Abstract: An audio system includes a processor including an input configured to: receive a baseband audio signal and modulate the baseband audio signal to create a modulated audio signal comprising audio signal frequency components in a first frequency range; clip the modulated audio signal to create a clipped, modulated audio signal the clipped modulated audio signal comprising the audio signal frequency components in the first range and further comprising distortion frequency components outside the first frequency range. The system can further be configured to filter the clipped, modulated audio signal to remove frequency components outside the first frequency to remove distortion components outside that frequency range.

Abstract: An ultrasonic audio transducer system includes an ultrasonic speaker. The ultrasonic speaker may be an electrostatic emitter, a piezoelectric emitter (single crystal or stack), a piezoelectric film emitter, or any other emitter capable of emitting ultrasound. The ultrasonic speaker is configured to be coupled (via a wired or wireless connection) to an audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal from an amplifier, wherein upon application of the audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal, the ultrasonic speaker is configured to launch a pressure-wave representation of the audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal into the air. Additionally, the ultrasonic speaker may be implemented with an impedance matching element or optimized for matching the response within a user's ear canal, and the ultrasonic audio transducer system may include The ultrasonic audio headphone system can further include a frequency mismatched microphone to avoid feedback when the microphone and the ultrasonic speaker are, e.g.

Abstract: An ultrasonic audio system includes adaptive equalization techniques configured to adjust the overall output of the ultrasonic audio system. This can be done by adjusting the equalization of the electronic audio signal representing the audio content being reproduced by the ultrasonic audio system. For example, in various embodiments, systems and methods can be implemented to increase the gain of higher frequency portions of the electronic audio signal while making a corresponding decrease in the amount of gain at the lower frequency portions of the same signal.

Abstract: An audio system includes a processor including an input configured to: receive a baseband audio signal and modulate the baseband audio signal to create a modulated audio signal comprising audio signal frequency components in a first frequency range; clip the modulated audio signal to create a clipped, modulated audio signal the clipped modulated audio signal comprising the audio signal frequency components in the first range and further comprising distortion frequency components outside the first frequency range. The system can further be configured to filter the clipped, modulated audio signal to remove frequency components outside the first frequency to remove distortion components outside that frequency range.

Abstract: A transparent ultrasonic emitter includes a first transparent conductive layer; a second transparent conductive layer; and a plurality of transparent spacers disposed between the first and second transparent layers conductive of the ultrasonic audio speaker, the transparent spacers having a thickness and being arranged to define an open area between the first and second transparent layers.

Abstract: A tinnitus treatment device can include an ultrasonic signal generator; an amplifier coupled to the ultrasonic signal generator; and an ultrasonic emitter coupled to an audio generating apparatus configured to output an audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal into the air; wherein parameters of the tinnitus treatment device are configured to deliver tinnitus masking audio content.

Abstract: An electrostatic ultrasonic transducer includes a first conductive layer; a second conductive layer spaced apart from the first conductive layer; and a third conductive layer disposed between the first and second conductive layers, the third conductive layer being spaced apart from the first conductive layer and in physical contact with a part of the second conductive layer.

Abstract: A transparent ultrasonic emitter includes a first transparent conductive layer; a second transparent conductive layer; and a plurality of transparent spacers disposed between the first and second transparent layers conductive of the ultrasonic audio speaker, the transparent spacers having a thickness and being arranged to define an open area between the first and second transparent layers.

Abstract: An ultrasonic emitter can launch an unmodulated ultrasonic carrier signal towards an audio source. The ultrasonic carrier signal, upon being reflected from the audio source, undergoes modulation by the audio source. The modulated ultrasonic signal may then be received by an ultrasonic microphone and demodulated to retrieve the audio. A highly directional microphone system is achieved through the use of the ultrasonic emitter and ultrasonic microphone, where the modulated ultrasonic signal only arises when the audio source is in the ‘beam’ of the ultrasonic carrier signal and the ultrasonic microphone can ignore other potential noise, ambient sound(s), etc.

Abstract: An ultrasonic audio transducer system includes an ultrasonic speaker. The ultrasonic speaker may be an electrostatic emitter, a piezoelectric emitter (single crystal or stack), a piezoelectric film emitter, or any other emitter capable of emitting ultrasound. The ultrasonic speaker is configured to be coupled (via a wired or wireless connection) to an audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal from an amplifier, wherein upon application of the audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal, the ultrasonic speaker is configured to launch a pressure-wave representation of the audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal into the air. Additionally, the ultrasonic speaker is implemented with an impedance matching element or optimized for matching the response within a user's ear canal.

