WO2012122132A1 - Distribution dynamique d'énergie acoustique dans un champ acoustique projeté et systèmes et procédés associés - Google Patents

Distribution dynamique d'énergie acoustique dans un champ acoustique projeté et systèmes et procédés associés Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2012122132A1
WO2012122132A1 PCT/US2012/027786 US2012027786W WO2012122132A1 WO 2012122132 A1 WO2012122132 A1 WO 2012122132A1 US 2012027786 W US2012027786 W US 2012027786W WO 2012122132 A1 WO2012122132 A1 WO 2012122132A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
ultrasound
beams
signal
steering angle
array
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2012/027786
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Juan PAMPIN
Michael MCCREA
Joel S. Kollin
Eun Su KANG
Original Assignee
University Of Washington
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by University Of Washington filed Critical University Of Washington
Publication of WO2012122132A1 publication Critical patent/WO2012122132A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R3/00—Circuits for transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R3/12—Circuits for transducers, loudspeakers or microphones for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2201/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones covered by H04R1/00 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2201/40—Details of arrangements for obtaining desired directional characteristic by combining a number of identical transducers covered by H04R1/40 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2201/401—2D or 3D arrays of transducers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2217/00—Details of magnetostrictive, piezoelectric, or electrostrictive transducers covered by H04R15/00 or H04R17/00 but not provided for in any of their subgroups
    • H04R2217/03—Parametric transducers where sound is generated or captured by the acoustic demodulation of amplitude modulated ultrasonic waves
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2430/00—Signal processing covered by H04R, not provided for in its groups
    • H04R2430/20—Processing of the output signals of the acoustic transducers of an array for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04S—STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS 
    • H04S7/00—Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control
    • H04S7/30—Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field
    • H04S7/302—Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation
    • H04S7/303—Tracking of listener position or orientation

Definitions

  • the present technology relates generally to dynamic distribution of acoustic energy in a projected sound field and associated systems and methods.
  • several embodiments are directed toward parametric transducer arrays for generating multiple concurrent steerable sound beams and associated systems and methods.
  • Sound waves in the human range of hearing (approximately 20 Hz to 20 kHz) are generally emitted from a point source and have a spherical pattern, meaning the acoustic energy travels in all directions evenly.
  • the sound pressure level emitted from a point source dissipates very rapidly as a function of distance (i.e., attenuation is approximately 6 dB for every doubling of the distance from the source).
  • Dynamic loudspeakers i.e., the traditional paper cone attached to a metal coil found in home and car speakers
  • most dynamic loudspeakers cannot restrict their energy to anything less than a beam several inches wide because of the wavelength dimensions of the audible range of human hearing.
  • Parametric arrays offer a significant improvement in directionality compared to loudspeakers.
  • Parametric arrays for example, can direct a beam to a particular location (e.g., at a listener's ear) that propagate over long distances with less attenuation than a signal from a point source or loudspeaker.
  • conventional parametric arrays only focus a single steerable beam of sound, and lack the capability to focus multiple steerable beams concurrently.
  • Figure 1A is a block diagram of a parametric array system configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.
  • Figure IB is a block diagram of a delay bank configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.
  • Figure 2 is a partially schematic diagram of a transducer array configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.
  • Figure 3 is a diagram of a focused beam output from a parametric array system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.
  • Figure 4 is a diagram of a non-uniformly distributed beam output from a parametric array system configured in accordance with another embodiment of the present technology.
  • Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating example components of a parametric array system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.
  • Figure 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a routine for operating a system for producing independent steerable audio beams in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.
  • Figure 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a routine of operating a parametric array system in accordance with a further embodiment of the present technology.
  • the present technology relates generally to dynamic distribution of acoustic energy in a projected sound field and associated systems and methods.
  • several embodiments are directed toward parametric transducer arrays for generating several directional sound beams using self-demodulated ultrasound and associated systems and methods.
  • the parametric array system can be configured to output a beam to a single point or location.
  • the beam can have a steerable angle that can be adjusted manually by an operator or automatically.
