SOUND GENERATOR WEARABLE ON THE HEAD, SIGNAL PROCESSOR AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A SOUND GENERATOR OR A SIGNAL PROCESSOR

Abstract

Sound generator wearable on the head, comprising: a first sound generator element on a first side; and a second sound generator element on a second side, wherein at least a first sound transducer and a second sound transducer are arranged in the first sound generator element such that sound emission directions of the first sound transducer and the second sound transducer are parallel or deviate by less than 30° from a parallel emission direction, and wherein a third sound transducer and a fourth sound transducer are arranged in the second sound generator element such that sound emission directions of the third sound transducer and the fourth sound transducer are parallel to one another or deviate by less than 30° from a parallel emission direction.

Claims

1. Sound generator wearable on the head, comprising: a first sound generator element on a first side; and a second sound generator element on a second side, wherein at least a first sound transducer and a second sound transducer are arranged in the first sound generator element such that sound emission directions of the first sound transducer and the second sound transducer are parallel or deviate by less than 30° from a parallel emission direction, and wherein a third sound transducer and a fourth sound transducer are arranged in the second sound generator element such that sound emission directions of the third sound transducer and the fourth sound transducer are parallel to one another or deviate by less than 30° from a parallel emission direction.

2. Sound generator according to claim 1 configured as earphones, wherein at least one sound transducer of the first to fourth sound transducers is configured as balanced armature transducer, as MEMS transducer or dynamic transducer, and wherein each transducer comprises its own sound output to emit sound in the emission direction.

3. Sound generator according to claim 1 configured as headphones, wherein the first sound generator element comprises a first headphone chamber, wherein the second sound generator element comprises a second headphone chamber, and wherein a connecting ridge connecting the first headphone chamber and the second headphone chamber to one another is arranged, and wherein the first sound transducer and the second sound transducer are arranged in the first headphone chamber, and wherein the third sound transducer and the fourth sound transducer are arranged in the second headphone chamber.

4. Sound generator according to claim 1, wherein at least one sound transducer of the first to fourth sound transducers is configured as headphone capsule, wherein each headphone capsule has the same size or wherein each headphone capsule has a diameter of less than 4 cm.

5. Sound generator according to claim 1, wherein the first sound transducer and the second sound transducer are arranged horizontally next to each other when the sound generator is worn on the head, or wherein the third sound transducer and the fourth sound transducer are arranged horizontally next to each other when the sound generator is worn on the head.

6. Sound generator according to claim 1, wherein a first partition is arranged between the first sound transducer and the second sound transducer, which projects less than 3 cm with respect to the first sound transducer and the second sound transducer or wherein a second partition is arranged between the third sound transducer and the fourth sound transducer, which projects less than 3 cm with respect to the third sound transducer and the fourth sound transducer or wherein the first partition or the second partition project by at least 1 cm with respect to a respective pair of first and second sound transducers or third and fourth sound transducers,

7. Sound generator according to claim 6, wherein the first partition or the second partition is semicircular, elliptical or parabolic, wherein the partition projects highest at a shortest distance between center portions of the first and second sound transducer or the third and fourth transducer.

8. Sound generator according to claim 1, comprising: an input interface for receiving a first control signal for the first sound transducer, a second control signal for the second sound transducer, a third control signal for the third sound transducer and a fourth control signal for the fourth sound transducer, wherein the first control signal and the second control signal are out of phase, or wherein the third control signal and the fourth control signal are out of phase, or wherein the first to fourth control signals comprise a frequency range between 500 Hz and 1500 Hz, or a signal processor to generate, from a first input channel and from a second input channel, the first control signal for the first sound transducer, the second control signal for the second sound transducer, the third control signal for the third sound transducer and the fourth control signal for the first sound transducer, wherein the first control signal and the second control signal are out of phase, or wherein the third control signal and the fourth control signal are out of phase, or wherein the first to fourth control signals comprise a frequency range between 500 Hz and 1500 Hz.

9. Sound generator according to claim 8, wherein the signal processor comprises: a first input for the first input channel; a second input for the second input channel; a first branch element connecting the first input to a first signal path for the first sound transducer and to a second signal path for the second sound transducer; or a second branch element connecting the second input to a third signal path for the third sound transducer and to a fourth signal path for the fourth sound transducer, wherein at least one signal path of the first signal path and the second signal path or at least one signal path of the third signal path and the fourth signal path comprises a phase shifter.

