Upward-Firing Speaker Array for Immersive Audio in Portable Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable devices, such as laptops, struggle to play immersive audio content effectively due to size and power constraints, which prevent them from reproducing height cues necessary for immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos without requiring large, powerful speakers that cannot fit inside these devices.
Innovation Solution
A speaker system with upward-firing speakers integrated into portable devices, along with a decoder/renderer component and a crossover for high-pass filtering, allows for the direct projection of sound upwards, simulating height cues in a near-field environment without the need for external speaker reflections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional downward-firing speakers are used in portable devices, then the device can be kept compact and simple, but immersive audio height cues cannot be reproduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies upward-firing speakers that project sound in a vertical dimension rather than the traditional horizontal downward direction. This dimensional change allows the creation of height cues for immersive audio without requiring larger speaker enclosures, as the sound projection direction is changed from down to up, utilizing the vertical space within the compact device form factor.
2Adaptability or versatility
If upward-firing speakers are added to portable devices, then immersive audio height cues can be reproduced, but the device complexity and packaging constraints increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines upward-firing speakers with the existing downward-firing speaker system in a unified speaker array configuration. The upward-firing speakers are integrated into the device housing alongside the downward-firing speakers, sharing common structural support and control systems. This merging approach reduces overall device complexity compared to treating them as separate systems, while enabling full immersive audio capability.
3Volume of moving object
If speakers are made smaller to fit portable devices, then packaging constraints are satisfied, but audio power and sound quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the sound projection direction to upward vertical firing, the patent enables small speakers to create immersive audio effects without requiring high power. The upward projection creates height cues that work effectively in near-field listening environments, allowing compact speakers to deliver adequate audio power perception through spatial audio effects rather than raw volume.
4Measurement precision
If traditional speaker configurations are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but accurate spatial audio representation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio frequency spectrum using a crossover network that divides signals into high-frequency and low-frequency components. High-frequency signals are directed to upward-firing speakers for height cue reproduction, while low-frequency signals are directed to downward-firing speakers. This segmentation enables accurate spatial audio representation by assigning different frequency ranges to different speaker orientations, achieving precise spatial audio without requiring a completely complex speaker arrangement.
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 portable devices to play immersive audio content with accurate height cues, enhancing the audio experience by fitting small yet powerful speakers within the device form factor, creating a near-field sound field that replicates the immersive audio experience of larger systems.
Implementation Method 1
an array of drivers projecting sound upwards from a top surface of the portable device to form upward-firing speakers
Implementation Method 2
a crossover performing a high-pass filter function to pass high frequency components of the decoded height audio signals to the upward-firing speakers and low frequency components of the decoded height audio signals to the downward-firing speakers
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments for a speaker system that produces a near-field sound pattern for rendering immersive audio content in a portable device. An array of drivers projects sound upwards from a top surface of the portable device to form upward-firing speakers; a set of speakers projects sound downwards from a bottom surface of the portable device to form downward-firing speakers. A decoder/renderer component receives immersive audio content, decodes height audio signals from the content and sends direct audio signals to the downward-firing speakers. A crossover performs a high-pass filter function to pass high frequency components of the decoded height audio signals to the upward-firing speakers and low frequency components of the decoded height audio signals to the downward-firing speakers.