How Speakers Create Overhead Sound from Ceiling Reflections
This patent describes a system using upward-firing speakers and special sound filters to trick your ears into hearing overhead sounds by reflecting audio off the ceiling.
Original patent title: “Passive and active virtual height filter systems for upward firing drivers”
This patent describes a system using upward-firing speakers and special sound filters to trick your ears into hearing overhead sounds by reflecting audio off the ceiling. Granted to Dolby Laboratories Licensing in 2020 with 19 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2039.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes an apparatus that uses an upward-firing speaker to bounce sound waves off a ceiling to a listener. A key component is a "virtual height filter" which applies a specific "frequency response curve" to the sound signal sent to this upward-firing speaker (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). This filter's job is to shape the reflected sound in a way that makes a listener perceive the sound as coming from above, creating a sense of "virtual height" (Claim 1). For example, it might use a "pinna filter response curve" that emphasizes certain frequencies (like a peak at 7 kHz and a dip at 12 kHz) to mimic how our ears naturally interpret overhead sounds (Claim 4). The system also includes a "crossover" that sends low-frequency sounds to a direct-firing speaker and high-frequency sounds to the upward-firing speaker (Claim 1).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover speaker systems that create height effects solely from direct sound, without reflecting sound off a ceiling or upper surface.
- Does not cover systems that do not apply a specific frequency response curve to the signal sent to the upward-firing driver.
- Does not cover systems that lack a crossover to separate low frequencies for a direct-firing speaker and high frequencies for an upward-firing speaker.
- Does not cover systems where the frequency response curve does not specifically aim to make the reflected sound seem like it's coming from overhead.
- Does not cover systems that create height cues without compensating for direct sound cues in favor of reflected sound cues.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever part is precisely shaping the sound's frequency before it even leaves the upward-firing speaker, specifically to compensate for how our ears perceive sound reflected off a ceiling. This makes the reflected sound convincingly appear to come from above, rather than just sounding like it's coming from a speaker on the floor.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Dolby Atmos enabled soundbars
Dolby Atmos enabled home theater speakers
Integrated TV speakers with upward-firing drivers
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is fundamental to how many home theater systems deliver immersive audio experiences, such as those found in Dolby Atmos setups. By using upward-firing speakers and sophisticated digital signal processing, it allows for a more compact and accessible way to achieve a three-dimensional sound field without requiring speakers to be mounted directly on the ceiling. This innovation helps bring cinematic sound quality into living rooms.
Filed
June 4, 2019
Granted
March 17, 2020
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corp, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, continues to be a leader in audio technology, licensing its immersive audio solutions to numerous consumer electronics manufacturers. Companies like Sony, Samsung, LG, and Sonos integrate Dolby Atmos technology, which often relies on principles described in this patent, into their soundbars and home theater systems.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the widespread adoption of immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos in consumer electronics. It enabled manufacturers to create more accessible home theater solutions, such as soundbars, that can simulate overhead sound without complex ceiling installations. This expanded the market for premium audio experiences beyond dedicated home theater enthusiasts.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes an apparatus that uses an upward-firing speaker to bounce sound waves off a ceiling to a listener. A key component is a "virtual height filter" which applies a specific "frequency response curve" to the sound signal sent to this upward-firing speaker (Claim 1). This filter's job is to shape the reflected sound in a way that makes a listener perceive the sound as coming from above, creating a sense of "virtual height" (Claim 1). For example, it might use a "pinna filter response curve" that emphasizes certain frequencies (like a peak at 7 kHz and a dip at 12 kHz) to mimic how our ears naturally interpret overhead sounds (Claim 4). The system also includes a "crossover" that sends low-frequency sounds to a direct-firing speaker and high-frequency sounds to the upward-firing speaker (Claim 1).
The clever bit
The clever part is precisely shaping the sound's frequency before it even leaves the upward-firing speaker, specifically to compensate for how our ears perceive sound reflected off a ceiling. This makes the reflected sound convincingly appear to come from above, rather than just sounding like it's coming from a speaker on the floor.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover speaker systems that create height effects solely from direct sound, without reflecting sound off a ceiling or upper surface.
- Does not cover systems that do not apply a specific frequency response curve to the signal sent to the upward-firing driver.
- Does not cover systems that lack a crossover to separate low frequencies for a direct-firing speaker and high frequencies for an upward-firing speaker.
- Does not cover systems where the frequency response curve does not specifically aim to make the reflected sound seem like it's coming from overhead.
- Does not cover systems that create height cues without compensating for direct sound cues in favor of reflected sound cues.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
13/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$41K – $131K
Midpoint $82K · 12.7 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
19 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Seefeldt, A. J., Smithers, M. J., Brown, C. P., & Crockett, B. G. (2020). How Speakers Create Overhead Sound from Ceiling Reflections (U.S. Patent No. 10,595,128). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10595128/passive-and-active-virtual-height-filter-systems-for-upward-firing-drivers
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Speakers Create Overhead Sound from Ceiling Reflections cover?
This patent describes a system using upward-firing speakers and special sound filters to trick your ears into hearing overhead sounds by reflecting audio off the ceiling.
Who owns patent US 10595128?
Dolby Laboratories Licensing owns this patent, granted in 2020.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on June 4, 2039, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is fundamental to how many home theater systems deliver immersive audio experiences, such as those found in Dolby Atmos setups. By using upward-firing speakers and sophisticated digital signal processing, it allows for a more compact and accessible way to achieve a three-dimensional sound field without requiring speakers to be mounted directly on the ceiling. This innovation helps bring cinematic sound quality into living rooms.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover speaker systems that create height effects solely from direct sound, without reflecting sound off a ceiling or upper surface.
Same assignee
More from Dolby Laboratories Licensing
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