Method and apparatus for an in-vehicle audio system
First Claim
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1. A method for operating an in-vehicle audio system to provide audio to occupants in a vehicle comprising:
- receiving first audio information;
producing a first audio signal from the first audio information;
providing the first audio signal to a first speaker system and to a second speaker system;
receiving second audio information;
producing a second audio signal from the second audio information; and
in response to receiving the second audio information, altering the first audio signal to produce an altered-volume signal, mixing the altered-volume signal and the second audio signal to produce a mixed audio signal, and providing the mixed audio signal to the first speaker system.
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Abstract
An in-vehicle audio system provides audio paths for a variety of audio sources. Volume control is provided to vary the volume level of audible sound of one or more audio sources when produced by a plurality of speakers. Audio path control is provided to enable communication with a communication device to occur at the same time the audio is delivered to the speakers.
68 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for operating an in-vehicle audio system to provide audio to occupants in a vehicle comprising:
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receiving first audio information;
producing a first audio signal from the first audio information;
providing the first audio signal to a first speaker system and to a second speaker system;
receiving second audio information;
producing a second audio signal from the second audio information; and
in response to receiving the second audio information, altering the first audio signal to produce an altered-volume signal, mixing the altered-volume signal and the second audio signal to produce a mixed audio signal, and providing the mixed audio signal to the first speaker system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of producing audio in a vehicle comprising:
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receiving first audio information;
producing a first audible sound at a first location in the vehicle, the first audible sound comprising a first sound component corresponding to the first audio information and having a first volume level;
producing a second audible sound at a second location in the vehicle, the second audible sound comprising a second sound component corresponding to the first audio information and having a second volume level;
receiving second audio information; and
in response to receiving the second audio information, producing a third audible sound at the first location in the vehicle, the third audible sound comprising a third sound component and a fourth sound component, the third sound component corresponding to the first audio information and having a third volume level, the fourth sound component corresponding to the second audio information and having a fourth volume level, wherein the first volume level is greater than the third volume level. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An in-vehicle audio system comprising audio circuitry operative to provide audio signals to a first speaker system and to a second speaker system, the audio circuitry comprising:
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a first circuit operable to receive first audio information and configured to provide the first audio information to the first speaker system along a first audio path, the first circuit configured to provide the first audio information to the second speaker system along a second audio path;
a second circuit operable to receive second audio information;
a mixer circuit operable to produce a mixed signal representative of a combination of the first audio information and the second audio information, the mixer configured to provide the mixed signal to the first speaker along a third audio path; and
a first volume control component operable to reduce a volume level of a first sound produced by the first speaker system when the first speaker system receives the mixed signal, wherein the sound corresponds to the first audio information, the first volume control component being configured to vary the volume level in response to presence of the second audio information. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An in-vehicle audio system comprising an audio control component, a first speaker system and a second speaker system, the audio control component comprising:
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first means for processing first audio information, the first means having first and second outputs;
second means for processing second audio information, the second means having first and second outputs;
first path means for providing an audio signal from the first output of the first means and an audio signal from the second output of the second means to the first speaker system to produce a first sound; and
second path means for providing at least an audio signal from the second output of the first means to the second speaker system to produce a second sound, wherein the first means is operable to alter the audio signal from its first output such that the first audio information produced in the first sound has a lower volume than the first audio information produced in the second sound when the second audio information is present. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification