Directed radiator with modulated ultrasonic sound

• US 6,016,351 A
• Filed: 07/16/1997
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Turtle Beach Corporation
• Original Assignee: American Technology Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Raida, Hans-Joachim, Bschorr, Oskar
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Vivian
• Application Number:
  US08/895,486
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 381/77, 381/79
• US Class Current: 381/77
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/175 using interference effects; Masking sound
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/26 Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 13/00 Cones, diaphragms, or the like, for emitting or receiving sound in general for electromechanical transducers H04R7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/02 Synthesis of acoustic waves synthesis of speech G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 7/02 in which the sound-producing member is rotated manually or by a motor G10K7/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2217/03 Parametric transducers where sound is generated or captured by the acoustic demodulation of amplitude modulated ultrasonic waves

Abstract

An ultrasonic beam (19) is used as a virtual array for an acoustic directional transmitter (11,21,31,41,51, and 61). The acoustic useful signal is modulated upon the ultrasonic beam as carrier via amplitude modulation, for example. The absorption of the ultrasonic power produces thermal expansion of the air and thus acoustic monopole radiation. At the same time, radiation pressure is released, resulting in dipole radiation. The superimposition of monopole and dipole produces a marked directivity characteristic. Since the ultrasonic sound possesses the same propagation velocity as the useful sound, the monopole and dipole radiation takes place within the virtual array correctly in terms of transit time, resulting in radiation that is directed extremely in the propagation direction. The effective array length can be adjusted over a wide range using the absorption coefficient that is a function of the carrier-frequency and, in extreme cases, a very punctual acoustic radiation can be realized at a wide distance. These types of directional transmitters are suitable as anti-sound generators and for directional signal and sound transmission. The ultrasonic carriers can be realized via piezoelectric (12) or pneumatic ultrasonic transmitters (22,32,42,52, and 62).

Claims

1. A method for propagating audible sound from an ultrasonic emitter, comprising the steps of:

a) activating an ultrasonic pneumatic radiator for emitting ultrasonic sound as a carrier source for the audible sound to be propagated;

b) modulating the ultrasonic sound by controlled variation of absorption of ultrasonic power along the beam within air as a propagating medium to develop a virtual array of monopole and dipole radiating sources within the air operable within an audible frequency range; and

c) propagating audible sound waves having a primary direction of propagation along the beam as a consequence of retarded absorption of the ultrasonic power along the beam and corresponding to at least one desired frequency within the audible frequency range.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, comprising the more specific step of modulating the at least one ultrasonic beam by modulating ultrasonic power absorption using at least one reactive or resistive member selected from the group consisting of resonators and absorbers during propagation along the beam to develop the desired audible time signal.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, comprising the more specific step of modulating the at least one ultrasonic beam by modulating the ultrasonic power absorption during propagation in accordance with selection of a plurality of frequency dependent absorption coefficients of the medium to develop the at least one desired frequency within the audible frequency range.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, including the step of selecting air as the propagating medium.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, comprising the more specific step of heating the air locally by absorption of ultrasonic power based on a selected frequency dependent absorption coefficient.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein local absorption of ultrasonic energy generates (i) local expansion of the air which radiates as a local monopole audio source, and (ii) local radiation pressure which exerts a local force on the air causing local radiation as dipole audio source.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, comprising the further step of superimposing sound pressure from the respective local monopole and local dipole sources for directional amplification of sound along the ultrasonic beam.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, comprising the more specific step of modulating the at least one ultrasonic beam by amplitude modulation.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, comprising the more specific step of modulating the at least one ultrasonic beam by frequency modulation.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, comprising the more specific step of emitting a single ultrasonic beam as the carrier source without generating a second ultrasonic beam which could interfere to produce other forms of sonic output.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, comprising the more specific step of emitting a broad-band ultrasonic frequency beam.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of emitting parallel beams of at least one ultrasonic frequency and processing each beam in accordance with the steps of claim 1.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of emitting a separate monopole source in combination with the combined monopole and dipole sources being modulated by variation of absorption.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the pneumatic radiator comprises both an interrupter unit and a compressor unit as part of a system for generating high power ultrasonic output.

15. A device for propagating directed audible sound from an ultrasonic emitter, comprising:

a) a pneumatic ultrasonic emitter for emitting at least one ultrasonic beam as a carrier source for the audible sound to be propagated;

b) modulating means coupled to the emitter for controlling variation of absorption of ultrasonic energy along the beam within a propagating medium to develop a virtual array of monopole and dipole radiating sources operable within an audible frequency range;

c) an audio signal source coupled to the modulating means for providing a desired audio signal; and

d) power control means coupled to the modulating means for developing absorption of the ultrasonic power along the beam at different power levels corresponding to at least one desired frequency within the audible frequency range to propagate audible sound waves having a primary direction of propagation along the beam.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, further comprising variable frequency selector means coupled to the modulating means for modulating the ultrasonic power absorption during propagation in accordance with selection of a plurality of frequency dependent absorption coefficients of the medium to develop the at least one desired frequency within the audible frequency range.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the ultrasonic emitter includes means for propagating the ultrasonic frequency in air as the propagating medium.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, comprising a plurality of emitter aligned in parallel relationship.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the emitter comprises at least one piezoelectric transducer for emitting ultrasonic frequencies.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the pneumatic ultrasonic emitter and modulating means comprise (i) a pneumatically operating directional transmitter for generating air flow, (ii) modulating structure coupled to the transmitter for modulating the air flow with an ultrasonic frequency, and (iii) a modulating unit coupled within the air flow and including means for providing the ultrasonically modulated air flow with low frequency modulation.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein the pneumatically operating directional transmitter comprises an axial flow compressor driven by a first actuator for generating ultrasonic frequency within the exiting air flow.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the axial flow compressor includes a rotor coupled to the first actuator and a stator cooperatively positioned with respect to the rotor for modulating the exiting air flow with the ultrasonic frequency.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the axial flow compressor comprises a centrifugal compressor.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein the flow compressor includes a rotor coupled to the first actuator and a stator cooperatively positioned with respect to the rotor for modulating the exiting air flow with the ultrasonic frequency.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, said modulating means comprising an apertured disk driven by a second actuator disposed along the exiting air flow for providing low frequency modulation.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the modulating unit comprises a series connected choke valve for applying low frequency modulation along the air flow.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the pneumatically operating directional transmitter comprises a side channel compressor.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the side channel compressor comprises a running wheel, an actuator coupled to the running wheel for applying power, and a side channel positioned adjacent the running wheel for air flow.

29. An apparatus as defined in claim 28, further comprising an interrupter element coupled along the side channel for preventing reflux.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the directional transmitter comprises at least two rotating gears which at least partially intermesh for providing the ultrasonic frequency for the air flow.

31. An apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein the (i) an absorber exposed to the air flow for modulation of the low frequencies in the air flow, and (ii) a slider positioned between the air flow and absorber and including openings variable between open and closed positions for low frequency amplitude modulation.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the directional transmitter comprises at least one rotating impeller wheel which extends into the air flow and includes means for pulsatingly conveying ultrasonic frequency modulation.

33. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the modulating unit comprises a Helmholtz resonator including a movable slider positioned between the air flow and the Helmholtz resonator for modulating low frequencies into the air flow.

34. A device as defined in claim 15, for further comprising at least one reactive or resistive member selected from the group consisting of resonators and absorbers.