In-vehicle passenger phone stand

• US 10,111,000 B1
• Filed: 10/16/2017
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TP Lab, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TP Lab, Inc.
• Inventors: Ho, Chi Fai, Chiong, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Paul, Disler
• Application Number:
  US15/784,744
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 381 77, 381 79, 381 59, 381307, 381 711, 381 714, 381 718
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/178 by electro-acoustically regenerating the original acoustic waves in anti-phase
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/108 Communication systems, e.g. where useful sound is kept and noise is cancelled
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1282 Automobiles
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3044 Phase shift, e.g. complex envelope processing
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/0272 Voice signal separating
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6016 in the receiver circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/403 loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/01 Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

A phone stand includes a phone holder for coupling to a phone, where the phone is for conducting a voice session. The phone stand further includes a plurality of directional speakers positioned to project sound to a focused audio area corresponding to a location where a user is expected to be positioned, a plurality of back speakers positioned behind the location where the user is expected to be positioned, and a system controller. The system controller is configured to: receive audio signals, where the audio signals includes audio of the voice session from the phone; separate the audio signals into speech signals and non-speech signals; obtain one or more output mixing attributes; generate mixed signals by combining the speech signals and the non-speech signals according to the one or more output mixing attributes; and send the mixed signals to the plurality of directional speakers.

Claims

1. A phone stand comprised in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a seat where a user is expected to be positioned, comprising:

a phone holder for coupling to a phone, the phone for conducting a voice session;

a plurality of directional speakers positioned to project sound to a focused audio area in front of a location where the user is expected to be positioned in the seat;

a plurality of back speakers positioned behind the location where the user is expected to be positioned and next to the seat, wherein the plurality of back speakers comprises a first set of back speakers positioned at a first side of the seat and a second set of back speakers positioned at a second side of the seat opposite the first side of the seat, the first set of back speakers comprising a first inward back speaker facing toward the location and a first outward back speaker facing away from the location, the second set of back speakers comprising a second inward back speaker facing toward the location and a second outward back speaker facing away from the location; and

a system controller configured to;

receive audio signals, the audio signals comprising audio of the voice session from the phone;

separate the audio signals into speech signals and non-speech signals;

obtain one or more output mixing attributes;

generate mixed signals by combining the speech signals and the non-speech signals according to the one or more output mixing attributes;

send the mixed signals to the plurality of directional speakers and to the first inward back speaker and the second inward back speaker, and

send the mixed signals in an out of phase manner to the first outward back speaker and the second outward back speaker,

wherein the playing of the mixed signals by the first and second outward back speakers reduce or cancel a volume of the playing of the mixed signals by the plurality of directional speakers and the first and second inward back speakers.

2. The phone stand of claim 1, further comprising one or more microphones positioned near the first and second outward back speakers to capture sound signals, wherein the system controller is further configured to:

send the sound signals captured by the one or more microphones in an out of phase manner to the first and second inward back speakers, wherein the playing of the sounds signals by the first and second inward back speakers reduce or cancel a volume of the sound signals.

3. The phone stand of claim 1, wherein the output mixing attributes comprise one or more of the following:

an attribute for increasing a volume of the speech signals;

an attribute for reducing a volume of the non-speech signals;

an attribute for eliminating the non-speech signals;

an attribute for maintaining the volume of the non-speech signals;

an attribute for eliminating the non-speech signals if the speech signals are present; and

an attribute for increasing a clarify of the speech signals.

4. A phone stand comprised in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a seat where a user is expected to be positioned, comprising:

a phone holder for coupling to a phone, the phone for conducting a voice session;

a plurality of directional speakers positioned to project sound to a focused audio area in front of a location where the user is expected to be positioned in the seat;

a plurality of back speakers positioned behind the location where the user is expected to be positioned and next to the seat, wherein the plurality of back speakers comprises a first set of back speakers positioned at a first side of the seat and a second set of back speakers positioned at a second side of the seat opposite the first side of the seat, the first set of back speakers comprising a first inward back speaker facing toward the location and a first outward back speaker facing away from the location, the second set of back speakers comprising a second inward back speaker facing toward the location and a second outward back speaker facing away from the location; and

a system controller configured to;

receive audio signals, the audio signals comprising audio of the voice session from the phone;

separate the audio signals into speech signals and non-speech signals;

obtain one or more output mixing attributes;

generate mixed signals by combining the speech signals and the non-speech signals according to the one or more output mixing attributes;

send the speech signals in the mixed signals to the plurality of directional speakers;

send the non-speech signals in the mixed signals to the first inward back speaker and the second inward back speaker, and

send the non-speech signals in the mixed signals in an out of phase manner to the first outward back speaker and the second outward back speaker, wherein the playing of the non-speech signals by the first and second outward back speakers reduce or cancel a volume of the playing of the non-speech mixed signals by the plurality of directional speakers and the first and second inward back speakers.

