Directional Speaker Array for Private Audio Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current personal communications devices broadcast audio in all directions, lacking the ability to provide enhanced privacy for users, as they primarily focus on minimizing noise rather than directing audio specifically to the user.
Innovation Solution
A personal communications device equipped with a directional speaker and a microphone array that estimates the user's direction or bearing, allowing the device to aim the speaker directly at the user, thereby delivering audio privately through a directional sound field, which can be enhanced using a pan/tilt gimbal or phased arrays, and optionally with sound-masking signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If audio is broadcast in all directions using conventional speakers, then audio coverage is maximized, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a directional sound field that concentrates audio energy specifically at the user's location rather than distributing it uniformly in all directions. The phased array speaker system adjusts the acoustic properties locally at different spatial positions, delivering sound privately to the intended user while maintaining coverage only where needed.
2Reliability
If directional speakers are used to deliver audio directly to users, then user privacy is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves multi-functionality by enabling the microphone array to serve dual purposes: its primary function of receiving audio commands and its secondary function of estimating user direction and bearing. This eliminates the need for separate sensing hardware, reducing overall device complexity while still enabling directional audio delivery through the phased array speaker system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical directional control (such as physical speaker orientation) with an electronic/phased array system. By using signal processing and phase manipulation across multiple speaker elements, the system achieves directional sound field control without mechanical moving parts, thereby reducing mechanical complexity.
3Reliability
If microphone arrays are used to estimate user direction, then privacy delivery is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using the estimated user direction and bearing information from the microphone array to dynamically control the phased array speaker system. The system continuously monitors audio input, updates direction estimates, and adjusts the directional sound field accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that improves accuracy through iterative refinement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances user privacy by delivering audio directly to the user, reducing environmental noise interference and allowing for private communication in various settings, including conference rooms and public areas, while also providing options for public mode and improved audio reception.
Implementation Method 1
The personal communications device includes a phased array speaker configured to produce a directional sound field having a path directed toward a user
Implementation Method 2
The device also includes a microphone array configured to receive direction or bearing information associated with the user
Data Source
AI summary
A personal communications device that employs directional or parametric speakers to provide an enhanced user experience, delivering audio directly to a user of the device rather than broadcasting the audio in all directions. In this way, increased privacy for the user of the personal communications device can be achieved.