AUDIO SPOTGHT TECHNLOGY

CHAPTER-1
INTRODUCTION
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,ie to focus sound into a coherent and highly
directional beam . It uses a combination of non-linear acoustics and some fancy mathematics. But it
is real and is fine to knock the socks of any conventional loud speaker.

The Audio Spotlight & Hyper Sonic Sound Technology (developed by American
Technology Corporation), uses ultrasonic energy to create extremely narrow beams of sound that
behave like beams of light. Audio spotlighting exploits the property of non-linearity of air. When
inaudible ultrasound pulses are fired into the air, it spontaneously converts the inaudible ultrasound
into audible sound tones, hence proved that as with water, sound propagation in air is just as non-
linear, and can be calculated mathematically. A device known as a parametric array employs the
non-linearity of the air to create audible by-products from inaudible ultrasound, resulting in an
extremely directive, beamlike wide-band acoustical source. This source can be projected about an
area much like a spotlight, and creates an actual spatialized sound distant from the transducer. The
ultrasound column acts as an airborne speaker, and as the beam moves through the air, gradual
distortion takes place in a predictable way. This gives rise to audible components that can be
accurately predicted and precisely controlled.

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CHAPTER-2

2.1 HISTORY
Into The Depths of Audio Spotlighting Technology
About a half-dozen commonly used speaker types are in general use today. They range from
piezoelectric tweeters that recreate the high end of the audio spectrum, to various kinds of mid-range
speakers and woofers that produce the lower frequencies. Even the most sophisticated hi-fi speakers
have a difficult time in reproducing clean bass, and generally rely on a large woofer/enclosure
combination to assist in the task. Whether they be dynamic, electrostatic, or some other transducer-
based design, all loudspeakers today have one thing in common: they are direct radiating-- that is,
they are fundamentally a piston-like device designed to directly pump air molecules into motion to
create the audible sound waves we hear. The audible portions of sound tend to spread out in all
directions from the point of origin. They do not travel as narrow beams—which is why you don’t
need to be right in front of a radio to hear music. In fact, the beam angle of audible sound is very
wide, just about 360 degrees. This effectively means the sound that you hear will be propagated
through air equally in all directions.

In order to focus sound into a narrow beam, you need to maintain a

low beam angle that is dictated by wavelength. The smaller the wavelength, the less the beam angle,
and hence, the more focused the sound. Unfortunately, most of the human-audible sound is a mixture
of signals with varying wavelengths—between 2 cms to 17 metres (the human hearing ranges from a
frequency of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz). Hence, except for very low wavelengths, just about the entire
audible spectrum tends to spread out at 360 degrees. To create a narrow sound beam, the aperture
size of the source also matters—a large loudspeaker will focus sound over a smaller area. If the
source loudspeaker can be made several times bigger than the wavelength of the sound transmitted,
then a finely focused beam can be created. The problem here is that this is not a very practical
solution. To ensure that the shortest audible wavelengths are focused into a beam, a loudspeaker
about 10 metres across is required, and to guarantee that all the audible wavelengths are focused,
even bigger loudspeakers are needed.

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Here comes the acoustical device “AUDIO SPOTLIGHT” invented by Holosonics Labs
founder Dr. F. Joseph Pompei (while a graduate student at MIT), who is the master brain behind the
development of this technology.

Fig.1:-Audio Spotlight Creates Focused Beam Of Sound

Audio spotlight looks like a disc-shaped loudspeaker, trailing a wire, with a small laser
guide-beam mounted in the middle. When one points the flat side of the disc in your direction, you
hear whatever sound he's chosen to play for you — perhaps jazz from a CD. But when he turns the
disc away, the sound fades almost to nothing. It's markedly different from a conventional speaker,
whose orientation makes much less difference.

