Patent Publication Number: US-2012027226-A1

Title: System and method for providing focused directional sound in an audio system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to the controlling and focusing of directional sound in an audio system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Home audio systems and home theater audio systems typically use speaker systems that lack the ability to change the optimal focal point of the sound relative to the ear of the person listening to the audio. That is, they focus the sound to a single focal optimal point. As a person moves to different spots in the room, the sound effect to that person changes. 
     Tweeters are highly directional and as a result, the best speaker systems still only have a small “sweetspot” when they sound better than live. The current systems assume a stationary person is listening to the audio and the prior art lacks a system that allows for optimally focusing the sound to locations specific to the movement of the person listening to the sound. 
     Headphones direct the tweeter directly into the ear but are uncomfortable and can damage hearing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One method is to use radio frequency transmitters where a person would wear the transmitter. The present invention effectively uses regular speakers on servo stands and satellite tweeter or tweeters or whole speakers or full range cone or full range speaker with each individual cone moving inside speaker adapted to rotate on two axes to provide sound that is much richer and similar to that produced in headphones. 
     The invention allows for the tracking of the speakers to focus the sound toward a person as the person moves within the room, thereby providing for a real-time optimal sound in relation to the movement of the person. 
     Sensors for tracking and activating the servos can be done by one of several ways. The receivers would be in electrical communication with each of the servo electrical systems that activate the servo. Using triangulation, the servos would rotate to direct the sound toward each new position of the person. A second method would use infrared technology. An infrared camera would be located so that it is in electrical communication with the servo circuitry of each associated satellite tweeter. As the person moves in the room, the infrared sensors sense the location of the person by the generated or sensed heat of the person and the servos would then be activated to appropriately rotate the satellite speakers about two axes (up and down and right and left to move reflected sound to a different location) to direct the sound toward each new position of the person. A third method is to utilize facial recognition software that can be operated from a central computer or incorporated in the electronics of the combination servo/webcam/satellite tweeter system. For example, a electrical box associated with each satellite tweeter could include the software processing circuitry to operate the facial recognition software which will electronically activate the sensors rotating the satellite speaker as the facial recognition also recognizes the change of the position of the person in the room. Effectively as the webcam tracks the person&#39;s face or ears and rotates by means of the servo, the satellite speaker in turn rotates to direct the sound toward the person as the person moves within the room. 
     Each tweeter has associated tracking circuitry that allows for independent operation of each individual speaker. A central control circuitry is not needed. Of course, the tracking circuitry can also be incorporated in a computer or some other device having specialized circuitry to track all people in a room and to point the individual speaker toward individuals or groups of individuals. Although no rewiring would be required to set up the circuitry but clearly the present invention can be adapted in this manner to cover individuals or groups of people in a larger room. 
     Another feature of the present invention is to incorporate processing circuitry that delays in milliseconds and changes (lowers) in volume of speakers closest to a person and to turn down volume for speakers closest to the person. 
     Tracking circuitry could also be centralized in an amplifier driving the audio system where individual speaker volume can readily be controlled as the sensors (facial recognition, infrared or radio frequency) sense movement by people in the room. 
     Other embodiments can relate to a tracking mode as the speaker direction follows a person or a group of persons. For example, the servo/speaker can be configured to track a remote control device that the person carries and can have a manual adjustment for the location of the remote with respect to the person&#39;s ears. Another embodiment involves the use of preset locations where the speaker direction is programmed in a number of preset locations and then using the remote control or on the speaker itself type in a number that corresponds to the speaker locations. The original locations can also be programmed into the remote using a standard programmable remote or one that comes with the speakers. 
     Another embodiment of the tracking mode is where individual speakers follow either the closest person with a remote control or RF transmitter in his hand. The remote control device could incorporate a microphone adapted to pick up ambient noise and the system can be programmed to cancel the ambient noise to provide a better quality sound at an individual&#39;s location. Directional speakers can be used so the rest of the room hears little noise. Another embodiment is where the system keeps a person&#39;s personal space quiet using noise cancellation speaker technology. The user would have a microphone on him and the speakers would produce sound to counteract the noise waves in the environment. 
     One remote control device could include a touch screen representative of the room and/or four buttons to manually adjust the speakers to direct sound toward a sound sweetspot location within a room or the person in the room. The touch screen can show multiple people and multiple speakers as well as what locations and directions the speakers are in. With the remote the sweetspot can moved around the room. 
     The system can be programmed to effectively be a location awareness acoustic feedback system. In such an embodiment, there are two modes of operation when two or more people are in a room. Each individual speaker moves or directionally aligns itself with the location of a designated individual in the room or the system can be programmed to calculate an optimal midpoint location and to direct all individual speakers toward that optimal midpoint location. 
