Audio spotlighting

ABSTRACT of air. This gives rise to audible components that can be accurately Audio spot lighting is a very recent technology that creates predicted and precisely controlled. Joseph Pompeis Holosonic Research Labs invented the Audio Spotlight that is made of a sound processor, an amplifier and the transducer. The American Technology Corporation

focused beams of sound similar to light beams coming out of a flashlight. By shining sound to one location, specific listeners can be targeted with sound without others nearby hearing it. It uses a combination of non-linear acoustics and some fancy

developed the HyperSonic Soundbased Directed Audio Sound System. Both use ultrasound based solutions to beam sound into a focused beam. Audio spotlight can be either directed at a particular listener or to a point where it is reflected. The targeted or directed audio technology is going to a huge

mathematics. But it is real and is fine to knock the socks of any conventional loud speaker. This acoustic device comprises a speaker that fires

inaudible ultrasound pulses with very small wavelength which act in a manner very similar to that of a narrow column. The ultra sound beam acts as an airborne speaker and as the beam moves through the air gradual

commercial market in entertainment and consumer electronics and

technology developers are scrambling to tap in to the market. Being the most recent and dramatic change in the way we perceive sound since the invention Page 1

distortion takes place in a predictable way due to the property of non-linearity C.I.E.T,RJY.

Audio spotlighting
of coil loud speaker, audio spot light technology can do many miracles in various fields like Private messaging system, Home theatre audio system, Navy and military displays, applications, ventriloquist recent technology that creates

focused beams of sound similar to light beams coming out of a flash light. Specific listeners can be targeted with sound without others nearby hearing it, i.e. to focus the sound into a coherent and highly directional beam. It makes use of non-linearity property of air. The Audio spotlight

museum systems etc.

Thus audio spotlighting helps us to control where sound comes from and where it goes!

developed by American Technology Hi-fi speakers range from piezoelectric twe eters to various kinds of mid-range speakers and woofers which generally rely on circuits ant large enclosures to produce quality sound, whether it dynamic, electrostatic or some other transducer based design. Engine ers have struggled for nearly a century to produce a speaker design with the ideal 20Hz 20,000Hz capability of Corporation uses ultrasonic energy to create extremely narrow beams of sound that behaves like beam of light. Audio spotlight exploits the property of non-linearity of air. A device known as parametric array employs the non-linearity of the air to create audible by products from inaudible ultrasound, resulting in extremely

directive and beam like sound. This source can projected about an area

human hearing and also produce a narrow beam of audible sound. Audio spot lighting is a very C.I.E.T,RJY.

much like a spotlight and creates an Page 2

Audio spotlighting
actual specialized sound distant from a transducer. The ultrasound column acts as a airborne speaker, and as the beam moves through the air gradual distortion takes place in a predictable way. This gives rise to audible distortion, phase distortion, crossover distortion, cone resonance etc. Some aspects of their mechanical aspects are mass, magnetic structure, enclosure

design and cone construction. In order to focus sound into a narrow beam, you need to maintain a low beam angle that is dictated by wavelength. The smaller the

components that can be accurately predicted and precisely controlled. THEORY The regular loudspeakers produce

wavelength, less the beam angle and hence, the more focused the sound. The beam angle also depends on the aperture size of the speaker. A large loudspeaker will focus the sound

audible sound by directly moving the air molecules. The audible portions of sound tend to spread out in all

directions from the point of origin. They do not travel as narrow beams. In fact the beam angle of audible sound is very wide, just about 360 degrees. This effectively means that the sound you hear will be propagated air equally in all through the

over a smaller area. If the source loudspeaker can be made several

times bigger than the wavelength of the sound transmitted, then a finely

focused beam can be created. The problem here is that this is not a very practical solution, thus the low beam angle can be achieved only by making the wavelength smaller and this can be Page 3

directions.

Conventional loudspeakers suffer from amplitude distortion, C.I.E.T,RJY. distortions, inter harmonic modulation

Audio spotlighting
achieved by making use of ultrasonic sound.

C.I.E.T,RJY.

Page 4

an article cited
FIG 1 :F.JOSEPH POMPEI AT THE MIT LAB. PROPAGATION OF SOUND BEAM FROM AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING DEVICE. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW

1990s, Norris

Woody a Radar

behave

like

the

nonlinear

beams of light. Ultrasonic sound

effects occurring in air. Over the next two

Technician solved parametric problems of this technology. Audio the

is

that

sound

which have very small wavelength in the range. by millimeter These

decades, several The technique of large companies including Panasonic and

using a nonlinear interaction of

spotlighting works emitting harmless high

Ricoh attempted to develop a

tones make use of non-linearity

high frequency waves generate to low

loudspeaker using principle. were in this They

property of air to produce new are

frequency ultrasonic tones

frequency waves was originally by

tones

that

succes sful producing of

that human hear cannot hear. It uses ultrasonic

within the range of hearing human which

pioneered researchers developing

some sort

sound but with higher level of distortion (>50%). In

energy to create extremely narrow beams of sound that

results in audible sound. The

underwater sonar techniques in

sound is created indirectly in air

1960s. In 1975, Audio Spotlighting

Page 5

by converting

down the

quality longer speaker This

is tied

no to size.

from the lowest audible frequency to the highest it spans a range of 100,000 No loudspeaker element can percent. single

ultrasonic energy into frequency spectrum we can hear. In audio spotlighting sound there system are no an the

sound

system holds the promise replacing conventional speakers homes, theaters automobile everywhere. in movie and The human ear is sensitive to frequencies ranging from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. If the Range of human hearing is expres sed as a RANGE OF HEARING FIG 3: AUDIO SPOTLIGHTIN of

operate efficiently over such a wide range frequencies. Using this of

voice coils, cones or enclosures. is a

technology it is possible to design a perfect

The result sound potential and which attained before. with

purity fidelity we never Sound

transducer which can work over a wide range of

frequency is

which to

percentage of shift

audible

Audio Spotlighting

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human hear.

emitter This

device. low

in the order of few millimeters. Since wavelength the is While the frequency modulated signal travels the through air, the

frequency signal is frequency with

modulated ultrasonic frequencies

smaller the beam angle will be

around 3 degre e, as a result the sound beam will be a narrow one with a small

ranging from 21 FIG 4: RANGE OF HEARING kHz to 28 kHz. The the WORKING will output of

nonlinearity Property of air comes action slightly into which changes

modulator be the

dispersion.

modulated form The original low of original sound wave. ultrasonic frequency used wavelength the signal is the of FIG 5: AUDIO SPOTLIGHT EMITTER Since

the sound wave. If there is in a a

change

frequency sound wave such as

sound wave, new sounds formed the are within wave.

human spe ech or a music is

applied into an audio spotlight

combined will be

Therefore if we know how the

Audio Spotlighting

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air

affects

the

the sound

ultrasonic wave.

There woofers

are

no or

sound waves, we can exactly predict what

Since we cannot hear the

crossovers. This technology similar you the in is that direct

new frequencies (sounds) will be added into the sound wave by the air itself. The new sound signal generated within the ultrasonic

ultrasonic sound wave hear we the only new

can

ultrasonic

sounds that are formed by non linear action of the air. Thus in an audio The new sound produced virtually has no distortions as sociated it and with faithful of FIG 6: DIRCTIVITY

emitter towards a hard surface, a wall for instance and the listener perceives the

sound wave will be corresponding to the original

spotlighting there are no actual that the the

sound as coming from the spot on the wall. The

speakers produces

information signal with a

listener does not perceive sound the as

sound

but

frequency in the range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz will be produced within

ultrasonic envelope acts as the speak airborne

reproduction sound from enclosures. is

freed bulky

emanating from the face of the transducer, but

Audio Spotlighting

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only

form

the

ball joint so that the Spotlights easily wherever Audio are aimed the

reflection of the wall. For the

FIG 8: DISPERSION OF SOUND BEAM

COMPONENT OF AUDIO SPOTLIGHTIN G SYSTEM

maximum volume (sound level)

Figure shows dispersion sound the of beam 1. Power Supply. 2. Frequency oscillator. 3. Modulator. 4. Audio signal processor. 5. Microcontroller. 6. Ultrasonic amplifier. 7. Transducer. FIG9: BLOCK DIAGRAM OF AN AUDIO SPOLIGHTING S Y S T EM 1. Power

that trade show use demands, it is that recommended the Audio

sound is desired.

from an audio spotlighting emitter. FIG 7: COMPUTER SIMULATION OF SOUND BEAM BEAM DISPERSION Even

Spotlight speaker, more called transducer, accurately a is

after traveling a distance of 10m the beam covers only an area of 3.2 meter square.

mounted no more than 3 meters

from the average listeners e ars, or 5 meters in the air. The mounting is

Supply: Like all electronic systems, audio spotlighting the

hardware

constructed with a

Audio Spotlighting

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system works off DC voltage.

in the range of (21,000 28,000 which Hz to Hz) is

correction

is

are performed in order to produce a good quality sound signal.

ne eded to reduce distortion without loss of efficiency. using a By DSB the

Ultrasonic amplifier requires 48V DC supply for its

required for the modulation information signals. of

working and low voltage for

modulator modulation index can

5. Microcontroll er:

microcontroller unit and other process management. 3. In Modulator: order to the signal into

be to

dedicated

reduced decrease distortion. 4.

microcontroller circuit takes care of the functional management the the version, expected the process functional management,sign system. of In

convert source material

Audio signal The

processor:

2.

