Method and apparatus for directional sound
Different embodiments of methods and apparatus to produce audio output signals are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic speaker outputting ultrasonic signals can be transformed into first audio output signals, which are directional. A non-ultrasonic speaker can output second audio output signals. The embodiment can be configured to output the first audio output signals or the second audio output signals in a vehicle. Another embodiment can be configured to output the first and the second audio output signals together. Yet another embodiment can be configured to be personalized to hearing characteristics of a user, or to depend on sound level of an environment of the user. One embodiment can include a directional speaker attached to a vehicle, with its output steerable towards a user in the vehicle.
1. An electronic system operable at least to generate audio output signals from audio input signals for a vehicle comprising:
a first directional speaker attached to the vehicle configured to generate directional audio signals, wherein the directional audio signals are directional in at least a direction in the vehicle; and
a second speaker attached to the vehicle configured to generate another audio signals,
wherein the first directional speaker and the second speaker are configured to generate signals from different portions of the audio input signals,
wherein the first direction speaker is configured to generate signals from portion of the audio input signals with a first frequency range,
wherein the second speaker is configured to generate signals from portion of the audio input signals with a second frequency range,
wherein the first frequency range is different from the second frequency range,
wherein the first directional speaker and the second speaker are configured to generate signals for different portions of the audio output signals, and
wherein the audio output signals include the directional audio signals and the another audio signals.
2. An electronic system as recited in claim 1 ,
wherein the first directional speaker includes an acoustic phase array of speaker elements, and
wherein the acoustic phase array includes at least a first speaker element and a second speaker element, with phases at least between signals from the first speaker element and the second speaker element controlled for the directional audio signals.
3. An electronic system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the first directional speaker is configured to be in the vicinity of the roof, inside of the vehicle, above a seat of the vehicle.
4. An electronic system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the acoustic phase array of speaker elements is configured to be steerable to steer at least the directional audio signals.
5. An electronic system as recited in claim 4 comprising at least a directional microphone apparatus that is configured to capture audio signals in at least a preset direction.
6. An electronic system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first directional speaker is configured to be in a headrest of a seat of the vehicle.
7. An electronic system as recited in claim 6 comprising at least a second directional speaker configured to be in proximity and electrically connected to the first directional speaker so that at least the first directional and the second directional speaker are configured to provide signals with stereo effect for a user and so that the first directional and the second directional speaker are configured to be positioned on two sides of the user.
8. An electronic system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the system includes at least a microphone configured to monitor at least audio signals in environment of the first directional speaker, and wherein the system is configured to generate cancellation audio signals with at least a portion of the cancellation audio signals being opposite in phase to at least a portion of the monitored audio signals for cancelling the at least a portion of the monitored audio signals.
9. An electronic system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the at least a microphone is proximate to the first directional speaker.
10. An electronic system as recited in claim 9 comprising at least a directional microphone apparatus that is configured to capture audio signals in at least a preset direction.
11. An electronic system as recited in claim 7 comprising:
tracking electronics configured to track an area of the user; and
steering electronics configured to steer at least the directional audio signals at least based on the area of the user tracked by the tracking electronics.
12. An electronic system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the system includes at least a microphone configured to monitor at least audio signals in environment of the first directional speaker, and wherein the system is configured to generate cancellation audio signals with at least a portion of the cancellation audio signals being opposite in phase to at least a portion of the monitored audio signals for cancelling the at least a portion of the monitored audio signals.
13. An electronic system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the at least a microphone is proximate to the first directional speaker.
14. An electronic system as recited in claim 13 comprising at least a directional microphone apparatus that is configured to capture audio signals in at least a preset direction.
15. An electronic system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the at least a microphone is integrated to at least the first directional speaker.
16. An electronic system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first directional speaker and the at least a microphone are configured to be in a headrest of a seat of the vehicle.
17. An electronic system as recited in claim 1 comprising at least a directional microphone apparatus that is configured to capture audio signals in at least a preset direction.
18. An electronic system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first directional speaker is configured to be in the vicinity of the roof, inside of the vehicle, above a seat of the vehicle.
19. An electronic system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic system is configured to generate the audio output signals using another speaker, without using the first directional speaker, and wherein the electronic system can be controlled to switch from generating the audio output signals using the first directional speaker, to generating the audio output signals using the another speaker.
20. An electronic system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first directional speaker includes an ultrasonic speaker to generate at least ultrasonic output signals to be transformed in air into the directional audio signals.
21. An electronic system as recited in claim 20 , wherein the first directional speaker is configured to be in a headrest of a seat of the vehicle.
