Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A sound processing system reduces the instances when only a center speaker is heard. The gain of a volume setting is adjusted for individual speakers in response to one or more input signals. The gain of the center speaker is attenuated in relation to the global volume setting. In addition or as an alternative, the gain of front and/or rear speakers is increased. A virtual center channel is generated for locations where the center speaker may not be heard.

Abstract: A vehicle seatback audio controller includes an entertainment interface that receives an entertainment audio signal from entertainment audio source, and a telematics interface that receives a telematics audio signal from a telematics audio source. The controller has an output that provides either the telematics audio signal to a seatback speaker when the telematics audio source is active or the entertainment audio signal to the seatback speaker when the telematics audio source is inactive. The controller may include an accelerometer or a microphone that generates a vibration signal and/or a noise signal. A level detector may receive the vibration signal and/or a noise signal, and adjust a level of the telematics audio signal to the seatback speaker as a function of the vibration signal and/or a noise signal.

Abstract: A sound processing system reduces speaker distortion at high volume levels by attenuating the filter gain and/or tone of audio and mixed output signals. The sound processing system has one or more filters to attenuate the filter gain and tone in response to the high volume levels. The sound processing system also can attenuate the filter gain and tone in response to a sound pressure level, which may be provided by a microphone.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A sound processing system reduces the instances when only a center speaker is heard. The gain of a volume setting is adjusted for individual speakers in response to one or more input signals. The gain of the center speaker is attenuated in relation to the global volume setting. In addition or as an alternative, the gain of front and/or rear speakers is increased. A virtual center channel is generated for locations where the center speaker may not be heard.

Abstract: A sound processing system adaptively mixes active matrix decoding and passive matrix processing of incoming audio signals. Mixed output signals are generated with active matrix decoding where the audio signals are stereo. Mixed output signals are generated with passive matrix processing where the audio signals are monaural. The sound processing system reduces the degree of active matrix decoding in the mixed output signals where the incoming audio signals are stereo and monaural. The sound processing system also generates virtual stereo signals from incoming audio signals having monaural signals. Mixed output signals are generated of the virtual stereo signals using active matrix decoding.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus for attaching a device like an electro-dynamic loudspeaker to a mounting location in an automobile or other vehicle. The mounting apparatus employs bracket hardware that is either affixed to or integral with the loudspeaker that is to be mounted. The mounting apparatus can position the loudspeaker in a fixed angular orientation, or enable the angular orientation of the loudspeaker to be variable, as desired, to achieve the optimum performance of the loudspeaker.

Abstract: A seatback audio system having one or more speakers mounted in a surface of a seatback or a headrest. The speakers may be separated by a sound barrier to reduce cross-talk between the speakers. The surface may have a concave area where the speakers and the sound barrier are mounted. Alternatively, the surface may have two concave areas, and one speaker may be mounted in each concave area. The system may include a manual or an automated positioning system for one or both of the speakers. The system may also include a soft-cell waveguide having a plurality of tubes to direct the sound from one or both of the speakers. The seatback may include a backrest and a removable headrest, each including an electrical connector, where the one or more speakers are mounted to the headrest and the electrical connectors form a circuit when the headrest is mounted to the backrest.

Abstract: A multimedia and entertainment system for an automobile is disclosed to include a plurality of loudspeakers located and distributed throughout the interior passenger compartment of the automobile. Loudspeakers of the conventional cone-type as well as electro-dynamic planar loudspeakers may be incorporated into the present invention. At least one loudspeaker is operably integrated within the passenger compartment of an automobile and is located in the proximity of a video display of the system. The electronic audio signal that serves the loudspeaker is processed in the audio system of the multimedia and entertainment system to optimize its full features and capabilities, including multi-audio-channel effects, so as to enable the passengers to completely experience the multimedia and entertainment system.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus for attaching a device like an electro-dynamic loudspeaker to a mounting location in an automobile or other vehicle. The mounting apparatus employs bracket hardware that is either affixed to or integral with the loudspeaker that is to be mounted. The mounting apparatus can position the loudspeaker in a fixed angular orientation, or enable the angular orientation of the loudspeaker to be variable, as desired, to achieve the optimum performance of the loudspeaker.

Abstract: A seatback audio system having one or more speakers mounted in a surface of a seatback or a headrest. The speakers may be separated by a sound barrier to reduce cross-talk between the speakers. The surface may have a concave area where the speakers and the sound barrier are mounted. Alternatively, the surface may have two concave areas, and one speaker may be mounted in each concave area. The system may include a manual or an automated positioning system for one or both of the speakers. The system may also include a soft-cell waveguide having a plurality of tubes to direct the sound from one or both of the speakers. The seatback may include a backrest and a removable headrest, each including an electrical connector, where the one or more speakers are mounted to the headrest and the electrical connectors form a circuit when the headrest is mounted to the backrest.

