Parametric audio system

• US 9,036,827 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2011
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Pompei, F. Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): GANMAVO, KUASSI A
• Application Number:
  US13/216,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20120051556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 381/77, 381/113, 381/114, 381190-191, 381/346, 381/349, 367/137, 367/140, 367/152, 367/181
• US Class Current: 381/77
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/02 Synthesis of acoustic waves synthesis of speech G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/401 2D or 3D arrays of transducers
• 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 2430/20 Processing of the output signals of the acoustic transducers of an array for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic H04R2203/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Ultrasonic signals are used to transmit sounds from a modulated ultrasonic generator to other locations from which the sounds appear to emanate. In particular, an ultrasonic carrier is modulated with an audio signal and demodulated on passage through the atmosphere. The carrier frequencies are substantially higher than those of prior systems, e.g., at least 60 kHz, and the modulation products thus have frequencies which are well above the audible range of humans; as a result, these signals are likely harmless to individuals who are within the ultrasonic fields of the system. The signals may be steered to moving locations, and various measures are taken to minimize distortion and maximize efficiency.

Claims

1. A method of selectively transmitting audio signals to a selected location, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) modulating an ultrasonic carrier with at least one audio signal to form a modulated carrier, the frequency of the ultrasonic carrier being sufficiently high that all of the components of the modulated carrier have frequencies above the range in which the human auditory system responds; and

(b) directing a beam containing the modulated carrier toward the selected location, whereby the audio signal appears to emanate therefrom or is confined thereto, wherein the carrier is generated by at least one ultrasonic transducer, and the ultrasonic transducer has a triangular response centered on the frequency of the ultrasonic carrier, and the method further comprises employing a re-emphasis filter to correct for non-uniform transducer response.