Method and device for driving a directional speaker

• US 20060291667A1
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Citizen Watch Co Limited (Citizen Electronics Company Limited)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Makoto, Mori, Mizuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,801,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/77
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/323 for loudspeakers H04R1/34 and H04R1/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2217/03 Parametric transducers where sound is generated or captured by the acoustic demodulation of amplitude modulated ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's

Abstract

A directional speaker that vibrates a diaphragm to send sound waves includes reproducing signal generation means 10 for outputting a reproducing audible signal; ultrasonic signal generation means 20 for outputting a carrier wave signal at a frequency in an ultrasonic band; phase modulation means 30 for phase modulating the carrier wave signal with the reproducing audible signal to output a modulated carrier wave signal; and diaphragm driving means 50 for vibrating the diaphragm based on a compression cycle of the modulated carrier wave signal. The configuration, in which the ultrasonic carrier wave is modulated with an audio signal, can generate a small, narrow-directional audible sound field without using a parametric effect. At the same time, the ultrasonic carrier wave is modulated in such a way that the sound pressure distribution of a target audio signal (reproducing audible signal) can be obtained for output and, therefore, the sound quality of a sound signal output from the directional speaker is improved.

Claims

1. A directional speaker that vibrates a diaphragm to send sound waves, comprising:

reproducing signal generation means for outputting a reproducing audible signal;

ultrasonic signal generation means for outputting a carrier wave signal at a frequency in an ultrasonic band;

phase modulation means for phase modulating the carrier wave signal with the reproducing audible signal to output a modulated carrier wave signal; and

diaphragm driving means for vibrating said diaphragm based on a compression cycle of the modulated carrier wave signal.

2. The directional speaker according to claim 1 wherein

the carrier wave signal is a signal wave at a frequency of 40 kHz to 100 kHz, and

said phase modulation means phase modulates the carrier wave signal with a modulation phase in a range from 0.1 rad to 25 rad.

3. The directional speaker according to claim 1 or 2 wherein

said phase modulation means is first phase modulation means that carries out phase modulation by modulating the carrier wave with a differential signal of the reproducing audible signal.

4. The directional speaker according to claim 3 wherein

said first phase modulation means comprises:

a differentiation circuit that differentiates the reproducing audible signal; and

a frequency modulation circuit that frequency modulates the carrier wave signal with an output signal from said differentiation circuit.

5. The directional speaker according to claim 1 or 2 wherein

said phase modulation means is second phase modulation means that modulates the carrier wave signal based on a slope of the reproducing audible signal.

6. The directional speaker according to claim 5 wherein

said second phase modulation means modulates the carrier wave signal at a high density in a rising signal part of the reproducing audible signal and modulates the carrier wave signal at a low density in a falling signal part of the reproducing audible signal.

7. The directional speaker according to claim 6 wherein

said second phase modulation means modulates the carrier wave signal at a high density based on a signal width of the rising part of the reproducing audible signal and modulates the carrier wave signal at a low density based on a signal width of the falling part of the reproducing audible signal.

8. The directional speaker according to claim 6 wherein

said second phase modulation means modulates the carrier wave signal at a high density based on a rising rate of the rising part of the reproducing audible signal and modulates the carrier wave signal at a low density based on a falling rate of the falling part of the reproducing audible signal.

9. The directional speaker according to claim 6 wherein

said second phase modulation means modulates the carrier wave signal only for the rising signal part of the reproducing audible signal.

10. The directional speaker according to claim 3 wherein

the carrier wave signal is a rectangular wave at a frequency of 40 kHz to 100 kHz and a duty ratio of the rectangular wave is a value selected from a range 20% to 80%.

11. The directional speaker according to claim 4 wherein

the carrier wave signal is a rectangular wave at a frequency of 40 kHz to 100 kHz and a duty ratio of the rectangular wave is a value selected from a range 20% to 80%.

12. The directional speaker according to claim 3 wherein

the carrier wave signal is a periodic rectangular signal and the duty ratio of the rectangular wave is set to a ratio such that a sound pressure in the wavelength area of the reproducing audible signal is higher than a sound pressure of high-frequency components.

13. The directional speaker according to claim 4 wherein

the carrier wave signal is a periodic rectangular signal and the duty ratio of the rectangular wave is set to a ratio such that a sound pressure in the wavelength area of the reproducing audible signal is higher than a sound pressure of high-frequency components.

14. The directional speaker according to claim 3, further comprising:

a filter, provided between said phase modulation means and said diaphragm driving means, for passing a predetermined frequency component of the modulated carrier wave signal,

wherein the passing area of said filter is a frequency area that does not include a resonance point in sound pressure characteristics for the frequency of said diaphragm driving means.

