# How a Speaker Bounces Sound Off the Ceiling for Wider Audio > This patent describes a speaker system with special upward-firing drivers and slots designed to bounce high-frequency sound off a ceiling, creating a wider, more immersive listening experience. - **Patent:** US 11006212 - **Original title:** Upward firing loudspeaker having asymmetric dispersion for reflected sound rendering - **Owner:** Dolby Laboratories Licensing - **Granted:** 2021 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, telecommunications, software ## What it does The patent describes a speaker for transmitting sound waves that reflect off a ceiling down to a listener. It includes a cabinet with standard direct-firing drivers and a pair of unique upward-firing cone drivers. These upward-firing drivers are placed near the ends of an inclined top surface of the cabinet, specifically at an inclination angle of between 18 to 22 degrees relative to the horizontal axis (claim 1). Sound from these drivers passes through "projection slots" cut into the top surface. These slots are designed to produce a wide sound dispersion pattern perpendicular to the slot and a narrow one along it for high frequencies. The distance between these slots is set to create an "overlapping reflected sound projection" for high frequencies when the sound bounces off the ceiling, making the sound appear wider to a listener. ## What it does NOT cover - Speakers that only fire sound directly at the listener without using ceiling reflections for overhead effects. - Upward-firing speakers where the top surface is not inclined between 18 to 22 degrees relative to the horizontal axis (claim 1). - Speakers that do not use specific "projection slots" where the slot length matches the cone driver's diameter (claim 1). - Systems where the upward-firing drivers do not create an "overlapping reflected sound projection" for high frequencies at a listening position (claim 1). - Speakers that achieve wider sound dispersion through purely electronic means without the described physical driver and slot configuration. ## The clever bit The clever bit is the precise combination of the specific "inclination angle" (18-22 degrees), the unique "projection slots" (matching cone diameter and creating specific dispersion patterns), and their spacing to create an "overlapping reflected sound projection" that achieves wider horizontal dispersion for high-frequency reflected sound, ensuring a consistent and immersive overhead sound effect. ## Real-world examples 1. Dolby Atmos enabled soundbars 2. Dolby Atmos enabled home theater speakers 3. Immersive audio systems in living rooms ## Why it matters This patent is significant for creating more immersive audio experiences, particularly for home theater systems that aim to replicate the feeling of sound coming from above or all around the listener. It addresses the challenge of making reflected sound feel wide and consistent across a listening area, which is crucial for formats like Dolby Atmos. By precisely controlling the reflected sound, it enhances the realism of overhead audio effects. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How a Speaker Bounces Sound Off the Ceiling for Wider Audio cover? This patent describes a speaker system with special upward-firing drivers and slots designed to bounce high-frequency sound off a ceiling, creating a wider, more immersive listening experience. ### Who owns patent US 11006212? Dolby Laboratories Licensing owns this patent, granted in 2021. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on September 21, 2039, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent is significant for creating more immersive audio experiences, particularly for home theater systems that aim to replicate the feeling of sound coming from above or all around the listener. It addresses the challenge of making reflected sound feel wide and consistent across a listening area, which is crucial for formats like Dolby Atmos. By precisely controlling the reflected sound, it enhances the realism of overhead audio effects. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Speakers that only fire sound directly at the listener without using ceiling reflections for overhead effects. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11006212/upward-firing-loudspeaker-having-asymmetric-dispersion-for-reflected-sound-rende **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US11006212 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How a Device Renders Immersive Sound Objects Using Speaker Virtualization](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10743125/audio-processing-apparatus-with-channel-remapper-and-object-renderer) — Dolby's patent describes an audio processing system that takes individual sound elements, like a buzzing bee, and places them precisely in a 3D space using smart software that makes speakers sound like they are in different locations. - [How Smart Speakers Adapt Sound to Your Room and Listening Spot](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11178503/system-for-rendering-and-playback-of-object-based-audio-in-various-listening-env) — This patent describes a system that automatically adjusts how spatial audio sounds in a room by sensing speaker locations, listener position, and room acoustics, then dynamically calibrating the sound output. - [Smart Speaker System Adapts Sound Based on Speaker Placement](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11743673/audio-processing-apparatus-and-method-therefor) — This patent describes an audio system that intelligently chooses how to play different parts of a sound through different speakers, adapting its method based on where each speaker is placed in a room. - [How Wearable Tech Uses 3D Sound to Guide Visually Impaired People](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10362429/find-my-network) — A system that builds a 3D map of the world and uses spatial audio to act as a virtual guide, helping visually impaired users navigate around obstacles. - [How Sonos Speakers Use Personalized Wake Words to Recognize Different Users](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9965247/icloud-drive) — A system that lets multiple people control a shared speaker by using unique voice-trigger words to link their specific music accounts and preferences.