AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING

A SEMINAR REPORT
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the Degree of
Bachelor of Technology
in
Electronics and Communication Engineering

by

AMALESH RAVI (Roll no:5)

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING COLLEGE, WAYANAD

JANUARY 2011
 GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING COLLEGE
WAYANAD

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that AMALESH RAVI (Roll no:5) has successfully completed the
seminar Report titled AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING towards the partial fullllment for
the award of the degree of Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication
Engineering.

Seminar coordinator Head of Department

Oce Seal
 TO

My parents ,teachers and friends ...

Acknowledgements

Ingenuity and proper guidence are inevitable for the successful completion of any work.I
am indebted to all sources,which helped me in working out my seminar presentation at
each step of its progress.I wish to thank the multitude of people who have helped me
during the course of my work.
First and foremost,I thank Prof.Vidhyasagar,our Principal,for providing the necessary
facilities and ambience for the presentation.
I also express my sincere thanks to Mr.Abdul Hameed;the Head of the Department
of Electronics and Communication Engineering for his valuable support.I am also deeply
indebited to Dr.Sindhu for her thoughtful criticism and suggestions and whose friendly
and unfailing support helped me throughout the course of my work.
The unique and inspiring atmosphere at the college provided an invaluable resources
and my gratitude goes out to my friends there.Above all,I thank my parents and God.
Almighty,without whom this endeavor would not have been a success.
AMALESH RAVI

i
Abstract

Audio spot lighting is a very recent technology that creates focused beams of sound
similar to light beams coming out of a ashlight. By shining sound to one location,
specic listeners can be targeted with sound without others nearby hearing it. It uses a
combination of non-linear acoustics and some fancy mathematics. But it is real and is
ne to knock the socks of any conventional loud speaker. This acoustic device comprises
a speaker that res inaudible ultrasound pulses with very small wavelength which act
in a manner very similar to that of a narrow column. The ultra sound beam acts as an
airborne speaker and as the beam moves through the air gradual distortion takes place
in a predictable way due to the property of non-linearity of air. This gives rise to audible
components that can be accurately predicted and precisely controlled. Joseph Pompeis
Holosonic Research Labs invented the Audio Spotlight that is made of a sound processor,
an amplier and the transducer. The American Technology Corporation developed the
Hyper Sonic Sound-based Directed Audio Sound System. Both use ultrasound based
solutions to beam sound into a focused beam. Audio spotlight can be either directed at
a particular listener or to a point where it is reected.
The targeted or directed audio technology is going to a huge commercial market in
entertainment and consumer electronics and technology developers are scrambling to tap
in to the market. Being the most recent and dramatic change in the way we perceive
sound since the invention of coil loud speaker, audio spot light technology can do many
miracles in various elds like Private messaging system, Home theatre audio system,
Navy and military applications, museum displays, ventriloquist systems etc. Thus audio
spotlighting helps us to control where sound comes from and where it goes!

ii
iii
Contents

Acknowledgements i

Abstract ii

1 INTRODUCTION 1

2 HISTORY 3

3 TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 5
3.1 Conventional sound: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.2 Range of human hearing: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.3 Working of Audio spotlighting system: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.4 Beam Dispersion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.5 Why Ultrasonic? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.6 COMPONENTS OF AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING SYSTEM: . . . . . . . . 17
3.6.1 Power Supply: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.6.2 Frequency oscillator: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.6.3 Modulator: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.6.4 Microcontroller: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.6.5 Audio signal processor: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.6.6 Ultrasonic Amplier: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
3.6.7 Transducer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4 MODES OF LISTENING 23
4.1 Direct Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
4.2 Projected or Virtual mode: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
5 ADVANTAGES 25
5.1 Small size: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
5.2 Single source: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
5.3 Ultimate control in audio placement/Highly directional: . . . . . . . . . 26
5.4 Minimizes noise pollution: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5.5 Ease of installation: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5.6 Lowest maintenance cost: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5.7 Reduced feedback: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

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CONTENTS v

5.8 There is no need to worry about pets: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

6 APPLICATIONS 27
6.1 Automobiles: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
6.2 Retail sales: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.3 Safety Ocials: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.4 Public Announcement: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.5 Entertainment Systems: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.6 Museums: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
6.7 Military Applications: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
6.8 Political: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
7 DISADVANTAGES 31