10. Sound generator according to claim 9, wherein the first branch element or the second branch element, or the first signal path, or at least one signal path of the first signal path, the second signal path, the third signal path and the fourth signal path comprises a frequency-selective filter to acquire a filtered portion of the first input channel or the second input channel in the respective signal path, wherein the respective signal path further comprises an adder to add an unfiltered portion of the first input channel or the second input channel to the filtered portion.

11. Signal generator according to claim 10, wherein the frequency-selective filter comprises a highpass filter.

12. Signal generator according to claim 9, wherein the first signal path comprises a first plurality of bandpass filters and the second signal path comprises a second plurality of bandpass filters, wherein the first plurality of bandpass filters or the second plurality of bandpass filters are configured orthogonal to one another, such that a bandpass channel of the first plurality of bandpass filters comprises a frequency pass band that corresponds to a frequency stop band in the second plurality of bandpass filters.

13. Sound generator according to claim 12, wherein the first plurality of bandpass filters comprises at least two bandpass filters with a first center frequency and a third center frequency and wherein the second plurality of bandpass filters comprises at least two bandpass filters comprising a second center frequency and a fourth center frequency, wherein the first center frequency, the second center frequency, the third center frequency and the fourth center frequency are arranged in increasing frequency order, and wherein the first plurality of bandpass filters each comprise a stop band at the second center frequency and the fourth center frequency, and wherein the second plurality of bandpass filters each comprise a stopband at the first center frequency and the third center frequency.

14. Sound generator according to claim 8, wherein the signal processor comprises a side signal generator that is configured to generate one or several side signals from the first input channel and the second input channel and wherein the signal processor is configured to determine the first control signal, the second control signal, the third control signal and the fourth control signal by using the one or several side signals.

15. Sound generator according to claim 14, wherein the signal processor comprises: a side signal combiner for combining the side signal with the left channel or the right channel in terms of signal flow before branching into the first signal path and the second signal path, or the third signal path and the fourth signal path, or in terms of signal flow after branching into the respective two signal paths.

16. Sound generator according to claim 8, wherein the signal processor further comprises: a further side signal generator or a side signal modifier to generate at least one further side signal and a further side signal combiner to combine the further side signal with the other left channel and the right channel before branching into two respective signal paths or after branching into the respective signal paths.

17. Sound generator according to claim 8, wherein the signal processor comprises: a side signal generator for generating a first side signal and a second side signal from the first input channel and the second input channel; a first side signal combiner for combining the first side signal with the first input channel; a second side signal combiner for combining the second side signal with the second input channel; a first branch element for branching an output signal of the first side signal combiner into a first signal path for the first control signal and into a second signal path for the second control signal; and a second branch element for branching an output signal of the second side signal combiner into a third signal path for the third control signal and into a fourth signal path for the fourth control signal.

18. Sound generator according to claim 17, wherein the first side signal combiner is arranged in the first branch element and the second side signal combiner is arranged in the second branch element, wherein the first branch element or the second branch element comprises a controllable amplifier at a combiner input or a controllable amplifier at a combiner output or wherein the side signal generator comprises a controllable amplifier element for increasing or decreasing an amplitude of the first side signal or the second side signal or wherein the side signal generator is configured to generate the first side signal and the second side signal such that a phase shift between the first side signal and the second side signal comprises a value between 120° and 240° and advantageously 180°.

19. Sound generator according to claim 17, wherein the first branch element or the second branch element is configured to provide a signal for the first signal path with a positive phase shift by using a phase shifter and to provide a signal for the second signal path with a negative phase shift by using a further phase shifter.

20. Sound generator according to claim 19, wherein the first or second branch element is configured to generate a positive phase shift between 70° and 100° and to generate a negative phase shift between −70° and −100°.

21. Sound generator according to claim 17, wherein the first signal path comprises a first plurality of bandpass filters and the second signal path comprises a second plurality of bandpass filters, wherein the first plurality of bandpass filters and the second plurality of bandpass filters are formed orthogonally to one another, such that a bandpass channel of the first plurality of bandpass filters comprises a frequency pass band that corresponds to a frequency stop band in the second plurality of bandpass filters.

