Planar Sound Transducer Array for Low-Latency Spatial Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sound reinforcement systems based on wave field synthesis are unsuitable for live applications due to signal redundancy and require a heavily damped playback room, limiting their effectiveness in spatial areas with complex geometries.
Innovation Solution
A transducer array with a planar configuration and computational control to generate wavefronts from multiple virtual sound sources, decoupling curvature in the elevation and azimuth planes to reduce latency and improve sound coverage in complex spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wave field synthesis is used for sound reinforcement in spatial areas, then sound coverage can be achieved, but signal redundancy occurs and the system becomes unsuitable for live applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sound field synthesis problem into two independent plane calculations (horizontal and vertical), allowing separate optimization of each dimension. This segmentation eliminates signal redundancy by calculating radiation times independently for each plane rather than using full 3D convolution, making the system suitable for live applications while maintaining sound coverage capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-calculates radiation times for virtual sound sources in both horizontal and vertical planes before actual sound reproduction. By determining these times in advance based on transducer positions and virtual source locations, the system avoids real-time computational complexity and signal redundancy, enabling live sound reinforcement applications.
2Reliability
If convolution into impulse response is used for wave field synthesis, then direct sound waves and reflections can be synthesized, but the process becomes mathematically complex and requires heavily damped playback rooms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complex 3D impulse response convolution into two separate 2D plane calculations (horizontal azimuth plane and vertical elevation plane). This segmentation reduces mathematical complexity by eliminating the need for full 3D convolution while maintaining the ability to synthesize direct sound waves and reflections accurately through independent plane calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the problematic full 3D convolution process, replacing it with simplified 2D plane calculations. By taking out the complex mathematical operation that requires heavily damped rooms, the system achieves comparable sound synthesis accuracy with reduced complexity and without requiring special acoustic treatment of the playback space.
3Speed
If virtual sound sources are generated with low latency, then the method becomes suitable for public address systems, but signal redundancy still occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the radiation time calculation into independent horizontal and vertical plane computations. This segmentation eliminates signal redundancy by calculating only the necessary time delays for each plane separately, rather than performing redundant full 3D convolution operations, while maintaining low latency suitable for public address systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-determines radiation times for all transducers based on their positions relative to virtual sound sources in both planes before sound reproduction begins. This preliminary calculation eliminates the need for real-time complex computations, achieving low latency while avoiding signal redundancy through optimized pre-processing.
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
Enables effective sound coverage in spatial areas with complex geometries by minimizing latency and maintaining sound pressure levels, allowing for flexible use in acoustically untreated rooms and reducing signal redundancy.
Implementation Method 1
at least one transducer array (100) comprising a plurality of individual transducers (11) arranged in a planar configuration... configured and operational to emit wavefronts
Implementation Method 2
the computational tool determines the radiation times for the same audio content for the transducers in the at least one transducer array based on their distance to at least one first virtual sound source... the travel time to the respective transducer
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for acoustically irradiating a spatial region (200), comprising at least one sound transducer array (100) with a plurality of flatly arranged individual sound transducers (11). The sound transducer array (100) is designed and can be operated so as to emit wavefronts (30) which correspond to a model with at least two virtual sound sources (1, 2) that lie behind the at least one sound transducer array (100) when viewed from the direction of the acoustically irradiated spatial region (200). The invention is characterized by a computing means (50) for actuating the individual sound transducers (11) in the at least one sound transducer array (100), wherein emission times for the same audio content are determined on the basis of at least one first virtual sound source (1) for sound transducers (11) in a horizontal arrangement (10) in the sound transducer array (100) and on the basis of at least one second virtual sound source (2) for sound transducers (11) in a vertical arrangement (20) in the sound transducer array (100). Emission times (t1) for the same audio content for the sound transducers (11) can be determined by the computing means (50) using the distance of the sound transducers to at least one first virtual sound source (1), regardless of a vertical position of the at least one virtual sound source (1) and the respective sound transducer (11), and the propagation time (t2) to each sound transducer (11) is added to the calculated values, said propagation time resulting from the distance of each sound transducer (11) to the at least one second virtual sound source (2), regardless of the respective horizontal position of the at least one first virtual sound source (1) and the respective sound transducer (11). The invention also relates to a method.