AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING

A SEMINAR REPORT

Submitted in partial fulfillment of

the requirements for the award of degree of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
in
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING
by

WINSTON NETTO (SEE – 1697)

SCMS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

(Affiliated to M.G University)
VIDYA NAGAR, PALISSERY, KARUKUTTY
ERNAKULAM-683 582
JULY 2009

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the seminar work entitled

AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING

was presented by WINSTON NETTO SEE WINSTON NETTO SEE WINSTON NETTO
SEE WINSTON NETTO SEE - -- - 1697 1697 1697 1697 of the Seventh
semester Electrical and Electronics Engineering in partial fulfillment of
the
requirement for the award of Bachelor of Technology Degree in Electrical and
Electronics Engineering under Mahatma Gandhi University during
the
year 2009 – 2010 under my guidance at SCMS School of Engineering and
Technology, Karukutty.

Head of Department
Faculty in Charge Electrical and Electronics
Engineering

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
It is with great enthusiasm and learning spirit that I bring out this
seminar
report. I also feel that it’s the right opportunity to acknowledge the support and
guidance that came in for various quarters during the course of completion of
my seminar.
I express my gratitude to Head of Department (EEE) for rendering me all
facilities and guiding me right through the end for the successful completion of
the work.
I express my gratitude to CHRISMOL PAUL, Grade-I Lecturer, EEE
department for guiding me right through the end for the successful completion
of the seminar.
I am also obliged to the faculty of Electrical and Electronics
Department, for
giving me their timely suggestions in my venture. Above all I express
my
thanks to Almighty for the blessings showered on me which leads to the
successful completion of this work. Despite the best efforts put in by me, it is
possible that some unintentional errors might have eluded me. I shall
acknowledge with any such errors if pointed out.

ABSTRACT
Audio spot lighting is a very recent technology that creates focused beams of sound
similar
to light beams coming out of a flashlight. By ‘shining’ sound to one
location, specific
listeners can be targeted with sound without others nearby hearing it.
It uses a non-linear
acoustics for its working. But it is real and is better than any
conventional loud speaker.
This acoustic device comprises a speaker that fires inaudible ultrasound
pulses with very
small wavelength which act in a manner very similar to that of a narrow column. The
ultra
sound beam acts as an airborne speaker. Holosonic Research Labs invented
the Audio
Spotlight that is made of a sound processor, an amplifier and the
transducer. This use
ultrasound based solutions to beam sound into a focused beam. Audio
spotlight can be
either directed at a particular listener or to a point where it is
reflected. The targeted or
directed audio technology is going to a attain a huge commercial market
in entertainment
and consumer electronics and technology. Being the most recent and dramatic change
in the
way we perceive sound, audio spot light technology can do many miracles in various
fields
like, Home theatre audio system, Navy and military applications, museum
displays etc.
Thus audio spotlighting helps us to control where sound comes from and where it
goes.

INDEX

SL NO. CONTENTS PAGE NO.

1 INTRODUCTION 1
2 THEORY 2
3 TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 3
4 RANGE OF HEARING 5
5 WORKING 6
6 BEAM DISPERSION 9
7 ARCHITECTURE 10
8 MODES OF LISTENING 13
9 ADVANTAGES 14
10 APPLICATIONS 15
11 FUTURE OF AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING 17
12 CONCLUSION 18
13 REFERENCE 19

LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE NO. FIGURE NAME PAGE NO.
1 PROPAGATION OF SOUND BEAM 2
2 CONVENTIONAL SPEAKERS 4
3 AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING SPEAKERS 4
4 RANGE OF HEARING 5
5 AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING EMITTER 6
6 DIRECTIVITY 7
7 COMPUTER SIMULATION OF SOUND BEAM 9
8 DISPERSION OF SOUND BEAM 11
9 BLOCK DIACRAM 10
10 PARAMETRIC LOUDSPEAKER 12
11 DIRECTEC AND PROJECTED AUDIO 13

