Steerable speaker array, system, and method for the same

A method performed by one or more processors to generate a beamformed audio output using an audio system comprising a speaker array having a plurality of drivers, the method comprising:

• receiving one or more input audio signals from an audio source coupled to the audio system;
• generating a separate audio output signal for each driver of the speaker array based on at least one of the input audio signals, the drivers being arranged in a plurality of concentric groups positioned at different radial distances relative to a central point to form a concentric, nested configuration,
• the generating comprising, for each driver:
• obtaining one or more filter values and at least one delay value associated with the driver, at least one of the one or more filter values being assigned to the driver based on the concentric group in which the driver is located,
• applying the at least one filter value to one or more filters;
• applying cross-over filtering to the at least one of the input audio signals using the one or more filters to produce a filtered output signal for the driver,
• providing the filtered output signal to a delay element associated with the driver,
• applying the at least one delay value to the delay element to produce a delayed output signal for the driver, and
• providing the delayed output signal to a power amplifier in order to amplify the signal by a predetermined gain amount;
• and
• providing the audio output signals to the corresponding drivers to produce a beamformed audio output.

An audio system, comprising:

• a first speaker array comprising a plurality of drivers arranged in a plurality of concentric groups positioned at different radial distances from a central point to form a concentric, nested configuration, each group being formed by a subset of the plurality of drivers being positioned at predetermined intervals from each other along a perimeter of the group;
• and
• a beamforming system coupled to the first speaker array and configured to:
• receive one or more input audio signals from an audio source,
• generate a separate audio output signal for each driver of the first speaker array based on at least one of the input audio signals, and
• provide the audio output signals to the corresponding drivers to produce a beamformed audio output,
• wherein the beamforming system comprises a filter system including one or more filters, the beamforming system using the filter system to generate separate audio output signals, and
• wherein for each driver, the filter system is configured to apply cross-over filtering to the at least one of the input audio signals using one or more filter values, and generate a separate filtered audio output signal for said driver, the one or more filter values being assigned to that driver based on the concentric group in which the driver is located.

A speaker system, comprising:

• a planar speaker array disposed in a substantially flat housing and comprising a plurality of drivers arranged in a two-dimensional configuration, the speaker array having an aperture size of less than 60 centimeters and being configured to simultaneously form a plurality of dynamically steerable lobes directed towards multiple locations;
• and
• a beamforming system coupled to the speaker array and configured to digitally process one or more input audio signals, generate a corresponding audio output signal for each driver, and direct each output signal towards a designated one of the multiple locations,
• wherein the plurality of drivers are arranged in the two-dimensional configuration by arranging the drivers in a plurality of concentric groups and placing the groups at a different radial distances from a central point of the configuration, and
• wherein the beamforming system comprises a filter system including one or more filters, the beamforming system being configured to generate the corresponding audio output signal for each driver using the filter system, and the filter system being configured to apply cross-over filtering to the one or more input audio signals using one or more filter values, the one or more filter values being assigned to that driver based on the concentric group in which the driver is located.