Display apparatus and sound outputting method thereof

A display apparatus including a display panel configured to display an image in a front direction; a main speaker provided on a rear surface of the display panel; and an auxiliary speaker provided on the rear surface of the display panel, the auxiliary speaker being configured to output a sound in a rear direction opposing the front direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean patent application number 10-2019-0179840, filed on Dec. 31, 2019 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates to a display apparatus and a sound outputting method of the display apparatus, and more particularly, to a display apparatus for outputting of a high-realism sound and a sound outputting method of the display apparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

Spurred by the development of electronic technologies, various types of electronic apparatuses are being developed and distributed. In particular, display apparatuses used in various places such as homes, offices, and public spaces are being continuously developed.

Recently, sound generating apparatuses for reproducing a high-realism sound are being applied in display apparatuses such as a television, a monitor, etc. For example, a speaker is being provided on a lower end of a television behind a display panel for a thin bezel design.

However, in a large-size screen, a location of a person speaking on the screen and a location wherein a sound is actually generated do not coincide due to a speaker provided on the lower end.

SUMMARY

Provided is a display apparatus including a main speaker and an auxiliary speaker outputting a sound to the rear side of the display apparatus, and a sound outputting method of the display apparatus.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a display apparatus may include a display panel configured to display an image in a front direction; a main speaker provided on a rear surface of the display panel; and an auxiliary speaker provided on the rear surface of the display panel, the auxiliary speaker being configured to output a sound in a rear direction opposing the front direction.

The auxiliary speaker may be configured to output the sound in a direction that is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the rear surface of the display panel.

The auxiliary speaker may include an upper speaker provided on an upper portion of the rear surface of the display panel; and a side speaker provided on a side portion of the rear surface of the display panel.

The auxiliary speaker may be provided on a corner of an upper portion of the rear surface of the display panel.

The display apparatus may further include backside cover covering the auxiliary speaker.

The backside cover may include an air vent or slit in an area corresponding to a sound outputting area of the auxiliary speaker.

The main speaker may include a first main speaker provided on a side portion of the rear surface of the display panel, the first main speaker being configured to output a sound in a side direction; and a second main speaker provided on a lower portion of the rear surface of the display panel, the second main speaker being configured to output a sound in a lower direction.

The first main speaker may include at least one of a tweeter or a mid-range speaker, and the second main speaker may include a woofer.

The display apparatus may further include a processor configured to determine a type of an input audio signal, and control the auxiliary speaker to output a portion of the input audio signal, the portion being determined based on the determined type of the input audio signal.

The processor may be configured to, based on a two-channel audio signal being input, control the main speaker to output the input two-channel audio signal, and control the auxiliary speaker to output a processed audio signal, the processed audio signal comprising the input two-channel audio signal after signal processing has been performed.

The signal processing performed on the input two-channel audio signal may include bandwidth reinforcing processing within a predetermined frequency range.

The processor may be further configured to control the auxiliary speaker to output a portion of the input audio signal excluding a front channel that is provided to the main speaker.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a sound outputting method of a display apparatus may include receiving an input of an audio signal; determining a type of the input audio signal; outputting, by a main speaker, the input audio signal; and outputting, by an auxiliary speaker, a portion of the input audio signal based on the determined type of the input audio signal.

The outputting through the main speaker may include, based on a two-channel audio signal being input, outputting the two-channel audio signal through the main speaker, and the outputting through the auxiliary speaker may include outputting a processed audio signal through the auxiliary speaker, the processed audio signal comprising the two-channel audio signal on which signal processing has been performed.

The signal processing performed on the two-channel audio signal may include bandwidth reinforcing processing within a predetermined frequency range.

The outputting through the auxiliary speaker may include outputting a portion of the input audio signal excluding a front channel that is provided to the main speaker.

According to yet another aspect of the disclosure, a sound outputting method of a display apparatus may include receiving an input of an audio signal; determining a type of the input audio signal; outputting a first portion of the input audio signal through a main speaker; and outputting a second portion of the input audio signal through an auxiliary speaker. The first portion of the audio signal and the second portion of the audio signal may be determined based on the determined type of the input audio signal.

