Patent Publication Number: US-2012041579-A1

Title: Rear surround sound projection system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject matter described herein relates generally to televisions and sound projection systems and more particularly to systems and methods that facilitate use and operation of a television with an integral sound projection system, and the use and operation of a rear surround projection system. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     As the capabilities of the TV and other components increase and become more affordable, more and more consumers will seek a true surround sound. Surround sound generally refers to the application of multi-channel audio to channels “surrounding” the audience in some combination of left surround, right surround, and rear surround as opposed to “screen channels” such as center, front left, and front right. In 4.0 channel or higher surround, the system will typically include a center channel speaker, a left front channel speaker and a right front channel speaker, two or more surround channel speakers in the rear or rear and side, and a low frequency effect channel to drive a subwoofer. For example, in 5.1 channel surround, the system typically includes a center channel speaker, a left front channel speaker and a right front channel speaker, two surround channel speakers in the left rear and right rear, and a low frequency effect channel to drive a subwoofer. 
     Currently, a consumer needs a high end audio-video receiver (AVR) in order to drive the sound system speakers. The AVR includes a decoder that will, depending on the audio source, extract from the audio signal a number of channels corresponding to the number of available speakers or deliver a discrete number of audio channels corresponding to the available speakers. For example, in a 5.1 channel surround system, the decoder will, depending on the audio source, extract five audio channels and one LFE channel from either a specially encoded two-channel source or a stereo source and distribute to the five speakers and one sub-woofer or deliver five discrete audio channels and one LFE channel from a 6 channel source to the five speakers and one sub-woofer. However, for the consumer, the addition of an AVR component and multiple speakers adds another level of complexity to their home entertainment system, the control of which can often be fraught with frustration. 
     Recent advances in sound projection technology from Cambridge Mechatronics Limited (CML) of Cambridge, England, eliminates the need for an AVR component and multiple speakers positioned around the room and wire coupled or wireless coupled to the AVR. In accordance with CML&#39;s sound projection technology, beams of sound emanate from an array of speakers mounted in a single enclosure, i.e., a sound projector, into the room in which the sound projector is positioned and reflect off the walls and ceiling of the room creating surround sound within the room. In addition, the sound projector is capable of beaming one or more beams of sound to targeted locations within the room. See, e.g., EP 1921890A2, U.S. 2006/0204022A2, WO 02/078388A2, WO 2007/007083A1 and U.S. 2004/0151325A1, which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Currently, the sound projector is a stand alone component separate from the TV, with microprocessor control, and controllable by the user with a custom universal remote control unit with additional processor capabilities. Also, rear surround audio channel performance tends to be weak using traditional sound projector technology in larger rooms or room configurations lacking a rear wall in the room in which the TV is being viewed. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a TV with an integral sound projection system that is controlled by the TV microprocessor control system and controllable and configurable by the user with a TV remote control unit on the TV layer of the remote control unit. It would be further desirable to provide a sound projection system that improves rear surround and left and right audio channel performance over conventional sound projection systems. 
     SUMMARY 
     The embodiments provided herein are directed to systems and methods that facilitate the use and operation of a television with an integral sound projection system. In one embodiment, a television includes an integral sound projection system incorporating an array of speakers operable to create surround sound within a room and project one or more sound beams to targeted locations. The television preferably comprises audio and video input connections and audio-video outputs such as a sound projector and a video display screen coupled to a control system. The control system includes a micro processor and non-volatile memory upon which system control software is stored, an on screen display (OSD) controller coupled to the micro processor and the video signal input connections, an image display engine coupled to the OSD controller and the display screen. The control system further comprises an audio processor such as a digital sound processor coupled to the micro processor and the sound projector. The audio input connections preferably include conventional audio input connections. The sound projector preferably comprises an array of speakers configurable to inject beams of sound into a room in which the TV is located, which reflect off the walls and ceiling to create surround sound, and configurable to inject one or more targeted beams of sound into the room. 
     In operation, the user using the menu system and graphical user interface displayable on the screen of the TV and generated by the control system software, can select between different modes of operation including stereo, surround, mono targeted, dual targeted and the like, configure the sound projection system for the user viewing room and component configuration, and automatically calibrate or customize the sound beam parameters of the sound projection system using a microphone couplable to the control system or manually adjust the sound beam parameters by navigating the graphical user interfaced based menu system. Once the room, component and sound beam parameters are entered, the control system will draw graphical representations of the sound beams and display the graphical representations of the sound beams within a graphical representation of the user&#39;s viewing room on the TV screen. The user can further use the graphical user interfaced menu system to move the sound beams around the viewing room while being presented with a graphical representation of the same. 
