Patent ID: 9100748
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 located in an environment, 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 in the environment, at least one array of speaker elements that receives the audio signals and responsively radiates output acoustic energy, wherein the speaker elements of each 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 at least one array; (c) providing a filter between the at least one source and at least one of the speaker elements in a first said array at a first listening position of the plurality of listening positions, wherein the filter processes the audio signals from the at least one source to the at least one speaker element; (d) defining a cost function that compares acoustic energy in the environment radiated from the first array to at least one other listening position of the plurality of listening positions to acoustic energy in the environment radiated from the first array to the first listening position; (e) calculating the cost function; and (f) iteratively modifying the filter in response to the calculated cost function toward a predetermined criteria so that the filter reduces a magnitude of acoustic energy radiated from the first array to the at least one other listening position, compared to a magnitude of acoustic energy radiated from the first array to the first listening position.