8 CONCLUSION AND ENHANCEMENTS 32

9 REFERENCE 33
List of Figures

3.1 Non linear medium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

3.2 Pressure v/s distance curve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.3 CONVENTIONAL SPEAKERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.4 AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.5 AUDIO SPECTRUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.6 Plot of bass cut, bass boost and normal sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.7 AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING EMITTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.8 Beam Directivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.9 COMPUTER SIMULATION OF SOUND BEAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.10 Dispersion of sound beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.11 Types of ultrasonic emitters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.12 Equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.13 Block Diagram of An Audio Spotlighting System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.14 DSB Signal Representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.15 Piezo sound emitter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
3.16 Parametric Loudspeaker, Amazing Audio Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.1 DIRECTED AUDIO AND PROJECTED AUDIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.1 Benz car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
6.2 A retail shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.3 Public announcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.4 Home theatre system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.5 Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

vi
Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Hi- speakers range from piezoelectric tweeters to various kinds of mid-range speakers
and woofers which generally rely on circuits and large enclosures to produce quality
sound, whether it dynamic, electrostatic or some other transducer based design. Engi-
neers have struggled for nearly a century to produce a speaker design with the ideal 20Hz
to 20,000Hz capability of human hearing. When you listen to sound over loudspeakers,
you dont have any control over where the sound goes. Sometimes you don't want it to
go everywhere. Scientists have devised a way to solve that problem. They have gured
out how to steer sounds by aiming them only where he wants them to go with a device
they call Audio Spotlight.
Audio spot lighting is a technology that creates focused beams of sound similar to
light beams coming out of a ash light. By shining sound to one location, Specic
listeners can be targeted with sound without others nearby hearing it, i.e. to focus the
sound into a coherent and highly directional beam. It makes use of non-linearity property
of air.
Imagine projecting sound in a narrow beam, much like the light from a spotlight! In
the past we were limited by sound invading all of the space surrounding the loudspeaker
or sound source. Not anymore! With the Audio spotlighting Sound systems, you can
put sound wherever you want. With a spotlight, when you step into the beam of light,
you are clearly illuminated by the light. When you step out of the beam, you are lit

1
Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION 2

only by the background light. Similarly you can't see the beam of sound, but when you
step into it, you can hear the sound or narration inside! Step back out of the beam and
the sound is gone! Stepping into the directional sound beam is like putting on a set of
virtual headphones. You can now have several dierent soundtracks or musical styles
co-exist in one small space, heard only by those who should.
The Audio spotlight developed by American Technology Corporation uses ultra-
sonic energy to create extremely narrow beams of sound that behaves like beam of
light.Audiospotlight exploits the property of non-linearity of air. When in audible ul-
trasonic pulses are red into the air, it spontaneously converts the inaudible ultrasound
into an audible sound. A device known as parametric array employs the non-linearity of
the air to create audible by products from inaudible ultrasound, resulting in extremely
directive and beam like sound. This source can projected about an area much like a
spotlight and creates an actual specialized sound distant from a transducer. The ultra-
sound column acts as a airborne speaker, and as the beam moves through the air gradual
distortion takes place in a predictable way. This gives rise to audible components that
can be accurately predicted and precisely controlled.
Sound from ultrasound is the name given here to situations when modulated ultra-
sound can make its carried signal audible, without needing a receiver set. This happens
when the modulated ultrasound passes through anything which behaves nonlinearly and
thus acts intentionally or unintentionally as a demodulator.
Also, problems with creating low bass tones will keep Audio spotlighting systems out
of Audiophiles for the present. On the other hand, this is not preventing Sony from
incorporating the technology in plasma screens for specialty applications. Widespread
application of Audio spotlighting could still be years away, but with companies like Sony
interested, it can only speed mainstream adoption of the technology.
Chapter 2