     In an alternate embodiment, a sound projection system preferably includes a television with an integral sound projector and a rear sound projector operably coupled to the TV. The rear and integral sound projectors comprise arrays of speakers operable to jointly create surround sound within a room in which the TV is located and project one or more beams to targeted locations within the room. The arrays of speakers in the integral and rear sound projectors are configurable to inject beams of sound into a room in which the TV is located, which reflect off the walls and ceiling of the room to create surround sound. By adding the rear surround projector, it is possible to get very good rear surround audio channel performance and also improve the Left/Right channel performance. 
     Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The details of the invention, including fabrication, structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, all illustrations are intended to convey concepts, where relative sizes, shapes and other detailed attributes may be illustrated schematically rather than literally or precisely. 
         FIG. 1  depicts a schematic of a television with an integral sound projector and control system. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a graphical user interfaced based menu displayed on the screen of the television with the sound projector configuration menu displayed. 
         FIG. 2A  depicts a graphical user interfaced based menu displayed on the screen of the television with the sound projector configuration menu and custom soft key drop down menu displayed. 
         FIG. 2B  depicts a graphical user interfaced based menu displayed on the screen of the television with the audio mode drop down menu displayed. 
         FIG. 3A  depicts a graphical user interfaced based menu displayed on the screen of the television with the sound projector surround mode custom setup menu displayed with a graphical tracing of the paths of the sound beams displayed. 
         FIG. 3B  depicts a graphical user interfaced based menu displayed on the screen of the television with the sound projector surround mode custom setup menu displayed with a graphical tracing of the paths of the sound beams displayed as modified by the user. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a graphical user interfaced based menu displayed on the screen of the television with the sound projector stereo mode custom setup menu displayed. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a graphical user interfaced based menu displayed on the screen of the television with the sound projector mono-target mode custom setup menu displayed. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a graphical user interfaced based menu displayed on the screen of the television with the sound projector dual-target mode custom setup menu displayed. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a schematic of a television with an integral sound projector and a rear sound projector coupled to the television. 
         FIG. 8  depicts a schematic of a graphical tracing of the paths of sound beams for surround mode. 
         FIG. 9  depicts a schematic of a graphical tracing of the paths of sound beams for surround mode. 
         FIG. 10  depicts a schematic of a graphical tracing of the paths of sound beams for surround mode. 
         FIG. 11  depicts a schematic of a graphical tracing of the paths of sound beams for target mode projection. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The systems and methods described herein are directed to a television with an integral sound projection system and the control and operation of the television and integral sound projection system. More particularly, in one embodiment the television includes an integral sound projector comprising an array of speakers operable to create surround sound within a room and project one or more beams to targeted locations. The array of speakers is configurable to inject beams of sound into a room in which the TV is located, which reflect off the walls and ceiling of the room to create surround sound. The array of speakers is also configurable to inject one or more beams of sound into the room and target the one or more beams to desired locations within the room. A detailed description of stand alone sound projectors and sound projection systems that are external to the TV, i.e., not integrally located within the TV, and couplable to a TV and the operation of such sound projectors and sound projector systems are described in EP 1921890A2, U.S. 2006/0204022A2, WO 02/078388A2, WO 2007/007083A1 and U.S. 2004/0151325A1, which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Turning in detail to the figures,  FIG. 1  depicts a schematic of an embodiment of a television  10  with an integral sound projector  40  comprising an array of speakers  42 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the television  10  preferably comprises a video display screen  30 , an IR signal receiver  24  and the sound projector  40  coupled to a control system  12 . The control system  12  preferably includes a micro processor  20  and non-volatile memory  22  upon which system software is stored, an on screen display (OSD) controller  14  coupled to the micro processor  20  and an image display engine  16  coupled to the OSD controller  14  and the display screen  30 . The control system  12  further comprises an audio processor  18 , such as an audio digital sound processor (DSP) or the like, coupled to the micro processor  20  and the sound projector  40 . 
     The system software preferably comprises a set of instructions that are executable on the micro processor  20  and/or the audio processor  18  to enable the setup, operation and control of the television  10  including the setup, operation and control of the sound projector  40 . The system software provides a menu-based control system that is navigatable by the user through a graphical user interface displayed or presented to the user on the TV display  30 . While on the TV layer of the TV remote control unit, the user can navigate the graphical user interface to setup, operate and control the TV  10 , its integral sound projector, and external A-V input devices, such as, e.g., a DVD, a VCR, a cable box, and the like, coupled to the TV  10 . A detailed discussion of a graphical user interface-based menu control system and its operation is provided in U.S. Published Patent Application No. U.S. 2002-0171624 A1, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     In operation, the user using the menu system and graphical user interface displayable on the screen  30  of the TV  10  and generated by the system software executed on the micro processor  20 , can select between different modes of audio operation including stereo, surround