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Fig 2:- F.Joseph Pompie

2.2 TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW

The Audio Spotlight & Hyper Sonic Sound Technology (developed by American
Technology Corporation), uses ultrasonic energy to create extremely narrow beams of sound that
behave like beams of light. Ultrasonic sound is that sound that has very small wavelength—in the
millimeter range and you can’t hear ultrasound since it lies beyond the threshold of human

2.3 COMPONENTS AND SPECIFICATIONS

Audio Spotlight consists of three major components: a thin, circular transducer array, a signal
processor and an amplifier. The lightweight, nonmagnetic transducer is about .5 inches (1.27
centimeters) thick, and it typically has an active area 1 foot (30.48 cm) in diameter. It can project a
three-degree wide beam of sound that is audible even at distances over 100 meters (328 feet). The
signal processor and amplifier are integrated into a system about the size of a traditional audio
amplifier, and they use about the same amount of power

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2.3.1 SOUND BEAM PROCESSOR/AMPLIFIER

• Worldwide power input standard
• Standard chassis 6.76”/171mm (w) x 2.26”/57mm (h)x 11”/280mm (d), optional rack
mount kit
• Audio input: balanced XLR, 1/4” and RCA (with BTW adapter) Custom configurations
available eg. Multichannel

2.3.2 AUDIO SPOTLIGHT TRANSDUCER

 17.5”/445mm diameter, 1/2”/12.7mm thick, 4lbs/1.82kg

 Wall, overhead or flush mounting

 Black cloth cover standard, other color’s available

 Audio output: 100dB max

 ~1% THD typical @ 1kHz

 Usable range: 20m

 Audibility to 200m

 Optional integrated laser aimer 13”/ 330.2mm and 24”/ 609.6mm diameter also available

 Fully CE compliant

 Fully real-time sound reproduction - no processing lag

 Compatible with standard loudspeaker mounting accessories Due to continued development,

specifications are subject to change.

2.4 NON-LINEARITY OF AIR

Audio spotlighting exploits the property of non-linearity of air. When inaudible ultrasound
pulses are fired into the air, it spontaneously converts the inaudible ultrasound into audible sound
tones, hence proved that as with water, sound propagation in air is just as non-linear, and can be
calculated mathematically. A device known as a parametric array employs the non-linearity of the

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air to create audible by-products from inaudible ultrasound, resulting in an extremely directive,
beamlike wide-band acoustical source. This source can be projected about an area much like a
spotlight, and creates an actual spatialized sound distant from the transducer. The ultrasound column
acts as an airborne speaker, and as the beam moves through the air, gradual distortion takes place in
a predictable way. This gives rise to audible components that can be accurately predicted and
precisely controlled. However, the problem with firing off ultrasound pulses, and having them
interfere to produce audible tones is that the audible components created are nowhere similar to the
complex signals in speech and music. Human speech, as well as music, contains multiple varying
frequency signals, which interfere to produce sound and distortion. To generate such sound out of
pure ultrasound tones is not easy. This is when teams of researchers from Ricoh and other Japanese
companies got together to come up with the idea of using pure ultrasound signals as a carrier wave,
and superimposing audible speech and music signals on it to create a hybrid wave. If the range of
human hearing is expressed as a percentage of shift from the lowest audible frequency to the highest,
it spans a range of 100,000%. No single loudspeaker element can operate efficiently or uniformly
over this range of frequencies. In order to deal with this speaker manufacturers carve the audio
spectrum into smaller sections. This requires multiple transducers and crossovers to create a 'higher
fidelity' system with current technology.

Fig.3:-Parametric Loudspeaker- Amazing Audio Spotlight

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(Airborne ultrasounds of 28 kHz are envelope-modulated with audio signals. Inherent non-
linearity of the air works as a de-modulator. Thus de-modulated sounds impinge on our eardrums. We
can hear those sounds! )

Using a technique of multiplying audible frequencies upwards and superimposing them on a

"carrier" of say, 200,000 cycles the required frequency shift for a transducer would be only 10%.
Building a transducer that only needs to produce waves uniformly over only a 10% frequency range.

Fig.4:-Showing The Difference In Modulating Audible

This is similar to the idea of amplitude modulation (AM), a technique used to broadcast
commercial radio stations signals over a wide area. The speech and music signals are mixed with the
pure ultrasound carrier wave, and the resultant hybrid wave is then broadcast. As this wave moves
through the air, it creates complex distortions that give rise to two new frequency sets, one slightly
higher and one slightly lower than the hybrid wave. Becktay’s equation holds strong here, and these
two sidebands interfere with the hybrid wave and produce two signal components, as the equation
says. One is identical to the original sound

wave, and the other is a badly distorted component. This is where the problem lies—the volume of
the original sound wave is proportional to that of the ultrasounds, while the volume of the signal’s
distorted component is exponential. So, a slight increase in the volume drowns out the original sound
wave as the distorted signal becomes predominant. It was at this point that all research on ultrasound
as a carrier wave for an audio spotlight got bogged down in the 1980s.

