US6016351A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Directed radiator with modulated ultrasonic sound
Assignee: Turtle Beach Corp
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Filing: 1997-07-16
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Granted: 2000-01-18
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Expires: 2017-07-16
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic beam (19) is used as a virtual array for an acoustic directional transmitter (11,21,31,41,51, and 61). The acoustic useful signal is modulated upon the ultrasonic beam as carrier via amplitude modulation, for example. The absorption of the ultrasonic power produces thermal expansion of the air and thus acoustic monopole radiation. At the same time, radiation pressure is released, resulting in dipole radiation. The superimposition of monopole and dipole produces a marked directivity characteristic. Since the ultrasonic sound possesses the same propagation velocity as the useful sound, the monopole and dipole radiation takes place within the virtual array correctly in terms of transit time, resulting in radiation that is directed extremely in the propagation direction. The effective array length can be adjusted over a wide range using the absorption coefficient that is a function of the carrier-frequency and, in extreme cases, a very punctual acoustic radiation can be realized at a wide distance. These types of directional transmitters are suitable as anti-sound generators and for directional signal and sound transmission. The ultrasonic carriers can be realized via piezoelectric (12) or pneumatic ultrasonic transmitters (22,32,42,52, and 62).
Inventors
- 👤 Hans-Joachim Raida
- 👤 Oskar Bschorr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:21
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K7/00; G10K7/02; G10K11/00; G10K11/16; G10K11/175; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K13/00; G10K15/00; G10K15/02; H; H04; H04R; H04R2217/00; H04R2217/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for propagating audible sound from an ultrasonic emitter, comprising the steps of: a) activating an ultrasonic pneumatic radiator for emitting ultrasonic sound as a carrier source for the audible sound to be propagated; b) modulating the ultrasonic sound by controlled variation of absorption of ultrasonic power along the beam within air as a propagating medium to develop a virtual array of monopole and dipole radiating sources within the air operable within an audible frequency range; and c) propagating audible sound waves having a primary direction of propagation along the beam as a consequence of retarded absorption of the ultrasonic power along the beam and corresponding to at least one desired frequency within the audible frequency range.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for propagating audible sound from an ultrasonic emitter, comprising the steps of: a) activating an ultrasonic pneumatic radiator for emitting ultrasonic sound as a carrier source for the audible sound to be propagated; b) modulating the ultrasonic sound by controlled variation of absorption of ultrasonic power along the beam within air as a propagating medium to develop a virtual array of monopole and dipole radiating sources within the air operable within an audible frequency range; and c) propagating audible sound waves having a primary direction of propagation along the beam as a consequence of retarded absorption of the ultrasonic power along the beam and corresponding to at least one desired frequency within the audible frequency range.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as defined in claim 1, comprising the more specific step of modulating the at least one ultrasonic beam by modulating ultrasonic power absorption using at least one reactive or resistive member selected from the group consisting of resonators and absorbers during propagation along the beam to develop the desired audible time signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as defined in claim 2, comprising the more specific step of modulating the at least one ultrasonic beam by modulating the ultrasonic power absorption during propagation in accordance with selection of a plurality of frequency dependent absorption coefficients of the medium to develop the at least one desired frequency within the audible frequency range.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 3, including the step of selecting air as the propagating medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in claim 4, comprising the more specific step of heating the air locally by absorption of ultrasonic power based on a selected frequency dependent absorption coefficient.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as defined in claim 5, wherein local absorption of ultrasonic energy generates (i) local expansion of the air which radiates as a local monopole audio source, and (ii) local radiation pressure which exerts a local force on the air causing local radiation as dipole audio source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as defined in claim 6, comprising the further step of superimposing sound pressure from the respective local monopole and local dipole sources for directional amplification of sound along the ultrasonic beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as defined in claim 1, comprising the more specific step of modulating the at least one ultrasonic beam by amplitude modulation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as defined in claim 1, comprising the more specific step of modulating the at least one ultrasonic beam by frequency modulation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as defined in claim 1, comprising the more specific step of emitting a single ultrasonic beam as the carrier source without generating a second ultrasonic beam which could interfere to produce other forms of sonic output.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as defined in claim 1, comprising the more specific step of emitting a broad-band ultrasonic frequency beam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of emitting parallel beams of at least one ultrasonic frequency and processing each beam in accordance with the steps of claim 1.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of emitting a separate monopole source in combination with the combined monopole and dipole sources being modulated by variation of absorption.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the pneumatic radiator comprises both an interrupter unit and a compressor unit as part of a system for generating high power ultrasonic output.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