  • the parametric array system can track one or more listeners and maintain a narrow beam in their general vicinity.
  • the parametric array can output a wide beam having a non-uniform distribution of acoustic energy.
  • FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a parametric array system 100 ("system 100") configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology.
  • the system 100 is configured to receive one or more audio signals, modulate these one or more audio signals with one or more ultrasound carrier signals and form a single and/or multiple concurrent ultrasound beams using an array of transducers.
  • the emitted ultrasound signals can self- demodulate after propagating a relatively short distance (e.g., 1 meter) through air and/or coming into contact with a surface.
  • Using a self-demodulating ultrasound energy as a carrier wave for one or more signals allows audible sound to be directed to a particular location or otherwise manipulated (e.g., to sweep an output signal across a region of interest or to project a wide beam of sound in an area of interest) in a manner that traditional methods and/or loudspeakers cannot achieve.
  • Each channel of the system 100 in the embodiment of Figure 1A can include a spectral processor 104, a modulator 106, a delay bank 110, a broadband linear amplifier array 116, and a transducer array 120.
  • the spectral processor 104, modulator 106, and delay bank 110 comprise a software portion 114. In other embodiments, however, one or more of these components may have a different configuration or arrangement.
  • the spectral processor 104 is configured to condition the audio signal 102 in preparation for modulation to an ultrasound carrier frequency signal. Conditioning the signal 102 can include, for example, converting the signal 102 from analog to digital, filtering certain frequency content, and/or amplification of the signal 102.
  • the spectral processor 104 can be configured to mitigate this limitation applying a frequency-dependent gain to the input signal. In some other embodiments, the spectral processor 104 may be configured to perform additional condition to the signal in addition to, or in lieu of, the techniques described above. In further embodiments, the spectral processor 104 may also perform spectral and dynamics processing on one or more of the ultrasound carrier frequency signals as well, such as in, for example, a dynamic carrier system.
  • the modulator 106 is coupled to the output of the spectral processor 104 and may be configured to modulate an ultrasound signal 109 having the ultrasound carrier frequency 108 with the audio signal 102.
  • modulation may be used to manipulate the properties of a higher frequency wave to transmit the information contained in a lower frequency wave.
  • the ultrasound carrier frequency 108 may be approximately 40 kHz. In other embodiments, however, the ultrasound carrier frequency 108 can be any ultrasound frequency high enough to allow transmission of the audio signal 102.
  • One type of modulation for example, is Amplitude Modulation (AM).
  • AM Amplitude Modulation
  • a higher frequency signal can transmit a lower frequency signal through variation of the amplitude of the carrier signal.
  • the modulator 106 employs a type of AM modulation known as Single Side Band modulation. In other embodiments, however, the modulator 106 may utilize different modulation schemes, including, for example, frequency modulation (FM), frequency-shift keying (FSK), or other suitable modulation schemes.
  • FM frequency modulation
  • FSK frequency-shift keying
  • the ultrasound signal 109 can be split into a bank of two or more delayed signal channels.
  • the number of signal channels in the delay bank 110 corresponds with the number of columns in the transducer array 120.
  • each of the split signals in the signal channels can have a substantially identical amplitude and frequency, but may have phase variations that can result in a steerable ultrasound beam having an adjustable steering angle 112.
  • Each of the split signals is coupled to and amplified by an amplifier in the amplifier array 116 prior to being output by the transducer array 120.
  • an operator may manually adjust the steering angle 112 to steer an output ultrasound beam along a steering vector and/or focus the output ultrasound beam in a particular location along the steering vector.
  • a first ultrasound beam can have a first steering angle and a second ultrasound beam can have a second steering angle different than the first steering angle.
  • a computing device (not shown) may be configured to incrementally vary the steering angle 112 to allow a focal location of the output beam to move throughout a space at a operator-designated control rate.
  • the computing device may be configured to "sweep" the signal through the horizontal extents of the transducer array.
  • the several beams can be output simultaneously over an area of interest such that a listener may perceive that a plane of sound is being projected from the transducer array 120.
  • FIG. IB is a diagram of the delay bank 110 of a parametric array 101 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.
