Hypersonic Sound by American Technology CORPORATION
(also known as HSS)
Comparisons with other Directional Sound
Relevant Technologies such as sound domes and sound arrays
| |
Hypersonic Sound by American Technology CORPORATION (also known as HSS) |
Comparisons with other Directional Sound
Relevant Technologies such as sound domes and sound arrays |
History of Directed Audio Sound System development also known as Audible Ultrasonic Speakers or Systems
The technique of using a nonlinear interaction of high-frequency waves to generate low-frequency waves was originally pioneered by researchers developing underwater sonar techniques dating back to the 1960's. These early acoustics researchers successfully derived the formal mathematical basis for this effect, and developed innovative sonar systems with more directivity and bandwidth than would otherwise be available. They called this device a parametric array.
In 1975, the first publication appeared which demonstrated that these nonlinear
effects indeed occur in air. While these researchers had not attempted to reproduce
audio, they nonetheless proved that such a device may be possible. Over the
next two decades, several large companies, including Matsushita (Panasonic),
NC Denon, and Ricoh attempted to develop a loudspeaker based on this principle.
While they were successful in producing some sort of sound, problems with cost,
feasibility, and 
extremely
high levels of distortion (>50% THD) caused the almost total abandonment
of the technology by the end of the 1980's.
Enter Dr. Joseph Pompei,
Holosonics
(Holosonic Research Lab) and the Audio Spotlight
While a graduate student developing '3D Audio' at Northwestern University in
the late 1990's, Joseph Pompei had similar ideas of using ultrasound as a loudspeaker,
largely to overcome deficiencies he saw with traditional methods of sound reproduction.
After performing extensive research on the idea, he discovered a large body
of knowledge in the field of nonlinear acoustics, and documentation of earlier
attempts at using ultrasound as an audible source. Pompei was able to rectify
many of the barriers which had plagued the earlier researchers. Through a combination
of careful mathematical analysis and solid engineering, he was able to construct
the very first, and one of the only, practical, high-performance audio beam
systems.
Enter Elwood "Woody"
Norris, American Technology Corporation (ATC) and Hypersonic Sound (HSS)
American Technology Corporation or ATC was founded in 1980, began trading publicly
in 1982, and was recapitalized and redomiciled in 1992. Commencing in fiscal
1993, the Company obtained over $1.5 million from the sale of its patented EarPHONE™
technology which encompassed a miniature, in-ear speaker/microphone combination
enabling hands-free communication for telephones, computers, and cellular phones.
Elwood “Woody” Norris was one of the founders of American Technology
Corporation.
During
about the same time period, Spring of 1996, Elwood “Woody” Norris,
was working blind to his competitor in the East within his garage in Poway CA.
He also felt that hypersonic sound, or ultrasound could be used to create a
sound beam. Woody had been a prolific career long inventor. In July of 1996,
Woody felt that he had a breakthrough and he rushed off to the patent office,
not realizing that other efforts had and continued to be made to perfect and
patent the same directed audio speaker system technology. For additional insight
into ATC's effort click here
for an excerpt from USA Today
In 1998, Joseph Pompei presented the paper “The Use of Airborne Ultrasonics
for Generating Audible Sound Beams” to the Audio Engineering Society,
at their 105th Convention in San Francisco CA. At that time F. Joseph Pompei
was working to complete his doctorate at the world renowned MIT Media Lab. Dr
Pompei founded Holosonic Research Labs or Holosonics in 1999 in order to commercialize
this technology.
Shortly thereafter in 1999, Holosonics made its first sale to Joypolis. Joypolis,
Sega's Amusement park in Tokyo Japan purchased and installed the Audio Spotlight
within one of its public entertainment areas. In 2001, the Bibliotheque Nationale
de France (French National Library) purchased and installed several of these
units. In 2002 the Audio Spotlight was used by the PGA of Europe to create zones
of sound without making the golf course noisy or distracting for the players.
At the Adelaide Festival 2002, in Australia, this technology was used to create
zones of sound for personal entertainment within the crowd. F. Joseph Pompei,
graduated Dr. Joseph Pompei from MIT during the summer of that same year.
Present
In 2003, Audio Spotlights were installed in Ingersoll Rand’s corporate
showroom in South Carolina used at both the National Association of Broadcasters
Show and American Society of Museums Show. In 2004 the Audio Spotlight was used
at the National Home Builder’s Show and also installed at Disney’s
Epcot Center and the Smithsonian Institute of Technology in Washington DC. Other
prominent customers that installed Audio Spotlights in 2004 include the Boston
Museum of Science and Tait Gallery in London, where the units are being used
to narrate an exhibit of Picasso paintings.
World wide patents have been awarded for the technology used in the Audio Spotlight.
American Technology Corporation has also been awarded application based patents
for their technology.
Audio Spotlights by
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