HISTORY

History is replete with rival inventors battling one another to bring breakthrough cre-
ations to market. Howe and Singer over the sewing machine, Bell and Gray over the
telephone, Edison and Swan over the light bulb.
Now, in that same tradition, two inventors Elwood Woody Norris of Poway, CA-
based American Technology Corporation (ATC), and F. Joseph Pompei, of Watertown,
MAs Holosonic Research Labs, have harnessed the same scientic principle to create
competing directional-sound systems.
The technique of using a nonlinear interaction of high-frequency waves to generate
low-frequency waves was originally pioneered by researchers developing underwater sonar
techniques dating back to the 1960s. They called this device a parametric array. In 1975,
an article cited the nonlinear eects occurring in air.
Over the next two decades, several large companies, including Matsushita, NC De-
non, and Ricoh attempted to develop a loudspeaker based on this principle. They were
successful in producing some sort of sound, with extremely high levels of distortion (>50
Later during the spring of 1996, Elwood Woody Norris one of the founders of Amer-
ican Technology Corporation was working blind to his competitor in the East within his
garage in Poway CA. He felt that ultrasound could be used to create a sound beam. In
July the same year, he felt that he had a breakthrough and he rushed o to the patent
oce, and patented the same.

3
Chapter 2. HISTORY 4

In 1998, Joseph Pompei presented the paper The Use of Airborne Ultrasonic for
generating Audible Sound Beams to the Audio Engineering Society, at their 105th Con-
vention in san Francisco CA. In 1999 he founded holosonic Research Labs or Holosonics
to commercialize this technology. He named it Audio spotlighting
Chapter 3

TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW

The technique of using a nonlinear interaction of high frequency waves to generate low
frequency waves was originally pioneered by researchers developing underwater sonar
techniques in 1960s. In 1975, an article cited the nonlinear eects occurring in air. Over
the next two decades, several large companies including Panasonic and Ricoh attempted
to develop a loudspeaker using this principle. They were successful in producing some
sort of sound but with higher level of distortion (>50 percent). In 1990s, Woody Norris
a Radar Technician solved the parametric problems of this technology.
Audio spotlighting is a paradigm shift in sound production based on solid principles
of physics. Audio spotlighting technology projects a column of modulated ultrasonic fre-
quencies into the air. These ultrasonic frequencies are inaudible by themselves. However,
the interaction of the air and modulated ultrasonic frequencies creates audible sounds
that can be heard along a column. This audible acoustical sound wave is caused when
the air down-converts the ultrasonic frequencies to the lower frequency spectrum that
humans can hear.
Audio spotlighting technology works by emitting harmless high frequency ultrasonic
tones that we cannot here. These tones use the non-linearity (g 3.1) property of air to
create new tones that are within the range of human hearing. The result is an audible
sound. The acoustical sound wave is created directly in the air.
In an Audio spotlighting system, there are no voice coils, cones, crossover networks

5
Chapter 3. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 6

or enclosures. The result is sound with a potential purity and delity which we attained
never before. Sound quality is no longer tied to speaker size. The Audio spotlighting
system holds the promise of replacing conventional speakers in homes, movie theatres,
and automobiles everywhere.

Figure 3.1: Non linear medium

Figure 3.2: Pressure v/s distance curve

At normal atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 20°C, a small audio signal

travels through air at approximately 300m/sec. As the amplitude of the sound signal
increases to more than approximately 100 dB, the speed of sound changes over the course
of a single cycle. The upper part of the waveform suciently compresses air molecules
to increase the local temperature and pressure and, therefore, slightly boost the speed of
sound. Likewise, the negative portion of the waveform slows sound propagation. These
speed variations result in a distorted waveform that resembles a triangular wave (g3.2).
Because triangular waves are rich in harmonics, the speed variations demodulate the
ultrasound signal. The blue line in g-3.2 is a pure sine wave, and the red represents the
Chapter 3. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 7

same form after it has propagated through the nonlinear air for a time.