  • An ultrasound signal 109 having ultrasound carrier frequency 108 is split into a plurality of channels 111 (identified individually as channels 11 la-1 l ie) coupled to a plurality of amplifiers 118 (identified individually as amplifiers 118a-118e) in the amplifier array 116.
  • Each of the channels 111 has generally the same frequency and amplitude as ultrasound signal 109.
  • the delay bank 110 may be configured to vary the phase of each of the channels 111 in response to the adjustable steering angle 112.
  • the phases of the channels 111 can be manipulated by instituting a series of delays in the channels.
  • the delays in the channels 111 can be incrementally increased from the channel 11 le to the channel 111a.
  • the successive delays in the channels 111 yield phase differences that result in the staggered emission of the output waves 121 (identified separately as output waves 121a-121e).
  • the phase differences between the output waves 121a-121e may be perceived, for example, as one wavefront 122 steered at an angle A away from the transducer array 120 (as shown in Figure IB).
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram of a transducer array 220 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.
  • the transducer array 220 is comprised of a plurality of transducers 224 arranged as a staggered rectangular matrix.
  • a first row 230a and a second row 230b are offset from each other by a separation or distance d.
  • the pattern of first rows 230a and second rows 230b can be repeated to form the full transducer array 220.
  • the offset arrangement of rows 230 can form an interleaved series of columns 228 (identified individually as columns 228a-228j in Figure 2) such that two or more of the transducers 224 form a column 228 aligned with each other in alternating rows.
  • the transducers 224 can be piezoelectric transducers, while in other embodiments, the transducers 224 can be other suitable transducers known in the art (e.g., electrostatic transducers, etc.).
  • the transducer array 220 depicted in Figure 2 is arranged as a rectangular matrix, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments the transducers 224 of the array 220 may be arranged to form a variety of other suitable shapes (e.g., a square, a circle, an ellipse, etc.).
  • the columns 228 of the transducer array 220 may be staggered to reduce interference between the transducers 224 in, for example, the first column 228a and the second column 228b.
  • each of the transducers 224 can have a directivity pattern in which a large portion of the acoustic energy radiated by each of the transducers 224 is propagated in a direction approximately perpendicular to the plane of movement of the transducer 224.
  • virtually any transducer radiates at least a portion of acoustic energy in one or more side lobes, which can be problematic.
  • acoustical energy in one side lobe radiated by a first transducer may constructively and/or destructively interfere with acoustical energy emitted by a second transducer.
  • the resulting interference may significantly degrade spatial accuracy and resolution of a steered ultrasound beam emitted by the transducer array 220.
  • Maintaining a distance d between the adjacent columns 228 is expected to reduce the effect of interference caused by side lobe radiation from one or more of the transducers 224.
  • the distance d is approximately one-half of the wavelength of the ultrasound energy being emitted by the transducer array 220. In other embodiments, the distance d can be another value, such as, for example, one-quarter wavelength or one full wavelength.
  • Figure 3 depicts a focused beam output by a parametric array system 320 having a transducer array 324 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.
  • the array 324 emits one or more ultrasound beams 340 in a narrow pattern to focus on a subject 338.
  • the ultrasound beams 340 do not necessarily stop at the point of focus, but may rather continue to spread beyond the point of focus.
  • the subject 338 can be the head of a listener located a distance R from the array 324.
  • One or more of the ultrasound beams 340 can be directed in the general vicinity of each of the ears of the listener.
  • the system 320 can additionally process one or more input audio signals using a Head-Related Transfer Function.
  • a Head-Related Transfer Function may be used to incorporate the effects of a human head and ears into the input audio signals. This could allow, two or more of the ultrasound beams 340 as act as, for example, a binaural virtual surround system such that the listener could perceive virtual objects in space without the use of headphones.
  • the subject 338 may be, for example, an object and/or a surface on which the operator of the system 320 reflects the one or more ultrasound beams 340.
  • the system 320 allows for a focused beam output compared to many traditional methods, allowing the operator to project an acoustic image onto the subject 338. This could lead an observer to perceive that a sound source or signal emanating from a location other than the array 324.