sound, targeted single or mono sound beam, targeted dual sound beams and the like. Using the graphical user interface based menu system, the user can also configure the sound projection system in accordance with the user&#39;s viewing room parameters such as room dimensions, TV location, distance of couch or main seating area from the TV. Once the sound projection system is configured in accordance with the user&#39;s viewing room parameters, the user can select to automatically calibrate the sound beam levels using a microphone couplable to the control system. Alternatively, the user can navigate the graphical user interface based menu system to adjust the sound beam parameters such as sound beam levels and angels. Once the viewing room and sound beam parameters are entered or received by the control system, the control system will draw graphical representations of the sound beams and display the graphical representations of the sound beams within a graphical representation of the user&#39;s viewing room on the TV display screen  30 . The user can further use the graphical user interfaced menu system to adjust the angles of the sound beams and move the sound beams around the viewing room while being presented with a graphical representation of the same. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , configuring the sound projection system using the TV&#39;s graphical user interfaced-based multi-layer menu system will be discussed. Upon pressing the menu key on a control panel on the TV  10  or on a remote control unit, the user is presented with a system configuration menu  50  preferably along the left side of the screen  30 . The configuration menu  50  preferably comprises selectable graphical icons representing menu options corresponding to functions and/or devices the user can configure such as, e.g., AV devices  50 , captions  54 , “out of the box” system setup  55 , input devices  56  and security systems  58 . The user is also presented with a navigation key or guide indicating which keys to press on the remote control to accomplish navigation functions such as “select”  82 , “move”  83 , “back”  84  and “help”  85 . Highlighting, as depicted using gray shading about the icon for the AV device  52  menu option, is used to indicate location within a menu and selected menu item. 
     Upon selecting the AV device  52  menu option in the system configuration menu  50 , a device configuration menu  60  is preferably displayed along the top of the screen  30 . The device configuration menu  60  preferably includes selectable graphical icons representing menu option corresponding to functions or devices such as, e.g., video  62 , audio  64 , reset  65 , picture color  66 , internet  67 , sound projection  68  and the like. 
     Upon selecting the sound projection  68  menu option in the device configuration menu  60 , a sound projection system configuration menu  70  is displayed in the central portion of the screen  30 . The sound projection system configuration menu  70  includes an image  90  comprising a graphical representation of the user&#39;s TV viewing room, and list of the viewing room parameters such as, e.g., TV location  71 , TV wall length  74 , other wall length  76  and distance from the TV to a sofa or primary seating area  78 , which are needed by the system software to configure the projection sound system to inject sound beams into the viewing room and reflect the sound beams off the walls and ceiling to create surround sound. As depicted in the image of the viewing room  90 , the TV wall length parameter  74  refers to the length of a wall in the user&#39;s TV viewing room corresponding to the wall  96  that the TV  92  is depicted as positioned on, the other wall length parameter  76  refers to the length of a wall in the user&#39;s TV viewing room corresponding to the wall  98  that the TV  92  is not depicted as positioned on, and the TV to sofa parameter  78  refers to the distance between a TV and a sofa or primary viewing area in the user&#39;s TV viewing room corresponding to the TV  92  and sofa  94  as depicted in the image of the viewing room  90 . 
     As the selector indicator arrow  73  is moved from one TV location option  72  to another, the TV  92  is preferably depicted at the selected position  72  along wall  96  in the image of the viewing room  90 . The user can navigate between the viewing room parameters and enter parameter values  75 ,  77  and  79 . 
     With the room parameters entered by the user and received by the control system  12 , the system software calculates the beam angles for five surround sound beams such as, e.g., front right, front left, center, rear right and rear left beams, to emanate from the speaker array  42  of the sound projector  40  and orients or configures the individual speakers of the speaker array  42  accordingly. 
     By selecting the soft key  80  labeled “custom” in the sound projection configuration menu  70 , the user is presented as depicted in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  with graphical traces  140  of the paths the sound beams will follow or follow in the TV viewing room. The traces  140  corresponding to, e.g., a front left sound beam  141 , a front right sound beam  142 , a center sound beam  146 , a rear left sound beam  143 , and a rear right sound beam  144  of surround sound, are displayed on the screen  30  in an graphical image  130  representing the TV viewing room with a front or TV wall  133 , a back wall  136 , side walls  134  and  135 , a TV  132  positioned along the TV wall  133  and a couch  138  positioned within the image  130  of the TV viewing room in spaced relation with the TV  132 . 
     As one skilled in the art would readily understand, audio sound beams reflect off the walls of the TV viewing room following the general law of reflection in physics of “angle of incidence equals angle of reflection”. The function within the system software that draws the traces  140  includes a loop that draws each segment of a sound beam as a polygon. The corner points of the polygon are calculated through a “point bounce” function that finds the points where a straight line will bounce when shooting the line from a particular point in at a particular angle in a room of particular dimensions, and then uses the law of reflection to return the bounce angles on the room walls. Each side of the beam is calculated separately, but when drawn on the screen the two side lines of a beam represents four end points of a beam polygon. 
     Representative software code corresponding to the “point bounce” function preferably includes: 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 while (drawing beam segments) 
               