22. Sound generator according to claim 21, wherein the first signal path comprises the first plurality of bandpass filters, wherein the second signal path comprises the second plurality of bandpass filters, wherein the third signal path comprises the first plurality of bandpass filters and wherein the fourth signal path comprises the second plurality of bandpass filters, wherein the first signal path is configured to provide the first control signal for the first sound transducer, wherein the second signal path is configured to provide the second control signal for the second signal path, wherein the third signal path is configured to provide the third control signal for the third sound transducer and wherein the fourth signal path is configured to provide the fourth control signal for the second sound transducer, wherein the first sound transducer is arranged horizontally next to the second sound transducer and wherein the fourth sound transducer is arranged horizontally next to the third sound transducer, or wherein the first plurality of bandpass filters comprise even bandpass filters and a second plurality of bandpass filters comprise odd bandpass filters.

23. Signal processor, comprising: a first input for a first input channel; a second input for a second input channel, wherein the signal processor is configured to generate, from the first input channel and the second input channel, a first control signal for a first sound transducer and a second control signal for a second sound transducer on a first side of a sound generator, and to generate a third control signal for a third sound transducer and to generate a fourth control signal for a first sound transducer on a second side of the sound generator; and a wireless interface for outputting the first control signal, the second control signal, the third control signal and the fourth control signal.

24. Signal processor according to claim 23, wherein the signal processor comprises: a side signal generator for generating a first side signal and a second side signal from the first input channel and the second input channel; a first side signal combiner for combining the first side signal with the first input channel; a second side signal combiner for combining the second side signal with the second input channel; a first branch element for branching an output signal of the first side signal combiner into a first signal path for the first control signal and into a second signal path for the second control signal; and a second branch element for branching an output signal of the second side signal combiner into a third signal path for the third control signal and into a fourth signal path for the fourth control signal.

25. Signal processor according to claim 24, wherein the first side signal combiner is arranged in the first branch element and the second side signal combiner is arranged in the second branch element, wherein the first branch element or the second branch element comprises a controllable amplifier at a combiner input or a controllable amplifier at a combiner output or wherein the side signal generator comprises a controllable amplifier element for increasing or decreasing an amplitude of the first side signal or the second side signal or wherein the side signal generator is configured to generate the first side signal and the second side signal such that a phase shift between the first side signal and the second side signal comprises a value between 120° and 240° and advantageously 180°.

26. Signal processor according to claim 23, wherein the first branch element or the second branch element is configured to provide a signal for the first signal path with a positive phase shift by using a phase shifter and to provide a signal for the second signal path with a negative phase shift by using a further phase shifter.

27. Signal processor according to claim 23, wherein the first signal path comprises a first plurality of bandpass filters and the second signal path comprises a second plurality of bandpass filters, wherein the first plurality of bandpass filters and the second plurality of bandpass filters are formed orthogonally to one another, such that a bandpass channel of the first plurality of bandpass filters comprises a frequency pass band that corresponds to a frequency stop band in the second plurality of bandpass filters.

28. Signal processor according to claim 21, wherein the first signal path comprises the first plurality of bandpass filters, wherein the second signal path comprises the second plurality of bandpass filters, wherein the third signal path comprises the first plurality of bandpass filters and wherein the fourth signal path comprises the second plurality of bandpass filters, wherein the first signal path is configured to provide the first control signal for the first sound transducer, wherein the second signal path is configured to provide the second control signal for the second signal path, wherein the third signal path is configured to provide the third control signal for the third sound transducer and wherein the fourth signal path is configured to provide the fourth control signal for the second sound transducer, wherein the first sound transducer is arranged horizontally next to the second sound transducer and wherein the fourth sound transducer is arranged horizontally next to the third sound transducer or wherein the first plurality of bandpass filters comprise even bandpass filters and a second plurality of bandpass filters comprise odd bandpass filters.

29. Signal processor according to claim 23 arranged in a mobile device, wherein the first input and the second input of the signal processor can be coupled to an audio library stored in the mobile device, or wherein the first input and the second input can be coupled to a remote audio library via an interface of the mobile device and wherein the wireless interface is a Bluetooth interface or a WLAN interface.

