IP Library Granted Patent US 10,015,617
Granted Patent B2
US 10,015,617 · App. 15/451,626 · Granted Jul 3, 2018

Method and apparatus for an ultrasonic emitter system floor audio unit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,015,617
App. No.
15/451,626
Granted
Jul 3, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for ultrasonic emitter based audio devices. An example audio device may comprise one or more ultrasonic emitters. The audio device may generate audio outputs that comprise ultrasonic signals, with the ultrasonic signals emitted using the one or more ultrasonic emitters. The directionality of emission of the ultrasonic signals may be based on a position of a listener and/or a location of the at least part of the listener's body relative to the audio device. The ultrasonic signals and/or the positioning of the one or more ultrasonic emitters may be adjusted based on the position of the listener and/or the location of the at least part of the listener's body to optimize the directionality of emission of the ultrasonic signals. The position of the listener and/or the location of the at least part of the listener's body may be determined in real-time, such as using sensory information.

Claims (37)

1. A method, comprising:

in an audio device that comprises one or more ultrasonic emitters:

generating audio output that comprises ultrasonic signals; and

emitting the ultrasonic signals using the one or more ultrasonic emitters, wherein the directionality of emission of the ultrasonic signals is based on a position of a listener and/or a location of at least part of the listener's body relative to the audio device.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising adjusting positioning of the one or more ultrasonic emitters based on the position of the listener and/or the location of listener's head to optimize the directionality of emission of the ultrasonic signals.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising configuring the ultrasonic signals and the emission of the ultrasonic signals via the ultrasonic emitters to create a particular audio experience by the listener.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising determining the position of the listener and/or the location of at least part of the listener's body.

5. The method of claim 4 , comprising determining the position of the listener and/or the location of at least part of the listener's body based on sensory data obtained from one or more sensors.

6. The method of claim 4 , comprising determining the position of the listener and/or the location of at least part of the listener's body based on visual data obtained via a visual input device.

7. The method of claim 4 , comprising determining the position of the listener and/or the location of at least part of the listener's body based on audio input provided by the listener, and captured via one or more microphones.

8. The method of claim 7 , comprising processing the audio input to estimate the position of the listener and/or the location of listener's head relative to the audio device.

9. A system, comprising:

an audio device that comprises one or more ultrasonic emitters, the audio device being operable to:

generate audio output that comprises ultrasonic signals; and

emit the ultrasonic signals using the one or more ultrasonic emitters, wherein the directionality of emission of the ultrasonic signals is based on a position of a listener and/or a location of at least part of the listener's body relative to the audio device.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the audio device is operable to adjust positioning involving the one or more ultrasonic emitters based on the position of the listener and/or the location of at least part of the listener's body to optimize the directionality of emission of the ultrasonic signals.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the audio device is operable to configure the ultrasonic signals and the emission of the ultrasonic signals via the ultrasonic emitters to create a particular audio experience by the listener.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the audio device is operable to determine the position of the listener and/or the location of at least part of the listener's body.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the audio device is operable to determine the position of the listener and/or the location of at least part of the listener's body based on sensory data obtained from one or more sensors.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the audio device is operable to determine the position of the listener and/or the location of at least part of the listener's body based on visual data obtained via a visual input device.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the audio device is operable to determine the position of the listener and/or the location of at least part of the listener's body based on audio input provided by the listener, and captured via one or more microphones.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the audio device is operable to process the audio input to estimate the position of the listener and/or the location of listener's head relative to the audio device.

17. A system, comprising:

one or more ultrasonic emitters; and

one or more circuits that are operable to:

generate audio output that comprises ultrasonic signals; and

emit the ultrasonic signals using the one or more ultrasonic emitters, wherein the directionality of emission of the ultrasonic signals is based on a position of a listener and/or a location of at least part of the listener's body relative to the system.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more circuits are operable to adjust positioning of the one or more ultrasonic emitters based on the position of the listener and/or the location of at least part of the listener's body to optimize the directionality of emission of the ultrasonic signals.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more circuits are operable to configure the ultrasonic signals and the emission of the ultrasonic signals via the ultrasonic emitters to create a particular audio experience by the listener.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more circuits are operable to determine the position of the listener and/or the location of at least part of the listener's body.

21. The system of claim 17 , comprising one or more sensors operable to generate sensory information relating to the listener.

22. The system of claim 21 , one or more circuits are operable to determine the location of the listener and/or the location of at least part of the listener's body based on the sensory information.

23. The system of claim 21 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least one of proximity sensors, audio input devices, visual input devices.

24. The system of claim 22 , wherein, when the one or more sensors comprise an audio input device, the sensory information comprises an audio input provided by the listener and captured via the audio input device; and

the one or more circuits are operable to process the audio input to determine the position of the listener and/or the location of listener's head relative to the enclosure.

25. The system of claim 22 , wherein, when the one or more sensors comprise a visual input device, the sensory information comprises visual data obtained via the visual input device; and

the one or more circuits are operable to process the visual data to determine the position of the listener and/or the location of listener's head relative to the enclosure.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 075315/0067 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2026
From: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 075311/0625 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 072470/0260 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 4, 2025
From: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 072338/0059 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2025
From: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
To: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 072337/0391 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2024
From: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
To: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066797/0517 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Dec 19, 2018
From: CRYSTAL FINANCIAL LLC
To: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.
Reel/Frame 047954/0518 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2018
From: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 045776/0648 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2018
From: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.
To: CRYSTAL FINANCIAL LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 045573/0653 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2017
From: STARK, JUERGEN
To: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.
Reel/Frame 041488/0771 →