               
                 { 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 If (beam segment starts above sofa) 
               
               
                   
                 { 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 If (beam segment hits sofa) 
               
               
                   
                 { 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Draw polygon of beam to stop at sofa level (from top); 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 } 
               
               
                   
                 else 
               
               
                   
                 { 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Draw polygon of beam to hit next bounce points on wall. 
               
               
                   
                 If (beam hits corner of room) 
               
               
                   
                 { 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Terminate further beam drawing, illegal reflection; 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 } 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 } 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 } 
               
               
                   
                 else //beam segment starts below sofa 
               
               
                   
                 { 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 If (beam segment hits sofa) 
               
               
                   
                 { 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Draw polygon of beam to stop at sofa level (from bottom); 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 } 
               
               
                   
                 else 
               
               
                   
                 { 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Draw polygon of beam to hit next bounce points on wall; 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 } 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 } 
               
               
                   
                 Beginning of next beam segment is set equal to end of previous beam 
               
               
                   
                 segment; 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 } 
               
               
                 The “sofa level” is the horizontal line of where the sofa is. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In order to efficiently draw the polygons and display the polygons on the screen  30  as shown in  FIG. 3A  and move them about the room as depicted in  FIG. 3B  in response to a user depressing the right or left cursor keys  83  on the remote control, the registers of the sound processor  18  are synchronized with the electronic key of the remote control. Process for controlling the synchronization of the sound processor registers with the key of the remote control includes translating the electronic key of the remote control into a two&#39;s complement number used directly in setting up and controlling the registers for each of the discrete channels in the sound processor. The keys are interpreted in real time such that when a user presses a left or right cursor key on the remote control, the bits from the electronic key of the remote control are converted into two&#39;s complement number which is then generated and sent to the sound processor  18  to synchronize the discrete channel. 
     The method for efficiently rendering polygons is based on the electronic key repeats of the remote control. Efficiently rendering multiple polygons on the screen  30  to simulate sound beam reflections requires the methods of flipping the pixel images to transparency and back to a specific color and location such that the polygon images appears to be a new pixel location with each iteration. Converting the image to transparency provides a clean base for the next iteration. The method for efficiently rendering polygons is effectively an internal iterator that is controlled by electronic key rate of the remote control. The faster the rate the faster the images are converted to transparency to provide a clean base for the next iteration and rendering. 
     Turning back to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the user can select the “custom” soft key  80  in the sound projection configuration menu  70 , to view and adjust the approximate angles of the sound beams as represented by the graphical polygon traces  140  as depicted in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . As depicted, a sound projector setup menu  100  is displayed on the screen  30  along with the image  130  of the TV viewing room containing graphical polygon traces  140 . The sound projector setup menu  100  includes selectable menu options with current value settings indicated that correspond to the left beam angle  102 , the right beam angle  104 , the center beam angle  105 , the left surround beam angle  106 , and the right surround beam angle  108 . The value of each beam angle can be adjusted by pressing the right or left cursor keys  83  on the remote control as indicated by menu key or guide  120 . As the cursor keys  83  are pressed, the indicated angle value of the selected menu option will change as well as the angle and, thus, position of the corresponding polygon trace, the results of which are depicted in  FIG. 3A , enabling the user to visually move the sound beams around the room to approximate locations. 