30. Method for operating a sound generator with a first sound generator element on a first side and a second sound generator element on a second side, comprising: emitting sound by a first sound transducer and a second sound transducer in the first sound generator element, such that sound emission directions of the first sound transducer and the second sound transducer are parallel or deviate by less than 30° from a parallel emission direction and emitting sound by a third sound transducer and a fourth sound transducer in the second sound generator element, such that sound emission directions of the third sound transducer and the fourth sound transducer are parallel to one another or deviate by less than 30° from a parallel emission direction.

31. Method for operating a signal processor with a first input for a first input channel and a second input for a second input channel, comprising: generating, from the first input channel and the second input channel, a first control signal for a first sound transducer and a second control signal for a second sound transducer on a first side of a sound generator, and a third control signal for a third sound transducer and a fourth control signal for a fourth sound transducer on a second side of the sound generator; and outputting, via a wireless interface, the first control signal, the second control signal, the third control signal and the fourth control signal.

32. A non-transitory digital storage medium having a computer program stored thereon to perform the method for operating a sound generator with a first sound generator element on a first side and a second sound generator element on a second side, the method comprising: emitting sound by a first sound transducer and a second sound transducer in the first sound generator element, such that sound emission directions of the first sound transducer and the second sound transducer are parallel or deviate by less than 30° from a parallel emission direction and emitting sound by a third sound transducer and a fourth sound transducer in the second sound generator element, such that sound emission directions of the third sound transducer and the fourth sound transducer are parallel to one another or deviate by less than 30° from a parallel emission direction, when said computer program is run by a computer.

33. A non-transitory digital storage medium having a computer program stored thereon to perform the method for operating a signal processor with a first input for a first input channel and a second input for a second input channel, the method comprising: generating, from the first input channel and the second input channel, a first control signal for a first sound transducer and a second control signal for a second sound transducer on a first side of a sound generator, and a third control signal for a third sound transducer and a fourth control signal for a fourth sound transducer on a second side of the sound generator; and outputting, via a wireless interface, the first control signal, the second control signal, the third control signal and the fourth control signal, when said computer program is run by a computer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Embodiments of the present invention will be detailed subsequently referring to the appended drawings, in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a sound generator wearable on the head according to embodiments of the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a partition between the two sound generators in a sound generator element;

[0035] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the arrangement of the sound transducers with respect to the head of a user with horizontal arrangement of the sound transducers to each other;

[0036] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of different arrangements of the individual transducers relative to each other;

[0037] FIG. 5 is a schematic implementation of a signal processor for generating the control signals for the four transducers;

[0038] FIG. 6 is an implementation with different options for a branch element of FIG. 5;

[0039] FIG. 7a is an implementation of a signal path of FIG. 5;

[0040] FIG. 7b is a schematic illustration of the frequency responses of the first plurality of bandpass filters and the second plurality of bandpass filters of FIG. 7a;

[0041] FIG. 8a is a schematic illustration of a headphone according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] FIG. 8b is a schematic illustration of the first and second pluralities of bandpasses in the different signal paths;

[0043] FIG. 8c is a schematic arrangement of the integrated implementation of the signal generation in a headphone with side-signal generator and orthogonal bandpasses in the different signal paths; and

[0044] FIG. 9 is an alternative implementation of the present invention without side signal generators and without orthogonal arrangement of bandpasses in the signal paths.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a sound generator wearable on the head according to an embodiment of the present invention. The sound generator wearable on the head includes a first sound generator element 100 on a first side and a second sound generator element 200 on a second side. For example, the first side may be the left side and the second side may then be the right side. Further, the first sound generator element 100 comprises at least a first sound transducer 110 and a second sound transducer 120 arranged such that sound emission directions of the first sound transducer 110 and the second sound transducer 120 are oriented parallel to each other or deviate from each other by less than 30°. Further, the arrangement in the sound generator element 200 for the other or right side with respect to the third sound transducer 210 and the fourth sound transducer 220 is such that sound emission directions of the third sound transducer 210 and the fourth sound transducer 220 are parallel to each other or deviate from each other by less than 30°.