5. A method for processing audio signals of a voice session from a phone, comprising:

(a) receiving audio signals, by a system controller of a phone stand comprised in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a seat where a user is expected to be positioned, the audio signals comprising audio of the voice session from the phone, the phone stand comprising a phone holder for coupling to the phone, a plurality of directional speakers positioned to project sound to a focused audio area in front of a location where the user is expected to be positioned in the seat, and a plurality of back speakers positioned behind the location where the user is expected to be positioned and next to the seat,

wherein the plurality of back speakers comprises a first set of back speakers positioned at a first side of the seat and a second set of back speakers positioned at a second side of the seat opposite the first side of the seat, the first set of back speakers comprising a first inward back speaker facing toward the location and a first outward back speaker facing away from the location, the second set of back speakers comprising a second inward back speaker facing toward the location and a second outward back speaker facing away from the location;

(b) separating, by the system controller, the audio signals into speech signals and non-speech signals;

(c) obtaining, by the system controller, one or more output mixing attributes;

(d) generating, by the system controller, mixed signals by combining the speech signals and the non-speech signals according to the one or more output mixing attributes;

(e) sending, by the system controller, the speech signals in the mixed signals to the plurality of directional speakers; and

(f) sending, by the system controller, the non-speech signals in the mixed signals to the plurality of back speakers, wherein the sending (f) comprises;

(f1) sending, by the system controller, the mixed signals to the first inward back speaker and the second inward back speaker, and

(f2) sending, by the system controller, the mixed signals in an out of phase manner to the first outward back speaker and the second outward back speaker, wherein the playing of the mixed signals by the first and second outward back speakers reduce or cancel a volume of the playing of the mixed signals by the plurality of directional speakers and the first and second inward back speakers.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the phone stand comprises one or more microphones positioned near the first and second outward back speakers to capture sound signals, wherein the sending (e) comprises:

(e1) sending the sound signals captured by the one or more microphones in an out of phase manner to the first and second inward back speakers, wherein the playing of the sounds signals by the first and second inward speakers reduce or cancel a volume of the sound signals.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the output mixing attributes comprise one or more of the following:

an attribute for increasing a volume of the speech signals;

an attribute for reducing a volume of the non-speech signals;

an attribute for eliminating the non-speech signals;

an attribute for maintaining the volume of the non-speech signals;

an attribute for eliminating the non-speech signals if the speech signals are present; and

an attribute for increasing a clarify of the speech signals.

8. A method for processing audio signals of a voice session from a phone, comprising:

(a) receiving audio signals, by a system controller of a phone stand comprised in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a seat where a user is expected to be positioned, the audio signals comprising audio of the voice session from the phone, the phone stand comprising a phone holder for coupling to the phone, a plurality of directional speakers positioned to project sound to a focused audio area in front of a location where the user is expected to be positioned in the seat, and a plurality of back speakers positioned behind the location where the user is expected to be positioned and next to the seat,

wherein the plurality of back speakers comprises a first set of back speakers positioned at a first side of the seat and a second set of back speakers positioned at a second side of the seat opposite the first side of the seat, the first set of back speakers comprising a first inward back speaker facing toward the location and a first outward back speaker facing away from the location, the second set of back speakers comprising a second inward back speaker facing toward the location and a second outward back speaker facing away from the location;

(b) separating, by the system controller, the audio signals into speech signals and non-speech signals;

(c) obtaining, by the system controller, one or more output mixing attributes;

(d) generating, by the system controller, mixed signals by combining the speech signals and the non-speech signals according to the one or more output mixing attributes;

(e) sending, by the system controller, the speech signals in the mixed signals to the plurality of directional speakers; and

(f) sending, by the system controller, the non-speech signals in the mixed signals to the plurality of back speakers, wherein the sending (f) comprises;