The method may further include setting, based on the type of the input audio signal being a signal have two or less channels, a front channel of the input audio signal as the first portion of the input audio signal; compiling, based on the type of the input audio signal being a signal have three or more channels, the front channel and a low pass filtered version of a surround channel as the first portion of the input audio signal; and compiling, based on the type of the input audio signal being a signal have three or more channels, a high pass filtered version of the surround channel and a band pass filtered version of the front channel as the second portion of the input audio signal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments described below are provided to aid understanding of the disclosure, and it should be noted that the disclosure may be implemented in various forms that differ from the embodiments described herein. In explaining the disclosure below, in case it is determined that detailed explanation of related known functions or components may unnecessarily confuse the gist of the disclosure, the detailed explanation and detailed illustration will be omitted. Also, in the accompanying drawings, some components may not be illustrated according to their actual sizes but they may be illustrated in exaggerated sizes, for promoting understanding of the disclosure.

As terms used in this specification and the claims, general terms were selected, in consideration of the functions in the disclosure. However, the terms may vary depending on the intention of those skilled in the art, legal or technical interpretation and emergence of new technologies, etc. Also, there are some terms that were arbitrarily designated by the Applicant, and the meaning of such terms may be interpreted as defined in this specification. Meanwhile, terms that are not specifically defined in the disclosure may be interpreted based on the overall content of this specification and common technical knowledge in the pertinent art.

In the description of the disclosure, the order of each step should be understood in a nonrestrictive way, unless a preceding step should necessarily be performed prior to a subsequent step in a logical and temporal sense. That is, excluding an exceptional case as above, even if a process described as a subsequent step is performed prior to a process described as a preceding step, there would be no influence on the essence of the disclosure, and the scope of the disclosure should also be defined regardless of the orders of steps.

In this specification, terms such as “have,” “may have,” “include,” and “may include” should be construed as denoting that there are such characteristics (e.g.: elements such as numerical values, functions, operations, and components), and the terms are not intended to exclude the existence of additional characteristics.

Terms such as “first,” “second” and the like may be used to describe various elements, but they are not intended to limit the elements. Such expressions are used only to distinguish one element from another element. For example, a first element may be called a second element, and a second element may be called a first element in a similar manner, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

Also, the terms such as ‘front surface,’ ‘rear surface,’ ‘top surface,’ ‘bottom surface,’ ‘side surface,’ ‘left side,’ ‘right side,’ ‘upper part,’ ‘lower part,’ etc. used in the disclosure were defined based on the drawings, and the shapes and locations of each element are not limited by these terms.

In addition, in this specification, elements necessary for explanation of each embodiment of the disclosure are described, and thus elements are not necessarily limited thereto. Accordingly, some elements may be changed or omitted, or other elements may be added. Also, elements may be arranged to be dispersed in apparatuses independent from one another.

Further, while the embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and the contents described in the accompanying drawings below, the disclosure is not restricted or limited by the embodiments.

FIG.1is a perspective view schematically illustrating the rear surface of a display apparatus1according to an embodiment.

The display apparatus1is an apparatus for visually displaying data on a screen.

Referring toFIG.1, the display apparatus1may include a display panel10displaying an image and a backside cover20covering a backside of the display apparatus1.

The display panel10is configured to display an image, and is installed to be exposed to a front surface of the display apparatus1. As the display panel10, various types of display panels such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, an organic light emitting diodes (OLED) panel, a quantum dot light emitting diodes (QLED) panel, a micro LED panel, etc. may be used. Since a display panel incorporating a conventional technology may be used as the display panel10, detailed explanation will be omitted.

A sound outputting apparatus100outputting a sound may be provided between the display panel10and the backside cover20.

For example, the sound outputting apparatus100may be implemented as at least one speaker. Here, the speaker may perform the function of converting an electric pulse into a sound wave, and it may be implemented as a dynamic type that is distinguished according to the principle and method of converting an electric signal into a sound wave. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the speaker may be implemented as an electrostatic type, a dielectric type, a magnetostrictive type, etc. within a range wherein the disclosure is applied.