140 words
A device for propagating directed audible sound from an ultrasonic emitter, comprising: a) a pneumatic ultrasonic emitter for emitting at least one ultrasonic beam as a carrier source for the audible sound to be propagated; b) modulating means coupled to the emitter for controlling variation of absorption of ultrasonic energy along the beam within a propagating medium to develop a virtual array of monopole and dipole radiating sources operable within an audible frequency range; c) an audio signal source coupled to the modulating means for providing a desired audio signal; and d) power control means coupled to the modulating means for developing absorption of the ultrasonic power along the beam at different power levels corresponding to at least one desired frequency within the audible frequency range to propagate audible sound waves having a primary direction of propagation along the beam.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
140 words
A device for propagating directed audible sound from an ultrasonic emitter, comprising: a) a pneumatic ultrasonic emitter for emitting at least one ultrasonic beam as a carrier source for the audible sound to be propagated; b) modulating means coupled to the emitter for controlling variation of absorption of ultrasonic energy along the beam within a propagating medium to develop a virtual array of monopole and dipole radiating sources operable within an audible frequency range; c) an audio signal source coupled to the modulating means for providing a desired audio signal; and d) power control means coupled to the modulating means for developing absorption of the ultrasonic power along the beam at different power levels corresponding to at least one desired frequency within the audible frequency range to propagate audible sound waves having a primary direction of propagation along the beam.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 15, further comprising variable frequency selector means coupled to the modulating means for modulating the ultrasonic power absorption during propagation in accordance with selection of a plurality of frequency dependent absorption coefficients of the medium to develop the at least one desired frequency within the audible frequency range.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the ultrasonic emitter includes means for propagating the ultrasonic frequency in air as the propagating medium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 15, comprising a plurality of emitter aligned in parallel relationship.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the emitter comprises at least one piezoelectric transducer for emitting ultrasonic frequencies.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the pneumatic ultrasonic emitter and modulating means comprise (i) a pneumatically operating directional transmitter for generating air flow, (ii) modulating structure coupled to the transmitter for modulating the air flow with an ultrasonic frequency, and (iii) a modulating unit coupled within the air flow and including means for providing the ultrasonically modulated air flow with low frequency modulation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein the pneumatically operating directional transmitter comprises an axial flow compressor driven by a first actuator for generating ultrasonic frequency within the exiting air flow.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the axial flow compressor includes a rotor coupled to the first actuator and a stator cooperatively positioned with respect to the rotor for modulating the exiting air flow with the ultrasonic frequency.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the axial flow compressor comprises a centrifugal compressor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein the flow compressor includes a rotor coupled to the first actuator and a stator cooperatively positioned with respect to the rotor for modulating the exiting air flow with the ultrasonic frequency.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20, said modulating means comprising an apertured disk driven by a second actuator disposed along the exiting air flow for providing low frequency modulation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the modulating unit comprises a series connected choke valve for applying low frequency modulation along the air flow.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the pneumatically operating directional transmitter comprises a side channel compressor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the side channel compressor comprises a running wheel, an actuator coupled to the running wheel for applying power, and a side channel positioned adjacent the running wheel for air flow.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 28, further comprising an interrupter element coupled along the side channel for preventing reflux.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the directional transmitter comprises at least two rotating gears which at least partially intermesh for providing the ultrasonic frequency for the air flow.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein the (i) an absorber exposed to the air flow for modulation of the low frequencies in the air flow, and (ii) a slider positioned between the air flow and absorber and including openings variable between open and closed positions for low frequency amplitude modulation.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the directional transmitter comprises at least one rotating impeller wheel which extends into the air flow and includes means for pulsatingly conveying ultrasonic frequency modulation.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the modulating unit comprises a Helmholtz resonator including a movable slider positioned between the air flow and the Helmholtz resonator for modulating low frequencies into the air flow.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as defined in claim 15, for further comprising at least one reactive or resistive member selected from the group consisting of resonators and absorbers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-17 | 2003-07-19 | 2004-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-17 | 2007-07-19 | 2008-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-17 | 2011-07-19 | 2012-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |