Comparison of Strategies for Accurate Reproduction of a Target Signal with Compact Arrays of Loudspeakers for the Generation of Zones of Private Sound and Silence

Abstract

Compact loudspeaker arrays driven with input signals designed with the PMM can be used for the reproduction of a target signal in a given control area. This technology may be used for the generation of zones of private sound and zones of silence. In this work, we compare two strategies for the accurate reproduction of a target signal defined with large amplitude variations between the so-called acoustically bright and dark zones. More specifically, we compare the WPMM and a formulation of the PMM with a constraint on the accuracy of the target signal reproduction. Results of simulations and experiments with a linear array prototype show that input signals designed with the WPMM provide better trade-offs between accuracy of the target field reproduction in the so-called bright zone and directivity performance than the other strategy considered.