Frequency The

ultrasonic signal a modulation is

audio signal is sent to

future it is that whole like

oscill ator: frequency oscillator generates ultrasonic

scheme

electronic signal processor circuit where equalization and distortion control

required which is achieved through a modulator. In addition, error

frequency signals

Audio Spotlighting

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al

process in g ,

match impedance the

the of

time

sound

double side band modulation and even mode switch power

reproduction with zero lag. It can be wall,

integrated So

transducers.

that the output of will the be emitter more and

overhead or flush mounted. transducers These are FIG10: PARAMETRIC LOUDSPEAKE R MODES OF LISTENING There are two modes of listening: 1. Direct Mode. 2. Projected Mode.

supply would be effectively taken care of by a

powerful

arranged in form of an array

single embedded IC.

can cover more distance. 7. It Transducer: is 1.27 cm and 17

called parametric array in order to propagate the

6.

U lt ra s o n i c

thick

ultrasonic signals from the emitter and thereby to the

Amplifier: High efficiency

in diameter. It is capable of

ultrasonic power amplifiers amplifies frequency modulated wave in order to the

producing audibility up to 200 meters with better clarity of sound. It has the ability of real

exploit nonlinearity property of air.

FIG.11:DIRECT AUDIO AND

Audio Spotlighting

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PROJECTED AUDIO Direct Mode: Direct mode requires a clear line of approach from the sound system unit to the point where the listener can hear the audio. To restrict the audio in a specific area this method is appropriate.

requires an unbroken line of approach from the emitter of audio spotlighting system, so the emitter is pointed at the spot where the is to be heard. For this mode of operation the sound beam from an emitter is made to reflect from a reflecting surface such as

virtual sound source creates an illusion of sound source that emanates from a surface or direction where no physical loudspeaker is present.

you want. 2. Ultrasonic emitter devices are and and not require a mounting cabinet. 3. The focused or directed thin flat do

ADVANTA GES

sound travels much

1. Can focus sound only at

faster in a straight line than

Proj ected or V i rt u a l mo d e : This mode

a wall surface or a diffuser surface. A

the place

conventio

Audio Spotlighting

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nal loudspeak ers. 4. Dispersio n can be controlled very

6. Highly cost effective as the

speakers. 8. There is

dashboard to driver. Presently Mercedes Benz the

no lag in reproduci ng sound. NS APPLICATIO the

maintena nce required is less as

buses are fitted

narrow or wider cover more listening area. 5. Can reduce or eliminate the fe edback from micropho nes. to

compared to conventio nal l oud speakers and have longer life span. 7. Requires only same power as required for regular

1. Automob i l es : Beam alert signals can

with audio spotlighti ng speakers so that

individual be directly propagate d from an announce ment device in the travellers can enjoy the music of on interest. there

Audio Spotlighting

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Portable audio spotlighti ng devices for 2. Retail s a le s : Provide targeted advertisin g directly at point the of 4. Public announce m en t : Highly focused announce 3. Safety off icials: Audio Spotlighting ment noisy in communi cating with specific person in a crowd a

environm ents such as subways, airports, amuseme nt parks,

endangere d far people from

reach.

6. Entertain m en t system: In home

traffic intersectio ns etc.

theatre system rear speakers can be

of people.

purchase.

eliminate 5. Emergenc y rescue: Rescuers can communi cate with d by the implemen tation audio spotlighti ng and of

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the properties of can sound be

will not be able to hear the

announce ments. 8. Audio/Vi d eo

es. 9. Sound bullets : Jack sound level 50 the

descriptioN

improved.

c on f er en c ing : Project the audio from a

times the human threshold of and pain, an

conferenc e in four : In museums spotlight 7. Military applicatio n s: ship communi cations and shipboard Ship to different languages, forma single central device without the for headphon ne ed

offshoot of audio

audio

can be used to describe about a particular object to a person

spotlighti ng sound technolog y becomes a lethal weapon. FUTURE OF AUDIO Page 15 non-

standing in front it, so that the other person

standing in front of another object Audio Spotlighting

SPOTLIGHTIN G

to

control

the of of The

and

the

user

future of sound and our will serve ears with

direction propagation

can decide the path in which audio should propagate. Due to the signal

Even the best loudspeakers are subject to and omni

sound. audio

magical exp erien ce.

spotlight

will force people to rethink their relationship with sound. Audio

distortion their

unidirectional propagation finds it

directional sound is annoying to

spotlighting really put

the people in the vicinity who do no wish to listen. Audio spotlighting system holds

application large

in

sound where you want it. CONCLUSION Audio spotlighting is

number

of fields. Audio spotlighting system is going to shape the

the promise of replacing conventional speakers. It

really going to make revolution sound transmission Page 16 a in

allows the user

Audio Spotlighting