Focus Sound Just Like A Laser Beam

Aug. 4, 2003
Imagine broadcasting sound in a targeted and specific manner. Instead of using a bullhorn to speak to a crowd, you could single out one person in that crowd without disturbing anyone else. Or, picture a museum where displays "talk" right to you and...

Imagine broadcasting sound in a targeted and specific manner. Instead of using a bullhorn to speak to a crowd, you could single out one person in that crowd without disturbing anyone else. Or, picture a museum where displays "talk" right to you and leave other spectators in blissful silence.

American Technology Corp. can do all that and more. Its Hyper-Sonic Sound Technology (HSS) uses ultrasonic waves beyond the range of human hearing to shape audible sound waves and limit the areas where they can be heard to very narrow pathways. More specifically, normal sound moves through the air in small pressure waves. The air's nonlinear nature slightly changes the wave, producing new sounds. By knowing how the air will affect the sound, equipment can be used to send ultrasonic waves into the air with sufficient volume to create these new frequencies. Since ultrasonic waves are inaudible, they can limit the sound in question to a specific area.

HSS sound systems consist of an audio program source like a CD player or microphone, an HSS signal processor, and an ultrasonic emitter or transducer powered by an ultrasonic amplifier. The signal processor converts the sound, such as music or a voice, to a complex ultrasonic signal. The transducer then amplifies it and emits it into the air. The ultrasonic energy's directional nature forms a virtual column of sound directly in front of the emitter, much like light from a flashlight. To hear the sound, listeners must have their ears in line with the column.

For details, see www.atcsd.com.

Sponsored Recommendations

Board-Mount DC/DC Converters in Medical Applications

March 27, 2024
AC/DC or board-mount DC/DC converters provide power for medical devices. This article explains why isolation might be needed and which safety standards apply.

Use Rugged Multiband Antennas to Solve the Mobile Connectivity Challenge

March 27, 2024
Selecting and using antennas for mobile applications requires attention to electrical, mechanical, and environmental characteristics: TE modules can help.

Out-of-the-box Cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity with AWS IoT ExpressLink

March 27, 2024
This demo shows how to enroll LTE-M and Wi-Fi evaluation boards with AWS IoT Core, set up a Connected Health Solution as well as AWS AT commands and AWS IoT ExpressLink security...

How to Quickly Leverage Bluetooth AoA and AoD for Indoor Logistics Tracking

March 27, 2024
Real-time asset tracking is an important aspect of Industry 4.0. Various technologies are available for deploying Real-Time Location.

Comments

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Electronic Design, create an account today!