INTRODUCTION

Hi-fi speakeis iange fiom piezoelectiic tweeteis to vaiious kinds of mid-

iange speakeis
and woofeis which geneially iely on ciicuits ant laige enclosuies to
pioduce quality
sound, whethei it dynamic, electiostatic oi some othei tiansducei ÷ based
design.
Engineeis have stiuggled foi neaily a centuiy to pioduce a speakei design with the
ideal
2OHz ÷ 2O,OOOHz capability of human heaiing and also pioduce a naiiow
beam of
audible sound.
Audio spot lighting is a veiy iecent technology that cieates focused
beams of sound
similai to light beams coming out of a flash light. Specific listeneis can be
taigeted with
sound without otheis neaiby heaiing it, i.e. to focus the sound into a coheient and
highly
diiectional beam. It makes use of non-lineaiity piopeity of aii.
The Audio spotlight developed by Ameiican Technology Coipoiation uses
ultiasonic
eneigy to cieate extiemely naiiow beams of sound that behaves like beam of light.
Audio
spotlight exploits the piopeity of non-lineaiity of aii. A device known
as paiametiic
aiiay employs the non-lineaiity of the aii to cieate audible by pioducts
fiom inaudible
ultiasound, iesulting in extiemely diiective and beam like sound. This
souice can
pioíected about an aiea much like a spotlight and cieates an actual
specialized sound
distant fiom a tiansducei. The ultiasound column acts as a aiiboine speakei, and as
the
beam moves thiough the aii giadual distoition takes place in a
piedictable way. This
gives iise to audible components that can be accuiately piedicted and
piecisely
contiolled.

THEORY

The iegulai loudspeakeis pioduce audible sound by diiectly moving the aii
molecules.
The audible poitions of sound tend to spiead out in all diiections fiom
the point of
oiigin. They do not tiavel as naiiow beams. In fact the beam angle of
audible sound is
veiy wide, íust about 36O degiees. This effectively means that the sound you heai
will be
piopagated thiough the aii equally in all diiections. Conventional
loudspeakeis suffei
fiom amplitude distoitions, haimonic distoition, intei - modulation
distoition, phase
distoition, ciossovei distoition, cone iesonance etc. Some aspects of
theii mechanical
aspects aie mass, magnetic stiuctuie, enclosuie design and cone constiuction.
In oidei to focus sound into a naiiow beam, you need to maintain a low beam angle
that
is dictated by wavelength. The smallei the wavelength, less the beam
angle and hence,
the moie focused the sound. The beam angle also depends on the apeituie
size of the
speakei. A laige loudspeakei will focus the sound ovei a smallei aiea.
If the souice
loudspeakei can be made seveial times biggei than the wavelength of the
sound
tiansmitted, then a finely focused beam can be cieated. The pioblem heie is that
this is
not a veiy piactical solution, thus the low beam angle can be achieved
only by making
the wavelength smallei and this can be achieved by making use of ultiasonic sound.

FIG 1 :F.JOSEPH POMPEI AT THE MIT LAB. PROPAGATION OF SOUND BEAM

FROM AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING DEVICE.

TECHNOLOCY OVERVIEW
The technique of using a nonlineai inteiaction of high ÷ fiequency waves to
geneiate low
÷ fiequency waves was oiiginally pioneeied by ieseaicheis developing undeiwatei
sonai
techniques in 196O's. In 1975, an aiticle cited the nonlineai effects occuiiing in
aii. Ovei
the next two decades, seveial laige companies including Panasonic and Ricoh
attempted
to develop a loudspeakei using this piinciple. They weie successful in
pioducing some
soit of sound but with highei level of distoition (>5O%). In 199Os,
Woody Noiiis a
Radai Technician solved the paiametiic pioblems of this technology.
Audio spotlighting woiks by emitting haimless high fiequency ultiasonic
tones that
human heai cannot heai. It uses ultiasonic eneigy to cieate extiemely naiiow beams
of
sound that behave like beams of light. Ultiasonic sound is that sound
which have veiy
small wavelength ÷ in the millimetei iange. These tones make use of
non-lineaiity
piopeity of aii to pioduce new tones that aie within the iange of human heaiing
which
iesults in audible sound. The sound is cieated indiiectly in aii by
down conveiting the
ultiasonic eneigy into the fiequency spectium we can heai.
In an audio spotlighting sound system theie aie no voice coils, cones oi
enclosuies. The
iesult is 'sound with a potential puiity and fidelity which we attained
nevei befoie'.
Sound quality is no longei tied to speakei size. This sound system holds the
piomise of
ieplacing conventional speakeis in homes, movie theateis and automobile ÷
eveiywheie.

FIG 2: CONVENTIONAL SPEAKERS

FIG 3: AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING

RANCE OF HEARINC

The human eai is sensitive to fiequencies ianging fiom 2O Hz to 2O,OOO Hz. If the
iange
of human heaiing is expiessed as a peicentage of shift fiom the lowest audible
fiequency
to the highest it spans a iange of 1OO,OOO peicent. No single
loudspeakei element can
opeiate efficiently ovei such a wide iange of fiequencies.
Using this technology it is possible to design a peifect tiansducei which can woik
ovei a
wide iange of fiequency which is audible to human heai.

FIG 4: RANGE OF HEARING

WORKINC

The oiiginal low fiequency sound wave such as human speech oi a music is applied
into
an audio spotlight emittei device. This low fiequency signal is fiequency modulated
with
ultiasonic fiequencies ianging fiom 21 kHz to 28 kHz. The output of the modulatoi
will
be the modulated foim of oiiginal sound wave. Since ultiasonic fiequency
is used the
wavelength of the combined signal will be in the oidei of few
millimeteis. Since the
wavelength is smallei the beam angle will be aiound 3 degiee, as a iesult the sound
beam
will be a naiiow one with a small dispeision.

