Superdirectional acoustic system and projector

• US 8,130,973 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Uetake, Akihito, Matsuzawa, Kinya
• Primary Examiner(s): Faulk, Devona
• Assistant Examiner(s): MONIKANG, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US11/630,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20070274541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,451 Days
• Field of Search: 381 77- 79, 381/111, 381/116, 381/117, 381/386, 381/150, 381 58- 59
• US Class Current: 381/77
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/02 Synthesis of acoustic waves synthesis of speech G10L13/00
• 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 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 superdirectional acoustic system for reproducing a sound signal supplied from a real sound source by using a superdirectional speaker and producing a virtual sound source in a vicinity of a sound wave reflection surface. The system includes an ultrasonic speaker, which includes an ultrasonic transducer for oscillating a sound wave in an ultrasonic frequency band, for reproducing an audio signal in a relatively medium to high frequency sound range, which is included in the sound signal supplied from the real sound source; and a low frequency sound reproducing speaker for reproducing an audio signal in a relatively low frequency sound range, which is included in the sound signal supplied from the real sound source. Sound in the medium-high frequency range is reproduced in a manner such that the sound is produced from a virtual sound source which is formed in the vicinity of the sound signal reflection surface such as a screen.

Claims

1. A superdirectional acoustic system comprising:

a sound source for supplying an audio sound signal;

a signal isolating device for isolating an audio signal in a medium to high frequency sound range and an audio signal in a low frequency sound range from the audio sound signal supplied by the sound source;

a carrier wave supplying device for generating and outputting a carrier wave in an ultrasonic frequency band;

a modulating device for modulating the carrier wave by the isolated audio signal in the medium to high frequency sound range, and outputting a modulated signal;

an ultrasonic speaker for reproducing the audio signal in the medium to high frequency sound range by using an ultrasonic transducer which converts the modulated signal into a sound wave having a finite amplitude level; and

a low frequency sound reproducing speaker for reproducing the isolated audio signal in the low frequency sound range, wherein the modulating device does not modulate the carrier wave by the low frequency signal.

2. A superdirectional acoustic system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer emits the converted sound wave having the finite amplitude level toward a medium.

3. A superdirectional acoustic system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the carrier wave has a frequency which is determined by designating an arrival distance of the sound wave, measured from a sound wave emitting surface of the ultrasonic transducer along an emission axis to an arrival point of the sound wave.

4. A superdirectional acoustic system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the medium is air.

5. A projector comprising:

a sound source for supplying an audio sound signal;

a signal isolating device for isolating an audio signal in a medium to high frequency sound range and an audio signal in a low frequency sound range from the audio sound signal supplied by the sound source;

a carrier wave supplying device for generating and outputting a carrier wave in an ultrasonic frequency band;

a modulating device for modulating the carrier wave by the isolated audio signal in the medium to high frequency sound range, and outputting a modulated signal;

an ultrasonic speaker for reproducing the audio signal in the medium to high frequency sound range by using an ultrasonic transducer which converts the modulated signal into a sound wave having a finite amplitude level;

a low frequency sound reproducing speaker for reproducing the isolated audio signal in the low frequency sound range, wherein the modulating device does not modulate the carrier wave by the low frequency signal; and

a projector main portion having a projection optical system for projecting an image onto a projection surface.

6. A projector as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ultrasonic transducer emits the converted sound wave having the finite amplitude level toward a medium.

7. A projector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the carrier wave has a frequency which is determined by designating an arrival distance of the sound wave, measured from a sound wave emitting surface of the ultrasonic transducer along an emission axis to an arrival point of the sound wave.

8. A projector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the medium is air.