[0046] When the sound generator wearable on the head is a headphone, the two sound generator elements are then connected to each other via a connecting ridge 600. Further, in certain embodiments, separating ridges 130 and 230, respectively, are arranged in the sound generator elements between the individual sound transducers and separate the sound transducers 110 and 120 and 210 and 220, respectively, which are arranged horizontally relative to each other. This means that if the present invention is configured as headphones, the separating ridges 130 or 230 extend vertically, i.e. from bottom to top or from top to bottom, when the headphones are worn on a head, as will be illustrated with reference to FIG. 3. Further, the sound generator wearable on the head is provided with either an input interface or a signal processor, wherein the signal processor is integrated into the headphones or is implemented separately, such as within a mobile phone or other mobile device, as illustrated with respect to element 300. The output of the element 300 thus provides the control signals 301 for the first sound transducer, 302 for the second sound transducer, 303 for the third sound transducer and 304 for the fourth sound transducer, regardless of whether the element 300 is configured as an input interface or is configured as a complete signal processor 300. Thus, the different sound transducers in a sound generator element 100 and 200, respectively, receive different signals from each other, which in an implementation are out of phase and have spectral components in a frequency range between 500 and 15,000 Hz, optionally with different interleaved bands attenuated due to orthogonal bandpass filter structures in the different signal paths. On the other hand, both signals are the same with respect to their power or loudness in a sound generator element. This also represents an advantage of the present invention in that the sound transducers, since they are no longer separated into sound transducers for translational signals and sound transducers for rotational signals, can be configured identically, which simplifies or improves efficient production on the one hand and efficient application on the other, both in terms of wearing comfort and implementation of the signal processor.

[0047] In another embodiment, the implementation in FIG. 1 is configured as an earphone, wherein at least one and advantageously all four sound transducers are configured as a balanced armature transducer, as MEMS transducer or as dynamic transducer, each transducer further comprising a separate sound output for directing the sound into the ear according to its sound emission direction, wherein the sound emission direction from each sound transducer is the same or differs by at most 30°.

[0048] When implemented as headphones, each sound generator element is formed as a headphone chamber, which can be either a completely closed headphone chamber or an open headphone chamber, which are mechanically connected to each other by the connecting ridge 600 so that the headphones can be worn well and comfortably on an individual's head.

[0049] At least one and, however, in particularly advantageous embodiments, each sound transducer in each sound generator element is configured as a headphone capsule, each headphone capsule having the same size, wherein a diameter of a headphone capsule is less than 4 cm.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a head 400 of an individual, of which a nose 410 is schematically drawn in the front of the top view. FIG. 3 further shows the horizontal arrangement of the sound transducers side by side in a sound generator element or headphone capsule 100 and 200, respectively, wherein a partition 130 extending from top to bottom is provided between the two sound transducers, depending on the implementation. This partition is shown in perspective view in FIG. 2 and has a height that protrudes less than 3 cm and advantageously only 2 cm with respect to the first sound transducer 110 and the second sound transducer 210. The partition is not simply a partition, for example rectangular, but semicircular, elliptical or parabolic, wherein the partitioning ridge or partition projects highest at the shortest distance between the two center points or center positions of the first and second sound converters, as can be seen schematically in FIG. 2, wherein the partition has the highest point 130a at the direct connection of the two center positions 110a, 120a.

[0051] Although a semicircular separating ridge 130 already provides an improvement over a rectangular separating ridge, it is advantageous to make an elliptical or parabolic separating ridge so that the separating ridge achieves the lowest possible frequency dependence, or rather so that all frequencies emitted by the transducers are affected by the separating ridge as equally as possible.

[0052] FIG. 4 shows arrangements of the two transducers, typically configured as flat headphone capsules, in a headphone chamber. The first partial image shows parallel emission toward the ear. This most advantageous arrangement is favorable in that the two transducers can be placed side by side and both emit toward the ear. The second partial image shows an angled emission with diverging directions. This implementation may be favorable if another arrangement is not possible due to a particular shape of the headphone chamber. More advantageous, however, is the converging emission, where the direction of the transducers can be selected to “aim” the sound into the auditory canal. In the lowest partial image, a parallel or oblique emission towards the ear is shown, which can also be favorable due to external conditions. In all implementations, it has been found that the high-quality sound according to the invention is achieved when the emission directions diverge by less than 30°, to the effect that each sound generator emission deviates by at most 30° to a parallel emission as shown in FIG. 4. Most advantageous is the case where both sound transducers are configured and arranged in one sound generator element, such that there is at most an angle of 30° between the two main emission directions of the two sound transducers or both transducers emit in parallel.