     The location awareness system allows for highly directional speakers that allow for the rest of the room area to be not as loud for others that do not wish to listen, thereby also allowing for a richer sound. These highly directional speakers can be adapted to include a parabolic dish that can be attached to and behind the speaker or not attached to the speaker but located behind the speaker. The speaker assembly can be enclosed in a speaker box housing or other type of design. The speaker within the dish can move which moves the sweetspot location of the directional sound or the whole dish can move. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the accompanying drawings: 
         FIG. 1A  is a conceptual representation of an audio system utilizing infra-red thermal imaging to track a person of group of persons in a room; 
         FIG. 1B  is a conceptual representation of an audio system utilizing radio-frequency technology to track a person of group of persons in a room; 
         FIG. 1C  is a conceptual representation of an audio system utilizing a webcam camera and facial recognition technology to track a person of group of persons in a room; 
         FIG. 2A  is a conceptual representation of an audio system utilizing multiple satellite speakers in a room which track and direct sound toward a person in a room; 
         FIG. 2B  is a conceptual representation of an audio system of  FIG. 2A  where the person has moved within the room from the position of  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a conceptual representation of an audio system utilizing multiple satellite speakers in a room which track and direct sound toward a group of persons in a room; 
         FIG. 3B  a conceptual representation of an audio system of  FIG. 3A  where the group of persons has moved within the room from the position of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a conceptual representation of another embodiment of the invention using a remote controller and radio-frequency technology with means for selecting speaker use incorporated within the remote control device; 
         FIG. 4B  is a conceptual representation of another embodiment of the invention using a remote controller and radio-frequency technology where the remote controller is carried by the person and sound can be processed to provide a richer sound through a head set being worn over the ears of the person; 
         FIG. 5  is a conceptual representation of another embodiment of the invention where the remote controller has a touchscreen and/or directional buttons for directing the speaker sound toward a desired direction; 
         FIG. 6A  is a conceptual representation of another embodiment of the invention where individual speakers follow a closest person using with a transmitter and/or remote controller; 
         FIG. 6B  is a conceptual representation of an embodiment of the invention similar to that of  FIG. 6A  where individual speakers follow a closest person using with a transmitter and/or remote controller; 
         FIG. 6C  is a conceptual representation of an embodiment of the invention similar to that of  FIG. 6A  where individual speakers are directed toward a sound sweetspot within the room or a calculated optimal location within the room with persons scattered in various locations within the room; 
         FIG. 7A  is a conceptual representation of a speaker utilizing a parabolic dish behind the speaker that concentrates the sound direction toward a person, group of persons or sound sweetspot location within a room; 
         FIG. 7B  is a conceptual representation of a speaker utilizing a parabolic dish as depicted in  FIG. 7A  with the speaker itself rotating within the parabolic dish; and 
         FIG. 7C  a conceptual representation of a speaker utilizing a parabolic dish of  FIG. 7A  where the speaker and the parabolic dish rotate in unison. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the above described drawings, the present invention is a system and associated methodology for providing a speaker tracking system that provides focused directional sound in an audio system, and is depicted generally as  10 . 
     The invention  10  is used with an audio speaker system having at least one speaker (or a general range frequency cone speaker as well)  12 . (When used herein, the term speaker is used synonymously with tweeter speaker and general range frequency cone speaker.) The invention  10  is a system that comprises means  16  for sensing real-time movements of a person  14   a  or a group of persons  14   b  in a room  20 . When sensing a group of persons  14   b , typically a core or generally centralized person within the group is selected to focus on. 
     A servo device  22  is associated with the speaker  12  and is typically mechanically connected to the speaker  12  so as the servo device  22  is activated to rotate, the servo device  22  rotates tweeter speaker  12  to direct the audio sound resonating from the tweeter speaker  12  toward the person  14   a  or said group of persons  14   b  as the person  14   a  moves or the group of persons  14   b  move in the room  22 . 
     Included in the invention is a processor or processing means  18  for analyzing a change of position data related to the movements and for electrically activating the servo device  22 . Typically, the data flowing from the sensing means  16  is analyzed by the processor  18 , which in turn communicates with the servo device  22  to rotate the speaker  12 . Processing means  18  can be incorporated in a stand alone separate housing that contains a processing unit with software needed to accept the data from the sensing means  16  and transmit instructions to the servo device  22  or it can be incorporated within a single box that also includes the servo device with the sensing means  16  incorporated within the same box or the sensing means  16  kept in a separate housing. Another option is to incorporate the processing means  18  within a computer that contains the required software. It is understood that one skilled in the art of programming will be able to write the software required for analyzing the change of position data and transmitting instructions to the servo device  22 . 