In a case where the sound outputting apparatus100includes a plurality of speakers, the sound outputting apparatus100may utilize a plurality of channel configurations such as a 2 channel, a 2.1 channel, a 3 channel, a 3.1 channel, a 5.1 channel, a 7.1 channel, etc. and reproduce the channels. For example, the plurality of speakers may include a center (C) speaker, a left (L) speaker, and a right (R) speaker.

FIG.2is a rear view schematically illustrating a display apparatus1-1in which the backside cover20has been removed according to an embodiment, andFIG.3is a cross-sectional view of the display apparatus1-1which enlarged the cross-section of the auxiliary speaker120along the line I-I indicated inFIG.2.

Referring toFIG.2, the display apparatus1-1may include a main speaker110and an auxiliary speaker120provided on the rear surface of the display panel10.

The main speaker110may be provided in the lower portion of the rear surface of the display panel10. The main speaker110may output a sound in at least one direction among the front direction in which the display panel10displays an image, the rear direction opposing the front direction, or the lower direction.

The main speaker110may include a left side main speaker110-1and a right side main speaker110-2. The left side and the right side may be set for viewing the display panel10of the display apparatus1-1from the front surface.

In a case where a two-channel sound source is input into the display apparatus1-1, the left side main speaker110-1and the right side main speaker110-2may output respective channels. For example, the left side main speaker110-1and the right side main speaker110-2may respectively output a L channel and an R channel.

Referring toFIG.2, the auxiliary speaker120may be provided in the upper portion of the rear surface of the display panel10. Detailed explanation regarding the direction in which the left side auxiliary speaker120-1outputs a sound will be described later inFIG.3. The right side auxiliary speaker120-2and auxiliary speakers of other embodiments may be configured similarly.

The auxiliary speaker120may include a left side auxiliary120-1and a right side auxiliary speaker120-2. In this case, the sounds output from the left side auxiliary speaker120-1and the right side auxiliary speaker120-2may be sounds for which signal processing has been performed for a two-channel sound source respectively input into the left side auxiliary speaker120-1and the right side auxiliary speaker120-2. Detailed explanation regarding signal processing for a two-channel sound source will be described later inFIG.11A.

Referring toFIG.3, the backside cover20may have an air vent21in an area corresponding to the sound outputting area of the left side auxiliary speaker120-1.

The left side auxiliary speaker120-1may output a sound in the rear direction of the display apparatus1-1through the air vent21of the backside cover20. However, the sound outputting direction of the auxiliary speaker120is not limited to the rear direction. For example, a slit may exist on the topside cover31of the display apparatus1-1, and the left side auxiliary speaker120-1may output a sound in the upper direction from the display apparatus1-1through the slit of the topside cover31.

In an embodiment, the auxiliary speaker120may output a sound in a direction that is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the rear surface of the display panel10. For example, the auxiliary speaker120may output a sound in a direction that is inclined from the rear direction of the display panel10to the upper direction.

Accordingly, in a case where the display apparatus1-1is used in an actual-use environment such as in a home, a sound output from the auxiliary speaker120is reflected on a wall and a ceiling behind the display apparatus1-1and transmitted to a user in front of the display apparatus1-1. Thus, a user may feel the sense of height as if a sound is generated in a location higher than the height of the display apparatus1-1.

A sound image may be located at the center of the display panel10, or a location wherein a sound image is generated may be set by an output of a plurality of speakers provided in the upper portion and the lower portion of the display apparatus1-1. A sound image is a location where a sound is perceived by a user as being generated, but not the actual location of a speaker where a sound is generated. Accordingly, the problem of discrepancy between an image on a screen and an associated a sound image that a user perceives may be resolved.

In some cases, a ratio of an indirect sound to a direct sound transmitted from the auxiliary speaker120to a user may be increased. A direct sound is a sound generated from a speaker and directly transmitted to a listener, and an indirect sound is a sound that is reflected on a wall, a ceiling, a bottom, and other structures and transmitted to a listener. Accordingly, a sense of space that a user perceives may be extended.

