In Vehicle Patents (Class 381/302)
  • Patent number: 11974115
    Abstract: An active sound design (ASD) tuning device and a method thereof may include an ASD device that generates a virtual engine sound for each vehicle situation and a control device that outputs a composite sound by correcting and synthesizing the virtual engine sound and an internal sound measured for each vehicle situation based on a binaural vehicle impulse response (BVIR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ki Chang Kim, Dong Chul Park, Eun Soo Jo, Jin Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 11937067
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a contrast mode and a front optimized mode for audio in a vehicle is provided. An audio controller is programmed to transmit first audio content in a first zone seating area and to transmit second audio content in a second zone seating area. The audio controller receives a first indication to transmit the first audio content in the first zone seating area and the second audio content in the second zone seating area in the contrast mode to provide an equal listening experience. The audio controller receives a second indication to transmit the first audio content in the first zone seating area and the second audio content in the second zone seating area in the front optimized mode to increase a quality of sound in the first zone seating area and to decrease a quality of sound in the second zone seating area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Riley Winton, Christopher Michael Trestain, Chris Ludwig
  • Patent number: 11812873
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a chair including a multi-channel sound system, and more particularly, to a chair including a multi-channel sound system capable of providing a sense of space and a three-dimensional effect to a user who sits in the chair through sounds output from a plurality of channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: TROUND INC.
    Inventor: Jea Bum Park
  • Patent number: 11678119
    Abstract: In a virtual sound image control system according to the present invention, a signal processor generates the acoustic signal and outputs the acoustic signal to the two-channel loudspeakers so as to create a virtual sound image to be perceived by a user as a stereophonic sound image. The two-channel loudspeakers are arranged such that a first listening area and a second listening area for the user are symmetric to each other with respect to a virtual plane including a virtual line segment connecting the two-channel loudspeakers together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wakio Yamada, Daichi Toh
  • Patent number: 11627426
    Abstract: A method of playing back audio content with improved immersiveness can include receiving, at a playback device, audio input including vertical content having a high-frequency portion and a low-frequency portion. The playback device can face along a first sound axis and comprise an up-firing transducer configured to direct sound along a second sound axis that is vertically angled with respect to the primary sound axis and a side-firing transducer or array configured to direct sound along a third axis that is horizontally angled with respect to the first sound axis. The low-frequency portion of the vertical content can be played back via the side-firing transducer or array, while the high-frequency portion of the vertical content can be played back via the up-firing transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul MacLean
  • Patent number: 11618361
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bass automobile seat module and an automobile. The bass automobile seat module includes a seat and a speaker box mounted at a bottom of the seat. The bottom of the seat is provided with a mounting slot; the speaker box includes a hollow shell arranged in the mounting slot and a double-sided sound module accommodated in the shell; the top and bottom of the double-sided sound module are respectively provided with a first vibration diaphragm and a second vibration diaphragm; and the first vibration diaphragm located in the mounting slot transmits a sound through the seat and a sound production channel of the double-sided sound module. The present invention can release a storage space of a door and can also automatically offset the resonance, which is convenient for providing a better listening effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: AAC Microtech (Changzhou) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xudong Yan, Tao Shao, Xiaojiang Gu
  • Patent number: 11622195
    Abstract: Adaptive operations of a first noise control system and a second noise control system may include a speaker that outputs noise cancellation sound, a microphone that detects an error signal, an auxiliary filter that generates, from a noise signal, a correction signal that corrects the error signal so that a difference in a position between the microphone and a noise cancellation position is compensated, and an adaptive filter that performs an adaptive operation using the corrected error signal to generate the noise cancellation sound from the noise signal are alternately performed. A transfer function learned in a state in which the second noise control system is stopped is set in the auxiliary filter of the first noise control system, and a transfer function learned in a state in which the adaptive operation of the first noise control system is stopped is set in the auxiliary filter of the second noise control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignees: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD., A SCHOOL CORPORATION KANSAI UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ryosuke Tachi, Yoshinobu Kajikawa
  • Patent number: 11521612
