) to the audio input signal;
apply crosstalk cancellation to the audio input signal; and
generate an audio output signal after applying the HRTF and the crosstalk cancellation to the audio input signal for playback by at least one loudspeaker that is invisible to a listener in the listening environment,
wherein the HRTF as applied by the audio playback device corresponds to at least filtering that is performed and measured to prevent reflections of audio from a wall, ceiling or a floor of a listening environment.