Accelerometer-based external sound monitoring during low speed maneuvers

• US 10,562,449 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2017
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Wheeler, Joshua, Amman, Scott Andrew, Huber, John Edward, Busch, Leah, Rangarajan, Ranjani, Lavoie, Erick Michael, Johnston, Marla
• Primary Examiner(s): Cass, Jean Paul
• Application Number:
  US15/714,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20190092229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 9/00 Devices not provided for in one of main groups B60J1/00 - B60J7/00 B60J10/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/005 automatically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/002 for parking purposes, e.g. for warning the driver that his vehicle has contacted or is about to contact an obstacle warning arrangements in garages E04H6/42

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for accelerometer-based external sound monitoring during low speed maneuvers. An example vehicle includes accelerometers affixed to windows of the vehicle, speakers located inside the vehicle, and an infotainment head unit. Each of the speakers is uniquely associated with one of the accelerometers. The infotainment head unit, when a speed of the vehicle satisfies a threshold, selects a zone corresponding to a direction of travel of the vehicle. Additionally, the infotainment head unit plays signals captured by the accelerometers associated with the selected zone on the corresponding speakers.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

accelerometers affixed to windows of the vehicle;

speakers located inside the vehicle, each of the speakers uniquely associated with one of the accelerometers; and

an infotainment head unit to;

when a speed of the vehicle satisfies a threshold, select a zone corresponding to a direction of travel of the vehicle; and

play signals captured by the accelerometers associated with the selected zone on the corresponding speakers.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, including at least six of the accelerometers, each one of the accelerometers affixed to a different one of the windows.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein when the direction of travel is forward, the infotainment head unit is to select a forward zone.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the forward zone includes at least two of the accelerometers affixed to different one of the windows in a front portion of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the forward zone includes a first one of the accelerometers affixed to a windshield, a second one of the accelerometers affixed to a driver'"'"'s side front window, and a third one of the accelerometers affixed to a passenger'"'"'s side front window.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein when the direction of travel is reverse, the infotainment head unit is to select a rear zone.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the rear zone includes at least two of the accelerometers affixed to different one of the windows in a rear portion of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the rear zone includes a first one of the accelerometers affixed to a back glass, a second one of the accelerometers affixed to a driver'"'"'s side rear window, and a third one of the accelerometers affixed to a passenger'"'"'s side rear window.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the accelerometers are to measure vibrations perpendicular to a glass surface of the windows.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the infotainment head unit is to dim other sources of audio when the speed of the vehicle satisfies the threshold.

11. A method comprising:

when a speed of a vehicle satisfies a threshold, selecting, with a processor, a zone corresponding to a direction of travel of the vehicle;

dimming sound from other audio sources inside the vehicle; and

driving signals captured by accelerometers associated with the selected zone onto corresponding speaker channels electrically coupled to speakers inside the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein selecting the zone includes:

when the direction of travel is forward, selecting a forward zone; and

when the direction of travel is rearward, selecting a rear zone.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the forward zone includes at least two of the accelerometers affixed to different one of windows in a front portion of the vehicle and the rear zone includes at least two of the accelerometers affixed to different one of the windows in a rear portion of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 11, including measuring, with the accelerometers, vibrations perpendicular to a glass surface of windows of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the speakers are ribbon speakers positioned in a headliner of the vehicle.