     In addition, the sound projector setup menu  100  includes selectable menu options with current value settings indicated that correspond to the sound level of left beam  110 , the right beam  112 , the center beam  114 , the left surround beam  116 , and the right surround beam  118 . The level of each beam can also be adjusted by using the slider  122 . 
     As graphically depicted in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  3 A,  3 B,  4 ,  5  and  6 , the TV  10  with integral sound projector  40  can operate in a variety of audio modes including surround, stereo and single or multiple targeted beams. As depicted in  FIG. 2A , when the “custom” soft key  80  is selected, an audio mode configuration drop down menu  69  or the like is displayed prompting the user to select an audio mode of operation to configure. Once an audio mode is selected, an auto/manual drop down menu  69 A or the like is displayed prompting the user to select automatic or manual configuration of the selected audio mode of operation. If the “automatic” option is selected, the sound beam levels will automatically be calibrated as discussed below based on the current viewing room and beam parameter settings. If the “manual” option is selected, a sound projection custom setup menu and TV viewing room image will be displayed on the screen  30  prompting the user to adjust the beam angle and/or beam level as depicted in and discussed above with regard to  FIG. 3 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 2B , the user can select an audio mode of operation by selecting the Audio icon  64  in AV device configuration menu  60 . When Audio icon  64  is selected, an audio mode selection drop down menu  61  or the like is displayed prompting the user to select a desired audio mode of operation. Adjustment of the audio mode settings can be made by returning the sound projection configuration menu  70  and selecting the custom soft key  80 . 
     If the custom soft key  80  is selected and manual configuration of the stereo mode is selected from the audio mode configuration menus  69  and  69 A, as depicted in  FIG. 4 , a sound projector custom setup menu  101  for stereo mode and a TV viewing room image  131  graphically depicting left and right stereo beams  147  and  148  emanating from the sound projector of the TV  132  are displayed on the screen  30 . As depicted, the sound projector custom setup menu  101  preferably only includes a menu option corresponding to the sound level  111  of the beams  147  and  148 , which can be adjusted with slide  122 . Alternatively, the sound projector custom setup menu  101  can include a beam angle adjust menu option to adjust the angle of the stereo sound beams  147  and  148  to move beams around the room. 
     If the custom soft key  80  is selected and manual configuration of the single or mono target beam mode is selected from the audio mode configuration menus  69  and  69 A, as depicted in  FIG. 5 , a sound projector custom setup menu  103  and a TV viewing room image  137  graphically depicting a single or mono sound beam  145  emanating from the sound projector of the TV  132  are displayed on the screen  30 . As depicted, the sound projector custom setup menu  103  preferably includes a menu option corresponding to a beam angle  107  of the mono beam. As indicated, the beam angle value can be adjusted to move the mono sound beam around the room to approximate targeted locations within the room. In addition, the sound projector custom setup menu  103  preferably includes a menu option corresponding to the sound level  113  of the mono beam, which can be adjusted with slide  122 . 
     If the custom soft key  80  is selected and manual configuration of the dual target beam mode is selected from the audio mode configuration menus  69  and  69 A, as depicted in  FIG. 6 , a sound projector custom setup menu  109  and a TV viewing room image  139  graphically depicting two or dual sound beams  145  and  149  emanating from the sound projector of the TV  132  are displayed on the screen  30 . As depicted, the sound projector custom setup menu  109  preferably includes menu options corresponding to beam angles  107  and  115  of the two beams  145  and  149 . As indicated, the beam angle value can be adjusted to move the two sound beams around the room to approximate targeted locations within the room. As suggested by the use of the term PIP in the menu, the dual beam mode can be used to allow two viewers to watch picture-in-picture or split screen video with the one beam or the primary sound beam  145  being assigned to the main picture or one of the pictures in the split screen and the other beam or PIP sound beam  149  being assigned to the PIP or other picture in the split screen. 
     In addition, the sound projector custom setup menu  109  preferably includes menu options corresponding to the sound levels  117  and  119  of the two beams, which can be adjusted with the slide  122 . 
     As discussed above, rear surround audio channel performance can be weak using a sound projector as discussed above in larger rooms or in room configurations that do not include a rear wall in the room in which the TV is located. In an alternative embodiment, a sound project system preferably includes a television with an integral sound projector as discussed above and a rear sound projector operably coupled to the TV. The rear and integral sound projectors comprise arrays of speakers operable to jointly create surround sound within a room in which the TV is located and project one or more beams to targeted locations within the room. The arrays of speakers in the integral and rear sound projectors are configurable to inject beams of sound into a room in which the TV is located, which reflect off the walls and ceiling of the room to create surround sound. By adding the rear sound projector, it is possible to get very good rear surround audio channel performance and also improve the Left/Right channel performance. