AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING

OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION THEORY TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW WORKING COMPONENTS OF AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING SYSTEM MODES OF LISTENING ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES APPLICATIONS CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION
Creates focused beams of sound similar to light beams coming out of a flashlight
Developed by American Technology Corporation and Holosonic Research Labs Uses the non-linearity property of air Ultrasound column acts as an airborne speaker

THEORY
What conventional loud speakers lack? Need for Audio Spotlight Invention by Dr. F. Joseph Pompei

THEORY (CONTD..)

THEORY (CONTD..)

TECHNOLOGY
OVERVIEW
Technique of using nonlinear interaction of high-frequency waves to generate low-frequency waves 1960 Transduction mechanism called Parametric Array by Peter. J. Westervelt in 1963 Nonlinear effects of air 1975

Abandonment of technology in 1980s

Audio Spotlighting Sound System 2000

WORKING

Human speech or music is the input and ultrasound is the carrier wave

AM Modulation technique is used

WORKING (CONTD..)
Inherent non-linearity of the air acts as demodulator P. J. Westervelt Berktays theory : Distortion of ultrasound in air Demodulated wave depends on envelope function and proportional to the second time derivative of envelope squared

Bertays Equation :
Primary wave : P1 (x,t) = P1 E (x,t) sin (Wct) Secondary wave :

WORKING (CONTD..)
Hybrid wave

2 New frequency set

Problem: Distorted component Original sound wave reproduction Modulating the amplitude to get hybrid wave
Calculate what Berktays equation does to the signal Do the exact opposite

WORKING (CONTD..)
Careful phase control results in a collimated sound beam or Audio Spotlight

COMPONENTS

MODES OF LISTENING
Direct mode:
Direct mode requires a clear line of approach from the sound system unit to the point where the listener can hear the audio

Projected mode:
This mode requires an unbroken line of approach from the emitter of Audio Spotlighting system, so the emitter is pointed at the spot where the sound has to be heard

MODES OF LISTENING
(CONTD..)

ADVANTAGES
Can focus sound only in the direction/place we want Ultrasonic emitter devices are thin and flat and do not require a mounting cabinet The focused or directed sound travels much faster in a straight line than conventional loudspeakers Can reduce or eliminate the feedback from microphones

ADVANTAGES (CONTD..)
Highly cost effective Longer life span Requires the same power as required for regular speakers There is no lag in reproducing the sound

DISADVANTAGES
Sound of 150dB or greater directed at human targets can cause severe physical pain. A single system cannot be used for distances more than 200meters. The sharp sound gradient can be used to send information to a receiver. In projected mode, one has to choose the reflecting surface carefully.

APPLICATIONS
Automobiles Retail sales

APPLICATIONS (CONTD..)
Public announcement Entertainment system

APPLICATIONS (CONTD..)
Discreet announcements Audio/Video conferencing

APPLICATIONS (CONTD..)
Ventriloquist systems Military applications

CONCLUSION
Audio Spotlighting technology is simply the most revolutionary sound reproduction system of this century. The opportunities for applying this characteristic to the reproduction of sound are limitless. Within the next 3 to 5 years sound beam technology should begin to find its way in many different areas of our everyday lives.

PUT SOUND WHERE YOU WANT IT

REFERENCES
F. Joseph Pompei: The use of airborne ultrasonics for generating audible sound beams. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_from_ultrasound http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LRAD

www.howstuffworks.com
www.holosonics.com The audio spotlight: An application of nonlinear interaction of sound waves to a new type of loudspeaker design - Masahide Yoneyama and Jun-ichiroh Fujimoto

QUESTIONS ?