FIG.4is a rear view schematically illustrating a display apparatus1-2in which a backside cover has been removed according to another embodiment, andFIG.5is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged cross-section of an auxiliary speaker along the line II-II indicated inFIG.4.

Referring toFIG.4, the display apparatus1-2may include a main speaker110and an auxiliary speaker120provided on the rear surface of the display panel10.

As explanation regarding arrangement of the main speaker110overlaps withFIG.2, the explanation will be omitted.

The auxiliary speaker120may be provided in a location that is distanced from the upper end of the rear surface of the display panel10by a predetermined distance.

Referring toFIG.5, the backside cover20may have a slit22in an area corresponding to the sound outputting area of the auxiliary speaker120.

The auxiliary speaker120may output a sound in the rear direction of the display apparatus1-2through the slit22of the backside cover20.

In this case, the auxiliary speaker120may output a sound in a direction that is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the rear surface of the display panel10. For example, the auxiliary speaker120may output a sound in a direction that is inclined from the rear direction of the display panel10to the upper direction.

As explanation regarding the arrangement and the sound outputting direction of the auxiliary speaker120overlaps withFIG.3, the explanation will be omitted.

FIG.6is a rear view schematically illustrating a display apparatus1-3in which a backside cover has been removed according to another embodiment, andFIG.7is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged cross-section of the left side speaker120-3of the auxiliary speaker120along the line III-III indicated inFIG.6. The right side speaker120-4and side speakers of other embodiments may be configured similarly.

Referring toFIG.6, the auxiliary speaker120may include upper speakers120-1and120-2and side speakers120-3and120-4.

The upper speakers120-1and120-2may be provided on the upper portion of the rear surface of the display panel10, and include a left side upper speaker121-1and a right side upper speaker121-2. As the arrangement and sound outputting of the upper speakers120-1and120-2overlap with those of the auxiliary speaker120inFIG.2throughFIG.5, explanation in this regard will be omitted.

The side speakers120-3and120-4may be provided on the side portion of the rear surface of the display panel10. The side speakers120-3and120-4may include a left side speaker120-3and a right side speaker120-4provided on opposing sides of the rear surface of the display panel10.

Referring toFIG.7, in an area corresponding to the sound outputting area of the left side speaker120-3between the backside cover20and the side cover33, a slit23may be formed.

The left side speaker120-3may output a sound in the side direction of the display apparatus1-3through the slit23between the backside cover20and the side cover33.

Accordingly, a sound image may be located at the center of the display panel10, or a location wherein a sound image is generated may be set by an output of a plurality of speakers provided in the upper portion and the lower portion of the display apparatus1-3. Thus, the problem of discrepancy between an image a screen and an associated a sound image that a user perceives may be resolved.

Also, a sense of space that a user perceives may be extended by sounds output in various directions and reflected off object in the surrounding environment.

FIG.8is a rear view schematically illustrating a display apparatus1-4in which a backside cover has been separated according to another embodiment.

Referring toFIG.8, the main speaker110may include first main speakers111-1and111-2and second main speakers112-1and112-2.

The first main speakers111-1and111-2may be respectively provided on both sides of the rear surface of the display panel10and may output sound in the side directions.

The second main speakers112-1and112-2may be provided on the lower portion of the rear surface of the display panel10and may output sound in the lower direction.

In this case, the first main speakers111-1and111-2may include at least one of a tweeter or a mid-range speaker, and the second main speakers112-1and112-2may be woofers.

The auxiliary speaker120may be provided on the corner of the upper portion of the rear surface of the display panel10.

FIG.9is a block diagram showing a configuration of the sound outputting apparatus100according to an embodiment.

Referring toFIG.9, the sound outputting apparatus100may include an input module130, a processor140, a main speaker110, and an auxiliary speaker120.

The input module130may receive an input of a sound signal. For example, the input module130may receive an input of a sound signal by a streaming or download method from an external apparatus (e.g., a source apparatus), an external storage medium (e.g., a USB), an external server (e.g., a webhard), etc. through communication methods such as AP-based Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi, a wireless local area network (LAN)), Bluetooth, Zigbee, a wired/wireless LAN, a WAN, an Ethernet, the IEEE 1394, an HDMI, a USB, an MHL, the AES/EBU, Optical, Coaxial, etc.

