| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 381302000 | In vehicle | 42 |
| 20080247575 | DIRECTIONAL LOUDSPEAKER TO REDUCE DIRECT SOUND - A directional loudspeaker provides an enhanced listening environment by producing an indirect sound field of greater amplitude than that of the direct sound field. The directional loudspeaker includes loudspeaker elements positioned to provide a listener located below the loudspeaker elements with an impression of sound spaciousness in a vehicle environment. The loudspeaker elements may include baffles or acoustic lenses to deflect the indirect field away from the path to the listener position. The loudspeaker may also be operated with windows open by channeling the indirect sound field through an acoustic waveguide and deflector to the listener. A sound processor is also provided to accept a sound input, create an indirect and direct sound field, output the sound fields to loudspeaker elements, and also may provide electronic enhancement effects such as multi-channel sound or sound parameter adjustment. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080247576 | Multimedia Device Integration System - An multimedia device integration system is provided. One or more after-market audio or video devices, such as a CD player, CD changer, digital media device (e.g., MP3 player, MP4 player, WMV player, Apple iPod, portable music center, or other device) satellite receiver (e.g., XM or Sirius receiver), DAB receiver, video device (e.g., DVD player), cellular telephone, or any other device or combinations thereof, is integrated for use with an existing OEM or after-market car stereo or video system, wherein control commands can be issued at the car stereo or video system and data from the after-market device can be displayed on the car stereo or video system. Control commands generated at the car stereo or video system are received, processed, converted into a format recognizable by the after-market device, and dispatched to the after-market device for execution. Information from the after-market device is converted into a format recognizable by the car stereo or video system, and dispatched to the car stereo or video system for display thereon. One or more auxiliary input sources can be integrated with the car stereo or video system, and selected using the controls of the car stereo or video system. A docking station is provided for docking a portable audio or video device for integration with the car stereo or video system. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080273722 | DIRECTIONALLY RADIATING SOUND IN A VEHICLE - A vehicle loudspeaker system in a vehicle including directional loudspeakers. One directional loudspeaker radiates sound at a first seating position and another loudspeaker radiates sound at a second seating position. The directional loudspeakers may be used with other vehicle loudspeakers to control spatial perceptions. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080273723 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIRECTIONALLY RADIATING SOUND - A method of operating an audio system that provides audio radiation to a plurality of listening positions includes providing at least one source of audio signals. At each listening position, at least one array of speaker elements is provided. A filter is provided between the at least one source and at least one of the speaker elements at a first listening position. The filter is optimized so that the filter reduces acoustic energy radiated from the first array to at least one other listening position of the plurality of listening positions, compared to acoustic energy radiated from the first array to the first listening position. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080273724 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIRECTIONALLY RADIATING SOUND - An audio system for a vehicle having a plurality of seat positions includes a plurality of sources of audio signals. Respective directional loudspeaker arrays are mounted at the seat positions. Any of the sources are selectable to any of the seat positions through control circuitry in response to an input from an occupant of the vehicle. Processing circuitry is coupled to the control circuitry and is between the plurality of sources in each respective directional loudspeaker array. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080273725 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIRECTIONALLY RADIATING SOUND - An audio system for a vehicle has at least one source of audio signals. At least one array of speaker elements is located at each seat position that radiates within a range of bass frequencies. For each at least one array, the speaker elements receive a common audio signal, and a respective filter is disposed between the common audio signal and each of the speaker elements. Each respective filter processes magnitude and phase of the common audio signal independently of each other respective filter to thereby define a directional audio radiation from the at least one array. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20090074212 | SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND VEHICLE USING THE SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS - The sound reproducing apparatus for use with a signal source comprises, a first output unit connected to the signal source via a first power amplifier, a first phase shifter connected to the signal source, a second output unit connected to the first phase shifter via a second power amplifier, a second phase shifter connected to the signal source, a third output unit connected to the second phase shifter via a third power amplifier, a fourth phase shifter connected to a third phase shifter, and a fourth output unit connected to the fourth phase shifter via a fourth power amplifier, wherein the first output unit and the second output unit are in right and left relation with each other, the third output unit and the fourth output unit are in right and left relation with each other, a group of the first output unit and the second output unit and a group of the third output unit and the fourth output unit are in front and rear relation with each other. The vehicle is equipped with the sound reproducing apparatus. In this way, it is possible to obtain a sound reproducing apparatus improved in sound quality and a vehicle using the sound reproducing apparatus. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090097679 | Acoustic system for providing individual acoustic environment - To provide an acoustic system including: a sound-leakage reducing unit that generates control sound for negating sound leaked from another speaker in a second individual space to a first individual space based on a leak sound transfer function and an error path transfer function to provide the control sound; a virtual sound-source unit that generates a virtual sound source to form a sound image in front of a listener; a localization correcting unit that corrects rearward localization of the sound image formed by reproduction of the virtual sound source closer to the listener; and a dynamic presuming unit that provides the leak sound transfer function and the error path transfer function to the sound-leakage reducing unit, and provides the error path transfer function to the localization correcting unit. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090220112 | VEHICLE SOUND SYSTEM - A vehicle sound system encompasses a combination of speaker configuration, speaker placement, and sound processing to improve sound quality. A pair of speakers (or rows of speakers) are placed close together and located in the front of the console or dashboard with their geometric center on or near the vehicle's central axis. A sound processor acts to “spread” the sound image produced by the two closely spaced speakers by employing a cross-cancellation technique in which the cancellation signal is derived from the difference between the left and right channels. The resulting difference signal is scaled, delayed (if necessary), and spectrally modified before being added in opposite polarities to the left and right channels. The pair of speakers may be placed on a common baffle or mounting surface or in a common housing enclosure, with sound being carried through one or more ducts and emanating out of a slot. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090262963 | AUDIO REPRODUCTION APPARATUS - An audio reproduction apparatus for a vehicle wherein: a first speaker is installed on the right-hand side of a center position in front of a listener sitting on a right-side seat whereas a second speaker is installed on the left-hand side thereof; a third speaker is installed on the right-hand side of a center position in front of a listener sitting on a left-side seat and on the left-hand side of the second speaker whereas a fourth speaker is installed on the left-hand side of the center position in front of the listener; an audio signal of a right channel is supplied to the first and second speakers; an audio signal of a left channel is supplied to the third and fourth speakers; and low and intermediate frequency components of a sum of the audio signal of the right channel and the left channel are supplied to a fifth speaker. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090316939 | Apparatus for stereophonic sound positioning - A stereophonic apparatus uses three speakers respectively installed toward a front of a vehicle on both shoulders of a seat back of a driver's seat and toward a back of the vehicle on an exact center in front of a driver. This configuration provides more effectively exerted positioning effects for a virtual sound source realized by using the three speakers, especially for the effects in a frontward field of sound. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20100027819 | METHOD AND ENCODER FOR COMBINING DIGITAL DATA SETS, A DECODING METHOD AND DECODER FOR SUCH COMBINED DIGITAL DATA SETS AND A RECORD CARRIER FOR STORING SUCH COMBINED DIGITAL DATA SET - Two digital data sets are combined by equating a first subset of samples to neighboring samples from a second subset which is interleaved with the first subset of samples where the equated samples of the two digital data sets do not correspond in time, and by subsequently adding corresponding samples from both digital data sets. This results in a third digital data set that allows the unraveling of the two digital data sets. The third digital data set, when combining two digital audio streams into a single digital audio stream, is still a good mono representation of the two combined digital audio streams and can thus be reproduced on regular reproduction equipment, yet the use of a decoder according to the invention allows the unraveling of the two digital data sets from the third digital data set | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100142734 | VEHICLE-MOUNTED THREE DIMENSIONAL SOUND FIELD REPRODUCING UNIT - In correspondence with the left and right external ears of a listener occupying a seat, a three dimensional sound field reproducing unit includes at least more than two speakers disposed on a headrest on the top of a backrest of the seat, and three dimensional signal processing means which converts an output signal from a sound source into a three dimensional sound field signal for supplying it to each of the speakers. Three dimensional sound field with high accuracy and fidelity is reproduced near the external ears of the listener. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20110206224 | AUDIO SYSTEM CONFIGURED TO FADE AUDIO OUTPUTS AND METHOD THEREOF - An audio system configured to fade audio outputs and method thereof are provided, wherein the audio system includes a first speaker, a second speaker, a low-frequency output speaker, wherein the low-frequency output speaker is proximate the at least one second speaker, and a receiver configured to alter a signal communicated to the first speaker, the second speaker, and the low-frequency output speaker, such that the audio outputs thereof are faded. The audio system further includes a filter in communication between the receiver and the first speaker, wherein the filter is configured to limit a frequency of the signal communicated from the receiver to the first speaker, and a processor configured to alter a frequency limit of the filter, such that a low frequency portion of the signal is received by the first speaker, and a low-frequency output of the first speaker is increased approximately proportionately to the fade of the second speaker, the low-frequency output speaker, or a combination thereof. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110261981 | VEHICLE SOUND SYSTEM - A vehicle sound system encompasses a combination of speaker configuration, speaker placement, and sound processing to improve sound quality. A pair of speakers (or rows of speakers) are placed close together and located in the front of the console or dashboard with their geometric center on or near the vehicle's central axis. A sound processor acts to “spread” the sound image produced by the two closely spaced speakers by employing a cross-cancellation technique in which the cancellation signal is derived from the difference between the left and right channels. The resulting difference signal is scaled, delayed (if necessary), and spectrally modified before being added in opposite polarities to the left and right channels. The pair of speakers may be placed on a common baffle or mounting surface or in a common housing enclosure, with sound being carried through one or more ducts and emanating out of a slot. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110286614 | INDIVIDUALIZATION OF SOUND SIGNALS - A system and method provide a user-specific sound signal for each of multiple users in a room, such as a vehicle cabin, on a sound system including at least a pair of loudspeakers for each user. The head position of each user is tracked and a user-specific binaural sound signal is generated based on the tracked head position of at least one user. Crosstalk cancellation and cross-soundfield cancellation are performed on the user-specific binaural sound signal to enable a user-specific sound signal to be output on the respective loudspeaker pair for each user. In this way, different user-specific sound signals, which may include completely different audio programs, can be provided for each user in the room. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20120008806 | VEHICLE AUDIO SYSTEM WITH HEADREST INCORPORATED LOUDSPEAKERS - A vehicle audio system includes at least two loudspeakers incorporated into a headrest of a vehicle. Protective caps are provided for the loudspeakers at the headrest above each of the two loudspeakers and extend at least partially in a direction in which sound is emitted from the loudspeakers. An audio signal processor receives an audio input signal and is configured for generating audio output signals for the two loudspeakers such that the audio output signals are perceived by a user sitting on a seat on which the headrest is provided as a virtual soundfield. A database includes cap compensating information that compensates for an influence by the protective caps on the audio output signals emitted by the two loudspeakers. The audio signal processor is further configured for generating the virtual soundfield for said user taking into account the cap compensating information. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120121113 | Directional control of sound in a vehicle - A system for directing sound in a vehicle includes a passenger selector, a controller, a pattern generator and a speaker array. The passenger selector is configured to generate a direction signal based on a selection of at least one passenger in the vehicle. The controller is configured to generate a pattern signal based on the direction signal. The pattern generator is configured to receive unpatterned audio data and to generate patterned audio data based on the pattern signal. The speaker array is configured to receive the patterned audio data and to generate a directed sound field based on the patterned audio data such that the directed sound field is directed toward the at least one selected passenger. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120224729 | Directional Electroacoustical Transducing - A multichannel audio system for radiating sound to a listening area that includes a plurality of listening spaces. The audio system includes directional audio devices, positioned in a first of the listening spaces, close to a head of a listener, for radiating first sound waves corresponding to components of one of the channels and nondirectional audio devices, positioned inside the listening area and outside the listening space, distant from the listening space, for radiating sound waves corresponding to components of a second of the channels. | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120308056 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL SOUND APPARATUS - Binaural recording stored in a reproducing-use sound source portion is recorded by giving an ultrasonic modulated sound from a recording-use ultrasonic wave speaker to a dummy head. A cross talk is suppressed; thus, the binaural recording is obtained with clear sonic localization information while localization of pronunciation orientation can be improved. Further, the sounds generated by ultrasonic modulating the binaural recording in the reproducing-use sound source portion are given towards left and right ears of a driver from left and right reproducing-use ultrasonic wave speaker units, respectively, arranged at positions distant from the head of the driver. “Sonic 3D information” relative to the localization of pronunciation orientation is given accurately to the ears of the driver. Even in a vehicle compartment tending to provide reflected sounds or muffled sounds, an accurate “sonic localization” can be achieved without a headphone. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120314889 | SOUND IMAGE LOCALIZATION CONTROL APPARATUS - An audio signal high frequency component controlled in terms of directivity is reproduced, or an audio signal high frequency component compensated in terms of frequency characteristic or controlled in terms of directivity is reproduced, such that the reflected sound comes from a direction in which the high frequency component is intended to be localized. The sound pressure in a seat where a desired localization effect is not provided due to the arrangement of speakers is compensated such that the interaural amplitude level in the seat is equal to that of another seat. Thus, an equivalent level of localization effect is provided in a plurality of seats, especially for an audio signal high frequency component, without significantly increasing the number of the speakers. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20130034253 | STEREOPHONIC SOUND APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE - A stereophonic sound apparatus for a vehicle includes ultrasonic speakers and a dual channel reproduction unit. The dual channel reproduction unit modulates a sound signal into an ultrasonic modulated sound having ultrasonic wave frequency, and provides the ultrasonic modulated sound toward a passenger through the reproduction ultrasonic speakers for generating a three-dimensional sound. The dual channel reproduction unit is configured to generate a sub localization sound through the reproduction ultrasonic speakers when generating a front localization sound, the front localization sound being a sound perceived to be generated from a position in front of a seat, and the sub localization sound being a sound perceived to be generated from a position different from the position in front of the seat. | 02-07-2013 |
| 20140023211 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LOCALIZING SOUND IMAGE FOR VEHICLE'S DRIVER - An acoustic apparatus mounted on a vehicle driven by a driver includes: acquiring unit for acquiring a gaze point at which the driver gazes while driving the vehicle, reflecting parameters including a location of the vehicle, a running state of the vehicle and a running environment of the vehicle; generation unit for generating a sound image in the vehicle; and localization unit for localizing the sound image to be at the gaze point. | 01-23-2014 |
| 20140093107 | Automated Audio Optimization System - An audio system is provided, as well as a method of using same, which utilizes a plurality of sensors integrated into the vehicle's seats to determine which of the seats are occupied. The system selects a pre-defined optimum acoustic sweet spot from a plurality of stored acoustic sweet spots based on which seats are occupied and based on a set of acoustic optimization configuration instructions. The system automatically adjusts the left-right speaker balance controller and the front-rear speaker fade controller to the specific left-right speaker balance setting and the specific front-rear speaker fader setting defined by the optimum acoustic sweet spot. The acoustic optimization configuration instructions, which define the optimum acoustic sweet spot for each combination of occupied vehicle seats, may be stored in the system's memory by a vehicle manufacturer, third party, or end user. | 04-03-2014 |