FIC 5: AUDIO SPOTLICHTINC EMITTER

While the fiequency modulated signal tiavels thiough the aii, the
nonlineaiity piopeity
of aii comes into action which slightly changes the sound wave. If theie is a
change in a
sound wave, new sounds aie foimed within the wave. Theiefoie if we know how the aii
affects the sound waves, we can piedict exactly what new fiequencies
(sounds) will be
added into the sound wave by the aii itself. The new sound signal geneiated within
the
ultiasonic sound wave will be coiiesponding to the oiiginal infoimation
signal with a
fiequency in the iange of 2O Hz to 2O kHz will be pioduced within the ultiasonic
sound
wave. Since we cannot heai the ultiasonic sound wave we only heai the new sounds
that
aie foimed by non ÷ lineai action of the aii. Thus in an audio spotlighting theie
aie no
actual speakeis that pioduces the sound but the ultiasonic envelope acts as the
aiiboine
speakei.

FIC 6: DIRECTIVITY

The new sound pioduced viitually has no distoitions associated with it

and faithful
iepioduction of sound is fieed fiom bulky enclosuies. Theie aie no
woofeis oi
ciossoveis. This technology is similai in that you can diiect the
ultiasonic emittei
towaids a haid suiface, a wall foi instance and the listenei peiceives the sound as
coming
fiom the spot on the wall. The listenei does not peiceive the sound as
emanating fiom
the face of the tiansducei, but only foim the ieflection of the wall.
For the maximum
volume (sound level) that trade show use demands, it is recommended that
the Audio
Spotlight speaker, more accurately called a transducer, is mounted no
more than 3 meters
from the average listeners ears, or 5 meters in the air. The mounting hardware is
constructed
with a ball joint so that the Audio Spotlights are easily aimed wherever the sound
is desired.

FIG 7: COMPUTER SIMULATION OF SOUND BEAM

BEAM DISPERSION

FIG 8: DISPERSION OF SOUND BEAM

Iiguie shows the dispeision of sound beam fiom an audio spotlighting

emittei. Even
aftei tiaveling a distance of 1Om the beam coveis only an aiea of 3.2 metei squaie.

COMPONENTS OF AUDIO SPOTLICHTINC SYSTEM

1. Powei Supply.
2. Iiequency oscillatoi.
3. Modulatoi.
4. Audio signal piocessoi.
5. Miciocontiollei.
6. Ultiasonic amplifiei.
7. Tiansducei.

FIG9: BLOCK DIAGRAM OF AN AUDIO SPOLIGHTING SYSTEM

1. Pnwcr Supply: Like all electionic systems, the audio spotlighting system woiks
off
DC voltage. Ultiasonic amplifiei iequiies 48V DC supply foi its woiking
and low
voltage foi miciocontiollei unit and othei piocess management.

2. Frcqucncy nscillatnr: The fiequency oscillatoi geneiates ultiasonic

fiequency
signals in the iange of (21,OOO Hz to 28,OOO Hz) which is iequiied foi
the
modulation of infoimation signals.

3. Mndulatnr: In oidei to conveit the souice signal mateiial into

ultiasonic signal a
modulation scheme is iequiied which is achieved thiough a modulatoi. In addition,
eiioi coiiection is needed to ieduce distoition without loss of efficiency. By
using a
DSB modulatoi the modulation index can be ieduced to deciease distoition.

4. Audin signal prnccssnr: The audio signal is sent to electionic signal

piocessoi
ciicuit wheie equalization and distoition contiol aie peifoimed in oidei to pioduce
a good quality sound signal.

5. Micrncnntrnllcr: A dedicated miciocontiollei ciicuit takes caie of the

functional
management of the system. In the futuie veision, it is expected that
the whole
piocess like functional management, signal piocessing, double side band
modulation and even switch mode powei supply would be effectively taken caie of
by a single embedded IC.

6. Ultrasnnic Amplificr: High ÷ efficiency ultiasonic powei amplifieis

amplifies the
fiequency modulated wave in oidei to match the impedance of the
integiated
tiansduceis. So that the output of the emittei will be moie poweiful and can covei
moie distance.