(f1) sending, by the system controller, the non-speech signals in the mixed signals to the first inward back speaker and the second inward back speaker, and

(f2) sending, by the system controller, the non-speech signals in the mixed signals in an out of phase manner to the first outward back speaker and the second outward back speaker, wherein the playing of the non-speech signals by the first and second outward back speakers reduce or cancel a volume of the playing of the non-speech mixed signals by the plurality of directional speakers and the first and second inward back speakers.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodied in a phone stand, comprising computer readable program code embodied therein, wherein when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

(a) receive the audio signals comprising audio of the voice session from a phone, the phone coupled to a phone stand via a phone holder, the phone stand comprised in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a seat where a user is expected to be positioned, the phone stand comprising a plurality of directional speakers positioned to project sound to a focused audio area in front of a location where the user is expected to be positioned in the seat, and a plurality of back speakers positioned behind the location where the user is expected to be positioned and next to the seat,

wherein the plurality of back speakers comprises a first set of back speakers positioned at a first side of the seat and a second set of back speakers positioned at a second side of the seat opposite the first side of the seat, the first set of back speakers comprising a first inward back speaker facing toward the location and a first outward back speaker facing away from the location, the second set of back speakers comprising a second inward back speaker facing toward the location and a second outward back speaker facing away from the location;

(b) separate the audio signals into speech signals and non-speech signals;

(c) obtain one or more output mixing attributes;

(d) generate mixed signals by combining the speech signals and the non-speech signals according to the one or more output mixing attributes;

(e) send the mixed signals to the plurality of directional speakers; and

(f) send the non-speech signals in the mixed signals to the plurality of back speakers, wherein the send (f) comprises;

(f1) send the mixed signals to the first inward back speaker and the second inward back speaker, and

(f2) send the mixed signals in an out of phase manner to the first outward back speaker and the second outward back speaker, wherein the playing of the mixed signals by the first and second outward back speakers reduce or cancel a volume of the playing of the mixed signals by the plurality of directional speakers and the first and second inward back speakers.

10. The medium of claim 9, wherein the phone stand comprises one or more microphones positioned near the first and second outward back speakers to capture sound signals, wherein the send (e) comprises:

(e1) send the sound signals captured by the one or more microphones in an out of phase manner to the first and second inward back speakers, wherein the playing of the sounds signals by the first and second inward back speakers reduce or cancel a volume of the sound signals.

11. The medium of claim 9, wherein the output mixing attributes comprise one or more of the following:

an attribute for increasing a volume of the speech signals;

an attribute for reducing a volume of the non-speech signals;

an attribute for eliminating the non-speech signals;

an attribute for maintaining the volume of the non-speech signals;

an attribute for eliminating the non-speech signals if the speech signals are present; and

an attribute for increasing a clarify of the speech signals.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodied in a phone stand, comprising computer readable program code embodied therein, wherein when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

(a) receive the audio signals comprising audio of the voice session from a phone, the phone coupled to a phone stand via a phone holder, the phone stand comprised in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a seat where a user is expected to be positioned, the phone stand comprising a plurality of directional speakers positioned to project sound to a focused audio area in front of a location where the user is expected to be positioned in the seat, and a plurality of back speakers positioned behind the location where the user is expected to be positioned and next to the seat,

wherein the plurality of back speakers comprises a first set of back speakers positioned at a first side of the seat and a second set of back speakers positioned at a second side of the seat opposite the first side of the seat, the first set of back speakers comprising a first inward back speaker facing toward the location and a first outward back speaker facing away from the location, the second set of back speakers comprising a second inward back speaker facing toward the location and a second outward back speaker facing away from the location;

(b) separate the audio signals into speech signals and non-speech signals;

(c) obtain one or more output mixing attributes;

(d) generate mixed signals by combining the speech signals and the non-speech signals according to the one or more output mixing attributes;

(e) send the mixed signals to the plurality of directional speakers, and

(f) send the non-speech signals in the mixed signals to the plurality of back speakers, wherein the send (f) comprises;

(f1) send the non-speech signals in the mixed signals to the first inward back speaker and the second inward back speaker, and

(f2) send the non-speech signals in the mixed signals in an out of phase manner to the first outward back speaker and the second outward back speaker, wherein the playing of the non-speech signals by the first and second outward back speakers reduce or cancel a volume of the playing of the non-speech mixed signals by the plurality of directional speakers and the first and second inward back speakers.