Patent Publication Number: US-2005132406-A1

Title: Echo channel for home entertainment systems

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
      This application claims the benefit of PPA Ser. No. 60/529338, filed Dec. 12, 2003 by the present inventor. 
    
    
     SEQUENCE LISTING  
      Not applicable.  
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
      This invention pertains to the art of methods and apparatuses audio signal conditioning and more specifically to home entertainment systems and sound delaying modules.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Cinematography was one of the major discoveries of the last century. It made a huge influence on our lives. Cinematography become an inseparable part of our lives. During evaluation of the “picture,” the sound of the movies has changed dramatically. It is not only that stereo and multiple channels audio was introduced, but also special effects sound recording was implemented. Even though sound is now far from “real sound”, but this enriched, enhanced by special effects and multi-channeled sound pleased our ears. In the recent years, home entertainment systems become more and more popular. Many families have entertainment system and can enjoy watching movies at home. Also with the development of digital technologies, quality of the video and audio signals continue to improve. Mostly all the sound effects and wide screen movie pictures are now possible to enjoy in our homes. All the special effects which we can experience in the movie theaters are now digitized and modified for home entertainment systems. Audio and video processors of home systems can have multiple audio channel readers as well as wide screen monitor.  
      Although the best of the digital technologies are available for public use, still audio experience in home is not the same as feelings we experience in the movie theaters. Mostly when we watch movie for the first time and it happens in the movie theaters, unconsciously we hold to the audio and video effects from watching movie in the movie theaters. We hold to this impression and want to experiment the same feelings at home. We want to watch movies at home but feel as if we are in the movie theater. Seems like we get everything: popcorn, soda, wide screen monitor, digital sound processor, multiple speakers, but it still does not feel the same as in the movie theater. It is a big video difference and huge audio-gap between movie theater effects and home entertainment system. As home systems are getting more complex and expensive, they are still far from reproducing movie theater effects in small rooms of our homes. Sound receivers vary in price and technical characteristics. Even though all of them give good and some even very good sound, but none of them can produce effects of the movie theater. Generally using the same soundtrack at home as in the movie theaters, we do not feel the same effect as in the movie theaters. We can spend a lot of money on special speakers but it is still not the same sound, not the same feelings as in the movie theaters. Mostly it is a problem to play a movie in home at a loud volume. Although a movie sound track is the special sound recording, it is difficult to reproduce the same effect as in the movie theaters. In order to deliver all the effects of the soundtracks, it has to be played very loud. It is most of the time impossible to play a movie loud because of children, neighbors, after 11 pm restrictions, sick people, or you just want to have a romantic time. Then the movies sound tracks played at a low volume most of the effects are lost.  
      Accordingly, there are several objects and advantages of my invention.  
      Now we can have all the technology of the movie theaters in our homes in form of home entertainment system. These digital home systems reproduce exceptional quality sound except one thing. This one thing is a naturally occurred echo in the movie theaters. Mostly due to the size of the movie theaters multiple reflections of the sound occurs. These echoes of the movie theaters make the big difference in the sound in comparisons to the home entertainment systems. Although the most of digital sound recording is now introduced for the public use, still something is missing. This very important detail which is missing in our home entertainment systems is an echo. This is the echo which naturally exists in the movie theaters. In order to fill up our homes with sound quality equal to those as in the movie theaters, the echo channel for homes entertainment systems is needed. The echo channel generally means: taking a sound of the home system, delaying it for a fraction of time, and then playing it back with original sound. By introducing this process and apparatuses human can enjoy echoes, similar to the movie theaters, in small rooms. Sound delaying machines can produce basic echoes as well as very sophisticated echoes. Some sophisticated sound delaying machines can mimic echoes of the movie theaters, by playing them in our homes, in combination with the home entertainment system. Thereby, by using sound delaying apparatuses for creating echoes, human listeners can enjoy echoes of the movie theaters in their homes. Having echoes in our homes can simulate sensations of the movie theaters. Having echoes in small rooms can make sound richer, more exciting, bring the movie action more close, sinking human into the action, intensify and sharpen our sensations.  
