Fractal Spacing for Directional Audio Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing directional audio systems face challenges in scalability, consistent directionality across frequencies, side lobe attenuation, weight, power consumption, and bi-directionality, particularly in noisy and reverberant environments, with prior devices failing to simultaneously address these issues effectively.
Innovation Solution
The use of a transducer array with fractal-based spacing and modular, rotatable tiles eliminates axes of symmetry, allowing for scalable, high-gain, and low-side-lobe directional audio systems that are lightweight, robust, and immune to RF and mechanical noise, while maintaining consistent directionality and low power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional transducer arrays use direct summation of signals, then the system achieves basic directional filtering, but the directivity pattern varies significantly with frequency and exhibits high side lobes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by arranging transducers according to a fractal pattern that deliberately eliminates axes of symmetry in the array configuration. This asymmetric arrangement prevents the formation of regular interference patterns that cause high side lobes, while maintaining consistent directivity across frequencies through the self-similar scaling properties of the fractal geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the transducer array into multiple modular tiles, each containing a subset of transducers arranged in fractal patterns. These tiles can be independently configured and combined, allowing the system to achieve high directivity through constructive interference while the fractal segmentation prevents coherent side lobe formation across the entire array.
2Measurement precision
If the array size is increased to improve directivity, then the main lobe becomes narrower, but the system weight and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by organizing transducers in fractal patterns where smaller-scale fractal structures are embedded within larger-scale structures. This nested arrangement allows the array to achieve the directivity of a large aperture using a compact configuration, reducing the physical size and weight while maintaining the effective acoustic aperture through self-similar scaling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional one-dimensional linear arrays to two-dimensional fractal patterns, utilizing multiple spatial dimensions efficiently. This dimensional change allows the system to achieve equivalent directivity performance with fewer transducers and reduced physical footprint, thereby decreasing weight while maintaining measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If more transducers are added to the array, then the directional performance improves, but the power consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial distribution parameter of transducers from uniform or symmetric patterns to fractal-based non-uniform patterns. This parameter change optimizes the signal-to-noise ratio and directional performance, allowing fewer transducers to achieve the same directional performance, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining measurement precision.
4Ease of manufacture
If symmetric array configurations are used, then the manufacturing and assembly are simplified, but the side lobe attenuation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately introduces asymmetry by using fractal patterns that lack rotational and reflective symmetry. While this increases design complexity, the modular tile architecture maintains ease of manufacture by using standardized components in non-symmetric arrangements, achieving superior side lobe attenuation through the elimination of coherent interference patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal modular tiles that can be assembled in various fractal configurations. Each tile is a standardized component that can be manufactured independently, maintaining ease of manufacture, while the universal design allows flexible arrangement in asymmetric fractal patterns to achieve optimal side lobe attenuation for different application requirements.
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
The solution enables highly scalable, robust, and efficient directional audio systems with consistent directionality and reduced side lobes, suitable for various applications including body-worn and vehicular use, while minimizing negative impacts on complexity and power requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The classic means of spatial filtering consists simply of manipulating the constructive and destructive interference pattern of the various sounds that pass through the array
Data Source
AI summary
A directional transducer array system comprising a plurality of transducers with mathematical sequence spacing mounted on an array tile or host device. In an embodiment, the invention allows the construction of a receiving or transmitting, tiled (modular) directional audio array while simultaneously retaining desirable directional characteristics, improving gain, and limiting negative impacts on side lobe attenuation as the array is scaled (i.e. identical or similar tiles are added to or subtracted from the array); and allows the construction of a receiving or transmitting directional audio array that is light weight and robust enough to be used in body-worn, body-carried, vehicular, and fixed installations.