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Focusing on the signal’s distorted component, since the signal component’s

behavior is mathematically predictable, the technique to create the audio beam is simple; modulate
the amplitude to get the hybrid wave, then calculate what the Becktay’s Equation does to this signal,
and do the exact opposite. In other words, distort it, before Mother Nature does it.

Finally, pass this wave through air, and what you get is the original sound wave component
whose volume, this time, is exponentially related to the volume of the ultrasound beam, and a
distorted component, whose volume now varies directly as the ultrasound wave.

By creating a complex ultrasound waveform (using a parametric array of ultrasound sources),

many different sources of sound can be created. If their phases are carefully controlled, then these
interfere destructively laterally and constructively in the forward direction, resulting in a collimated
sound beam or audio spotlight. Today, the transducers required to produce these beams are just half
an inch thick and lightweight, and the system required to drive it has similar power requirements to
conventional amplifier technology.

Fig.5:-Computer Simulation Of Sound Propagation

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2.5 DIRECT AUDIO AND PROJECTED AUDIO

There are two ways to use Audio Spotlight. First, it can direct sound at a specific target,
creating a contained area of listening space which is called “Direct Audio”. Second, it can bounce
off of a second object, creating an audio image. This audio image gives the illusion of a loudspeaker,
which the listener perceives as the source of sound, which is called “projected Audio”. This is
similar to the way light bounces off of objects. In either case, the sound’s source is not the physical
device you see, but the invisible ultrasound beam that generates it

Fig.6:- Direct Audio And Projected Audio

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Hyper Sonic Sound technology provides linear frequency response with virtually none of the
forms of distortion associated with conventional speakers.

Physical size no longer defines fidelity. The faithful reproduction of sound is freed from
bulky enclosures. There are no, woofers, tweeters, crossovers, or bulky enclosures. Thus it helps to
visualize the traditional loudspeaker as a light bulb, and HSS technology as a spotlight, that is you
can direct the ultrasonic emitter toward a hard surface, a wall for instance, and the listener perceives
the sound as coming from the spot on the wall. The listener does not perceive the sound as
emanating from the face of the transducer, only from the reflection off the wall.

Contouring the face of the HSS ultrasonic emitter can tightly control Dispersion of the audio
wave front. For example, a very narrow wave front might be developed for use on the two sides of a
computer screen while a home theater system might require a broader wave front to envelop multiple
listeners.

Fig.7:-Conventional Loudspeaker & Ultrasonic Emitter

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2.6 SPECIAL FEATURES OF AUDIO SPOTLIGHT

A COMPARISON WITH CONVENTIONAL LOUD SPEAKER:-
 Creates highly FOCUSED BEAM of sound
 Sharper directivity than conventional loud speakers using Self demodulation of finite
amplitude ultrasound with very small wavelength as the carrier
 Uses inherent non-linearity of air for demodulation
 Components- A thin circular transducer array, a signal processor & an amplifier.
 Two ways to use- Direct & projected audio
 Wide range of applications
 Highly cost effective

2.7 BLOCK DIAGRAM OF AUDIO SPOTLIGHT

Fig 8: Block Diagram

1. Power Supply: Like all electronic systems, the audio spotlighting system works off DC voltage.
Ultrasonic amplifier requires 48V DC supply for its working and low voltage for microcontroller
unit and other process management.

2. Frequency oscillator: The frequency oscillator generates ultrasonic frequency signals in the
range of (21.000 Hz to 28.000 Hz) which is required for the modulation of information signals

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3. Modulator: In order to convert the source signal material into ultrasonic signal a modulation
scheme is required which is achieved through a modulator. In addition, error correction is needed to
reduce distortion without loss of efficiency. By using a DSB modulator the modulation index can be
reduced to decrease distortion:

4. Audio signal processor: The audio signal is sent to electronic signal processor circuit.... where
equalization and distortion control are performed in order to produce a good quality sound signal.

