System and method for directionally radiating sound

A method of providing and operating an audio system that provides audio radiation to listening positions, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing at least one source of audio signals;
• (b) providing, at each of a plurality of the listening positions, a speaker that receives the audio signals and responsively radiates output acoustic energy, wherein a first said speaker at a first said listening position receives first said audio signals;
• (c) providing the first audio signals to a second said speaker at a second said listening position so that the second speaker receives the first audio signals and responsively radiates output acoustic energy;
• (d) filtering the first audio signals provided to the second speaker independently of the first speaker so that acoustic energy radiated to the second listening position by the second speaker responsively to the first audio signals destructively interferes with acoustic energy radiated to the second listening position by the first speaker responsively to the first audio signals.

An audio system for a vehicle having seat positions, said audio system comprising:

• at least one source of audio signals;
• a first array of speaker elements located at a first said seat position of a plurality of said seat positions and that receives first said audio signals and responsively radiates output acoustic energy;
• a second array of speaker elements located at a second seat position of the plurality of said seat positions and that receives second said audio signals and responsively radiates output acoustic energy;
• a filter between the source of audio signals and the second array that processes the first audio signals and applies an output thereof to the second array so that a combined magnitude of acoustic energy radiated to the second seat position by the second array responsively to the output of the first audio signals processed by the filter and acoustic energy radiated to the second seat position by the first array responsively to the first audio signals is less than acoustic energy radiated to the second seat position by the first array responsively to the first audio signals.