{
  "patent_number": "US 10595128",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Speakers Create Overhead Sound from Ceiling Reflections",
  "original_title": "Passive and active virtual height filter systems for upward firing drivers",
  "summary": "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.",
  "what_it_does": "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).",
  "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."
  ],
  "filed": "2019-06-04",
  "granted": "2020-03-17",
  "expires": "2039-06-04",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Dolby Laboratories Licensing",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/dolby-laboratories-licensing",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Alan J. Seefeldt",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/alan-j-seefeldt"
    },
    {
      "name": "Michael J. Smithers",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/michael-j-smithers"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Phillip Brown",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/c-phillip-brown"
    },
    {
      "name": "Brett G. Crockett",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/brett-g-crockett"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 0,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "telecommunications",
    "software"
  ],
  "abstract": "Embodiments are directed to a virtual height filter for use with or in an upward-firing speaker system that reflects sound off a ceiling to a listening location at a distance from a speaker, and that provides height cues to reproduce audio objects that have overhead audio components. A virtual height filter based on a directional hearing model is applied to the upward-firing driver signal to improve the perception of height for audio signals transmitted by the virtual height speaker to provide optimum reproduction of the overhead reflected sound. The virtual height filter is provided by any one or combination of analog or digital filter circuits, or mechanical structures including speaker grill, enclosure, or driver design or configuration.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10595128/passive-and-active-virtual-height-filter-systems-for-upward-firing-drivers",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10595128/passive-and-active-virtual-height-filter-systems-for-upward-firing-drivers/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10595128",
  "relatedPatents": [
    {
      "patentNumber": "11006212",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "How a Speaker Bounces Sound Off the Ceiling for Wider Audio",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11006212/upward-firing-loudspeaker-having-asymmetric-dispersion-for-reflected-sound-rende"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "10743125",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "How a Device Renders Immersive Sound Objects Using Speaker Virtualization",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10743125/audio-processing-apparatus-with-channel-remapper-and-object-renderer"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "11743673",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "Smart Speaker System Adapts Sound Based on Speaker Placement",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11743673/audio-processing-apparatus-and-method-therefor"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "11178503",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "How Smart Speakers Adapt Sound to Your Room and Listening Spot",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11178503/system-for-rendering-and-playback-of-object-based-audio-in-various-listening-env"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "11765535",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "How Audio Systems Prioritize Sounds for Better Playback",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11765535/methods-and-systems-for-rendering-audio-based-on-priority"
    }
  ]
}