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus and method use speech recognition and include: a passenger recognizing device configured to recognize passengers including a first passenger and at least one second passenger in a vehicle; a voice recognizing device configured to receive and to recognize a voice utterance by the first passenger or the at least one second passenger and to output a speech recognition result based on the received voice utterance; and a processor configured to additionally query the at least one second passenger or the first passenger based on the speech recognition result of the voice utterance of the first passenger or the at least one second passenger, respectively, to provide each of the first passenger and the at least one second passenger with a customized service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jae Min Joh
  • Patent number: 11455980
    Abstract: A vehicle and a controlling method thereof are disclosed. The vehicle includes a first seat in which a talker is seated; a second seat in which a passenger is seated; a plurality of speakers provided in the first seat and the second seat; a microphone for receiving the voice of the passenger or the voice of the talker; and a controller configured to control the speaker to output a masking sound tuned based on the voice of the talker or the voice of the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jung Keun You, MunHwan Cho, Joongkwan Kim, Myoungok Lee, Kaangdok Yee, Youngjin Park, Yeongseok Kim
  • Patent number: 11457328
    Abstract: An electronic device for a vehicle comprising circuitry configured to obtain information about a planned maneuver of the vehicle; and circuitry configured to determine the position and/or orientation of a sound field based on the information about the planned maneuver of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Franck Giron, Fabien Cardinaux, Thomas Kemp, Stefan Uhlich, Marc Ferras Font, Andreas Schwager, Patrick Putzolu, Michael Enenkl
  • Patent number: 11418902
    Abstract: A sound system configured to output sound signals to a user located in a defined environment, comprising a plurality of transducers configured to output the sound signals, a processing unit configured to individually control at least an electrical delay, a frequency characteristic and a sound level with which the sound signals transmitted to the plurality of transducers are output by each of the plurality of transducers, and a seat for a user to which the sound signals are output, the seat comprising a seating surface and a backrest configured support a back of the user sitting on the seating surface. The backrest comprises an upper surface defining an upper end surface of the backrest. The defined environment influences the sound signals as perceived by the user sitting on the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Lars Goller, Alexander Young
  • Patent number: 11412339
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a contrast mode and a front optimized mode for audio in a vehicle is provided. An audio controller is programmed to transmit first audio content in a first zone seating area and to transmit second audio content in a second zone seating area. The audio controller receives a first indication to transmit the first audio content in the first zone seating area and the second audio content in the second zone seating area in the contrast mode to provide an equal listening experience. The audio controller receives a second indication to transmit the first audio content in the first zone seating area and the second audio content in the second zone seating area in the front optimized mode to increase a quality of sound in the first zone seating area and to decrease a quality of sound in the second zone seating area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Riley Winton, Christopher Michael Trestain, Chris Ludwig
  • Patent number: 11388542
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an in-vehicle device and a speaker array. The in-vehicle device acquires information that identifies a posture of an occupant of the vehicle by use of an occupant posture acquisition portion. The in-vehicle device controls a sound outputted from the speaker array to a sound arriving from a virtual sound source that is set at a predetermined position, and corrects the position of the virtual sound source based on the posture of the occupant by use of a sound control portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kohei Noguchi
  • Patent number: 11368785
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for enhancing engine sound. An example method for a vehicle comprises acquiring a signal including harmonic content generated by an engine of the vehicle, upmixing the signal into a plurality of channels for a given number of engine orders, adjusting an order filter for each engine order of the given number of engine orders based on operating conditions of the engine, filtering each channel of the plurality of channels with the corresponding order filter, mixing the filtered channels into a mono output, and outputting the mono output to at least one speaker in the vehicle. The mono output is delayed based on a position of the at least one speaker such that an occupant of the vehicle perceives the mono output as originating from the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jose Maria Marin, David Trumpy, Miguel Ángel Conradi Garcia-Baquero
  • Patent number: 11323837
    Abstract: A method assists in playing sound of a graphical representation for an electronic communication between a first person with a first portable electronic device (PED) to a second person with a second PED. The method displays a first visual indication that when selected plays the sound of the graphical representation in stereo or mono sound and a second visual indication that when selected plays the sound of the graphical representation in binaural sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventor: Philip Scott Lyren
  • Patent number: 11259120
    Abstract: An audio system for a headrest having a set of R right speaker(s), a set of L left speaker(s), and an electronic chain configured to emit a sound signal from at least a right input signal and a left input signal. The electronic chain includes a separating module configured to obtain, from the right input signal and the left input signal (LIN), at least four mono audio components, and a sound spatialization module configured to apply, to each mono audio component delivered by the separating module, a binaural filter previously selected from the plurality of binaural filters, and dedicated to the audio component, producing a sound whose source position is associated with the previously selected binaural filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: FAURECIA CLARION ELECTRONICS EUROPE