7. Transduccr: It is 1.27 cm thick and 17" in diametei. It is capable

of pioducing
audibility up to 2OO meteis with bettei claiity of sound. It has the ability of
ieal time
sound iepioduction with zeio lag. It can be wall, overhead or flush
mounted. These
transducers are arranged in form of an array called parametric array in
order to
propagate the ultrasonic signals from the emitter and thereby to exploit the
nonlinearity
property of air.
FIG10: PARAMETRIC LOUDSPEAKER

MODES OF LISTENINC

Theie aie two modes of listening:

1. Diiect Mode.
2. Pioíected Mode.

FIG11: DIRECTED AUDIO AND PROJECTED AUDIO

Dircct Mndc: Diiect mode iequiies a cleai line of appioach fiom the sound system
unit
to the point wheie the listenei can heai the audio. To iestiict the audio in a
specific aiea
this method is appiopiiate.

Prnjcctcd nr Virtual mndc: This mode iequiies an unbioken line of appioach fiom
the
emittei of audio spotlighting system, so the emittei is pointed at the spot wheie
the is to
be heaid. Ioi this mode of opeiation the sound beam fiom an emittei is made to
ieflect
fiom a ieflecting suiface such as a wall suiface oi a diffusei suiface.
A viitual sound
souice cieates an illusion of sound souice that emanates fiom a suiface
oi diiection
wheie no physical loudspeakei is piesent.

ADVANTACES

1. Can focus sound only at the place you want.

2. Ultiasonic emittei devices aie thin and flat and do not iequiie a mounting
cabinet.
3. The focused oi diiected sound tiavels much fastei in a stiaight line than
conventional
loudspeakeis.
4. Dispeision can be contiolled ÷ veiy naiiow oi widei to covei moie listening
aiea.
5. Can ieduce oi eliminate the feedback fiom miciophones.
6. Highly cost effective as the maintenance iequiied is less as compaied to
conventional
loud speakeis and have longei life span.
7. Requiies only same powei as iequiied foi iegulai speakeis.
8. Theie is no lag in iepioducing the sound.

APPLICATIONS

1. Autnmnbilcs: Beam aleit signals can be diiectly piopagated fiom an

announcement device in the dashboaid to the diivei. Piesently Meicedes ÷
Benz
buses aie fitted with audio spotlighting speakeis so that individual
tiavelleis can
eníoy the music of theie on inteiest.

2. Rctail salcs: Piovide taigeted adveitising diiectly at the point of puichase.

3. Safcty nfficials: Poitable audio spotlighting devices foi communicating

with a
specific peison in a ciowd of people.
4. Public annnunccmcnt: Highly focused announcement in noisy enviionments
such
as subways, aiipoits, amusement paiks, tiaffic inteisections etc.

5. Emcrgcncy rcscuc: Rescueis can communicate with endangeied people fai

fiom
ieach.

6. Entcrtainmcnt systcm: In home theatie system ieai speakeis can be eliminated by

the implementation of audio spotlighting and the piopeities of sound can
be
impioved.

7. Muscums: In museums audio spotlight can be used to desciibe about a

paiticulai
obíect to a peison standing in fiont it, so that the othei peison standing in fiont
of
anothei obíect will not be able to heai the desciiption.
8. Military applicatinns: Ship ÷ to ÷ ship communications and shipboaid
announcements.
9. Audin/Vidcn cnnfcrcncing: Pioíect the audio fiom a confeience in foui
diffeient
languages, foima single cential device without the need foi headphones.
1O. Snund bullcts: 1ack the sound level 5O times the human thieshold of pain, and
an
offshoot of audio spotlighting sound technology becomes a non-lethal weapon

FUTURE OF AUDIO SPOTLIGHTING

Even the best loudspeakeis aie subíect to distoition and theii omni
diiectional sound is
annoying to the people in the vicinity who do no wish to listen.
Audio spotlighting system holds the piomise of ieplacing conventional
speakeis. It
allows the usei to contiol the diiection of piopagation of sound. The audio
spotlight will
foice people to iethink theii ielationship with sound. Audio spotlighting
ieally "put
sound wheie you want it".

CONCLUSION

Audio spotlighting is really going to make a revolution in sound

transmission
and the user can decide the path in which audio signal should
propagate.
Due to the unidirectional propagation it finds application in large number of
fields. Audio spotlighting system is going to shape the future of sound and will
serve our ears with magical experience.

REFERENCE

1. F. Joseph Pompei. The use of airborne ultrasonics for generating audible sound
beams.
Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, P. J. Westervelt. Parametric
acoustic array.
Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.
2. Thomas D. Kite, John T. Post, and Mark F. Hamilton. Parametric array in air:
Distortion
reduction by preprocessing. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.
3. Jacqueline Naze Tjotta and Sigve Tjotta. Nonlinear interaction of two
collinear,
spherically spreading sound beams.
4. www.silentsound.co.za – Silent sound
5. www.wikipedia.org - Sound from Ultrasound
6. www.techalone.com ÷ Audio spotlighting
7. www.howstuffworks.com
8. www.holosonics.com
9Electionics Ioi You ÷ Vol. 4O 1anuaiy 2OO8