3.1 Conventional sound:

The regular loudspeakers produce audible sound by directly moving the air molecules.
The audible portions of sound tend to spread out in all directions from the point of
origin. They do not travel as narrow beams. In fact the beam angle of audible sound
is very wide, just about 360 degrees. This eectively means that the sound you hear
will be propagated through the air equally in all directions. Conventional loudspeakers
suer from amplitude distortions, harmonic distortion, inter modulation distortion, phase
distortion, crossover distortion, cone resonance etc. Some aspects of their mechanical
aspects are mass, magnetic structure, enclosure design and cone construction.
In nature, sound travels in waves spreading in every direction, bouncing o some
surfaces and being absorbed by others. It is certainly not linear. It helps to visualize the
traditional loudspeaker as a light bulb. As with the light bulb, a traditional loudspeaker
radiates sound fairly uniformly in all directions. A listener can stand anywhere in an
acoustical environment and point to the speaker as the source of the sound. Audio
spotlighting technology is much more analogous to the beam of light from a ashlight.
Figures 3.3 shows the conventional speakers distribution of sound and gure 3.4 shows the
beam of sound targeted to particular place. If you stand to the side or behind the light,
you can only "see" the light when it strikes a surface. Audio spotlighting technology
is similar in that you can direct the ultrasonic emitter toward a hard surface, a wall
for instance, and the listener perceives the sound as coming from the spot on the wall.
The listener does not perceive the sound as emanating from the face of the transducer
but, only from the reection o the wall. Every form of distortion contributed by a
conventional loudspeaker is traceable to some aspect of its mechanical nature: mass,
magnetic structure, enclosure design, cone construction, etc. All form an important part
of the nal product's capability to perform its function in as perfect a manner as possible.
Chapter 3. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 8

Figure 3.3: CONVENTIONAL SPEAKERS

Speaker cone motion is subject to the laws of physics. This all-important element,
more than any other in a speaker system, aects the overall purity of sound and can be a
source of various forms of distortion. Ideally, when reproducing sound, the speaker cone
should follow precisely the delicate nuances of any electrical waveform presented to it.
The cone or radiating surface of a perfect loudspeaker would have virtually no mass or
resonances over the entire range of hearing, and would oer perfect linearity while at the
same time being able to couple enough energy into the air to produce any sound level
desired.
Audio spotlighting technology does precisely that. It provides linear frequency re-
sponse with virtually none of the forms of distortion associated with conventional speak-
ers. Physical size no longer denes delity. The faithful reproduction of sound is freed
from bulky enclosures. There are no woofers, tweeters, crossovers, or bulky enclosures.
Also, it is now possible to dramatically minimize room eects in a listening environment.
Chapter 3. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 9

Figure 3.4: AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING

3.2 Range of human hearing:

The human ear is sensitive to frequencies ranging from 20Hz to 20,000Hz. If the range of
the human hearing is expressed as a percentage shift from the lowest audible frequency
to the highest, it spans a range of 100,000 percent. No single loudspeaker element can
operate eciently over such a wide range of frequencies. In order to deal with this,
speaker manufacturers carve the audio spectrum into smaller sections (g3.5), and make
use of multiple transducers and crossovers as necessary. They range from piezoelectric
tweeters that recreate the high end of the audio spectrum, to various kinds of mid-
range speakers and woofers that produce the lower frequencies. Using a technique of
multiplying audible frequencies upwards and superimposing them on a "carrier" of say,
200,000 cycles the required frequency shift for a transducer would be only 10
Whether they are dynamic, electrostatic, or some other transducer-based design, all
loudspeakers today have one thing in common: they are direct radiating i.e., they are
Chapter 3. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 10

fundamentally a piston-like device designed to directly pump air molecules into motion to
create the audible sound waves we hear. Audio spotlighting technology produces sound
in the air indirectly as a by-product of some other process. Using Audio spotlighting
technology, it is possible to design nearly a perfect transducer (g 3.6).

Figure 3.5: AUDIO SPECTRUM

Depending on the user requirements the bandwidth of Audio spotlighting unit can
be adjusted. The red plot shows the normal usage. The blue plot is the Bass cut plot,
where the lower frequencies are cut. This is very useful for speeches. The black plot
is the Bass boost plot, where the lower frequencies are given importance. This is very
useful for musical concerts.

3.3 Working of Audio spotlighting system:

The original low frequency sound wave such as human speech or music is applied into an
audio spotlight emitter device. This low frequency signal is frequency modulated with
ultrasonic frequencies range. The output of the modulator will be the modulated form of
original sound wave. Since ultrasonic frequency is used the wavelength of the combined
signal will be in the order of few millimeters. Since the wavelength is smaller the beam
angle will be around 3 degree, as a result the sound beam will be a narrow one with a
Chapter 3. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 11

Figure 3.6: Plot of bass cut, bass boost and normal sound

small dispersion. The model of spotlighting emitter is shown in rure3.7.

