Sound output apparatus for an automotive vehicle

• US 20030142835A1
• Filed: 01/30/2003
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Aichi, Isao, Sato, Yoshihisa, Enya, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,092,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/86
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0217 for loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/001 Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0012 Seats or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/403 loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

An output section, consisting of a pair of loudspeakers disposed adjacently to each other, is installed inside a seatback of a designated seat. Sound output surfaces of respective loudspeakers face a designated person sitting on the designated seat. It is hence easy to secure a required distance for obtaining clear acoustic image localization in accordance with the size of loudspeakers cooperatively constituting the output section.

Claims

1. A sound output apparatus for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

sound generating means, including at least a pair of loudspeakers disposed adjacently to each other, for generating sounds; and

acoustic signal producing means for receiving sound output requirements to identify output sounds to be generated from said sound generating means as well as an alerting direction to which attention of a designated person should be directed and for generating acoustic signals to be supplied to said sound generating means so that said output sounds cooperatively obtain acoustic image localization in such a manner that a virtual sound source is positioned at a location corresponding to said alerting direction,

wherein said sound generating means is installed to a predetermined portion of at least a designated seat on which said designated person sits.

2. The sound output apparatus for an automotive vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sound generating means is positioned on a symmetry axis of said designated seat.

3. The sound output apparatus for an automotive vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sound generating means is positioned inside said designated seat.

4. The sound output apparatus for an automotive vehicle in accordance with claim 3, wherein said designated seat has a plurality of through-holes or openings provided in the vicinity of said sound generating means.

5. The sound output apparatus for an automotive vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sound generating means is positioned on a shoulder of said designated seat.

6. The sound output apparatus for an automotive vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sound generating means is positioned on a top of a headrest constituting an upper part of said designated seat.

7. The sound output apparatus for an automotive vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sound generating means is positioned at a back side of a seatback of said designated seat.

8. The sound output apparatus for an automotive vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sound generating means is positioned beneath a seat bottom of said designated seat.

9. The sound output apparatus for an automotive vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said designated seat is a driver'"'"'s seat and said sound generating means has a sound output surface facing a front side of the automotive vehicle.

10. The sound output apparatus for an automotive vehicle in accordance with claim 9, wherein

said sound generating means further includes a pair of loudspeakers disposed adjacently to each other and installed on a ceiling or a sun visor attached near an upper edge of a front windshield glass, and

said loudspeakers, installed on said ceiling or said sun visor, have sound output surfaces facing a rear side of the automotive vehicle.

11. The sound output apparatus for an automotive vehicle in accordance with claim 9, wherein

said sound generating means further includes a pair of loudspeakers disposed beneath an instrument panel or a dashboard or attached to a steering support provided for rotatably supporting a steering wheel, and

said loudspeakers, disposed beneath said instrument panel or said dashboard or attached to said steering support, have sound output surfaces facing a rear side of the automotive vehicle.

12. The sound output apparatus for an automotive vehicle in accordance with claim 9, wherein

said sound generating means further includes a pair of loudspeakers installed on a steering wheel so as to have sound output surfaces facing a rear side of the automotive vehicle, and

said acoustic signal producing means includes correcting means for correcting said acoustic signals based on a steering angle of said steering wheel and supplying corrected acoustic signals to said sound generating means.

13. The sound output apparatus for an automotive vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sound generating means includes flat panel loudspeakers or micro loudspeakers.

14. The sound output apparatus for an automotive vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said acoustic signal producing means performs radio communication to supply said acoustic signals or said corrected acoustic signals to said sound generating means.

15. A sound output apparatus for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

sound generating means, including at least a pair of loudspeakers disposed adjacently to each other, for generating sounds; and

acoustic signal producing means for receiving sound output requirements to identify output sounds to be generated from said sound generating means as well as an alerting direction to which attention of a designated person should be directed and for generating acoustic signals to be supplied to said sound generating means so that said output sounds cooperatively obtain acoustic image localization in such a manner that a virtual sound source is positioned at a location corresponding to said alerting direction,

wherein said sound generating means is installed on at least a designated seat positioned in front of a seat on which said designated person sits.