Multi-directivity sound device

• US 20100158287A1
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Yi, Chen, Min, Li, Xuesheng, Xu, Liangfeng, Salo, Antti O., Xu, Limei, Nurminen, Jani K., Cai, Chenguang, Wang, Xia S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,451,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/300
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/035 Improving the acoustic characteristics by means of constructional features of the housing, e.g. ribs, walls, resonating chambers or cavities
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/403 loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 31/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of transducers or diaphragms therefor manufacture of microstructural arrangements of deformable or non-deformable structures in general B81C1/00182

Abstract

A sound producing apparatus with multi-directivity has two or more speakers to produce music or other types of audio sounds. Each of the speakers can produce audio sounds in a certain direction and at least one speaker is steerable so that its sound propagation direction relative to the others can be changed. Furthermore, one or more speakers can produce audio sounds in an adjustable angular range. One or more of the speakers can be dual-mode speakers, each of which can be operated as a wide-angle speaker or a narrow-angle speaker. With multi-directivity, it is possible to play one type of music in one direction and another type of music in another direction to suit the interests of the audience. The apparatus can be a mobile phone, an audio player, a digital or analog recorder/player, or the like.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of sound producing units;

a steering control; and

a signal source to provide signals to the sound producing units for producing audio sounds, wherein each of the sound producing units is arranged to produce the audio sounds in a sound propagation direction and wherein the steering control is arranged to change the sound propagation direction of one or more sound producing units.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the sound producing units is configured to produce the audio sounds in an angular range, and wherein the steering control is arranged to change to angular range of at least one of the sound producing units.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio sounds produced on at least one of the sound producing units are different from the audio sounds produced on the other of the sound producing units.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein two or more of the sound producing units are arranged to produce stereo audio sounds.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sound producing units comprises two loudspeakers, and wherein each loudspeaker is steerable to change the sound propagation direction relative to the other loudspeaker.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sound producing units comprises an array of vibration elements, and wherein the vibration elements are arranged to change the sound propagation direction of said one sound producing unit.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one of the sound producing units comprises an array of vibration elements, and wherein the vibration elements are arranged to change the sound angular range of said one sound producing unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one of the sound producing units comprises a dual-mode sound producing module, and wherein the dual-mode sound producing module is configured for excitation in a first mode by an exciting signal in an audio frequency range and a second mode by an exciting signal in an ultrasound frequency range.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the steering control comprises an electro-mechanical movement module for changing orientation of one or more sound producing units.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the steering control comprises a mechanical component for changing orientation of one or more sound producing units.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the steering control comprises a sound reflecting surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the steering control comprises one or more transducers arranged to move the vibration elements for changing the sound propagation direction of said one sound producing unit.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the steering control comprises one or more transducers arranged to move the vibration elements for changing the sound angular range of said one sound producing unit.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface comprising selectable items for allowing a user to select the sound producing units and the sound propagation direction of one or more sound producing units.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a display for implementing the user interface.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a processor arranged to effect the sound propagation direction selected by the user; and

a computer readable storage medium having embedded programming codes to provide information to the processor indicative of selection made by the user.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sound data storage arranged to provide audio data to the signal source for producing the signals.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the sound data storage comprises a removable memory unit.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver arranged to receive audio data for producing the signals.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a mobile terminal.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

means for producing audio sounds comprising a plurality of sound producing units, each sound producing unit arranged to produce the audio sounds in a sound propagation direction;

means for selecting the sound producing units; and

means for controlling the sound propagation direction of at least one selected sound producing unit.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein each of the sound producing units is configured to produce the audio sounds in an angular range, said apparatus further comprising:

means for adjusting the angular range of at least one of the sound producing units.

23. A method, comprising:

selecting one or more of a plurality of sound producing units in a sound producing device, wherein each of the sound producing units is arranged to produce audio sounds in a sound propagation direction; and

adjusting the sound propagation direction of at least one of the sound producing units relative to the sound propagation direction of another sound producing unit.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein each of the sound producing units is configured to produce the audio sounds in an angular range, said method further comprising:

adjusting the angular range of at least one of the sound producing units.