  • a narrowly focused beam 340 can lead an observer to perceive that acoustic energy emitted by the array 324 is a narrow beam or ray of sound.
  • one or more beams 340 emitted by the array 324 can be focused in the vicinity of a listener such that slight movement of the observer's head may lead to significant changes in the ability of the observer to perceive one or more beams 340.
  • the array 324 can be configured to emit one or more beams 340 such that a first observer may be able to perceive the beams 340, but an adjacent second observer may perceive little or no audible sound at all from the array 324.
  • some other embodiments of the system 320 can also be configured to track the location and/or movements of one or more listeners to maintain a perceptual experience.
  • Figure 4 depicts a non-uniformly distributed beam 440 output by a parametric array system 420 configured in accordance with another embodiment of the present technology.
  • the system 420 is configured to emit ultrasound energy from a parametric array 424 such that the beam 440 has localized areas of intensification and/or nulls.
  • a listener may perceive one or more peak areas 442 (identified separately as peak areas 442a and 442b) in the beam 440 to be louder and/or have a higher intensity compared to one or more nulls 444 in the beam 440.
  • the emission and/or projection of the non-uniform distributed beam 440 can be achieved, for example, by unevenly incrementing delays in the steering angles of the emitted ultrasound signals.
  • an ultrasound signal can be steered by, for example, evenly splitting the signal into a plurality of individual channels and uniformly incrementing delays across the channels to achieve a beam having a wavefront that propagates at an angle at least proportional to a desired steering angle.
  • implementing non-uniform delays can allow the one or more beams 340 to be spread into a plane, as shown in Figure 4.
  • a sound plane that projects a 60 degree beam width may have areas of emphasis, or increased intensity, at -10 degrees and 15 degrees, thus creating a sound field that gradually changes intensity over its 60 degree beam width.
  • the system 420 can emit or project the sound field through weighting certain regions of the sound plane so that one or more columns steer towards areas of emphasis, redistributing the overall energy pattern of the plane to create both null areas as well as areas of intensification.
  • the columns of the array 424 can be configured to operate as multiple sub-arrays of two columns.
  • Each sub-array can be configured to emit an ultrasound beam with a unique steering angle that progresses from an angle of zero degrees at the center to the desired beam width divided by two at the outermost pair of columns.
  • This distribution of sub-arrays may be symmetrical around the center of the array, so that a desired beam width of, for example, 50 degrees determines an outermost steering angle of +/- 25 degrees at each edge of the array.
  • Distributing sub-arrays of columns in the manner described above may allow the array 424 to output a variety of radiation patterns. For example, by manipulating the radiation pattern of the emitted ultrasound beams conjunction with one or more reflective surfaces in a room, a sound may be perceived omnidirectionally, as with common sound sources.
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating example components of a parametric array system 500 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.
  • the system may include an audio input 502, such as, for example, a microphone, a radio, a television, a CD player, an MP3 player, a DVD player, etc.
  • the audio source material played back or otherwise produced by the audio input 502 may include, for example, a live speaker, a vocal track, a musical track, and/or a pattern of sounds.
  • An analog-to-digital converter 504 can convert analog audio material from the audio input 502 into one or more digital bitstreams.
  • a spectral processor 524 performs one or more signal conditioning operations (e.g., filtering, equalization, noise shaping, etc.) on one or more signals from the audio input 502.
  • a modulator 528 modulates one or more ultrasound carrier frequency signals to transmit the one or more audio signals from audio input 502.
  • a delay controller 530 splits the modulated ultrasound signal into a plurality of channels and implements time and/or phase delays to the channels that correspond with one or more adjustable steering angles to produce one or more ultrasound beams.
  • One or more amplifiers 534 coupled to the delay controller 530 amplify the ultrasound beams, which are output by a transducer array 540.
  • the system 500 may control components and/or the flow or processing of information or data between components using one or more processors 510 in communication with the memory 514, such as ROM or RAM (and instructions or data contained therein), and the other components via a bus 520.
