Apparatus for creating 3D audio imaging over headphones using binaural synthesis

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for creating three-dimensional audio imaging during playback over headphones using a binaural synthesis approach.
It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus for processing audio signals for playback over headphones in which an apparent sound location can be smoothly panned over a number of locations without requiring an unduly complex circuit.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for reproducing audio signals over headphones in which a standardized set of filters can be provided for use with a number of channels or voices, so that only one set of filters is required for the system.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the apparent sound location of a sound signal, as perceived by a person listening to the sound signals over headphones, can be accurately positioned or moved using azimuth placement filters, both front and back, and early sound reflection filters and a reverberation filter, all of which are controlled and ranged in azimuth using scalers or variable attenuators that are associated with each input signal and not with the filters themselves.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments, to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals represent the same or similar elements.