Speaker Control via Reverse Cancelling Sound Wave

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current speaker technologies output audio in all directions, causing interference to non-target users and potentially leaking private information of the target user.

Innovation Solution

A speaker control method that determines a user perception-prohibited area and generates a reverse cancelling sound wave to control the speaker output, enhancing directionality and preventing audio leakage by superimposing the reverse cancelling sound wave with the target audio signal in the prohibited area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the speaker outputs audio in all directions, then the audio coverage is comprehensive and all users can hear, but non-target users are interfered with and private information may be leaked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio coverageVSAvoidinterference to non-target users

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different acoustic characteristics in different spatial regions. The target area receives clear audio signals while the prohibited area experiences sound cancellation through reverse phase waves. This spatial differentiation of acoustic properties resolves the contradiction between comprehensive coverage and preventing interference to non-target users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary anti-action by generating reverse phase sound waves in advance to cancel out audio signals in the prohibited area before the target audio can be perceived by non-target users. This preemptive cancellation prevents information leakage and interference to users who should not receive the audio content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Area of stationary object

If the speaker outputs audio in all directions, then the audio reaches all areas, but privacy information of the target user is leaked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio propagation areaVSAvoidprivacy information leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates spatially differentiated acoustic zones where the target area maintains full audio quality while the prohibited area experiences sound cancellation. This local differentiation allows wide propagation area while preventing privacy leakage in specific regions through controlled acoustic properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of sound propagation into a beneficial outcome by using reverse phase waves to cancel audio in prohibited areas. The same acoustic energy that could cause privacy leakage is redirected to create silence in sensitive zones, transforming potential harm into protective benefit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If reverse cancelling sound wave is generated, then sound directionality is improved and privacy is protected, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio directionalityVSAvoidspeaker control system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary control system that processes audio signals and generates appropriate reverse phase waves for different spatial zones. This intermediary layer manages the complexity by centralizing the control logic and coordinate transformation calculations, making the system more manageable while achieving reliable directional audio output.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical acoustic isolation structures with electronic signal processing to achieve sound directionality. By using digital signal processing and coordinate transformations to generate reverse phase waves, the system achieves directional control without requiring complex physical barriers or mechanical adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 method effectively cancels sound in the prohibited area, improving audio directionality and preventing interference or leakage of private information to non-target users.

Implementation Method 1

superimposing the reverse cancelling sound wave with the target audio signal in the prohibited area

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic superposition: Interference

Data Source

PatentUS20240214722A1Speaker control method and device, terminal equipment and computer-readable storage medium

Publication Date: 2024.06.27 AAC TECHNOLOGIES (NANJING) CO LTD

AI summary

This application provides a speaker control method and device, terminal equipment and a computer-readable storage medium. The method includes: obtaining a user perception-prohibited area corresponding to a target audio signal while detecting an audio output event, where the target audio signal is output in response to the audio output event; determining a first speaker based on the user perception-prohibited area, and determining a reverse cancelling sound wave corresponding to the target audio signal; generating a first control parameter based on a characteristic attribute of the reverse cancelling sound wave; and controlling the first speaker to output the reverse cancelling sound wave based on the first control parameter.