      Another advantage of having “The echo channel for home entertainment systems” is an enrichment of sound at a low volume. It is a known fact that loud sound is causing health problems. Also, because of neighbors, or 11 pm restrictions, or small children, or sick people, or maybe a desire of having peaceful romantic time, it is impossible for humans to have a loud sound. Thereby, by delaying sound and playing it back with original sound will create echo. This echo can make sound to be richer and deeper even though the volume of the sound is low. This is advantageous for small rooms and especially for our homes. By adding “The echo channel” to home entertainment systems human listeners can enjoy sound of the movies in a moderate volume but rich and deep. Also, adding the echo channel to the home entertainment system will allow to compensate missing effects, when the volume of the movie sound is low. The echo effect will fill up a small room with deep sound at a low volume. Now human listeners can enjoy watching movies with rich and deep sound at a low volume.  
     SUMMARY  
      The echo channel for home entertainment systems is an idea of using methods and apparatuses for creating echoes in conjunction with home entertainment systems, thereby, giving human listeners the opportunity to enjoy echoes, similar to echoes of the movie theaters, in small rooms. Also, compensating missing audio effects at a low volume by adding echo channel to home entertainment systems. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a practical use of an echo channel.  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of an echo channel in conjunction with a home entertainment system.  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of the audio receiver, of the home entertainment system, having the echo channel.  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective front view of a movie signal processing apparatus showing echo channel switch on its face.  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of a method of adding echo effects to movies storing media.  
       FIG. 6  is a schematic representation of the television having an echo channel.  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective side view a sound delaying apparatus.  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective front view of a sound delaying apparatus.  
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a sound delaying apparatus as it is positioned behind a wall. 
    
    
     FIRST EMBODIMENT  
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a home entertainment system  26  in conjunction with an echo channel  24 . Home entertainment system  26  is generalized example of entertainment systems. System  26  includes a video player  12 , a television  14 , an audio/video processor  16 , and a general loudspeaker  22 . The echo channel  24  includes a sound delaying apparatus  18  and an echo loudspeaker  20 .  
      The home entertainment system expresses all known audio and video apparatuses for home entertainment. This system may have different forms and combinations but general purpose is for providing audio and video processing. The echo channel is a new component. The echo channel is an audio device which is an addition to home entertainment systems. In the echo channel  24  sound delaying apparatus  18  expresses general purpose of delaying audio signal. Thereby, the echo channel can work in harmony with home entertainment system and deliver new audio experience to human listeners.  
      Video player  12  transmits video signal to television  14 . Audio signal transmits from player  12  to audio/video processor  16 . Simultaneously, processed audio signal from processor  16  transmits to general speaker  22  and to sound delaying apparatus  18 . Audio signal is delayed by apparatus  18  and transmitted to loudspeaker  20  fusion of original sound and delayed sound creates the echo effect.  
      Television  14  receives video signal from player  12  and provides human with visual experience. Audio signal is directed to general speaker  22  and at the same time to the echo channel. Original and delayed sounds in combination provide human listener with echo type audio experience. Now human can enjoy watching movies which have deepened and enriched sound because of the echo effect. This echo effect can compensate the missing audio effects at a low volume.  
      Also, the echo channel is here for creating echo effects similar to those of the movie theaters. The echo channel brings new effect in our homes. Now humans can watch movies at home and have feelings as if he or she is in the movie theater. Fusion of the echo channel with home entertainment system is expanding video and audio sensations of the listener. The echo channel gives opportunity to enjoy echoes of the movie theaters in small rooms.  
     SECOND EMBODIMENT  
       FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  show a movie signal processing apparatus  28  having an echo channel  30 . Echo channel  30  represents generalized sound delaying methods and apparatuses. The echo channel includes a switch  32 , a delaying apparatus  34 , and an echo speakers  36 . As it shown in  FIG. 4  the movie signal processing apparatus has adapted the echo channel. Switch  32  is for turning on the echo channel. Processing apparatus  28  includes an original speaker  38 . The speaker  38  represents generalized multichanneled speakers of the home entertainment system.  
      Processing apparatus  28  receives audio signal for its processing. At the same time audio signal is directed to echo channel  30 . Switch  32  opens passage for audio signal for delaying process by delaying apparatus  34 . Audio signal is processed by delaying apparatus  34  into a simple or complex form. Delaying apparatus  34  represents generalized audio signal delaying methods and audio signal delaying apparatuses. Simplicity or complicity of delaying apparatus  34  depends on desirable audio outcome. Processed signal from the delaying apparatus is directed to the echo speaker, at the same time echo speaker converts delayed audio signal into audible signal, the original speaker converts original audio signal from processing apparatus  28  into audible signal. This simultaneous sound outcome from speaker  38  and  36  produces an echo effect.  