While the frequency modulated signal travels through the air, the nonlinearity prop-
erty of air comes into action. A normal sound wave is a small pressure wave that travels
through the air. As the pressure goes up and down, the nonlinear nature of the air itself
slightly changes the sound wave. If there is change in a sound wave, new sounds are
formed within the wave. Therefore if we know how the air aects the sound waves, we
can predict exactly what new frequencies (sounds) will be added into the sound wave
by the air itself. If the audio spectrum could be superimposed on this high frequency
carrier, and emitted into the air as an ultrasonic acoustical wave front, the only thing
remaining would be to down convert the ultrasonic energy to sonic energy we could hear.
This ultrasonic sound wave (beyond the range of human hearing) can be sent in to the
air with sucient volume to cause the air to create the required new frequencies. Since
we cannot here the ultrasonic sound, we only hear the new sounds that are formed by
the non linear action of the air.
Example:
Chapter 3. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 12

Figure 3.7: AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING EMITTER

In order to generate a frequency (sound) of 1000Hz, we use ultrasonic waves of

50,000Hz and 51,000Hz frequency. These frequencies, due to nonlinearity and also distor-
tion produce 101,000Hz (inaudible) and 1000Hz (audible) which is the required frequency.
51,000+50,000=101,000Hz
51,000-50,000=1000Hz
Thus in an audio spotlighting there are no actual speakers that produces the sound
but the ultrasonic envelope acts as the airborne speaker. The directivity of the beam i.e,
output of the system is shown in the gure-3.8.
The new sound produced virtually has no distortions associated with it and faithful
reproduction of sound is feed from bulky enclosures. There are no woofers or crossovers.
This technology is similar in that you can direct the ultrasonic emitter towards a hard
surface, a wall for instance and the listener perceives the sound as coming from the spot
on the wall. The listener does not perceive the sound as emanating from the face of the
transducer, but only from the reection of the wall. For the maximum volume (sound
level) that trade show use demands, it is recommended that the audio spotlight speakers,
Chapter 3. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 13

Figure 3.8: Beam Directivity

more accurately called a transducer, is mounted no more than 3 meters from the average
listeners ears, or 5 meters in the air the mounting hardware is constructed with a ball
joint so that the audio spotlights are easily aimed wherever the sound is desired.

Figure 3.9: COMPUTER SIMULATION OF SOUND BEAM

By creating a complex ultrasound waveform(using a parametric array of ultrasound

sources)gure-3.9 shows computer simulation of sound propagation with complex sets,
many dierent sources of sound can be created. If their phases are carefully controlled,
then these interfere destructively laterally and constructively in the forward direction,
Chapter 3. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 14

resulting in a collimated sound beam or audio beam or audio spotlight. Today, the trans-
ducers required to produce these beams are just half an inch thick and lightweight, and
the system required to drive it has similar power requirements to conventional ampliers
technology.

3.4 Beam Dispersion

Figure 3.10: Dispersion of sound beam

In general, the dispersion is less than 3° in either direction or a total of 6° overall
(g 3.10). Dispersion of the audio wave front can be tightly controlled by contouring the
face of the audio spotlighting ultrasonic emitter. For example, a very narrow wave front
might be developed for use on the two sides of a computer screen while a home theater
system might require a broader wave front to envelop multiple listeners.
In addition, audio spotlight does not follow the traditional loudspeaker inverse-square
law, which dictates that you have a 6dB decrease in level for every doubling of the distance
from the source. This fact means that Audio spotlight can travel much greater distances
while maintaining intelligibility than the sound from conventional speakers.
Chapter 3. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 15

3.5 Why Ultrasonic?

Directivity of the wave depends on its wavelength compared to the transmitting surface.
The larger the source is compared to the wavelength of the sound waves, the more
directional beam results. Assuming that HSS uses 48 kHz, following calculations could
be made. The speed of sound is about 300 m/sec, or 30,000 cm/sec.
Speed = (wavelength)*(frequency)
=> Wavelength=speed/frequency
i.e. 30,000/48,000 = 0.63 cm.
Normally, the emitter's frontal area is 28 cm x 28 cm, or approx 44 wavelengths
square. This fact is the basic source of the device's tight directionality. When an emitter's
size approximates the wavelength of the emitted signal, a spherical wave front is produced
(g 3.12a), which expands with a surface area proportional to the square of the distance
from the emitter; thus producing inverse-square dispersal of energy across the expanding
surface.

