Patent ID: 9100749
Filing Date: 2015-08-04
Classification: H04R,H04S

Abstract:
1. A method of providing and operating an audio system that provides audio radiation to a plurality of listening positions, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing at least one source of audio signals; (b) providing, at each of a plurality of the listening positions, a first array of speaker elements that receives the audio signals and responsively radiates output acoustic energy, wherein the speaker elements of the first array are disposed with respect to each other so that the output acoustic energy radiated from respective said speaker elements destructively interfere to thereby define a directional audio radiation from the first array; (c) providing, at each first listening position of the plurality of listening positions, a first filter between the at least one source and at least one of the speaker elements in the first array at the first listening position that filters first said audio signals from the at least one source to the at least one speaker element; (d) for each first listening position of the plurality of listening positions, providing, between the at least one source and a second array of said speaker elements at a second listening position of the plurality of listening positions other than the first listening position, a second filter between the first audio signals and the second array so that the second array receives the first audio signals through the second filter independently of the first filter and responsively radiates output acoustic energy, wherein the speaker elements of the second array are disposed with respect to each other so that the output acoustic energy radiated from respective said speaker elements of the second array destructively interfere to thereby define a directional audio radiation from the second array; and (e) for each said second filter that receives the first audio signals corresponding to a said first array at a said first listening position, selecting the second filter so that the second filter processes the first audio signals so that acoustic energy radiated to the second listening position by the second array responsively to the first audio signals destructively interferes with acoustic energy radiated to the second listening position by the first array responsively to the first audio signals.