Patent ID: 11937066
Assignee: POLK AUDIO, LLC
Field: Audio-visual technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 18:
19. A method for generating an enhanced vertically enveloped listening experience for a listener at a listening position in a room, comprising:
providing a multi-channel single enclosure Height-Channel enabled soundbar loudspeaker system comprising:
an enclosure having a front baffle surface, a top wall surface, a left sidewall, and a right sidewall, the front baffle surface terminating along an upper edge thereof with the top wall surface, the front baffle surface being aligned along a speaker axis SA and terminating on opposing lateral sides with the left and right sidewalls, which are substantially transverse to the front baffle surface;
a left Height-Channel direct signal cancellation loudspeaker driver mounted at the front baffle surface proximate to the left sidewall;
a right Height-Channel direct signal cancellation loudspeaker driver mounted at the front baffle surface proximate to the right sidewall;
a left Height-Channel speaker driver or multi-driver array aimed upwardly from the top wall surface, positioned proximate to the left sidewall, and having a first acoustic center spaced from the left Height-Channel direct signal cancellation loudspeaker driver by a distance DL-AC in a range of 2 to 8 inches; and
a right Height-Channel speaker driver or multi-driver array aimed upwardly from the top wall surface, positioned proximate to the right sidewall, and having a second acoustic center spaced from the right Height-Channel direct signal cancellation loudspeaker driver by a distance DR-AC in a range of 2 to 8 inches;

receiving, in the soundbar loudspeaker system, a left Height-Channel signal, and generating a phase inverted left Height-Channel signal in response thereto; and
driving the left Height-Channel direct signal cancellation loudspeaker driver with a first direct cancellation drive signal generated in response to the phase inverted left Height-Channel signal, thereby reducing audible adverse effects of direct sound at the listening position from the left Height-Channel speaker driver or multi-driver array.