A swap-based sparse array design method in personal sound zone.

This article focuses on sparse array design (SAD) for personal sound zone (PSZ) systems, formulating SAD as a sparse multi-objective optimization problem that balances multiple performance metrics including acoustic contrast (AC), signal distortion (SD), and array effort (AE). To address the non-convex and combinatorial nature of the problem, a swap-based group search algorithm is proposed to find near-optimal loudspeaker configurations, with an approximate form introduced to reduce computational complexity when multiple target sound fields exist in the bright zone. Simulation and experimental results in both room and car cabin environments demonstrate that the proposed method effectively manages trade-offs among performance metrics and generally outperforms or matches existing methods based on acoustic contrast control and pressure matching frameworks. The approximate form shows comparable or improved performance with reduced computational burden, particularly in scenarios involving multiple target sound fields, though further research on parameter tuning and environmental effects is suggested.