15. The directional speaker according to claim 4, further comprising:

a filter, provided between said phase modulation means and said diaphragm driving means, for passing a predetermined frequency component of the modulated carrier wave signal,

wherein the passing area of said filter is a frequency area that does not include a resonance point in sound pressure characteristics for the frequency of said diaphragm driving means.

16. The directional speaker according to claim 3, further comprising:

amplitude change means provided between said phase modulation means and said diaphragm driving means wherein, based on amplitude characteristics for the frequency of said amplitude change means, sound pressure characteristics for the frequency of said diaphragm driving means are changed to predetermined sound pressure characteristics.

17. The directional speaker according to claim 4, further comprising:

amplitude change means provided between said phase modulation means and said diaphragm driving means wherein, based on amplitude characteristics for the frequency of said amplitude change means, sound pressure characteristics for the frequency of said diaphragm driving means are changed to predetermined sound pressure characteristics.

18. A directional speaker that vibrates a diaphragm to send sound waves, comprising:

reproducing signal generation means for outputting a reproducing audible signal;

ultrasonic signal generation means for outputting a carrier wave signal at a frequency in an ultrasonic band;

angle modulation means for modulating the carrier wave signal with the reproducing audible signal to output a modulated carrier wave signal; and

diaphragm driving means for vibrating said diaphragm based on a compression cycle of the modulated carrier wave signal, wherein

the carrier wave signal is a rectangular wave at a frequency of 40 kHz to 100 kHz and a duty ratio of the rectangular wave is a value selected from a range 20% to 80%.

19. A directional speaker that vibrates a diaphragm to send sound waves, comprising:

reproducing signal generation means for outputting a reproducing audible signal;

ultrasonic signal generation means for outputting a carrier wave signal at a frequency in an ultrasonic band;

angle modulation means for modulating the carrier wave signal with the reproducing audible signal to output a modulated carrier wave signal;

diaphragm driving means for vibrating said diaphragm based on a compression cycle of the modulated carrier wave signal; and

a filter, provided between said angle modulation means and said diaphragm driving means, for passing a predetermined frequency component of the modulated carrier wave signal,

wherein the passing area of said filter is a frequency area that does not include a resonance point in sound pressure characteristics for the frequency of said diaphragm driving means.

20. A directional speaker that vibrates a diaphragm to send sound waves, comprising:

reproducing signal generation means for outputting a reproducing audible signal;

ultrasonic signal generation means for outputting a carrier wave signal at a frequency in an ultrasonic band;

angle modulation means for modulating the carrier wave signal with the reproducing audible signal to output a modulated carrier wave signal;

diaphragm driving means for vibrating said diaphragm based on a compression cycle of the modulated carrier wave signal; and

amplitude change means provided between said angle modulation means and said diaphragm driving means wherein, based on amplitude characteristics for the frequency of said amplitude change means, sound pressure characteristics for the frequency of said diaphragm driving means are corrected to predetermined sound pressure characteristics.

21. A method for driving a directional speaker that vibrates a diaphragm to send sound waves, comprising the steps of:

phase modulating a carrier wave signal at a frequency in an ultrasonic band with a reproducing audible signal output from reproducing signal generation means, said carrier wave signal being output by ultrasonic signal generation means, said phase modulation being carried out by phase modulation means; and

vibrating said diaphragm based on a compression cycle of a modulated carrier wave signal obtained by said phase modulation.

22. The method for driving a directional speaker according to claim 21 wherein

the carrier wave signal is a signal wave at a frequency of 40 kHz to 100 kHz, and

said phase modulation means phase modulates the carrier wave signal with a modulation phase in a range from 0.1 rad to 25 rad.

23. The method for driving a directional speaker according to claim 21 or 22 wherein

said phase modulation means carries out first phase modulation in which the carrier wave is modulated with a differential signal of the reproducing audible signal.

24. The method for driving a directional speaker according to claim 23 wherein

said first phase modulation is carried out by differentiating the reproducing audible signal and then frequency modulating the carrier wave signal with the differentiation signal.

25. The method for driving a directional speaker according to claim 21 or 22 wherein

said phase modulation means carries out second phase modulation in which the carrier wave is modulated based on a slope of the reproducing audible signal.

26. The method for driving a directional speaker according to claim 25 wherein

said second phase modulation is carried out by modulating the carrier wave signal at a high density in a rising signal part of the reproducing audible signal and modulating the carrier wave signal at a low density in a falling signal part of the reproducing audible signal.

27. The method for driving a directional speaker according to claim 26 wherein

said second phase modulation is carried out by modulating the carrier wave signal at a high density based on a signal width of the rising part of the reproducing audible signal and modulating the carrier wave signal at a low density based on a signal width of the falling part of the reproducing audible signal.