  • the memory 514 may contain data structures or other files or applications that provide information or instructions for emission of multiple steerable beams of concurrent audio signals.
  • the memory 514 can contain memory structures 516 and 518, which may comprise various subroutines.
  • the memory 514 may contain instructions for spectral processing, modulating, and/or applying delays to the one or more signals.
  • instructions stored in the memory 514 may perform other tasks such as, analog-to-digital conversion, digital-to-analog conversion, etc.
  • Components of the system 500 may receive energy via a power component 522. Additionally, the system 500 may receive or transmit information or data to other modules, remote computing devices, and so on via a communication component 544. For example, the system 500 may interface with one or more tracking devices (not shown) via the communication component 544. The tracking devices may be used, for example, for detecting and/or tracking the location of a listener. The system 500 can use the location information to vary the steering angles of one or more beams to maintain the focusing of the one or more beams in an area in the general vicinity of a listener. Similarly, the system 500 can also be configured to be used as a silent beam-breaking device for security and safety applications. For example, the system 500 can be customized to different architectures allowing for the implementation of multiple boundaries in a space through the steering of multiple beams.
  • the communication component 544 may be any wired or wireless components capable of communicating data to and from the system 500. Examples include a wireless radio frequency transmitter, infrared transmitter, or hard-wired cable, such as a USB cable.
  • the system 500 may include other additional components 550 not explicitly described herein, such as additional microprocessor components, removable memory components (e.g., flash memory components, smart cards, hard drives, network connections, etc.), and/or other components.
  • Figure 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a routine 600 for operating a system for producing independent steerable audio beams in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.
  • the routine 600 receives an audio input signal from one or more audio sources.
  • the audio input in block 602 may be provided from any number of audio sources, such as, for example, a microphone, a radio, a television, a CD player, an MP3 player, a DVD player, etc.
  • the routine 600 performs one or more signal conditioning operations on the audio input signal from block 602 such as, filtering and/or amplifying the signals audio input signals.
  • the routine 600 in block 604 may apply a frequency-dependent gain to the audio input signal to mitigate the limited frequency response of ultrasonic transducers.
  • the routine 600 can additionally perform one or more signal processing operations to adjust or manipulate the audio input signals to allow for enhanced modulation of an ultrasound carrier signal.
  • the routine 600 modulates an ultrasound carrier frequency signal to transmit the one of the conditioned audio input signals from block 604.
  • the routine may utilize any number of modulation schemes, such as, for example, single side band modulation.
  • the routine 600 can apply an adjustable steering angle to the modulated ultrasound signal by, for example, separating the modulated ultrasound signal into a plurality of channels and implementing delays into one or more of the channels.
  • the routine 600 can couple the channels in block 608 to amplifiers in block 610, to produce an amplified ultrasound beam having an angle that at least corresponds to the adjustable steering angle.
  • the routine 600 outputs the ultrasound beam using, for example, a parametric array.
  • FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a routine 700 of operating a parametric array system (such as, for example, the parametric array in Figure 1A), in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present technology.
  • the routine 700 determines that one or more listeners are in the general vicinity of the system.
  • the routine may configure a parametric transducer array to be a transmission and receiving device.
  • the routine 700 can use the beam steering capabilities of the transducer to determine whether a listener is at least proximate to the parametric array by, for example, emitting an ultrasonic signal.
  • the routine 700 in block 702, can receive a reflected ultrasonic signal to produce a two dimensional contour of the ultrasonic beam path.
  • the routine 700 may also compare the reflected beam path contour with one corresponding to an environment without listeners, thereby revealing anomalies in the path of the beam.
  • routine 700 may utilize any one of a number of proximity sensing, presence-sensing, and/or motion-sensing methods known in the art.
  • block 702 may include infrared sensors, fiber optic sensors, magnetic sensors, photoelectric sensors, or any other suitable presence-sensing sensor known in the art.
  • the routine 700 determines the location of the one or more listeners in the general vicinity of the system by determining, for example, the distance and angle relative to the system of the one or more listeners.
