# US 2010/0166242 A1 · Direct digital speaker apparatus having a desired directivity pattern

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- Number: US 2010/0166242 A1
- Document ID: US20100166242A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/601,427
- Filed: 2007-05-21
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 2006-05-22
- Assignees: Audio Pixels Ltd.
- Inventors: Yuval Cohen; Shay Kaplan; Daniel Lewin; Alex Sromin; Yan Wool
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100166242A1

## CPC

- H04R 1/20: Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics (for stereophonic purpose H04R5/00)
- B81B 3/0021: {Transducers for transforming electrical into mechanical energy or vice versa (dynamo-electric machines H02K99/00; electrostatic machines H02N1/00; piezoelectric devices H10N30/00)}
- H02K 33/16: with polarised armatures moving in alternate directions by reversal or energisation of a single coil system
- H02N 13/00: Clutches or holding devices using electrostatic attraction, e.g. using Johnson-Rahbek effect
- H04R 1/005: {using digitally weighted transducing elements}
- H04R 1/403: {loud-speakers}
- H04R 3/12: for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)}
- H02K 7/10: Structural association with clutches, brakes, gears, pulleys or mechanical starters
- H02K 16/00: Machines with more than one rotor or stator {(machines for transmitting mechanical power from a driving shaft to a driven shaft and comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; permanent magnet machines with multiple rotors or stators relatively rotated for vectorially combining the excitation fields or the armature voltages H02K21/029)}
- H02K 2201/18: Machines moving with multiple degrees of freedom
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)
- B81B: MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS, e.g. MICROMECHANICAL DEVICES (piezoelectric, electrostrictive or magnetostrictive elements per se H10N30/00, H10N35/00)
- H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53})
- H02N: ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

Direct digital speaker apparatus receiving a digital input signal and generating sound accordingly, the apparatus comprising an array of pressure-producing elements and a controller operative to compute a timing pattern determining if and when each pressure-producing element is actuated so as to achieve a desired directivity pattern.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-67. (canceled)

### Claim 68

Direct digital speaker apparatus receiving a digital input signal and generating sound accordingly, the apparatus comprising:
an array of pressure-producing elements; and
a controller operative to compute a timing pattern determining if and when each pressure-producing element is actuated so as to achieve a desired directivity pattern.

### Claim 69 (depends on 68)

Apparatus according to claim 68 wherein each said pressure-producing element is operative to produce both positive pressure pulses and negative pressure pulses.

### Claim 70

A method for controlling direct digital speaker apparatus receiving a digital input signal and generating sound accordingly, the method comprising:
providing an array of pressure-producing elements, and
computing a timing pattern determining if and when each pressure-producing element is operative to produce pressure pulses so as to achieve a desired directivity pattern.

### Claim 71 (depends on 68)

Apparatus according to claim 68 wherein each pressure-producing element comprises a moving element, operating to travel alternately back and forth along a respective path.

### Claim 72 (depends on 68)

Apparatus according to claim 68 and also comprising a user interface receiving a desired directivity pattern from a user.

### Claim 73 (depends on 68)

Apparatus according to claim 68 wherein said directivity pattern is omni-directional defining a focal point.

### Claim 74 (depends on 68)

Apparatus according to claim 68 wherein said directivity pattern is cylindrical defining a focal axis.

### Claim 75 (depends on 68)

Apparatus according to claim 68 wherein said directivity pattern is unidirectional defining an angle of propagation.

### Claim 76 (depends on 68)

Apparatus according to claim 68 wherein said directivity pattern comprises a combination of a plurality of unidirectional directivity patterns.

### Claim 77 (depends on 73)

Apparatus according to claim 73 wherein said array is centered at said focal point.

### Claim 78 (depends on 73)

Apparatus according to claim 73 wherein said array is centered at a projection of said focal point.

### Claim 79 (depends on 74)

Apparatus according to claim 74 wherein said array is oriented symmetrically relative to said axis.

### Claim 80 (depends on 74)

Apparatus according to claim 74 wherein said array is rectangular, defining four sides thereof, and said four sides include two sides parallel to said axis.

### Claim 81 (depends on 73)

Apparatus according to claim 73 wherein said array defines a plane and wherein said timing pattern comprises employing a suitable delay for at least some of said pressure-producing elements, using the formula: delay=[(d2+r2)0.5−d]/c, where r distance between the projection of the focal point onto the array of pressure-producing elements and a given pressure-producing element, d=the distance of the plane of the array of the pressure-producing elements from the focal point, and c=the speed of sound propagation through a medium in which the apparatus is operating.

### Claim 82 (depends on 74)

Apparatus according to claim 74 wherein said array defines a plane and wherein said timing pattern comprises employing a suitable delay for at least some of said pressure-producing elements, using the formula: delay==[(d2+r2)0.5−d]/c, where r distance between the projection of the focal axis onto the array of pressure-producing elements and a given pressure-producing element, c=the speed of sound through a medium in which the apparatus is operating, and d=the distance of the plane of the array of pressure-producing elements from the focal axis.

### Claim 83 (depends on 75)

Apparatus according to claim 75 wherein said timing pattern comprises employing a suitable delay for at least some of said pressure-producing elements, using the formula: delay=x cos α where x=the distance from a plane defined by an edge of the array of pressure-producing elements and a given pressure-producing element and α=the angle between a direction defined by the uni-directional propagation and said plane.

### Claim 84 (depends on 68)

Apparatus according to claim 68 wherein each of said pressure-producing elements is individually controlled.

### Claim 85 (depends on 68)

Apparatus according to claim 68 wherein each pressure producing element is responsive to alternating magnetic fields and wherein the apparatus also comprises at least one latch operative to selectively latch at least one subset of said pressure producing elements in at least one latching position thereby to prevent at least said subset of pressure producing elements from responding to said alternating magnetic fields, and wherein said controller comprises:
a magnetic field control system operative to receive a clock and, accordingly, to control application of said alternating magnetic fields to said array of pressure producing elements; and
a latch controller operative to receive said digital input signal and to control said at least one latch accordingly.

### Claim 86 (depends on 70)

A method according to claim 70 wherein said array providing and said computing are performed a plurality of times thereby to obtain a corresponding plurality of arrays and a corresponding plurality of timing patterns defining a corresponding plurality of directivity patterns; the method also comprising operating said arrays simultaneously in accordance with said corresponding plurality of timing patterns respectively thereby to obtain a single directivity pattern comprising a combination of the directivity patterns corresponding to said plurality of timing patterns.

### Claim 87 (depends on 68)

Apparatus according to claim 68 wherein said elements move harmonically and have a single amplitude and a single frequency.