[0053] FIG. 5 shows an implementation of the signal processor 300 shown schematically in FIG. 1. On the input side, the signal processor includes a left headphone signal 306 and a right headphone signal 308 via the respective inputs L and R. Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, a separate branch element is provided for each side, i.e., a first branch element 326 (for the left branch) and a second branch element 346 (for the right branch). Each branch element branches the single signal path on the input side, i.e., the left signal, for example, into a first signal path 321 on the output side that provides the control signal for the first transducer and into an output side second signal path that provides the control signal 302 for the second transducer. Further, the signal processor 300 is configured to again include a branch element 346 for generating the control signals 303 and 304 for the third sound transducer 210 of FIG. 1 and the fourth sound transducer 220 of FIG. 1, respectively, the branch element 346 leading into a third signal path 351 and a fourth signal path 361 on the output side.

[0054] Further, in embodiments of the present invention, the signal processor includes a side signal generator 370 that receives both the input signal of the first channel 306 and the input signal of the second channel 308 and provides a side signal on the output side and feeds the same into the respective branch element 326 and 346, respectively, or alternatively or additionally feeds the same into the respective signal paths. The side signal for the left channel may be shifted by 180° with respect to the side signal for the right channel. Further, each signal path is configured to receive, in addition to the output signal of the branch element, also the original input signal via bypass lines 323a, 323b for the left channel or bypass lines 343a and 343b for the right channel. Thus, each signal transducer receives a control signal consisting of the original left and right channels, respectively, and additionally comprises a signal originating from the branch element. Further, depending on the implementation, the signal in the signal path, i.e. the “combined” signal can be further processed differently for the two signal paths, such as by means of different mutually orthogonal filter banks, i.e. such that the signal for one sound transducer in a headphone chamber and the signal for the other sound transducer in the headphone chamber have different frequency ranges from each other, which, however, together result in an excellent sound due to the previous signal processing.

[0055] FIG. 6 shows an implementation of the branch element 326 or the branch element 346 of FIG. 5. Each branch element can comprise a variable amplifier 326a on the input side. Further, an adder 326b is provided, via which a side signal can be added, or alternatively another decorrelated signal or, if present, the rotational signal individually recorded and processed, in which case the translation signals are fed in via the left input and the right input.

[0056] In an alternative embodiment, the adder 326b is not present, but is replaced by a filter 326d. The alternative with filter is shown in FIG. 9, while the alternative with side signal is shown in FIG. 8c. On the output side, depending on the implementation, a variable amplifier 326c can again be provided, which, like the variable amplifier 326a, can also achieve negative gain, i.e. attenuation. Then, in the branch element, a branch point 326g follows, from which the two output signal paths branch off, but with a phase shifter 326e, 326f connected before each signal path. In embodiments, the branch element includes a separate phase shifter for each signal path, wherein the phase shifters for the two signal paths have the same magnitude, such as between 80 and 100° and advantageously 90°, but have different signs. Alternatively, however, there may be a phase shifter in only one path, such as in the upper or lower path, so that it is still achieved that the signals in the two paths are different from each other or out of phase. However, a symmetrical design as shown in FIG. 6 is advantageous. Further, it should be noted that the variable amplifiers 326a, 326b do not necessarily have to be present. Instead, only a single amplifier or no amplifier may be provided, or the amplifiers may even be present on the output side after or before the phase shifter, i.e., after the branch element 326g, in order to obtain the same effect, but by means of twice the effort, compared to the implementation of the variable amplifier 326c before the branch point 326g.

[0057] FIG. 7a shows an implementation of the first signal path 321 and, by comparison, the second signal path 341, wherein the first signal path 321 includes a first plurality of bandpass filters 320, and a downstream adder 322 for adding the unmodified original left signal as symbolized by line 323a. Accordingly, the second signal path 341 also includes a second plurality of bandpass filters 340, a downstream adder 342, and, like the first signal path 321, an output-side element 324 and 344, respectively, shown as an amplifier in FIG. 7a, but which may also include a digital-to-analog converter and other signal conditioning elements. However, if all processing is performed in the analog domain, no digital-to-analog converter is needed.