  • the routine 700 may utilize location-sensing techniques, such as, for example, the use of cameras, infrared projectors, laser triangulation, optical holography, acoustical holography, and/or ultrasonic triangulation.
  • the routine 700 can use the location information obtained in block 704 to calculate one or more adjustable steering angles.
  • the routine 700 emits one or more focused ultrasound beams at the one or more steering angles calculated in block 706 to produce a focused beam in the general vicinity of one or more of the listeners.
  • the routine 700 determines whether the one or more listeners are stationary or moving. If the one or more listeners are stationary, the routine returns to block 708 and continues to emit one or more ultrasound beams in the direction of the one or more listeners. If the routine 700 determines that the one or more listeners are moving, the routine 700 determines in block 712 whether the one or more listeners are still within range of the system. If the routine 700 determines that no listeners are within range, it returns to block 702 and attempts to detect additional listeners. If, on the other hand, the routine 700 determines the one or more listeners are still within range of the system, the routine 700 returns to block 704 to determine the distance and angle of the one or more listeners relative to transducer array.
  • routine 700 can allow for variety of applications in which it may be beneficial to produce multiple concurrent steerable audio beams.
  • the routine 700 may be configured as a customizable multi-channel surround sound audio system that a user may program to suit a particular listening environment through the placement of virtual speakers.
  • the routine 700 can be configured to produce one or more audio beams that can, for example, travel through a listening space, while widening and focusing dynamically.
  • the routine 700 can be configured as a highly localized stereo audio playback system.
  • the routine 700 in block 704 can utilize a head tracking device worn on a listener's head that can be used to dynamically adjust the location of the binaural beams depending on the movement of the listener's head.
  • the routine 700 can be implemented in, for example, retail, commercial, gallery or museum spaces in which it may be desirable to have audio material confined to single or multiple specific locations, or to send audio material to people as they are moving in a space.
  • the routine 700 can be used to broadcast information in locations of high ambient noise, such as, for example, bus and train terminals.
  • the routine 700 can also be configured to be an alert or warning system in which audio information may be projected to specific individuals in a space.
  • routine 700 can be configured as a spatially dynamic speaker for immersive media presentations and paired with, for example, advanced light and video displays in public spaces, restaurants, lobbies, commercial galleries, etc.
  • a system for dynamically distributing acoustic energy comprising: a modulator configured to modulate one or more audio signals to a corresponding ultrasound carrier frequency signal;
  • each delay bank is configured to output an ultrasound beam having an adjustable steering angle
  • a transducer array configured to output one or more of the ultrasound beams.
  • a spectral processor configured to condition the one or more audio signals prior to being modulated.
  • a method of dynamically distributing acoustical energy comprising:
  • the one or more ultrasound beams include a first ultrasound beam having a first steering angle and a second ultrasound beam having a second steering angle, and wherein the first steering angle is different than the second steering angle.
  • outputting the one or more ultrasound beams includes the generation of audible sound beams through self-demodulation of the one or more ultrasound beams.
  • applying an adjustable steering angle comprises separating the ultrasound signal into a plurality of delay channels configured to have an associated delay to produce a wavefront that propagates from the array of transducers at the adjustable steering angle. 19. The method of clause 14 wherein applying an adjustable steering angle comprises separating the ultrasound signal into a plurality of channels having a non-uniform distribution of delays and wherein the energy pattern of the corresponding ultrasound beam comprises areas of intensification and null areas.
  • each steering angle of two or more ultrasound beams such that the output of the array of transducers has a focal width generally similar to a width of a human head in the vicinity of the location of the listener.