    Inventors: Nicolas Lopez Zuleta, Mounira Rigaud-Maazaoui, Jérôme Noirot, Xenofon Doukopoulos, Gaël Laqueille, Jérémie Leclere
  • Patent number: 11178488
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to reducing influence of crosstalk components by appropriately blocking a propagation path of the crosstalk components output from speakers that reproduce signals for right and left ears respectively. Provided is a contact member used in contact with a back and/or a back of a head of a listener. The contact member is installed with: a first speaker that reproduces a signal for the left ear and a second speaker that reproduces a signal for the right ear; and a propagation obstruction adapted to block a propagation path of crosstalk components output from the respective speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ryutaro Watanabe, Toru Nakagawa, Tetsunori Itabashi, Shigetoshi Hayashi, Toru Chinen, Asaya Hondo, Satoko Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 11167700
    Abstract: A vehicle audio system includes a first driver's seat speaker, a second driver's seat speaker having a narrower directivity than the first driver's seat speaker, a first front passenger's seat speaker, a second front passenger's seat speaker having a narrower directivity than the first front passenger's seat speaker, and a delay processing unit that causes an audio signal output to the speaker out of the first driver's seat speaker and the second driver's seat speaker closest to the driver's seat to be delayed relative to an audio signal output to the speaker furthest from the driver's seat, and causes an audio signal output to the speaker out of the first front passenger's seat speaker and the second front passenger's seat speaker closest to the front passenger's seat to be delayed relative to an audio signal output to the speaker furthest from the front passenger's seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoyasu Sakaue
  • Patent number: 11084583
    Abstract: A drone speaker system is configured to deploy a fleet of drone speaker units. Each drone speaker unit includes a speaker configured to broadcast acoustic signals and a flight system configured to aerially transport a speaker. The drone speaker system initially generates a spatial map of a location where the drone speaker units are to be deployed. The drone speaker system then identifies suitable perching locations for the drone speaker units. Then, the drone speaker system deploys the fleet of drone speaker units to those perching locations to place one or more speakers. Once positioned in this manner, the speakers can generate a sound field. The drone speaker units may also reconfigure the speakers to achieve different sound fields having varying characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Sven Kratz, Joseph Verbeke, Stefan Marti, Adam Boulanger
  • Patent number: 11070911
    Abstract: An audio system for a vehicle including a plurality of personal sound zones, each personal sound zone comprising a plurality of microphones, an audio controller, and a plurality of speakers. The system is configured to allow the occupants of a vehicle to experience their own dedicated sound environment without the sound from one dedicated sound environment interfering with the sound from another dedicated sound environment. The system includes features for controlling the audio of each dedicated sound environment, including passing audio from one dedicated sound environment to another dedicated sound environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Karma Automotive LLC
    Inventors: Michael Groene, Andre Franco Luis, Joe Durre, George Huan
  • Patent number: 10990347
    Abstract: A custom-made amplified mini stereo device specifically designed and crafted to fit into ATV/recreational vehicles dash panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventor: Jon Michael Montisano
  • Patent number: 10917734
    Abstract: An electronic device for controlling a speaker and an operating method thereof are provided. The electronic device includes an audio output apparatus, and a processor configured to, according to a type of a first sound source to be output through the audio output apparatus, control an output of the audio output apparatus to output a first sound corresponding to the first sound source so as to be focused on a first area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ji-Soon Park
  • Patent number: 10812906
    Abstract: A system and method providing a shared audio experience that include analyzing at least one audio stream that is associated with at least one application that is executed on at least one portable device. The system and method also include determining a plurality of audio elements associated with the at least one audio stream based on the analysis of the at least one audio stream. The system and method further include controlling at least one audio source to provide the shared audio experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert Wesley Murrish
  • Patent number: 10785551
    Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a first electro-acoustic driver that creates sound waves when operated, and a housing. A first baffle is coupled to the housing and the first electro-acoustic driver. A first speaker grille covers the first electro-acoustic driver. A first gasket is disposed between the first baffle and the first speaker grille. The first gasket comprises a first set of energy directors to reduce buzzing between the first gasket and the first baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Allen T. Graff, Roman N. Litovsky, Bojan Rip, Jason D. Silver, Donna Marie Sullivan, Chester Smith Williams, Zhen Xu
  • Patent number: 10771915
