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 noise cancelation system can include a communication module configured to receive a noise signal detected by a noise detection module, the noise signal representing a noise sound in a listener environment; a noise cancelation module configured to invert the received noise signal thereby creating an inverse noise signal representing an inverse of the noise sound; and a modulator configured to modulate the inverse noise signal onto an ultrasonic carrier to generate an ultrasonic signal.

Abstract: A hybrid ultrasonic audio system includes one or more ultrasonic speakers and one or more conventional speakers. An optical imaging system may be used to automatically determine the distance of a listener relative to the audio system. Channel processors apply distance-related transfer function filters to one or more of the audio channels based on the determined distances to equalize the amplitude of the audio played by the ultrasonic speakers relative to the conventional speakers. Channel processors may further apply a phase or time delay to the audio channels to match the phase and time delay of the ultrasonic speaker audio to the conventional speaker audio.

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 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 ultrasonic audio headphone system includes two ultrasonic speakers, each having a backing plate and a flexible layer disposed adjacent the backing plate. The backing plate and the flexible layer are each configured to be electrically coupled to a respective one of a pair of signal lines carrying the audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal from the amplifier, wherein upon application of the audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal, the flexible layer is configured to launch a pressure-wave representation of the audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal into the air.

Abstract: An ultrasonic audio headphone system includes two ultrasonic speakers, each having a backing plate and a flexible layer disposed adjacent the backing plate. The backing plate and the flexible layer are each configured to be electrically coupled to a respective one of a pair of signal lines carrying the audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal from the amplifier, wherein upon application of the audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal, the flexible layer is configured to launch a pressure-wave representation of the audio modulated ultrasonic carrier signal into the air. The ultrasonic audio headphone system can further include a frequency mismatched microphone to avoid feedback when the microphone and the ultrasonic speakers are, e.g., proximately located.

Abstract: Systems and methods that use ultrasonic emitters for producing multi-dimensional parametric audio are provided. The systems and methods can be configured to determine HRTF filters for the left and right ears of a listener using an optical imaging system to scan a profile of a listener. Audio content may be encoded into a left and right channel for producing a three dimensional sound effect for the listener of the audio content by: processing the sound channel into left and right input channel signals; applying the HRTF filters and acoustic crosstalk cancellations filters to the left and right channel signals to generate output left and right channel signals; and modulating the left and right output channel signal frequencies onto an ultrasonic carrier.

Abstract: A transparent ultrasonic audio speaker includes an emitter and a driver. The emitter can include first and second transparent conductive sheets. The conductive sheets can comprise a base layer and a conductive layer, and can be transparent. The transparent ultrasonic audio speaker can be configured to be positioned on or in place of the display screen of a content device.

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 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: 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 system includes an ultrasonic emitter having a plurality of electrically isolated sections and configured to emit an audio-modulated ultrasonic signal from each of the plurality of electrically isolated sections; 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 differing in time relative to the other instances of the audio content signals; and communication links electrically coupling individual ones of the instances of the audio content signals to a corresponding ones of the plurality of electrically isolated emitter sections.

Abstract: A transparent ultrasonic audio speaker includes an emitter and a driver. The emitter can include first and second transparent conductive sheets. The conductive sheets can comprise a base layer and a conductive layer, and can be transparent. The transparent ultrasonic audio speaker can be configured to be positioned on or in place of the display screen of a content device.

Abstract: An ultrasonic noise cancelation system can include a communication module configured to receive a noise signal detected by a noise detection module, the noise signal representing a noise sound in a listener environment; a noise cancelation module configured to invert the received noise signal thereby creating an inverse noise signal representing an inverse of the noise sound; and a modulator configured to modulate the inverse noise signal onto an ultrasonic carrier to generate an ultrasonic signal.

Abstract: An ultrasonic audio speaker includes a backing plate comprising a first major surface and a conductive region, the backing plate further comprising a plurality of textural elements disposed on the first major surface. A flexible layer disposed adjacent the first major surface of the backing plate includes a conductive region and an insulative region, wherein the flexible layer is disposed adjacent the backing plate such that the insulative region is positioned between the backing plate and the conductive region of the flexible layer, and such that there is a volume of air between the flexible layer and surfaces of the textural elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods that use ultrasonic emitters for producing multi-dimensional parametric audio are provided. The systems and methods can be configured to determine HRTF filters for the left and right ears of a listener using an optical imaging system to scan a profile of a listener. Audio content may be encoded into a left and right channel for producing a three dimensional sound effect for the listener of the audio content by: processing the sound channel into left and right input channel signals; applying the HRTF filters and acoustic crosstalk cancellations filters to the left and right channel signals to generate output left and right channel signals; and modulating the left and right output channel signal frequencies onto an ultrasonic carrier.