  • a computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by at least one computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
  • each steering angle of two or more ultrasound beams such that the two or more ultrasound beams output by the array of transducers has a focal width generally similar to a width of a human head in the vicinity of the location of the listener.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Circuit For Audible Band Transducer (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne des réseaux de transducteurs paramétriques servant à émettre des faisceaux acoustiques multiples simultanés et dirigeables, et des procédés et systèmes associés. En particulier, plusieurs modes de réalisation concernent un système servant à générer des faisceaux acoustiques très directionnels au moyen d'ultrasons auto-démodulés. Le système permet d'inclure un modulateur servant à moduler un signal audio en un signal de fréquence porteuse ultrasonique. Une banque de retard permet de former un faisceau ultrasonique ayant un angle de direction réglable. Un réseau de transducteurs permet d'émettre plusieurs faisceaux ultrasoniques simultanés et dirigeables. La répartition et la topologie interne des intensifications et des points d'annulation dans les faisceaux ultrasoniques peuvent être définies et modulées. Les faisceaux ultrasoniques peuvent s'auto-démoduler, ce qui permet de distribuer dynamiquement dans l'espace plusieurs faisceaux acoustiques audibles très focalisés.
PCT/US2012/027786 2011-03-04 2012-03-05 Distribution dynamique d'énergie acoustique dans un champ acoustique projeté et systèmes et procédés associés WO2012122132A1 (fr)

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WO2016001716A1 (fr) * 2014-07-02 2016-01-07 Armoni Hanan Procédé et dispositif de blocage de microphones
WO2016123901A1 (fr) * 2015-02-03 2016-08-11 中兴通讯股份有限公司 Terminal et procédé permettant de lire un signal audio de manière directionnelle par ledit terminal
WO2017010999A1 (fr) * 2015-07-14 2017-01-19 Harman International Industries, Incorporated Techniques pour générer de multiples scènes auditives par l'intermédiaire de haut-parleurs hautement directionnels
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US11523212B2 (en) 2018-06-01 2022-12-06 Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc. Pattern-forming microphone array
US11297423B2 (en) 2018-06-15 2022-04-05 Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc. Endfire linear array microphone
US11770650B2 (en) 2018-06-15 2023-09-26 Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc. Endfire linear array microphone
US11310596B2 (en) 2018-09-20 2022-04-19 Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc. Adjustable lobe shape for array microphones
US11303981B2 (en) 2019-03-21 2022-04-12 Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc. Housings and associated design features for ceiling array microphones
US11438691B2 (en) 2019-03-21 2022-09-06 Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc. Auto focus, auto focus within regions, and auto placement of beamformed microphone lobes with inhibition functionality
US11778368B2 (en) 2019-03-21 2023-10-03 Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc. Auto focus, auto focus within regions, and auto placement of beamformed microphone lobes with inhibition functionality
US11558693B2 (en) 2019-03-21 2023-01-17 Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc. Auto focus, auto focus within regions, and auto placement of beamformed microphone lobes with inhibition and voice activity detection functionality
US11445294B2 (en) 2019-05-23 2022-09-13 Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc. Steerable speaker array, system, and method for the same
US11800280B2 (en) 2019-05-23 2023-10-24 Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc. Steerable speaker array, system and method for the same
US11688418B2 (en) 2019-05-31 2023-06-27 Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc. Low latency automixer integrated with voice and noise activity detection
US11302347B2 (en) 2019-05-31 2022-04-12 Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc. Low latency automixer integrated with voice and noise activity detection
US11750972B2 (en) 2019-08-23 2023-09-05 Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc. One-dimensional array microphone with improved directivity
US11297426B2 (en) 2019-08-23 2022-04-05 Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc. One-dimensional array microphone with improved directivity
US11552611B2 (en) 2020-02-07 2023-01-10 Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc. System and method for automatic adjustment of reference gain
WO2021220118A1 (fr) * 2020-04-30 2021-11-04 Mobii Systems (Pty) Ltd Système de synchronisation et son procédé de fonctionnement
US11706562B2 (en) 2020-05-29 2023-07-18 Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc. Transducer steering and configuration systems and methods using a local positioning system
US20220130369A1 (en) * 2020-10-28 2022-04-28 Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Quiet flight deck communication using ultrasonic phased array
US11785380B2 (en) 2021-01-28 2023-10-10 Shure Acquisition Holdings, Inc. Hybrid audio beamforming system
CN116320901A (zh) * 2023-05-15 2023-06-23 之江实验室 声场调控系统及其方法
CN116320901B (zh) * 2023-05-15 2023-08-29 之江实验室 声场调控系统及其方法

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