Figure 3.11: Types of ultrasonic emitters

A frequency of 1000Hz, for instance, yields a wavelength of 30 cm or about one foot.

Chapter 3. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 16

Thus a signal in this frequency range, produced by a normal speaker whose diameter
might be approximately one foot, will produce a spherical wave front. However when
the wavelength is a small fraction of the size of the emitter, an essentially at wave front
is produced (g 3.12b). If it were truly at and constrained to a channel, such a signal
would lose strength only due to interactions with the channel, and could travel very long
distances. Since our Audio spotlight beam is not in a channel, it will lose some energy
to adjacent air. The ultrasound, whose wavelengths are only a few millimeters long, are
much smaller than the source, and consequently tend to travel in a straight line. Of
course, this ultrasound, which contains frequencies far outside our range of hearing, is
completely inaudible. But as the ultrasonic beam travels through the air, the inherent
properties of the air cause the ultrasound to distort (change shape) in a predictable
way. This distortion gives rise to frequency components in the audible bandwidth. By
generating the correct ultrasonic signal, we can create, within the air itself, essentially
any sound desired.
Both audible sound waves from traditional speakers and ultrasound waves from a
directional-sound system distort when they travel through the air. But, in a traditional
sound system, the distortion slightly degrades the sound a listener ultimately hears. But
in a directional-sound system, the distortion is actually the mechanism that generates
the audible sound, breaking the ultrasound waves into lower-frequency, audible sound
waves along a straight, narrow path. When the waves encounter a solid object or person,
they slow, distort and crash together. The result is the ultrasonic waves re-create the
original sound in the air around the object, so humans can hear it. Variations in the
speed of sound cause this phenomenon. Thus, sound from a distant Audio spotlight
speaker seems like its right at your ears because it is actually being created right at your
ears. If you step out of the beam, the waves have nothing to distort and mix them, so
the inaudible ultrasonic waves slide silently past.

Where,
p2(x,t)=Audible secondary pressure wave
Chapter 3. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 17

Figure 3.12: Equation

K = physical parameter
Pc=Pressure of ultrasonic carrier.
E(x,t)=Envelope function (DSB)
Previous equation says that the audible demodulated ultrasonic pressure wave (out-
put signal) is proportional to the twice dierentiated, squared version of the envelope
function (input signal).

3.6 COMPONENTS OF AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING SYS-

TEM:
1. Power Supply.
2. Frequency oscillator.
3. Modulator.
4. Audio signal processor.
5. Microcontroller.
6. Ultrasonic amplier.
7. Transducer.

3.6.1 Power Supply:

Like all electronic systems, the audio spotlighting system works o DC Voltage, ultrasonic
amplier requires 48v for its working and low voltage. For microcontroller and other
processing unit management.
Chapter 3. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 18

Figure 3.13: Block Diagram of An Audio Spotlighting System

3.6.2 Frequency oscillator:

The frequency oscillator generates ultrasonic frequency signals in the range of (21,000
Hz to 28,000 Hz) which is required for the modulation of information signals.

3.6.3 Modulator:
In order to convert the source program material into ultrasonic signals, a modulation
scheme is required. In addition, error correction is needed to reduce distortion without
loss of eciency. The goal, of course, is to produce audio in the most ecient manner
while maintaining acceptably low distortion levels.
A DSB scheme is straightforward way to generate the required ultrasonic frequencies
for a given base band signal. From the basic principles of the Fourier analysis, multipli-
cation in the time domain is analogous to convolution in the frequency domain. Convo-
lution between a baseband signal and a carrier frequency eectively images the baseband
signal around both sides of the carrier frequency spectral component, as shown in Fig
3.8. We know that for a DSB system, the modulation index can be reduced to decrease
Chapter 3. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 19

distortion, because total harmonic distortion increases proportionally with the square of
m. This is because as the side bands gain more power, there is more cross interference
between the side bands rather than between the side bands and the carrier frequency
component.

3.6.4 Microcontroller:
A dedicated microcontroller circuit takes care of the functional management of the sys-
tem. In the future version, it is expected that the whole process like functional man-
agement, signal processing, double side band modulation and even switch mode power
supply would be eectively taken care of by a single embedded IC.