Abstract: A vehicle seatback audio controller includes an entertainment interface that receives an entertainment audio signal from entertainment audio source, and a telematics interface that receives a telematics audio signal from a telematics audio source. The controller has an output that provides either the telematics audio signal to a seatback speaker when the telematics audio source is active or the entertainment audio signal to the seatback speaker when the telematics audio source is inactive. The controller may include an accelerometer or a microphone that generates a vibration signal and/or a noise signal. A level detector may receive the vibration signal and/or a noise signal, and adjust a level of the telematics audio signal to the seatback speaker as a function of the vibration signal and/or a noise signal.

Abstract: A sound processing system reduces the instances when only a center speaker is heard. The gain of a volume setting is adjusted for individual speakers in response to one or more input signals. The gain of the center speaker is attenuated in relation to the global volume setting. In addition or as an alternative, the gain of front and/or rear speakers is increased. A virtual center channel is generated for locations where the center speaker may not be heard.

Abstract: A sound processing system reduces speaker distortion at high volume levels by attenuating the filter gain and/or tone of audio and mixed output signals. The sound processing system has one or more filters to attenuate the filter gain and tone in response to the high volume levels. The sound processing system also can attenuate the filter gain and tone in response to a sound pressure level, which may be provided by a microphone.

Abstract: A sound processing system adaptively mixes active matrix decoding and passive matrix processing of incoming audio signals. Mixed output signals are generated with active matrix decoding where the audio signals are stereo. Mixed output signals are generated with passive matrix processing where the audio signals are monaural. The sound processing system reduces the degree of active matrix decoding in the mixed output signals where the incoming audio signals are stereo and monaural. The sound processing system also generates virtual stereo signals from incoming audio signals having monaural signals. Mixed output signals are generated of the virtual stereo signals using active matrix decoding.

Abstract: A sound reproduction unit comprises a central, head receiving portion and opposite first and second ends. The first and second ends have opposed front and back surfaces. A first acoustic transducer is mounted within the first end and a second acoustic transducer is mounted within the second end. First, second, third and fourth acoustically substantially transparent pathways are provided between the first transducer and the front surface of the first end, the first transducer and the back surface of the first end, the second transducer and the front surface of the second end, and between the second transducer and the back surface of the second end, respectively.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing a set of filters comprises locating first and second loudspeakers at first and second locations, respectively, coupling a first component of an audio program to the first loudspeaker to be reproduced thereby, and coupling a second component of the audio program to the second loudspeaker to be reproduced thereby. First and second microphones are placed at third and fourth locations, respectively, at which the reproduced first and second audio components are to be heard in order to convert audio impinging upon the first and second microphones into first and second microphone signals, respectively. A first set of transfer functions is developed from the first and second components of the audio program and the first and second microphone signals. One loudspeaker is then located at a fifth location different from one of the first and second locations. The first component is then coupled to the first loudspeaker, and the second component to the second loudspeaker.

Abstract: A loudspeaker comprises a diaphragm having an outer perimeter, a voice coil, a frame for supporting the diaphragm, and a motor stator providing a magnetic field in which the voice coil is supported. Current through the voice coil reciprocates the voice coil and the diaphragm coupled thereto. Ribs extend outwardly at the perimeter of the diaphragm to mount the voice coil to the perimeter of the diaphragm. The motor stator includes at least one inner flux return providing slots through which the ribs extend between the perimeter of the diaphragm and the voice coil. Alternatively, a loudspeaker comprises a diaphragm having an outer perimeter and a central axis defining between them a relatively inner region of the diaphragm extending outwardly from the axis and a relatively outer region of the diaphragm extending inwardly from the perimeter, a voice coil, a frame for supporting the diaphragm, and a motor stator providing a magnetic field in which the voice coil is supported.

Abstract: A sound reproduction unit comprises a central, head receiving portion and opposite first and second ends. The first and second ends have opposed front and back surfaces. A first acoustic transducer is mounted within the first end and a second acoustic transducer is mounted within the second end. First, second, third and fourth acoustically substantially transparent pathways are provided between the first transducer and the front surface of the first end, the first transducer and the back surface of the first end, the second transducer and the front surface of the second end, and between the second transducer and the back surface of the second end, respectively.