5. Microcontroller: A dedicated microcontroller circuit takes care of the functional management of

the system. In the future version, it is expected that the whole process like functional management.
Signal processing, double sideband modulation and even switch mode power supply would be
effectively taken care of by a single embedded IC.

6. Transducer: It is 1.27 cm thick and 17" in diameter. It is capable of producing audibility up to

200 meters with better clarity of sound. It has the ability of real time sound reproduction with zero
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.

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CHAPTER-3
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Advantages of audio spotlight technology:

1. Directional sound: Audio spotlight technology allows sound to be focused in a specific

direction, creating a highly directional audio beam. This can be useful in various
applications, such as public announcements in crowded areas or targeted advertising in retail
spaces.

2. Privacy: Since audio spotlight technology can create a narrow beam of sound, it can be used
to transmit audio to a specific individual or a small group without disturbing others nearby.
This can be beneficial in situations where privacy is important, such as in museums or
libraries.

3. Reduced noise pollution: By directing sound only to the intended target, audio spotlight
technology can help reduce noise pollution in public spaces. This can enhance the overall
acoustic environment and improve the experience for individuals in the vicinity.

4. Versatility: Audio spotlight technology can be used in various settings and applications,
including retail, museums, theaters, airports, and more. It offers a versatile solution for
delivering targeted audio content in a controlled manner.

Disadvantages of audio spotlight technology:

1. Limited coverage area: The focused audio beam created by audio spotlight technology has a
limited coverage area. This means that only individuals within the beam's range can hear the
sound clearly, while those outside the beam may not hear it at all or only faintly. This can be
a limitation in situations where a larger coverage area is required.

2. Sound quality limitations: While audio spotlight technology can deliver sound to a specific
location, the quality of the sound may not be as high as traditional speakers. The focused
beam can result in a narrower frequency range and reduced audio fidelity compared to
conventional speaker systems.

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3. Cost: Implementing audio spotlight technology can be expensive, especially for large-scale
installations. The specialized equipment required, such as transducers and signal processing
systems, can add to the overall cost of the technology.

4. Technical challenges: Audio spotlight technology relies on complex signal processing

algorithms and precise positioning of transducers to create the desired audio beam. This can
pose technical challenges in terms of calibration, alignment, and maintenance, requiring

expertise and specialized knowledge for proper implementation and operation.

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CHAPTER -4

APPLICATIONS OF AUDIO SPOTLIGHT TECHNOLOGY

Audio spotlight technology has a wide range of applications across various industries. Some of the
key applications include:
1. Public announcements: Audio spotlight technology can be used in public spaces, such as
airports, train stations, and shopping malls, to deliver targeted announcements or important
information to specific areas or individuals without disturbing others nearby.
2. Museums and exhibitions: In museums and exhibitions, audio spotlight technology can be
used to provide audio descriptions or commentary for specific exhibits. Visitors can listen to
detailed information about a particular artifact or artwork by simply standing within the
audio beam.
3. Retail and advertising: Audio spotlight technology can be utilized in retail environments to
deliver personalized audio advertisements or promotions to individual customers as they
browse specific sections or products. This targeted approach can enhance the shopping
experience and increase engagement.
4. Theaters and auditoriums: Audio spotlight technology can be employed in theaters and
auditoriums to provide localized audio for specific seats or sections. This can enhance the
immersive experience for the audience, especially in large venues where traditional speakers
may not provide optimal sound distribution.
5. Simulations and virtual reality: In simulation environments or virtual reality applications,
audio spotlight technology can be used to create realistic and immersive sound experiences.
By directing sound to specific virtual objects or characters, it can enhance the overall sense
of presence and realism.
6. Healthcare and therapy: Audio spotlight technology can be utilized in healthcare settings,
such as hospitals or clinics, to provide personalized audio therapy or relaxation sessions to
patients. It can also be used for targeted communication in patient rooms or waiting areas.
7. Security and surveillance: Audio spotlight technology can be integrated with security
systems to provide targeted audio warnings or instructions in specific areas. This can be
useful in emergency situations or to deter potential intruders.

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8. Automotive industry: Audio spotlight technology can be implemented in vehicles to

provide localized audio for individual passengers. This can allow different occupants to listen
to different audio sources without the need for headphones, enhancing the in-car
entertainment experience.
These are just a few examples of the many applications of audio spotlight technology, and its
potential uses continue to expand as the technology advances.