[0058] The two bandpass filter implementations 320, 340 differ from each other as schematically shown in FIG. 7b. The bandpass filter with center frequency f.sub.1, which at 320a is shown in FIG. 7b with respect to its transfer function H(f), as well as the bandpass filter 320b with center frequency f.sub.3, which is shown as 320b, as well as the bandpass filter 320c with center frequency f.sub.5, belong to the first plurality of bandpass filters 320 and are therefore arranged in the first signal path 321, while the bandpass filters 340a, 340b with center frequencies f.sub.2 and f.sub.4 are arranged in the lower signal path 341, i.e. belong to the second plurality of bandpass filters. The bandpass filter implementations 320, 340 are thus orthogonal to each other and interdigitated or interleaved, respectively, so that the two signal transducers in a sound generator element, for example the sound generator element 100 of FIG. 1 emit signals with the same total bandwidth, but differ in that every second band in each signal is attenuated. This makes it possible to dispense with the separating ridge, since the mechanical separation has been replaced by an “electrical” separation. The bandwidths of the individual bandpass filters in FIG. 7b are only drawn schematically. The bandwidths increase from bottom to top, in the form of an approximated Bark scale. Further, it is advantageous that the entire frequency range is divided into at least 20 bands, so that the first plurality of bandpass filters comprises 10 bands and the second plurality of bandpass filters also comprises 10 bands, which then in turn reproduce the entire audio signal by superposition due to the emission of the sound transducers.

[0059] Other divisions or implementations of the bandpass filters in a digital way, for example by means of a filter bank, a critically sampled filter bank, a QMF filter bank or a Fourier transform of whatever kind or an MDCT implementation with subsequent combining or different processing of the bands can also be used. Likewise, the different bands may also have a constant bandwidth from the bottom end to the upper end of the frequency range, for example from 500 to 15000 Hertz/Hz or above. Further, the number of bands may also be substantially greater than 20, such as 40 or 60 bands, such that each plurality of bandpass filters reproduces half of the total number of bands, such as 30 bands in the case of 60 bands overall.

[0060] An illustration of the implementation of FIG. 7a together with a side signal generator is shown in FIG. 8c. FIG. 8b shows a schematic illustration in that 2n even-numbered bandpasses are used in the generation for the control signal 302, 303, while 2n−1 (odd-numbered bandpasses) are used for the generation of the control signal 301 and 304. Further, the arrangement of the transducers in a headphone is shown schematically in FIG. 8a, where the separating ridge is shown dashed, since it can then be omitted if electronic decoupling is achieved by the mutually orthogonal bandpasses. However, in addition to electrical decoupling, mechanical decoupling can of course also be achieved with the separating ridge.

[0061] FIG. 8c further shows an implementation of the branch element of FIG. 6 with adder 326b and phase shifts of +/−90° in the phase shifter elements 326e, 326f. Further, the side signal generator 370 is configured to calculate the side signal as (L−R) for the left area, i.e. the two signal paths 321, 341, which is shown by the 180° phase shifter 372 and the adder 371 in FIG. 8c. Further, for the two signal paths 351, 361, another side signal is generated for the right signal processing block, namely the signal (R−L), which is again achieved by the two blocks 374 (180° phase shift) and 373 (adder). Further, FIG. 8c shows that the corresponding side signal can be variably amplified/attenuated, as represented by the variable gain elements 375, 376. Depending on the implementation, the corresponding side signal is added into the branch element via the adder 326b, which is arranged before the branch point 326g. Alternatively, however, two adders 326b can be provided after the branch point 326g in the upper branch and in the lower branch. Further, FIG. 8c also shows the additional coupling of the unmodified left channel via adders 322, 342 in the left signal processing block and the corresponding adders in the right signal processing block at the bottom of FIG. 8c.

[0062] FIG. 9 shows an alternative implementation of the present invention without side signal generator 370 and with an embodiment of the branch element 326 with the filter 326d of FIG. 6. This filter is a high pass (HP) filter. In the implementation shown in FIG. 9, the coupling of the original left and right signals, respectively, into the two signal paths using blocks 323a, 323b is further included.

[0063] Since electrical decoupling by means of orthogonal bandpass filters does not occur in FIG. 9, it is advantageous to use the separating ridge in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9. On the other hand, the separating ridge can also be omitted in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8c, since electrical decoupling is used by means of the mutually orthogonal bandpass filters.

[0064] In a further embodiment, in FIG. 9, electronic decoupling can further be achieved by the filter banks 320, 340, as in FIG. 8c or FIG. 7a, without using side signal generation. In this case, too, the separating ridge can be dispensed with because of the existing electronic decoupling of the two transducers arranged next to each other. However, both measures can also be taken, namely both the separating ridge and the electronic decoupling.