The processor140may control the overall operations of the sound outputting apparatus100.

According to an embodiment, the processor140may be implemented as a digital signal processor (DSP) processing digital sound signals, and a microprocessor. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the processor140may include one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), a micro controller unit (MCU), a micro processing unit (MPU), a controller, an application processor (AP) or a communication processor (CP), and an ARM processor, or may be defined by the terms. Also, the processor140may be implemented as a system on chip (SoC) having a processing algorithm stored therein or large scale integration (LSI), or in the form of a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

FIG.10is a flow chart showing a sound outputting method of a display apparatus according to an embodiment.

According to the sound outputting method of the display apparatus shown inFIG.10, the input module130of the sound outputting apparatus100may receive an input of an audio signal at operation S1010.

Then, the processor140may determine the type of the input audio signal at operation S1020. In this case, the processor140may determine whether the input audio signal is an audio signal of two or fewer channels, or a multi-channel audio signal of three or more channels.

Then, the processor140may control the main speaker110to output the input audio signal at operation S1030.

At operation S1030, if a two-channel audio signal is input, the input two-channel audio signal may be output through the main speaker110.

Then, at operation S1040, the processor140may control the auxiliary speaker120to output source portion of the input audio signal. The portion being determined based on the determined type of the input audio signal.

At operation S1040, a processed audio signal, that is a version of the input audio signal on which signal processing has been performed, may be output through the auxiliary speaker120. In this case, signal processing of the input audio signal may be bandwidth reinforcing processing within a predetermined frequency range of the input audio signal.

Alternatively operation S1040, a surround channel, excluding a front channel of the audio signal provided to the main speaker110, may be output by the auxiliary speaker120. In the surround channel, signals such as a surround, a surround back, a center, a front top, a rear top, etc. may be included.

The auxiliary speaker120may output a surround channel, and thereby maximize a sense of space of a sound.

FIG.11AandFIG.11Bare diagrams showing a signal processing method of the sound outputting apparatus100according to an embodiment.

Referring toFIG.11A, according to an embodiment, if a two-channel audio signal is input, the processor140may control the main speaker110to output a signal corresponding to a front channel1111of the input audio signal. The front channel may include left and right audio channels. The processor140may also copy the front channel1111signal, and then control the auxiliary speaker120to output a filtered version of the front channel1111signal that has been filtered by a band pass filter (BPF). Accordingly, the frequency band reproduced at the mid-range speaker of the main speaker110may be reinforced by the auxiliary speaker120.

Referring toFIG.11B, according to another embodiment, if a multi-channel audio signal having 3 or more channels is input, the processor140may control the main speaker110to output a signal corresponding to the front channel1111, and control the auxiliary speaker120to output a signal corresponding to the surround channel1112, which is a signal that may include channels other than the front channel1111. For example, the auxiliary speaker120may output a filtered version of the surround channel that has been filtered by a high pass filter1115.

The number of output channels may be the same as the number of input channels, or it may be a number which has been extended or reduced from the number of input channels. For example, if the number of output channels is smaller than the number of input channels, the input channels may be down-mixed according to the number of the output channels. Alternatively, if the number of output channels is greater than the number of input channels, the input channels may be up-mixed according to the number of the output channels. The processor140may include a mixer for performing a mixing job, or may control a mixer that is separately provided.

The auxiliary speaker120may additionally output a filtered version of the front channel1111signal that has been filtered by a band pass filter1113for providing the reinforcing effect described above inFIG.11A.

Also, the main speaker110may additionally output a filtered version of the surround channel1112signal that has been filtered by a low pass filter (LPF)1114, thereby reinforcing a component of a low frequency band that is difficult to be output by the auxiliary speaker120.

While embodiments have been shown and described, the disclosure is not limited to the aforementioned specific example embodiments, and it is apparent that various modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the disclosure belongs, without departing from the scope of the disclosure as claimed by the appended claims. Also, it is intended that such modifications are not to be interpreted independently from the technical idea or prospect of the disclosure.