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of a car stereo audio expanding method. The method performs delay processing on sound channel signals in a loudspeaker twice to counteract signals reflected by door glass, such that the sound field performs better. The sound field processing method of the present invention can enable the sound field of sounds heard by the driver to be centered and the diffusion of both sides to be symmetric. Also the sound field can be expanded to the outside of the vehicle, resolving the problem that the car audio, in a car environment, has a sound field weighted toward one side, has a narrow sound field width, and has poor hearing effects due to the confined sound field. The invention enables sound heard to be authentic rather than empty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Inventor: Huixiong Yu
  • Patent number: 10756812
    Abstract: A transmission device for a motor vehicle for transmitting sound signals includes a receiver unit configured to receive the sound signals, a transmission unit configured to transmit the received sound signals to a standard reproduction device configured to play back the sound signals, and a management unit configured to wirelessly ascertain at least one supplementary reproduction device wishing to receive, for the purpose of playing back, the sound signals. The transmission unit is further configured to wirelessly send the received sound signals to the at least one supplementary reproduction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Nikolay Dreharov
  • Patent number: 10735862
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine and methods of operating an electronic gaming machine that provide binaurally encoded audio using a stereo ultrasound speaker configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Stefan Keilwert, David Small, David Froy, Klaus Achmueller
  • Patent number: 10721591
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a media guidance application that adjusts output parameters of media assets delivered to output devices based on user preferences of users near the output devices. For example, the media guidance application may adjust the volume to be higher at a speaker near a first user who enjoys a particular media asset and lower at a speaker near a second user who dislikes the media asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Ti-Shiang Wang
  • Patent number: 10650798
    Abstract: A device for active noise control inside a vehicle, the device comprising a processor (7610) configured to determine a noise wavefield within the vehicle based on noise signals captured by a microphone array (M1-M10); determine the position of the ears of a passenger (P1) based on information obtained from a head tracking sensor (HTU1); capture a noise field inside the vehicle based on information obtained by the microphone array; obtain a noise level at the ears of the passenger (P1) from the noise field; and determine an anti-noise field based on the noise level at the position of the ears of the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fabien Cardinaux, Michael Enenkl, Marc Ferras Font, Thomas Kemp, Patrick Putzolu, Stefan Uhlich
  • Patent number: 10618443
    Abstract: A method and apparatus that adjust audio output are provided. The method includes detecting a position of a wing of a headrest, adjusting an audio signal based on the detected position of the wing of the headrest, and outputting the adjusted audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Richard A. Close
  • Patent number: 10602272
    Abstract: An audio signal processor includes: a first amplifier that amplifies a first audio content; a mixer that mixes an output signal of the first amplifier and a second audio content; a second amplifier that amplifies an output signal of the mixer; and a setter that sets an amplification amount of the first amplifier. The setter sets an amplification amount in the first amplifier so that the amplification amount in the first amplifier cancels an amplification amount in the second amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Socionext Inc.
    Inventors: Shuji Miyasaka, Kazutaka Abe
  • Patent number: 10536795
    Abstract: Various implementations include vehicle audio systems and related control methods. In some particular implementations, an audio system is configured to present audio content to a vehicle occupant to modify the perceived size of the vehicle cabin relative to its actual physical size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Donald Joseph MacLellan
  • Patent number: 10499179
    Abstract: A method assists in playing sound of a graphical representation for an electronic communication between a first person with a first portable electronic device (PED) to a second person with a second PED. The method displays a first visual indication that when selected plays the sound of the graphical representation in stereo or mono sound and a second visual indication that when selected plays the sound of the graphical representation in binaural sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Inventor: Philip Scott Lyren
  • Patent number: 10481858
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a personalization application provides emotionally personalized audio content to co-located users. In operation, the personalization application acquires first personalized audio content for a first user based on an emotional state associated with the first user. The personalization application then causes a first audio device associated with the first user to output the first audio content. In addition, the personalization application causes a second audio device associated with a second user that is co-located with the first user to output second audio content while the first audio devices outputs the first audio content. Notably, the second audio content is different from the first audio content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Adam Boulanger, Joseph Verbeke, Stefan Marti, Davide Di Censo
  • Patent number: 10433062