22. An electronic system as recited in claim 21 comprising at least a second directional speaker configured to be in proximity and electrically connected to the first directional speaker so that at least the first directional and the second directional speaker are configured to provide signals with stereo effect for a user and so that the first directional and the second directional speaker are configured to be positioned on two sides of the user.
23. An electronic system as recited in claim 22 , wherein the system includes at least a microphone configured to monitor at least audio signals in environment of the first directional speaker, and wherein the system is configured to generate cancellation audio signals with at least a portion of the cancellation audio signals being opposite in phase to at least a portion of the monitored audio signals for cancelling the at least a portion of the monitored audio signals.
24. An electronic system as recited in claim 23 , wherein the microphone is in proximity to the first directional speaker.
25. An electronic system as recited in claim 24 comprising at least a directional microphone apparatus that is configured to capture audio signals in at least a preset direction.
26. An electronic system as recited in claim 20 , wherein the first directional speaker is configured to be in the vicinity of the roof, inside of the vehicle, above a seat of the vehicle.
27. An electronic system as recited in claim 26 ,
wherein the first directional speaker includes an acoustic phase array of speaker elements, and
wherein the acoustic phase array includes at least a first speaker element and a second speaker element, with phases at least between signals from the first speaker element and the second speaker element controlled for the directional audio signals.
28. An electronic system as recited in claim 27 , wherein the acoustic phase array of speaker elements is configured to be steerable to steer at least the directional audio signals.
29. An electronic system as recited in claim 20 , wherein the ultrasonic output signals include a carrier frequency that is at least 100 kHz.
30. A portable electronic system at least to generate directional audio output signals from audio input signals for a user comprising:
a first ultrasonic directional speaker configured to generate first directional audio signals,
wherein the first directional audio signals are configured to be directional in at least a first direction,
wherein the first ultrasonic directional speaker comprises a first array of ultrasonic speaker elements, with each of the ultrasonic speaker elements configured to generate ultrasonic signals, and
wherein the ultrasonic signals from each of the ultrasonic speaker elements in the first array of ultrasonic speaker elements are configured to enable steering the first directional audio signals to at least the first direction;
a second ultrasonic directional speaker configured to generate second directional audio signals,
wherein the second directional audio signals are configured to be directional in at least a second direction, and
wherein the directional audio output signals include at least the first directional audio signals and the second directional audio signals; tracking electronics configured to track at least an area of the user; and
steering electronics configured to steer at least the first directional audio signals to the first direction at least based on the area of the user tracked by the tracking electronics.
31. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 30 , wherein the steering electronics are configured to steer at least the first directional audio signals to an ear of the user.
32. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 30 , wherein the tracking electronics are configured to at least capture images of the user, to be analyzed based on at least pattern recognition.
33. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 30 , wherein the portable electronic system includes wireless circuitries to receive the audio input signals from an apparatus, based on at least Bluetooth protocol.
34. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 30 comprising at least a microphone configured to monitor at least ambient sound in the vicinity of the portable electronic system.
35. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 30 ,
wherein the second ultrasonic directional speaker comprises a second array of ultrasonic speaker elements, with each of the ultrasonic speaker elements configured to generate ultrasonic signals, and
wherein the ultrasonic signals from each of the ultrasonic speaker elements in the second array of ultrasonic speaker elements are configured to enable steering the second directional audio signals to at least the second direction.
36. A portable electronic system at least to generate directional audio output signals from audio input signals for a user comprising:
a plurality of ultrasonic directional speakers generating the directional audio output signals,
wherein the directional audio output signals include a plurality of directional audio signals in a plurality of directions, and
wherein each ultrasonic directional speaker is configured to generate directional audio signals in a direction, and includes an array of ultrasonic directional speaker elements, with each ultrasonic speaker element being configured to generate ultrasonic signals, and with the array of ultrasonic directional speaker elements configured to steer the directional audio signals to the direction;
tracking electronics configured to track at least an area of the user; and
steering electronics configured to steer at least a portion of the directional audio output signals based on the area of the user tracked by the tracking electronics.
37. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 36 , wherein the steering electronics is configured to steer at least directional audio signals from a first ultrasonic directional speaker of the plurality of ultrasonic directional speakers to an ear of the user.
38. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 36 , wherein the tracking electronics are configured to at least capture images of the user, to be analyzed based on at least pattern recognition.
39. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 36 , wherein the portable electronic system includes wireless circuitries to receive the audio input signals from an apparatus, based on at least Bluetooth protocol.
40. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 36 comprising at least a microphone configured to monitor at least ambient sound in the vicinity of the portable electronic system.