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CHAPTER -5
CONCLUSION

In conclusion, audio spotlight technology offers several advantages, including directional

sound, privacy, reduced noise pollution, and versatility in various applications. It allows sound to be
focused in a specific direction, making it useful for public announcements, targeted advertising,
museums, theaters, and more. However, there are also some disadvantages, such as limited coverage
area, potential sound quality limitations, cost, and technical challenges. Despite these drawbacks,
audio spotlight technology continues to find applications in different industries, providing targeted
and immersive audio experiences. As the technology evolves, it is likely to become even more
refined and widely adopted in the future.

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CHAPTER -6
REFERENCES:
[1]. T. Chen, Guest Editor. The Past, Present, and Future of Audio Signal Processing, IEEE Signal
Processing Magazine, pages 30-57, September 1997.
[2]. W. F. Dryvesteyn and J. Garas. Personal Sound, J. Audio Eng. Soc., vol. 45, no. 9, pages 685-
701, September 1997.
[3]. J. Eagle, Loudspeaker Handbook, Chapman and Hall, New York, 1997.
[4]. D. Johnson, Array Signal Processing: Concepts and Techniques, Prentice Hall, Englewood
Cliffs, New Jersey, 1993.
[5]. D. Meyer, Computer Simulation of Loudspeaker Directivity, J. Audio Eng. Soc.. vol. 32, no. 5,
pages 294-315, May 1984.
[6] J. Proakis and D. Manolakis, Digital Signal Processing, Principles, Algorithms, and Applications,
3rd edition, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. 1996.
[7]. G. Smith, an Introduction to Classical Electromagnetic Radiation, Cambridge University Press,
New York, 1997.
[8]. M. Yoneyama and J. Fujimoto. The audio spotlight: An application of nonlinear interaction of
souled waves to a new type of loudspeaker design, J. Acoustical Society of America, vol. 73, no. 5.
Pages 1532-1536, May 1983.

 www.thinkdigit.com
 www.holosonics.com
 www.spie.org
 www.howstuffworks.com
 www.abcNEWS.com
 ENGINEERING PHYSICS By B.PREMLET
 UNIVERSAL PHYSICS

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CHAPTER-7
FUTURE SCOPE
The future scope of audio spotlight technology is promising, with several potential advancements
and applications on the horizon. Here are some areas where we can expect to see further
development:
1. Improved sound quality: As technology progresses, there will likely be advancements in
audio spotlight technology that enhance sound quality. This could involve expanding the
frequency range, improving audio fidelity, and reducing any limitations in the current
focused beam technology.
2. Increased coverage area: One area of focus for future development is expanding the
coverage area of audio spotlight technology. Researchers and engineers are working on
methods to increase the range and width of the focused audio beam, allowing for larger areas
to be covered while maintaining sound clarity and directionality.
3. Integration with other technologies: Audio spotlight technology has the potential to be
integrated with other emerging technologies, such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual
reality (VR). By combining audio spotlight technology with AR/VR systems, immersive and
interactive audio experiences can be created, enhancing the overall sensory experience.
4. Personalization and customization: Future advancements may enable audio spotlight
technology to provide more personalized and customized experiences. This could involve
tailoring audio content based on individual preferences, location, or context, creating a more
engaging and personalized audio environment.
5. Miniaturization and portability: Currently, audio spotlight technology requires specialized
equipment and installation. In the future, we can expect to see advancements in
miniaturization and portability, making it easier to implement and integrate audio spotlight
technology into various devices and environments.
6. Healthcare and therapy applications: There is potential for audio spotlight technology to
be further explored and utilized in healthcare and therapy settings. It could be used for
targeted audio therapy, pain management, relaxation, or even as a tool for cognitive and
sensory stimulation.

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7. Smart home integration: With the rise of smart home technology, audio spotlight
technology could be integrated into smart speakers or other devices to provide localized
audio experiences within the home environment. This could enhance the overall smart home
experience and enable personalized audio content delivery.
Overall, the future of audio spotlight technology holds great potential for advancements in sound
quality, coverage area, personalization, and integration with other technologies. As research and
development continue, we can expect to see further innovation and new applications emerging in the
coming years.

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