Apparatus and method for providing a personalized bass tactile output associated with an audio signal

• US 10,152,296 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2018
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Trestain, Christopher Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Simon
• Application Number:
  US15/864,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20180181368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2400/03 Transducers capable of generating both sound as well as tactile vibration, e.g. as used in cellular phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/023 in a chair, pillow
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/302 Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation H04S7/301 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for providing a tactile output associated with an audio output is provided. The apparatus includes a head unit that is coupled to a plurality of tactile transducers with each tactile transducer being positioned in a seat of a vehicle. The head unit is configured to receive a command indicative of a desired tactile feedback for a seat of the vehicle, the desired tactile feedback is associated with an audio output that is played back by one or more speakers in the vehicle. The head unit is further configured to transmit a control signal indicative of the desired tactile feedback to be provided by a tactile transducer in the seat of the vehicle such that the tactile transducer generates the desired tactile feedback at the seat while the one or more speakers in the vehicle playback the audio output.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a tactile output associated with an audio output, the apparatus comprising:

a head unit being operably coupled to a plurality of tactile transducers, each tactile transducer being positioned in a seat of a vehicle, the head unit being configured to;

receive a first command indicative of a first desired tactile feedback for a first seat of the vehicle, the first desired tactile feedback being associated with an audio output that is played back by one or more speakers in the vehicle; and

transmit a first control signal indicative of the first desired tactile feedback to be provided by a first tactile transducer in the first seat of the vehicle such that the first tactile transducer generates the first desired tactile feedback at the first seat while the one or more speakers in the vehicle playback the audio output.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the head unit is further configured to receive a second command indicative of a second desired tactile feedback for a second seat of the vehicle, the second desired tactile feedback being associated with the audio output that is played by the one or more speakers in the vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the head unit is further configured to transmit a second control signal indicative of the second desired tactile feedback to be provided by a second tactile transducer in the second seat of the vehicle such that the second tactile transducer generates the desired second tactile feedback at the second seat while the one or more speakers in the vehicle playback the audio output.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising an amplifier configured to:

receive the first control signal;

receive the second control signal;

transmit a third control signal indicative of the first desired tactile feedback to the first tactile transducer from a first output thereof in response to the first control signal; and

transmit a fourth control signal indicative of the second desired tactile feedback to the second tactile transducer from a second output thereof in response to the second control signal, wherein the first output is different than the second output to enable independent control for each of the first tactile transducer and the second tactile transducer.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first desired tactile feedback is different than the second desired tactile feedback.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first desired tactile feedback corresponds to a first desired amount of vibrations for a predetermined frequency range of the audio output and wherein the second desired tactile feedback corresponds to a second desired amount of vibrations for the predetermined frequency range of the audio output, wherein the first desired amount of vibrations is different than the second desired amount of vibrations.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the predetermined frequency range corresponds to 20-70 Hz.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the head unit is further configured to receive the first command from at least one of:

(i) one or more physical knobs positioned proximate to any one seat in the vehicle, (ii) a mobile device, (iii) an individualized touch screen positioned proximate to the any one seat in the vehicle, and (iv) a user interface positioned on the head unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the head unit is further configured to receive a signal from an occupant sensor indicative of whether a vehicle occupant is positioned on the first seat.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the head unit is further configured to deactivate the first tactile transducer in response to the signal indicating that the vehicle occupant is not positioned in the first seat.

11. A computer-program product embodied in a non-transitory computer read-able medium that is programmed for providing a tactile output associated with an audio output with a plurality of tactile transducers, each tactile transducer being positioned in a seat of a vehicle, the computer-program product comprising instructions for:

receiving a first command indicative of a first desired tactile feedback for a first seat of the vehicle, the first desired tactile feedback being associated with an audio output that is played back by one or more speakers in the vehicle; and

transmitting a first control signal indicative of the first desired tactile feedback to be provided by a first tactile transducer in the first seat of the vehicle such that the first tactile transducer generates the first desired tactile feedback at the first seat while the one or more speakers in the vehicle playback the audio output.

12. The computer-program product of claim 11 further comprising instructions for receiving a second command indicative of a second desired tactile feedback for a second seat of the vehicle, the second desired tactile feedback being associated with the audio output that is played by the one or more speakers in the vehicle.

13. The computer-program product of claim 12 further comprising instructions for transmitting a second control signal indicative of the second desired tactile feedback to be provided by a second tactile transducer in the second seat of the vehicle such that the second tactile transducer generates the desired second tactile feedback at the second seat while the one or more speakers in the vehicle playback the audio output.

14. The computer-program product of claim 13 wherein the first desired tactile feedback is different than the second desired tactile feedback.

15. The computer-program product of claim 13 wherein the first desired tactile feedback corresponds to a first desired amount of vibrations for a predetermined frequency range of the audio output and wherein the second desired tactile feedback corresponds to a second desired amount of vibrations for the predetermined frequency range of the audio output, wherein the first desired amount of vibrations is different than the second desired amount of vibrations.

16. The computer-program product of claim 15 wherein the predetermined frequency range corresponds to 20-70 Hz.

17. The computer-program product of claim 11 further comprising instructions for receiving the command from at least one of:

(i) one or more physical knobs positioned proximate to any one seat in the vehicle, (ii) a mobile device, and (iii) an individualized touch screen positioned proximate to the any one seat in the vehicle.

18. The computer-program product of claim 11 further comprising instructions for receiving a signal from an occupant sensor indicative of whether a vehicle occupant is positioned on the first seat.

19. The computer-program product of claim 18 further comprising instructions deactivating the tactile transducer in response to the signal indicating that the vehicle occupant is not positioned in the first seat.

20. An apparatus for providing a tactile output associated with an audio output, the apparatus comprising:

a tactile transducer configured to be positioned in a seat of a vehicle to provide a tactile feedback associated with an audio output that is played back by one or more speakers in the vehicle and to be operably coupled to a head unit that receives a command indicative of a desired tactile feedback for the seat and that transmits a control signal indicative of desired tactile feedback to be provided by the tactile transducer.