Figure 3.14: DSB Signal Representation

3.6.5 Audio signal processor:

The audio signal is sent to an electronic signal processor circuit where equalization, dy-
namic range control, distortion control and precise modulation are performed to produce
a composite ultrasonic waveform. This amplied ultrasonic signal is sent to the emitter,
Chapter 3. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 20

which produces a column of ultrasonic sound that is subsequently converted into highly
directional audible sound within the air column.
Since ultrasound is highly directional, the audio sound placement is precise. At the
heart of the system is a high precision oscillator in the ultrasonic region with a variable
frequency ranging from 40 to 50 kHz.

3.6.6 Ultrasonic Amplier:

High eciency ultrasonic power ampliers amplies the management of the system. In
the future version, it is expected that the whole process like functional management,
signal processing, double side band modulation and even switch mode power supply
would be eectively taken care of by a single embedded IC.

3.6.7 Transducer:
The most active piezo lm is polyvinalidene diuoride. This lm is commonly used in
many industrial and chemical applications.
In order to be useful for ultrasonic transduction, the raw lm must be polarized or
activated. This is done by one of the two methods. One method yields a uniaxial lm
that changes length along one axis when an electric eld is applied through it. The
other method yields a biaxial lm that shrinks/expands along two axes. Finally, the lm
needs to have a conductive electrode material applied to both sides in order to achieve
a uniform electric eld through it.
Piezoelectric lms operate as transducers through the expansion and contraction of
X and/or Y axes of the lm surface. For use as a hypersonic sound emitter, the lm is
to be curved or distended. The curving results in expansion and contraction in the Z
axis, generating acoustic output.
The music or voice from the audio source is converted into a highly complex ultrasonic
signal by the signal processor before being amplied and emitted into the air by the
transducer. Since the ultrasonic energy is highly directional, it forms a virtual column
Chapter 3. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 21

of sound directly in front of the emitter, much like the light from a ash light.
Fig 3.14 shows the structure of piezo sound emitter. When a voltage is applied
across the pins, the red element gets longer while the blue one shortens, causing a bend
in the piezo. When the polarity changes, the opposite bend occurs. The maximum
displacement change is in the center of the element where the cone is attached.
The latest ATC parametric sound generator is a monolithic, thin-lm structure that
maintains coherent amplitude and phase across the entire device in a package measuring
less than a half-inch thick (g 3.15). Because the emitter is larger than the wavelength of
the frequencies involved, it emits the ultrasound wave as a pure plane wave with virtually
no expansion in the beam diameter with distance.

Figure 3.15: Piezo sound emitter

It is 1.27 cm thick and 17 inch in diameter. It is capable of producing audibility up to

200 meters with better clarity of sound. It has the ability of real time sound reproduction
with zero lag. It can be wall, overhead or ush mounted. These transducers are arranged
Chapter 3. TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 22

Figure 3.16: Parametric Loudspeaker, Amazing Audio Spotlight

in form of an array called parametric array in order to propagate the ultrasonic signals
from the emitter and thereby to exploit the nonlinearity properly of air.
Chapter 4

MODES OF LISTENING

There are two modes of listening:

1. Direct Mode.
2. Projected Mode.

Figure 4.1: DIRECTED AUDIO AND PROJECTED AUDIO

23
Chapter 4. MODES OF LISTENING 24

4.1 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. To restrict the audio in a specic area this
method is appropriate. This method is appropriate when we want to restrict the audio
in a specic area. Fig 4.1 shows the concept of direct mode.

4.2 Projected or Virtual 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 is to be heard. For this mode
of operation the sound beam from an emitter is made to reect from a reecting surface
such as a wall surface or a diuser surface. A virtual sound source creates an illusion of
sound source that emanates from a surface or direction where no physical loudspeaker
is present. This method is appropriate when we want to send the information to a large
number of people. Fig 4.1 shows the concept of virtual mode.
Chapter 5

ADVANTAGES

5.1 Small size:

Audio spotlighting not only has the conventional speaker's crossover network and en-
closure been eliminated, but the ultra-small radiating ultrasonic emitter is so small and
light-weight that the inertial considerations ordinarily associated with traditional direct-
radiation speakers are virtually non-existent. The voice coil and support structure nor-
mally associated with the conventional speaker used to attach the moving cone in place
are eliminated.