| 20140198933 | IN-VEHICLE AUDIO DEVICE - In a structure of an in-vehicle audio device, the audio system has an audio signal supplying section, an audio signal processing section, a balance adjustment section and an audio signal output section. A right audio signal processing section and a left audio signal processing section in the audio signal processing section perform a process of filtering audio signals supplied from the audio signal supplying section on the basis of a transfer function. The transfer function contains a head related transfer function H(s), a space transmission compensation function G0(s) | 07-17-2014 |
| 20140294210 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR DIRECTING SOUND IN A VEHICLE - Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for directing sound in a vehicle. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for steering sound within a vehicle. The method includes receiving one or more images from at least one camera attached to the vehicle; locating, from the one or more images, one or more body features associated with one or more occupants of the vehicle; generating at least one signal for controlling one or more sound transducers; and routing, based at least on the locating, the one or more generated signals to the one or more sound transducers for directing sound waves to at least one of the one or more body features. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140348353 | SOUND SYSTEM FOR ESTABLISHING A SOUND ZONE - A system and method for acoustically reproducing at least two electrical audio signals and establishing at least two sound zones that are represented by individual patterns of reception sound signals includes processing the at least two electrical audio signals to provide processed electrical audio signals; converting the processed electrical audio signals into corresponding acoustic audio signals with at least two loudspeakers that are arranged at positions separate from each other; transferring each of the acoustic audio signals according to a transfer matrix from each of the loudspeakers to each of the sound zones where they contribute to the reception sound signals; and processing of the at least two electrical audio signals comprises inverse filtering according to a filter matrix. Inverse filtering is configured to compensate for the room transfer matrix so that each one of the reception sound signals corresponds to one of the electrical audio signals. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140355793 | Sound Stage Controller for a Near-Field Speaker-Based Audio System - Signals in an automobile audio system having at least two near-field speakers located close to an intended position of a listener's head are adjusted such that in a first mode, audio signals are distributed to the near-field speakers according to a first filter that causes the listener to perceive a wide soundstage, and in a second mode, the audio signals are distributed to the near-field speakers according to a second filter that causes the listener to perceive a narrow soundstage. A user input of a variable value is received and, in response, distribution of the audio signals is transitioned from the first mode to the second mode, the extent of the transition being variable based on the value of the user input. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20150049887 | Directional Sound Systems Including Eye Tracking Capabilities and Related Methods - Entertainment systems are provided including directional sound speakers embedded in a headrest of a passenger seat, the headrest being associated with a media player of the entertainment system; and a directional sound controller associated with the directional sound speakers of the media player. The directional sound controller is configured to direct a sound beam associated with the media player at a defined target region such that the sound beam is only audible within the defined target region and experiences less than about 20 dB of leakage outside the target region during operation of the media player. In-flight entertainment systems and related methods are also provided. | 02-19-2015 |
| 20150055807 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DRIVING LOUDSPEAKERS OF A SOUND SYSTEM IN A VEHICLE - An apparatus and a method for driving loudspeakers of a sound system in a vehicle, the system having at least two loudspeakers of a basic system, and a plurality of loudspeakers of a focus system wherein each of the loudspeakers has a position in an environment. The apparatus includes a basic channel provider for providing basic system audio channels for driving the loudspeakers of the basic system and a focused source renderer for providing focus system audio channels to drive the loudspeakers of the focus system. The focused source renderer is configured to calculate a plurality of filter values for the loudspeakers of the focus system based on the positions of the loudspeakers of the focus system and based on a position of a focus point. | 02-26-2015 |
