Occupant-Based Beamforming Audio for Enclosed Spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing acoustic devices struggle to provide directed audio to specific locations within enclosed environments, such as conference rooms, while minimizing audio output at other locations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of dual-directional speakers, ringed speaker arrays, isobaric cross-firing speakers, and door-mounted beamforming speaker arrays, which use advanced acoustic duct designs and beamforming techniques to direct sound to specific locations within enclosed environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional speakers are used to provide audio output to all occupants in an enclosed space, then audio coverage is uniform across the entire space, but it is impossible to direct audio to specific locations or minimize audio at other locations
Solution Approach 1:
The speaker system is divided into multiple independent speaker units distributed throughout the enclosed space. Each speaker unit can independently generate and direct audio signals, allowing selective audio delivery to different locations without requiring a single complex centralized system.
Solution Approach 2:
The speaker units are equipped with adjustable directional characteristics that can be dynamically changed based on occupancy detection. The system transitions from static omnidirectional audio distribution to dynamic directional audio beams that adapt to real-time occupancy patterns and user preferences.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If audio is distributed uniformly to all areas of an enclosed environment, then all occupants receive audio content, but unwanted noise propagates to areas where audio is not desired
Solution Approach 1:
Each speaker unit is configured to provide audio with directionally selective characteristics, creating zones of desired and undesired audio in different spatial locations. This allows audio to be concentrated in specific local areas while minimizing propagation to other regions, addressing the harmful noise propagation issue.
Solution Approach 2:
Occupancy sensors detect the presence and location of occupants, providing feedback to the control system. The control system uses this information to adjust the directional characteristics of speaker units in real-time, optimizing audio delivery to occupied areas while reducing audio in unoccupied areas.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional acoustic devices are used in enclosed spaces, then installation is simple, but the devices cannot provide personalized audio experiences or reduce noise in specific areas
Solution Approach 1:
Each speaker unit is designed as a multi-functional device that can operate in multiple modes: omnidirectional audio distribution, directional audio beams, and selective audio zones. This universal design allows the same hardware to adapt to different occupancy scenarios and audio delivery requirements without requiring separate specialized devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary occupancy detection and audio zone configuration before audio playback begins. By pre-positioning virtual audio sources and configuring speaker directional characteristics based on detected occupancy, the system optimizes audio delivery in advance, enabling personalized experiences without real-time complex adjustments during playback.
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
These solutions enable precise control over audio distribution, allowing for personalized audio experiences for occupants in enclosed spaces, while reducing unwanted noise in other areas.
Implementation Method 1
door-mounted beamforming speaker arrays, which use advanced acoustic duct designs and beamforming techniques to direct sound to specific locations
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations of the subject technology provide occupant-based audio for enclosed environments. For example, an apparatus having an enclosure and one or more speakers may determine a location and/or an identity of an occupant within an enclosed environment defined by the enclosure, and operate the one or more speakers to provide audio output to the location of the occupant. The apparatus may also operate the one or more speakers to reduce the audio output to one or more other locations within the enclosure, such as to one or more non-occupant locations and/or to one or more locations of one or more other occupants. The audio output may be occupant-specific audio output, such as a personalized notifications, in one or more implementations.