5.2 Single source:

Audio spotlighting has the ability to produce nearly the entire audible spectrum of fre-
quencies from a single source. Hence the improvement in phase response, time alignment,
and frequency response becomes obvious.

25
Chapter 5. ADVANTAGES 26

5.3 Ultimate control in audio placement/Highly direc-

tional:
Audio spotlight can focus sound only at the place where we want it. This is achieved
by controlling the dispersion of the wave. These focused sound travels much farther in a
straight line than conventional counterpart.

5.4 Minimizes noise pollution:

Audio spotlight reduces the unnecessary noise from public functions or gatherings.

5.5 Ease of installation:

Audio spotlight reduces the unnecessary noise from public functions or gatherings.

5.6 Lowest maintenance cost:

Since Audio spotlight system has no mechanical, and very few electrical components, the
maintaining cost very less.

5.7 Reduced feedback:

As Audio spotlight systems allow us to direct the produced audio away from any live
microphone, the tendency of feedback is signicantly reduced.

5.8 There is no need to worry about pets:

Dogs and cats can hear sounds up to perhaps 40,000 Hz, and Audio spotlight system
operates well above this range.
Chapter 6

APPLICATIONS

6.1 Automobiles:
Beam alert signals can be directly propagated from an announcement device in the
dashboard to the driver. Presently Mercedes Benz buses are tted with audio spotlighting
speakers so that individual travelers can enjoy the music of there on interest.

Figure 6.1: Benz car

27
Chapter 6. APPLICATIONS 28

6.2 Retail sales:

Provide targeted advertising directly at the point of purchase.

Figure 6.2: A retail shop

6.3 Safety Ocials:

Portable audio spotlighting devices for communicating with a specic person in a crowd
of people.

6.4 Public Announcement:

Highly focused announcement in noisy environments such as subways, airports, amuse-
ment parks, trac intersections etc. By maintaining a beam of sound, across the trac,
trac police can use Audio spotlighting to help the blind people cross the road at the
signals.
Chapter 6. APPLICATIONS 29

Figure 6.3: Public announcement

6.5 Entertainment Systems:

In home theatre system rear speakers can be eliminated by the implementation of audio
spotlighting and the properties of sound can be improved.

Figure 6.4: Home theatre system

Chapter 6. APPLICATIONS 30

6.6 Museums:
In museums audio spotlight can be used to describe about a particular object to a person
standing in front it, so that the other person standing in front of another object will not
be able to hear the description.

Figure 6.5: Museum

6.7 Military Applications:

Ship to ship communications and shipboard announcements. And also it is used to
misguide the enemy by creating the false shouting area away from the military camps.

6.8 Political:
With the help of HSS international gatherings, such as the United Nations, SAARC
summit could have translated speech beamed directly to individuals: Spanish at one seat,
Hindi at the other and Arabic at the next. All this without interference or individual
earphones.
Chapter 7

DISADVANTAGES

1. Lack of mass production.i.e, each unit must be handmade.

2. The most common form of distortion is clipping. An LED on top of the Audio
spotlight system reports clipping, which is also perceptible to the listener as a kind of a
'chirping' eect. If any signal produces distortion, the input level of the source is reduced
until perceptible distortion is eliminated.

31
Chapter 8

CONCLUSION AND
ENHANCEMENTS

Being the most radical technological development in acoustics since the coil loudspeaker
was invented in 1925... The audio spotlight will force people to rethink their relationship
with sound. Audio spotlighting is going to make a revolution in sound transmission
and the user can decide the path in which audio signal should propagate. Due to the
unidirectional propagation its nds applications in large number of elds. The main
intention of Audio spotlighting system is to reduce the unnecessary sound and to promote
peace and quiet environment. With the companies like Sony and Bose interested, it is
going to shape the future of sound and will serve our ears with magical experience.
The audio spotlighting holds the promise of replacing conventional speakers. Ultrasonic
emitters have super high impedance, which allows low current in power ampliers making
them lighter. The future developments of this technology include a full functioning
embedded system, including modulation, audio processing and distortion control.

32
Chapter 9

REFERENCE

1. www.techalone.com Audio spotlighting

2. www.wikipedia.org - Sound from Ultrasound
3. www.holosonics.com
4. www.silentsound.co.za Silent sound
5. Electronics For You Vol. 40 January 2008

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