A new loudspeaker design for the enhancement of sound image localization on flat display panels

In most audio-visual multimedia applications, conventional stereo loudspeakers have been used to implement auditory displays. However, a fundamental problem with this kind of displays is that only the listeners situated at the sweet spot and over the symmetrical axis of the loudspeaker array, are able to accurately localize the sound images. Although a number of audio signal processing algorithms has been proposed to expand the listening area, relatively less study on new loudspeaker configurations has been explored. This paper introduces a simple, yet effective, loudspeaker design to enhance the localization of sound images over the surface of flat display panels. In contrast to previous approaches, expansion of the listening space is achieved by attachment of rigid barriers which physically modify the sound radiation pattern of the loudspeakers. Moreover, numerical simulations, experimental sound measurements, and subjective tests have been preformed to validate a prototype of the proposed loudspeakers design using a display panel of an immersive teleconferencing system. Finally, an example of an interactive application was implemented involving real-time speaker tracking with a microphone and video cameras.