28. The method for driving a directional speaker according to claim 26 wherein

said second phase modulation is carried out by modulating the carrier wave signal at a high density based on a rising rate of the rising part of the reproducing audible signal and modulating the carrier wave signal at a low density based on a falling rate of the falling part of the reproducing audible signal.

29. The method for driving a directional speaker according to claim 25 wherein

said second phase modulation is carried out by modulating the carrier wave signal only for a rising signal part of the reproducing audible signal.

30. The method for driving a directional speaker according to claim 23 wherein

the carrier wave signal is a rectangular wave at a frequency of 40 kHz to 100 kHz and a duty ratio of the rectangular wave is a value selected from a range 20% to 80%.

31. The method for driving a directional speaker according to claim 24 wherein

the carrier wave signal is a rectangular wave at a frequency of 40 kHz to 100 kHz and a duty ratio of the rectangular wave is a value selected from a range 20% to 80%.

32. The method for driving a directional speaker according to claim 23 wherein

the carrier wave signal is a periodic rectangular signal and the duty ratio of the rectangular wave is set to a ratio such that a sound pressure in the wavelength area of the reproducing audible signal is higher than a sound pressure of high-frequency components.

33. The method for driving a directional speaker according to claim 24 wherein

the carrier wave signal is a periodic rectangular signal and the duty ratio of the rectangular wave is set to a ratio such that a sound pressure in the wavelength area of the reproducing audible signal is higher than a sound pressure of high-frequency components.

34. The method for driving a directional speaker according to claim 23 wherein

a predetermined frequency component that is included in the modulated carrier wave signal output by said phase modulation means and that does not include a resonance point in sound pressure characteristics for the frequency of said diaphragm driving means is passed and the diaphragm is vibrated by the modulated carrier wave signal of the predetermined frequency component.

35. The method for driving a directional speaker according to claim 24 wherein

a predetermined frequency component that is included in the modulated carrier wave signal output by said phase modulation means and that does not include a resonance point in sound pressure characteristics for the frequency of said diaphragm driving means is passed and the diaphragm is vibrated by the modulated carrier wave signal of the predetermined frequency component.

36. The method for driving a directional speaker according to claim 23 wherein

an amplitude of the modulated carrier wave signal output by said phase modulation means is changed and, based on frequency characteristics of the amplitude, sound pressure characteristics for the frequency of said diaphragm driving means, which drives said diaphragm, are changed to predetermined sound pressure characteristics.

37. The method for driving a directional speaker according to claim 24 wherein

an amplitude of the modulated carrier wave signal output by said phase modulation means is changed and, based on frequency characteristics of the amplitude, sound pressure characteristics for the frequency of said diaphragm driving means, which drives said diaphragm, are changed to predetermined sound pressure characteristics.

38. A method for driving a directional speaker that vibrates a diaphragm to send sound waves, comprising the steps of:

modulating a carrier wave signal at a frequency in an ultrasonic band with a reproducing audible signal output from reproducing signal generation means, said carrier wave signal being output by ultrasonic signal generation means, said modulation being carried out by angle modulation means; and

vibrating said diaphragm based on a compression cycle of a modulated carrier wave signal obtained by said modulation wherein

the carrier wave signal is a rectangular wave at a frequency of 40 kHz to 100 kHz and a duty ratio of the rectangular wave is a value selected from a range 20% to 80%.

39. A method for driving a directional speaker that vibrates a diaphragm to send sound waves, comprising the steps of:

modulating a carrier wave signal at a frequency in an ultrasonic band with a reproducing audible signal output from reproducing signal generation means, said carrier wave signal being output by ultrasonic signal generation means, said modulation being carried out by angle modulation means; and

vibrating said diaphragm based on a compression cycle of a modulated carrier wave signal obtained by said modulation wherein

a predetermined frequency component that is included in the modulated carrier wave signal output by said angle modulation means and that does not include a resonance point in sound pressure characteristics for the frequency of diaphragm driving means is passed and the diaphragm is vibrated by the modulated carrier wave signal of the predetermined frequency component.

40. A method for driving a directional speaker that vibrates a diaphragm to send sound waves, comprising the steps of:

modulating a carrier wave signal at a frequency in an ultrasonic band with a reproducing audible signal output from reproducing signal generation means, said carrier wave signal being output by ultrasonic signal generation means, said modulation being carried out by angle modulation means; and

vibrating said diaphragm based on a compression cycle of a modulated carrier wave signal obtained by said modulation wherein

an amplitude of the modulated carrier wave signal output by said angle modulation means is changed and, based on frequency characteristics of the amplitude, sound pressure characteristics for the frequency of diaphragm driving means, which drives said diaphragm, are corrected to predetermined sound pressure characteristics.