[0065] Specific setting states of the embodiment of FIG. 8c are discussed below. Depending on the setting of amplifier 326a and amplifier 375, respectively 376, the portion of the side signal filtered by the orthogonal filter banks can be made large or small. If the amplifier 326a is set to heavy attenuation and the amplifier 375 is set to amplification, the output of the adder 326b is mainly the side signal, which is processed by the phase shifters 326b, 326f and the filter banks 320, 340 and is then impressed on the original left signal by the adders 322, 342, for example. Then, the two signals output by the two sound transducers 110, 120 arranged next to each other differ quite strongly. Although they have the common part delivered through the branches 323a, 323b, they differ in the side signal, which is amplified compared to the left channel, for example. On the other hand, if the amplifier 326a is set to relatively high gain and the amplifier 375 is set to relatively low gain, the portion of the orthogonally filtered side signal in the control signal 301, 302 will be relatively small, so that almost the same signal is output by the two sound transducers 110, 120. Depending on the type of application and respective situation and respective headphones or earphones, an optimum setting can thus be found by the respective elements due to the high flexibility of the present invention, which setting can be found, for example, empirically by hearing tests for specific sound material and can be programmed in or reprogrammed automatically or manually depending on the type of application.

[0066] Although some aspects have been described in the context of an apparatus, it is obvious that these aspects also represent a description of the corresponding method, such that a block or device of an apparatus also corresponds to a respective method step or a feature of a method step. Analogously, aspects described in the context of a method step also represent a description of a corresponding block or detail or feature of a corresponding apparatus. Some or all of the method steps may be performed by a hardware apparatus (or using a hardware apparatus), such as a microprocessor, a programmable computer or an electronic circuit. In some embodiments, some or several of the most important method steps may be performed by such an apparatus.

[0067] Depending on certain implementation requirements, embodiments of the invention can be implemented in hardware or in software. The implementation can be performed using a digital storage medium, for example a floppy disk, a DVD, a Blu-Ray disc, a CD, an ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM or a FLASH memory, a hard drive or another magnetic or optical memory having electronically readable control signals stored thereon, which cooperate or are capable of cooperating with a programmable computer system such that the respective method is performed. Therefore, the digital storage medium may be computer readable.

[0068] Some embodiments according to the invention include a data carrier comprising electronically readable control signals, which are capable of cooperating with a programmable computer system, such that one of the methods described herein is performed.

[0069] Generally, embodiments of the present invention can be implemented as a computer program product with a program code, the program code being operative for performing one of the methods when the computer program product runs on a computer.

[0070] The program code may, for example, be stored on a machine readable carrier.

[0071] Other embodiments comprise the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein, wherein the computer program is stored on a machine readable carrier.

[0072] In other words, an embodiment of the inventive method is, therefore, a computer program comprising a program code for performing one of the methods described herein, when the computer program runs on a computer.

[0073] A further embodiment of the inventive method is, therefore, a data carrier (or a digital storage medium or a computer-readable medium) comprising, recorded thereon, the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein.

[0074] A further embodiment of the inventive method is, therefore, a data stream or a sequence of signals representing the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein. The data stream or the sequence of signals may, for example, be configured to be transferred via a data communication connection, for example via the Internet.

[0075] A further embodiment comprises a processing means, for example a computer, or a programmable logic device, configured to or adapted to perform one of the methods described herein.

[0076] A further embodiment comprises a computer having installed thereon the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein.

[0077] A further embodiment in accordance with the invention includes an apparatus or a system configured to transmit a computer program for performing at least one of the methods described herein to a receiver. The transmission may be electronic or optical, for example. The receiver may be a computer, a mobile device, a memory device or a similar device, for example. The apparatus or the system may include a file server for transmitting the computer program to the receiver, for example.

[0078] In some embodiments, a programmable logic device (for example a field programmable gate array, FPGA) may be used to perform some or all of the functionalities of the methods described herein. In some embodiments, a field programmable gate array may cooperate with a microprocessor in order to perform one of the methods described herein. Generally, the methods are performed by any hardware apparatus. This can be a universally applicable hardware, such as a computer processor (CPU) or hardware specific for the method, such as ASIC.

[0079] While this invention has been described in terms of several advantageous embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents, which fall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and compositions of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.