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a sound projection system  200  is depicted to include a TV  210  having an integral sound projection system  40  and control system  12  as discussed above with regard a TV  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . A rear sound projector  240  is coupled to the TV  210  to receive audio and control signals  230  and  260  over wired or wireless connections  250  and  260 . The rear sound projector  240  preferably includes an audio DSP controller  244  operably coupled to the audio DSP  18  of the TV  210 . The audio signal  250  can be transmitted from the TV audio DSP  18  as a Sony Philips Digital InterFace (SPDIF) signal. The audio DSP controller  244  of the rear sound projector  240  includes a decoder  245  to decode the SPDIF signal. If the Left, Right, Left Surround and Right Surround channel signals are sent independently, the need for the decoder  245  would be avoided. 
     A digital-to-analog converter (DAC)  246  is coupled the audio DSP  244  and an n channel amplifier  248 . An array of n speakers  242  is coupled to the amplifier  248 . 
     In operation, the microprocessor  20  instructs the audio DSP  18  to configure the speaker arrays  42  and  242  of the integral and rear sound projectors  40  and  240  in accordance with the desired audio mode selected by a viewer and the room size and viewing location parameters. The microprocessor  20  instructs the audio DSP  18  to configure the speaker array  42  of the integral sound projector  40  and the microprocessor  20  instructs the audio DSP  244  of the rear sound projector  240  to configure the speaker array  242  of the rear sound projector  240  in accordance with the desired audio mode selected by a viewer and the room size and viewing location parameters. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 8 through 11 , the traces of beams of sound injected into a room are depicted under different configurations of the sound projection system  200  comprising a TV  210  with an integral sound projector and a rear sound projector  240  coupled to the TV  210 . The room is defined by a front wall  130 , side walls  134  and  135 , and rear wall  136  with a TV  210  positioned along the front wall  130  and a couch  138  positioned within the TV viewing room in spaced relation with the TV  210 . With the rear projector  240  configured for four beams, the beams of sound projected into the room include a front left sound beam  141 , a front right sound beam  142 , a center sound beam  146 , a rear left sound beam  243 , a rear right sound beam  244 , a left surround sound beam  245  and a right surround sound beam  246  as depicted in  FIG. 8 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the rear sound projector  240  is configured for two beams with the configuration of the integral sound projector unchanged. As depicted  FIG. 9 , the rear sound projector  240  is configured to inject left and right surround sound beams  245  and  246  directly at the listening position on the sofa  138 . As depicted  FIG. 10 , the rear sound projector  240  is configured to inject the left and right surround sound beams  247  and  248  into the room to deflect off of the side walls  134  and  135  toward the listening position on the sofa  138 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 11 , the sound projection system  200  is configured to inject beams into the room directed to a plurality of listening positions. As depicted, the integral sound projected  40  is configured to inject beams into the room directed to a first and second listening position  133  and  138  while the rear sound projector is configured to inject beams into the room directed to third and fourth listening positions  137  and  139 . 
     As described in detail above, the user can navigate the graphical user interface based menu system to adjust the sound beam parameters such as sound beam levels and angels. Once the viewing room and sound beam parameters are entered or received by the control system, the control system will draw graphical representations of the sound beams and display the graphical representations of the sound beams within a graphical representation of the user&#39;s viewing room on the TV display screen  30 . The user can further use the graphical user interfaced menu system to adjust the angles of the sound beams and move the sound beams around the viewing room while being presented with a graphical representation of the same. 
     As one skilled in the art would readily recognize, this process can be used for the automatic setup of audio levels and delays in surround systems with TVs that serve the AVR function and include an integral surround sound decoder and either a sound projector, a power amplifier or wireless transmitters for discrete external speakers. 
     In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the reader is to understand that the specific ordering and combination of process actions shown in the process flow diagrams described herein is merely illustrative, unless otherwise stated, and the invention can be performed using different or additional process actions, or a different combination or ordering of process actions. As another example, each feature of one embodiment can be mixed and matched with other features shown in other embodiments. Features and processes known to those of ordinary skill may similarly be incorporated as desired. Additionally and obviously, features may be added or subtracted as desired. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.