Abstract: An ultrasonic emitter system includes a digital processing system for adjusting the amplitude of an ultrasonic carrier signal to increase audio levels of an audio signal during lower power portions of the audio signal. To increase the audio levels without introducing unwanted audio and/or distortion, an additive constant is added to the ultrasonic carrier signal based on a rolling average audio signal power measurement.

Abstract: A transparent ultrasonic emitter includes a first transparent conductive layer; a second transparent conductive layer; and a plurality of transparent spacers disposed between the first and second transparent layers conductive of the ultrasonic audio speaker, the transparent spacers having a thickness and being arranged to define an open area between the first and second transparent layers.

Abstract: An ultrasonic audio system includes a location sensor includes a location tracking module configured to receive information from the location sensor and to determine a location of a listener in a listening environment; a time delay module configured to receive audio content and to generate a plurality of audio content signals, the generated audio content signals comprising a plurality of individual instances of the audio content signal each instance delayed in time relative to the other instances of the audio content signals; and an ultrasonic emitter comprising a plurality of electrically isolated sections, each section having an input electrically coupled to receive one of the individual instances of the audio content signal, and configured to emit an audio-modulated ultrasonic signal from each of the plurality of electrically isolated sections.

Abstract: An ultrasonic audio transducer system includes an ultrasonic speaker. The ultrasonic speaker may be an electrostatic emitter, a piezoelectric emitter (single crystal or stack), a piezoelectric film emitter, or any other emitter capable of emitting ultrasound. The ultrasonic speaker is configured to be coupled (via a wired or wireless connection) to an audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal from an amplifier, wherein upon application of the audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal, the ultrasonic speaker is configured to launch a pressure-wave representation of the audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal into the air. Additionally, the ultrasonic speaker may be implemented with an impedance matching element or optimized for matching the response within a user's ear canal, and the ultrasonic audio transducer system may include The ultrasonic audio headphone system can further include a frequency mismatched microphone to avoid feedback when the microphone and the ultrasonic speaker are, e.g.

Abstract: An ultrasonic audio transducer system includes an ultrasonic speaker. The ultrasonic speaker may be an electrostatic emitter, a piezoelectric emitter (single crystal or stack), a piezoelectric film emitter, or any other emitter capable of emitting ultrasound. The ultrasonic speaker is configured to be coupled (via a wired or wireless connection) to an audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal from an amplifier, wherein upon application of the audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal, the ultrasonic speaker is configured to launch a pressure-wave representation of the audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal into the air. Additionally, the ultrasonic speaker is implemented with an impedance matching element or optimized for matching the response within a user's ear canal.

Abstract: A transparent ultrasonic emitter includes a first transparent conductive layer; a second transparent conductive layer; and a plurality of transparent spacers disposed between the first and second transparent layers conductive of the ultrasonic audio speaker, the transparent spacers having a thickness and being arranged to define an open area between the first and second transparent layers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing or reducing distortion in an ultrasonic audio system can include receiving a first audio signal, wherein the first audio signal represents audio content to be reproduced using the ultrasonic audio system; calculating a first error function for the ultrasonic audio system, the first error function comprising an estimate of distortion introduced by reproduction of the audio content by the ultrasonic audio system; transforming the first audio signal into a first pre-conditioned audio signal by combining the first error function with the first audio signal; and modulating the transformed audio signal onto an ultrasonic carrier.

Abstract: An ultrasonic emitter can launch an unmodulated ultrasonic carrier signal towards an audio source. The ultrasonic carrier signal, upon being reflected from the audio source, undergoes modulation by the audio source. The modulated ultrasonic signal may then be received by an ultrasonic microphone and demodulated to retrieve the audio. A highly directional microphone system is achieved through the use of the ultrasonic emitter and ultrasonic microphone, where the modulated ultrasonic signal only arises when the audio source is in the ‘beam’ of the ultrasonic carrier signal and the ultrasonic microphone can ignore other potential noise, ambient sound(s), etc.

Abstract: A measurement system is provided for measuring operational characteristics of ultrasonic emitters, such as their frequency response. A low pass acoustic filter is provided to filter out the ultrasound portion of a modulated ultrasonic signal emitted by an ultrasonic emitter, thereby allowing only the audio portion of the modulated ultrasonic signal to pass through to a measurement microphone. The low pass acoustic filter may include one or more layers of a thin material, such as Mylar, wherein at least one layer of the one or more layers of the thin material have a substantially non-smooth surface to prevent unwanted reflections.

Abstract: An ultrasonic audio magnetostrictive emitter configured to emit an audio modulated ultrasonic beam. The magnetostrictive emitter may include an emissive surface, a back plate and at least one magnetostrictive actuator positioned between the emissive surface and the back plate. Ultrasonic audio systems incorporating a magnetostrictive emitter may further be provided.