    Abstract: A circuit receives a first input signal and a second input signal, and provides three driving signals to three output wires, respectively. A first driving signal is provided to a first output wire, and is based on a difference between the first input signal and the second input signal. A second driving signal is provided to a second output wire, and is based on a sum of the first input signal and the second input signal. A third driving signal is provided to a third output wire, and is based on an inverse of the first driving signal. A first output signal between the first output wire and the second output wire is based on the second input signal. A second output signal between the third output wire and the second output wire is based on the first input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: DIODES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Hideto Takagishi
  • Patent number: 10419879
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a media guidance application that adjusts output parameters of media assets delivered to output devices based on user preferences of users near the output devices. For example, the media guidance application may adjust the volume to be higher at a speaker near a first user who enjoys a particular media asset and lower at a speaker near a second user who dislikes the media asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Ti-Shiang Wang
  • Patent number: 10377486
    Abstract: A drone speaker system is configured to deploy a fleet of drone speaker units. Each drone speaker unit includes a speaker configured to broadcast acoustic signals and a flight system configured to aerially transport a speaker. The drone speaker system initially generates a spatial map of a location where the drone speaker units are to be deployed. The drone speaker system then identifies suitable perching locations for the drone speaker units. Then, the drone speaker system deploys the fleet of drone speaker units to those perching locations to place one or more speakers. Once positioned in this manner, the speakers can generate a sound field. The drone speaker units may also reconfigure the speakers to achieve different sound fields having varying characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sven Kratz, Joseph Verbeke, Stefan Marti, Adam Boulanger
  • Patent number: 10375503
    Abstract: A wave field synthesis apparatus for driving an array of loudspeakers with drive signals, the apparatus includes a sound field synthesizer for generating sound field drive signals for causing the array of loudspeakers to generate one or more sound fields at one or more audio zones, a binaural renderer for generating binaural drive signals for causing the array of loud-speakers to generate specified sound pressures at at least two positions, wherein the at least two positions are determined based on a detected position and/or orientation of a listener, and a decision unit for deciding whether to generate the drive signals using the sound field synthesizer or using the binaural renderer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Buerger, Heinrich Löllmann, Walter Kellermann, Peter Grosche, Yue Lang
  • Patent number: 10362402
    Abstract: A method of operating an audio system having first and second sources includes outputting a first audio signal from the first source on first and second speakers. In response to a listener input, the first audio signal and a second audio signal from the second source are output simultaneously on the first and second speakers. The first signal is output from each of the first and second speakers such that the first signal is perceived by a listener to originate from a first direction toward the listener. The second signal is output from each of the first and second speakers such that the second signal is perceived by the listener to originate from a second direction toward the listener. The second direction is offset at least ninety degrees from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Shree Jaisimha, Mohammed Reza Kanji, Li Lian Lay, John Morris, James P. Reefe
  • Patent number: 10293728
    Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a system that includes a seat headrest enclosing at least one first acoustic transducer that generates audio output in a first frequency range. The system also includes an adjustable headrest wing disposed in front of the seat headrest, the headrest wing being pivotally coupled to the seat headrest and adjustable to one of multiple positions. The headrest wing includes at least one second acoustic transducer that generates audio output in a second frequency range that includes frequencies higher than the upper end of the first frequency range. The system further includes a controller configured to adjust, for a given position of the headrest wing, one or more parameters of at least one of: (i) the first acoustic transducer and (ii) the second acoustic transducer in accordance with a target acoustic distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Oswald, Tobe Z. Barksdale, Michael S. Dublin, Ryan C. Struzik
  • Patent number: 10262664
    Abstract: When combining digital data sets in the time domain into a combined digital data set a subset of samples of each digital data set is adjusted to enable unraveling the data when decoding. To enable correction during decoding of an error introduced by the adjustment, an error approximation is stored for each adjusted sample. A set of error approximations is created which is indexed allowing substantial reduction in size of the error approximations to be stored for the adjusted samples. Instead of creating a set of error approximations for each combined digital data set one set of error approximations is created based on the errors introduced when creating multiple combined digital data sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: AURO TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Wilfried Van Baelen, Bert Van Daele
  • Patent number: 10264375