     There may be several technologies available that can be used to monitor position changes of people in a room; however, it is presumed that three of the least expensive ways of doing this are infra-red technology, radio-frequency technology and camera such as webcams. 
     Accordingly, one method for providing means  16  for sensing real-time movements of a person  14   a  or a group of persons  14   b  is the use of an infrared sensor  16   a , which senses heat images of people. The infrared (I-R) sensor  16   a  communicates with the processor  18 , which in turn communicates with the servo device  22 . The infrared sensor  16   a  is typically located at or adjacent the tweeter speaker  12  and has electronic circuitry for monitoring the movements within a room  20  of the person  14   a  or group of persons  14   b  by sensing thermal imagery. 
     A second method of providing means  16  for sensing real-time movements of a person  14   a  or a group of persons  14   b  is by utilizing a radio frequency system comprising a radio frequency receiver  16   b  located at the speaker  12  and a radio frequency transmitter  16   c  typically worn or otherwise attached to the person  14   a  or someone within the group of persons  14   b . Data related to the movements is transmitted to the receiver  16   c , which can be located near or adjacent the speaker  12  and data received by the receiver  16   c  is in turn analyzed by the processor  18  for activating the servo device  22 . In the accompanying drawings, as an example only, the transmitter is shown at the person location while the receiver is shown at the speaker location. It is understood that the opposite may be implemented, accordingly, when the term radio frequency first component is used hereinafter, it refers to either the transmitter component or the receiver component and when radio frequency second component is used hereinafter, it refers to the corresponding receiver component or the transmitter component. The drawings depicted show by example only the use of radio frequency technology. 
     A third method for providing the means  16  for sensing the movements is by utilizing a camera like a webcam  16   d , which is located at the speaker  12 . The camera  16   d  is in electronic communication with facial recognition software wherein the software is programmed to recognize the person  14   a  or someone within the group of persons  14   b  and to track the movements of the person  14   a  or that someone in the group of persons  14   b.    
     Each tweeter speaker  12  can be part of a single speaker system box or they can be arranged around a room where desired as satellite speakers. Typically, when arranged as satellite speakers, there are at least two speakers as generally found in small rooms. However, it may be desired to have a plurality of speakers strategically placed within a larger room to provide for an enhanced stereo sound or a home theater experience. 
     When there are multiple speakers (2 or more), the invention may optionally include a functional feature that recognizes when the person moves closer to a speaker so that a volume attenuation or reduction and delay of milli-seconds so the sound waves are in sync from speakers and the volume adjusts lower closer to the listener so the decibel level is the same for both ears. In this case, the processor  18  can be programmed to adjust a volume of closer speakers as the person  14   a  or group of persons  14   b  move closer to the satellite tweeter speakers and away from others. 
     Another embodiment of the tracking mode is where individual speakers  12  follow either the closest person  14   a  with a remote control device  24  or RF transmitter  16   c  in his hand. The remote control device  24  could incorporate a microphone  30  adapted to pick up ambient noise and the system can be programmed using the processor  18  to cancel the ambient noise to provide a better quality sound at an individual&#39;s location. Directional speakers can be used so the rest of the room hears little noise. Another embodiment is where the system keeps a person&#39;s personal space quiet using noise cancellation speaker technology. The user would have a microphone  30  on him and the speakers would produce sound to counteract the noise waves in the environment. 
     The remote control device  24  could include a touch screen  32  representative of the room  20  and/or four buttons  34  to manually adjust the speakers to direct sound toward a sound sweetspot location  36  within a room  20  or the person(s)  14   a , 14   b  in the room. The touch screen  32  can show multiple people and multiple speakers as well as what locations and directions the speakers are in. With the remote, the sweetspot  36  can moved around the room. 
     The system can be programmed to effectively be a location aware acoustic feedback system. In such an embodiment, there are two modes of operation when two or more people are in a room. Each individual speaker  12  moves or directionally aligns itself with the location of a designated individual in the room  20  or the system can be programmed to calculate an optimal midpoint location  38  and to direct all individual speakers  12  toward that optimal midpoint location  38 . 
     The location aware system uses for highly directional speakers  12  that allow for the rest of the room area to be not as loud for others that do not wish to listen, thereby also allowing for a richer sound. These highly directional speakers  12  can be adapted to include a parabolic dish  40  that can be attached to and behind the speaker  12  or not attached to the speaker  12  but located behind the speaker  12 . The speaker assembly can be enclosed in a speaker box housing or other type of design. The speaker within the dish  40  can move which moves the sweetspot location  36  (or person  14   a , group of persons  14   b ) of the directional sound or the whole dish  40  in unison with the speaker  12  can move. 
     It should be understood that the preceding is merely a detailed description of one or more embodiments of this invention and that numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The preceding description, therefore, is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.