      Different echo types can give human listeners different audio experiences. By using short time delay the echo will enrich sound. This type of echo is mostly for compensating missing audio effect of the movies at a low volume. Human listeners can enjoy deepened and enriched movie sound at a low volume. Another echo type is focused mostly on simulating echoes of the movie theaters. The echo channel can reproduce naturally occurring echoes of the movie theaters in small rooms in our homes. Now humans can watch movies at home and feel as if he or she is in the movie theater. Humans can experience richer and deeper sound which brings sensations of expansion small room into huge space of the movie theater. The echo effects can be selected and adjusted by the echo channel, as well as by apparatus  28  for personal human listener habits.  
     THIRD EMBODIMENT  
       FIG. 5  shows a method of adding echo effect to movies storing media. For fulfilling the process an original movie storing media  40 , a delaying apparatus  42 , and movie storing 2 nd  media are needed.  FIG. 5  shows principal concept which can be broken into more sophisticated and complex construction, but the final result will be the same as it is described in this application.  
      Delaying apparatus  42  can be the most sophisticated machine. Apparatus  42  receives audio signal from original movie storing media  40 . Apparatus  42  delays audio signal in from it needed for the final result. This delayed signal is directed to 2 nd  media  44  where the delayed signal is recorded with original movie signal, whereby producing a storing movie media with echo effects  46 .  
      Apparatus  40  is for delaying audio signal in the same fashion as audio signals naturally delayed in the movie theaters. Apparatus  40  creates delayed signals, similar to naturally delayed signals in the movie theaters, media  44  is for adding delayed signal to original sound track, storing media  46  is the storing movie media with echo effects. The echo effects can be selected by human listener as desired or not to be played depending on the listener habits. When the echo channel is selected, human listeners can enjoy echo effects similar to the echoes in the movie theaters in small rooms. By playing storing media  46  human listeners can watch movies at home and experience feelings as if he or she is in the movie theater. Storing media  46  gives listener advantage to enjoy echo effects, similar to existing in the movie theaters, in small rooms in our homes. This new effect in our homes becomes possible due to adding echo effects to original movies soundtracks.  
     FOURTH EMBODIMENT  
       FIG. 6  shows a television  48  having an echo channel  56 . Television  48  has a television loudspeaker  50 . Echo channel  56  includes an echo loudspeaker  54  and a sound delaying modules  52 . The television sends its audio signal to loudspeaker  50  and to sound delaying modules  52 . Sound delaying modules  52  sends delay signal to loudspeaker  54 .  
      Simultaneously audio signal from the television directed to speaker  50  and delaying modules  52 . Delaying modules  52  delays signal and outputs it to speaker  54 . Whereby speaker  50  and speaker  54  in combination are producing echo effects. The main purpose of the echo channel is to delay sound for a time of a range of 0.02-0.09 of second. By delaying sound for such a short time as 0.02 to 0.09 of second will create softly echo background and make the sound deeper and richer. Also, by using more complex and longer delaying time echo channel  56  can reproduce echoes similar to echoes of the movie theaters. Now human listeners can have more choices and enjoy soft echoes in small rooms, in our homes.  
     FIFTH EMBODIMENT  
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show a sound delaying apparatus  70 . Delaying apparatus  70  includes a hollow elongated structure  60 , an amplifier  66 , and a loud speaker  68 . The hollow elongated structure having a sound receiving opening  62  and a sound emission opening  64 , thereby structure  60  is for sound passage in limited boundaries and specific direction. Opening  62  is for receiving sound from loudspeaker  68  and opening  64  is for emission of sound. Speaker  68  is for converting audio signal in to sound and amplifier  66  is for amplification of emissioned sound.  
      Speakers  62  is connected to opening  62 , whereby sound from speaker  62  is forced through hollow elongated structure  60 . Sound is passing through structure  60  and exiting through opening  64 . Amplifier  66  is connected to opening  64 , whereby amplifier  66  is amplifying emissioned sound. Opening  62  and opening  64  positioned in a plane which always less than length of the structure  60 , whereby structure  60  is delaying sound. Sound delaying apparatus  70  is for delaying sound and using it in combination with original sound of an original loudspeaker  74 , whereby creating an echo effect.  
      As shown in  FIG. 9 , sound delaying apparatus  70  can have different shapes and forms. Delaying apparatus  70  can be placed behind a wall  72 , and particularly between home walls. By placing apparatus  70  between walls will save room space.  
      Apparatus  70  is an alternative to all other delaying machines. By using apparatus  70  in combination with home entertainment systems, listener can enjoy echo effects. It is advantageous having echo effects in small rooms. The echo effects fills small room with richer and deeper sound.