    Abstract: A sound system for a vehicle includes a plurality of microphones to detect sounds emanating from outside of the vehicle. A sound processor is operable to process microphone output signals of the microphones to identify a source of at least some sounds detected by the microphones. The sound processor processes microphone output signals to identify a sound of interest outside of the vehicle, which includes at least one of (i) a siren of an emergency vehicle and (ii) a horn of another vehicle. Responsive to identification by the sound processor of the sound of interest, a plurality of speakers disposed in the cabin of the vehicle generate sound representative of the identified sound of interest. While the speakers are generating sound representative of the identified sound of interest, sounds generated by the speakers based on audio signals from other sound systems in the vehicle are diminished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sylvie Wacquant, Michael Biemer
  • Patent number: 10160399
    Abstract: Vehicle audio systems can include a first speaker system oriented towards a first seat of a vehicle and configured to emit a first sound based on a first audio file. Vehicle audio systems can also include a second speaker system oriented towards a second seat of the vehicle and configured to emit a second sound based on a second audio file that is unrelated to the first audio file while the first speaker system emits the first sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Inventor: Joseph Frank Scalisi
  • Patent number: 10097911
    Abstract: An audio system includes a housing that defines an acoustic enclosure, an acoustic driver supported by the housing and arranged to radiate acoustic energy from a front surface of the housing, an acoustic exit located in a rear surface of the housing, opposite the front surface. The acoustic exit has a shape that facilitates a grasping of the housing with a plurality of fingers and the thumb from a single human hand, such that at the plurality of fingers or the thumb can be inserted into the exit while the plurality of fingers or the thumb of the same hand can rest on a top surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Preston Parker, Roman N. Litovsky, Jacky Chi-Hung Chan, Todd Charter Brown, Lino A. Pucci
  • Patent number: 10085090
    Abstract: Disclosed is a loudspeaker array with a multiplicity of array loudspeakers. The multiplicity of array loudspeakers is mounted in a surface of a rigid hemisphere that encloses an acoustic volume. The array loudspeakers are regularly or quasi-regularly distributed over the surface of the rigid hemisphere, and a loudspeaker arrangement includes such an array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Christoph, Matthias Kronlachner
  • Patent number: 10064010
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a media guidance application that alerts a user to access the upcoming media asset on an output device of a second output device type, since the media asset will not be available through any output devices of a first output device type. For example, the media guidance application may determine that a user enjoys a media asset, but is too far from an output device of a first output device type (e.g., speakers) to view or listen to the media asset or that other nearby users do not enjoy the media asset. In these instances, the media guidance application may alert the user to use a different output device type to view and/or listen to the media asset (e.g., on a mobile phone).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Ti-Shiang Wang
  • Patent number: 10064009
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a media guidance application that adjusts output parameters of media assets delivered to output devices based on user preferences of users near the output devices. For example, the media guidance application may adjust the volume to be higher at a speaker near a first user who enjoys a particular media asset and lower at a speaker near a second user who dislikes the media asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Ti-Shiang Wang
  • Patent number: 9961467
    Abstract: In one example, a method includes obtaining a representation of a multi-channel audio signal for a source loudspeaker configuration; obtaining a representation of a plurality of spatial positioning vectors (SPVs), in a Higher-Order Ambisonics (HOA) domain, that are based on a source rendering matrix, which is based on the loudspeaker configuration; and generating a HOA soundfield based on the multi-channel audio signal and the plurality of spatial positioning vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Moo Young Kim, Dipanjan Sen
  • Patent number: 9883317
    Abstract: An audio signal processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to receive input of audio signals of a plurality of channels, an obtaining unit configured to obtain position information of a sound source, a sound field effect sound generating unit configured to generate a sound field effect sound by individually imparting a sound field effect to an audio signal of each of the channels, and a control unit configured to control the sound field effect to be imparted in the sound field effect sound generating unit, based on the position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yuta Yuyama, Ryotaro Aoki, Masaya Kano
  • Patent number: 9860643
    Abstract: Audio systems and methods for providing acoustic isolation. In one example, an audio system includes an audio source, a first speaker positioned proximate a first seating position, a second speaker positioned proximate a second seating position, the second speaker configured to provide acoustic energy to the second seating position based on an audio signal from the audio source, a third speaker positioned proximate a third seating position, the third speaker configured to provide acoustic energy to the third seating position, during a first mode of operation, and at least one cancellation filter interposed between the audio source and the third speaker, the at least one cancellation filter configured to provide a filtered audio signal to the third speaker, during a second mode of operation, to cancel at the first seating position at least a portion of the acoustic energy provided by the second speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Charles Oswald