| 20160066115 | METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING SURROUND SOUND USING A PLURALITY OF VEHICLES - The present inventive concept relates to a method for implementing surround sound system using a plurality of vehicles, which implements the surround sound by outputting a sound source corresponding to a surround sound node of itself according to a synchronization signal after each vehicle located in a local area (AVN system: Audio, Video, Navigation system) identifies the surround sound node of itself based on its position. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160073214 | VEHICLE ACOUSTIC CONTROL DEVICE, AND VEHICLE ACOUSTIC CONTROL METHOD - A vehicle acoustic control device includes: a plurality of speakers disposed on a periphery of a passenger; and a controller that controls a sound field in a vehicle cabin by individually driving the plurality of speakers. The controller rotates and displaces the sound field in a direction opposite to a changing direction of a vehicle behavior. At this time, when a frequency at a time of change of the vehicle behavior is higher than a predetermined frequency, the controller changes the sound field in the vehicle cabin in the direction opposite to the changing direction of the vehicle behavior, and increases a variation of the sound field as a variation of the vehicle behavior is being larger. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160080885 | Context-Based Audio Tuning - A system and method is provided for selecting an audio tuning profile to apply to audio signals to generate a sound field acoustically optimized at least at one listening position in a listening environment, such as a vehicle passenger compartment. Each audio tuning profile may include a number of audio settings to be applied to an audio signal at one or more audio loudspeaker channels. The audio tuning profile may be selected based on the content or the source of the audio data signals. Thus, audio tuning may be based on the context of the audio. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160094928 | VEHICLE ACOUSTIC CONTROL DEVICE, AND VEHICLE ACOUSTIC CONTROL METHOD - A plurality of speakers disposed in a front and a rear of a passenger and a controller configured to control a sound field in a vehicle cabin by individually driving the plurality of speakers. The controller is configured, when an operation input for changing an acceleration/deceleration behavior of the vehicle is made, to set a normative acceleration/deceleration depending on the operation input, to detect an actual acceleration/deceleration, and to displace the sound field in the vehicle cabin in the direction of a change in the actual acceleration/deceleration behavior of the vehicle depending on the deviation of the actual acceleration/deceleration relative to the normative acceleration/deceleration. That is, a change of an acceleration/deceleration behavior depending on the operation input is rendered before the change of the actual acceleration/deceleration behavior of the vehicle. | 03-31-2016 |
| 20160127846 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR CONVEYING AUDIO INFORMATION IN VEHICLES - Various methods and devices for vehicles are provided, wherein directional output of sound is used. In some embodiments, speech signals assigned to different speakers in a telephone conference are reproduced with different directional characteristics. In other embodiments, menu items of a menu are reproduced using different directions. In some embodiments, a loud-speaker arrangement may be provided at a dashboard or in a backrest of a seat of the vehicle. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160142852 | SOUND SYSTEM FOR ESTABLISHING A SOUND ZONE - A system and method for acoustically reproducing Q electrical audio signals and establishing N sound zones is provided. Reception sound signals occur that provide an individual pattern of the reproduced and transmitted Q electrical audio signals. The method includes processing the Q electrical audio signals to provide K processed electrical audio signals and converting the K processed electrical audio signals into corresponding K acoustic audio signals with K groups of loudspeakers that are arranged at positions separate from each other and within or adjacent to the N sound zones. The method further includes monitoring a position of a listener's head relative to a reference listening position. Each of the K acoustic audio signals is transferred according to a transfer matrix from each of the K groups of loudspeakers to each of the N sound zones to contribute to the corresponding reception sound signals. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160157041 | VEHICLE ACOUSTIC CONTROL DEVICE, AND VEHICLE ACOUSTIC CONTROL METHOD | 06-02-2016 |
| 20160171989 | ENHANCED CONVERSATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS IN SHARED ACOUSTIC SPACE | 06-16-2016 |
| 20160174010 | ENHANCED AUDITORY EXPERIENCE IN SHARED ACOUSTIC SPACE | 06-16-2016 |
| 20160205491 | A SYSTEM FOR AND A METHOD OF GENERATING SOUND | 07-14-2016 |
| 20180027369 | HANDS-FREE SPEECH COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR AN EMERGENCY CALL SYSTEM | 01-25-2018 |
| 20190143904 | VEHICLE AUDIO PRESENTATION CONTROLLER | 05-16-2019 |
