Directional loudspeaker system

• US 4,823,908 A
• Filed: 04/28/1986
• Issued: 04/25/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kimura, Youichi, Nakamura, Akira, Tanaka, Tsuneo, Iwasa, Mikio
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Benjamin R.
• Application Number:
  US06/862,349
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 181/175, 181/176, 181/177, 181/30, 181/148, 181/151, 181/155, 381/82, 381/83, 381/91, 381/158, 381/160, 179/110 A
• US Class Current: 181/175
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/28 using reflection, e.g. parabolic reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/02 Synthesis of acoustic waves synthesis of speech G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/32 for obtaining desired directional characteristic only specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/345 for loudspeakers
• 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 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

A parametric loudspeaker utilizes nonlinearity of air relative to ultrasonic waves for producing an audio frequency having super directivity, and to thus provide a limited listening area public address system subject to a large listening area by safeguarding listeners by the provision of a framework for intercepting powerful ultrasonic waves and an acoustic filter. The depth and energy consumption of the parametric loudspeaker are reduced by the use of a reflective plate. Arbitrary directivity is obtained by the provision of a mechanism to move an ultrasonic wave radiator or the reflective plate. The parametric loudspeaker and any other loudspeaker may be combined.

Claims

1. A directional loudspeaker system comprising:

an enclosure means for surrounding a respective space defined therein and in which a medium is disposed;

ultrasonic wave radiator means directed toward the space within said enclosure means for generating as a primay wave a finite amplitude ultrasonic wave modulated by an audible sound through the medium which produces a secondary wave at a frequency at which the secondary wave is audible; and

the enclosure means comprising a shield portion for preventing said primary wave from propagating through the enclosure means and out of said space and an acoustic filter means portion for allowing only said secondary wave to propagate through the enclosure means and out of said space.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said acoustic filter means is formed of soft foamed polyurethane material.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said acoustic filter means comprises at least one layer of soft foamed polyurethane laminated with at least one layer of paper or plastic film, and one surface of said acoustic filter means adjacent said ultrasonic wave radiator means is soft foamed polyurethane.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said acoustic filter means comprises a stack of paper sheets or plastic films spaced from each other by a predetermined distance.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a generally grid-like spacer having a predetermined thickness equal to said predetermined spacing and positioned between adjacent said paper sheets or plastic films to avoid any possible contact between adjacent said paper sheets or plastic films.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said grid-like spacer is made of a material capable of permitting the passage therethrough of said secondary wave.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a reflective plate positioned in said space within said enclosure means for reflecting said primary and secondary waves.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said reflective plate includes a wave reflecting surface comprising a portion of a concave paraboloidal surface or a right spheroidal surface, and said ultrasonic wave radiator means is positioned at a focal point of said concave paraboloidal surface or said right spheroidal surface.

9. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said reflective plate includes a wave reflecting surface of a concave shape and a cross-section forming part of a paraboloid or a spheroid, and said ultrasonic wave radiator is positioned at a focal point thereof.

10. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic wave radiator means comprises a plurality of individual units together defining a sound radiating surface, and further comprising means for moving said units relative to each other to thereby vary the shape of said sound radiating surface.

11. A directional loudspeaker system comprising:

ultrasonic wave radiator means for generating as a primary wave an ultrasonic wave modulated by an audible sound and a secondary wave;

at least one reflective plate positioned for reflecting said primary and secondary waves;

at least one surface of said reflective plate provided with acoustic filter means for intercepting said primary wave and permitting the passage of said secondary wave; and

a support means for supporting said reflective plate in a position with respect to said ultrasonic wave radiator means at which said plate reflects said primary and said secondary waves generated by said ultrasonic wave radiator means.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said reflective plate includes a wave reflecting surface of a concave shape and a cross-section forming part of a paraboloid or a spheroid, and said ultrasonic wave radiator means is positioned at a focal point thereof.

13. A system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising means for changing at least one of the position or the shape of said reflective plate.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said changing means comprises a rotary mechanism for rotating said reflective plate.

15. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said changing means comprises means for reversibly adjusting the shape of a reflecting surface of said reflecting plate to be concave or convex.

16. A directional loudspeaker system comprising:

first loudspeaker means for directing public address primarily to a central portion of a particular listening area;

second loudspeaker means for directing public address primarily to a peripheral portion of the listening area, said second loudspeaker means comprising a parametric loudspeaker for producing a secondary sound wave at an audible frequency from a primary wave in the form of a finite amplitude ultrasonic wave modulated by an audible sound, and

support means for supporting said first loudspeaker means in a position at which said first loudspeaker means directs the public address in a first direction extending toward said central portion and for supporting said second loudspeaker means in a position at which said second loudspeaker means directs public address in a second direction adjacent said first direction, the second direction extending toward said peripheral portion.

17. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first loudspeaker means comprises a horn loudspeaker.

18. A directional loudspeaker system comprising:

ultrasonic wave radiator means for generating as a primary wave an ultrasonic wave modulated by an audible sound through a nonlinear medium wherein a secondary wave at an audible frequency is produced;

at least one reflective plate positioned for reflecting said primary and secondary waves;

said ultrasonic wave radiator means and said reflective plate being positioned within the interior of an enclosure means for enclosing said primary wave within said interior and for preventing leakage of said primary wave therefrom;

acoustic filter means provided at at least a portion of said enclosure means for permitting the passage of said secondary wave from said interior; and

means for changing at least one of the position or the shape of said reflective plate.

19. A system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said changing means comprises a rotary mechanism for rotating said reflective plate.

20. A system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said changing means comprises means for reversibly adjusting the shape of a reflecting surface of said reflecting plate to be concave or convex.

21. A directional loudspeaker system comprising:

ultrasonic wave radiator means for generating as a primary wave an ultrasonic wave through a nonlinear medium wherein a secondary wave at an audible frequency is produced,

said ultrasonic wave radiator means comprising a plurality of individual units operatively connected together, each of said units including a radiating plate for radiating said primary and said secondary waves generated, said radiating plates of said units collectively defining a wave radiating surface at which said first and said second waves are radiated; and

means operatively connected to each of said units for changing a shape of said wave radiating surface defined by said radiating plates of said units.