https://techxplore.com/news/2025-03-audible-enclaves-enable-private-headphones.html logotype Topics * Week's top * Latest news * Unread news * Subscribe [ ] Science X Account [ ] [ ] [*] Remember me Sign In Click here to sign in with or Forget Password? Not a member? Sign up Learn more * Automotive * Business * Computer Sciences * Consumer & Gadgets * Electronics & Semiconductors * Energy & Green Tech * Engineering * Hardware * Hi Tech & Innovation * Internet * Machine learning & AI * Other * Robotics * Security * Software * Telecom [INS::INS] * * share this! * 75 * Tweet * Share * Email 1. Home 2. Engineering 1. Home 2. Hi Tech & Innovation * * * --------------------------------------------------------------------- March 17, 2025 The GIST Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread 'Audible enclaves' could enable private listening without headphones by Pennsylvania State University 'Audible enclaves' could enable private listening without headphones By positioning metasurfaces in front of two ultrasonic transducers, dual ultrasonic waves travel at two slightly different frequencies along a crescent-shaped trajectory until they intersect, forming an audible enclave where sound cab be heard. At other points along the trajectory, sound is not heard -- meaning private listening is possible. Credit: Heyonu Heo/Penn State It may someday be possible to listen to a favorite podcast or song without disturbing the people around you, even without wearing headphones. In a new advancement in audio engineering, a team of researchers led by Yun Jing, professor of acoustics in the Penn State College of Engineering, has precisely narrowed where sound is perceived by creating localized pockets of sound zones, called audible enclaves. In an enclave, a listener can hear sound, while others standing nearby cannot, even if the people are in an enclosed space, like a vehicle, or standing directly in front of the audio source. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers explain how emitting two nonlinear ultrasonic beams creates audible enclaves, where sound can only be perceived at the precise intersection point of two ultrasonic beams. "We use two ultrasound transducers paired with an acoustic metasurface, which emit self-bending beams that intersect at a certain point," said corresponding author Jing. "The person standing at that point can hear sound, while anyone standing nearby would not. This creates a privacy barrier between people for private listening." By positioning the metasurfaces--acoustic lenses that incorporate millimeter or submillimeter-scale microstructures that bend the direction of sound--in front of the two transducers, the ultrasonic waves travel at two slightly different frequencies along a crescent-shaped trajectory until they intersect, researchers explained. The metasurfaces were 3D printed by co-author Xiaoxing Xia, staff scientist at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. Neither beam is audible on its own--it is the intersection of the beams together that creates a local nonlinear interaction which generates audible sound, the researchers explained. The beams can bypass obstacles, such as human heads, to reach a designated point of intersection. 'Audible enclaves' could enable private listening without headphones Jia-Xin "Jay" Zhong, a postdoctoral scholar of acoustics at Penn State, used a dummy with microphones in its ears to measure the presence or absence of sound along an ultrasonic trajectory. Credit: Poornima Tomy/Penn State "To test the system, we used a simulated head and torso dummy with microphones inside its ears to mimic what a human being hears at points along the ultrasonic beam trajectory, as well as a third microphone to scan the area of intersection," said first author Jia-Xin "Jay" Zhong, a postdoctoral scholar in acoustics at Penn State. [INS::INS] "We confirmed that sound was not audible except at the point of intersection, which creates what we call an enclave." Researchers tested the system in a common room with normal reverberations, meaning the system could work in a variety of environments, such as classrooms, vehicles or even outdoors. "We essentially created a virtual headset," Zhong said. "Someone within an audible enclave can hear something meant only for them--enabling sound and quiet zones." For now, researchers can remotely transfer sound about a meter away from the intended target and the sound volume is about 60 decibels, equivalent to speaking volume. However, the researchers said that distance and volume may be able to be increased if they increased the ultrasound intensity. In addition to Jing, Xia and Zhong, the co-authors include Jun Ji and Hyeonu Heo, alumni of the Penn State graduate program in acoustics. More information: Jing, Yun, Audible enclaves crafted by nonlinear self-bending ultrasonic beams, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2408975122. www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/ 10.1073/pnas.2408975122 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Provided by Pennsylvania State University Citation: 'Audible enclaves' could enable private listening without headphones (2025, March 17) retrieved 29 March 2025 from https:// techxplore.com/news/ 2025-03-audible-enclaves-enable-private-headphones.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. 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This is achieved by intersecting two nonlinear ultrasonic beams using acoustic metasurfaces, creating sound only at the intersection point. The system, tested in various environments, can transmit sound up to a meter away at 60 decibels. Future enhancements may increase distance and volume by adjusting ultrasound intensity. This summary was automatically generated using LLM. Full disclaimer Let us know if there is a problem with our content Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form. For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines). 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