Vehicle audio system surround modes

• US 20050152562A1
• Filed: 01/13/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Holmi, Douglas J., Prager, Lee A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,653,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/024 Positioning of loudspeaker enclosures for spatial sound reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/002 Non-adaptive circuits, e.g. manually adjustable or static, for enhancing the sound image or the spatial distribution control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field H04S7/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/008 in which the audio signals are in digital form, i.e. employing more than two discrete digital channels data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

A surround audio system for a vehicle with a plurality of operating modes. The vehicle includes seating locations. The audio system includes a plurality of input channels including surround channels. The audio system further includes a plurality of operating modes. A first operating mode is characterized by substantially equal perceived loudnesses at each of said seating locations, an equalization pattern developed by weighting frequency responses at each of said seating locations substantially equally, and a balance pattern developed by weighting sound pressure level measurements at each of said seating locations substantially equally. A second operating mode is characterized by greater perceived loudness at one of said seating locations than at the other seating locations, an equalization pattern developed by weighting the frequency response at said one of said seating locations more heavily than the frequency responses at said other seating locations, and a balance pattern developed by weighting sound pressure level measurements at said one seating location more heavily than the weightings as said other seating locations.

Claims

1. An audio system for a vehicle, said vehicle comprising a plurality of seating locations, said audio system comprising a plurality of input channels, said input channels comprising surround channels, said audio system further comprising a plurality of operating modes,

a first operating mode characterized by substantially equal perceived loudnesses at each of said seating locations, an equalization pattern developed by weighting frequency responses at each of said seating locations substantially equally, and a balance pattern developed by weighting sound pressure level measurements at each of said seating locations substantially equally, and

a second operating mode characterized by greater perceived loudness at one of said seating locations than at the other seating locations, an equalization pattern developed by weighting the frequency response at said one of said seating locations more heavily than the frequency responses at said other seating locations, and a balance pattern developed by weighting sound pressure level measurements at said one seating location more heavily than the weightings as said other seating locations.

2. A method for developing an equalization pattern for an audio system for a vehicle, said vehicle comprising a plurality of seating locations, said audio system comprising a plurality of input channels, said input channels comprising surround channels, said method comprising weighting frequency response measurements at one of said seating locations more heavily than frequency response at other seating positions.

3. A method for developing a balance pattern for an audio system for a vehicle, said vehicle comprising a plurality of seating locations, said audio system comprising a plurality of input channels, said input channels comprising surround channels, said method comprising weighting sound pressure level measurements at one of said seating locations more heavily than frequency response at other seating positions.

4. A front/rear fade system for an audio system for a vehicle, said vehicle comprising a plurality of seating locations and a plurality of loudspeakers, said loudspeakers comprising front loudspeakers, intermediate loudspeakers and rear loudspeakers, said audio system comprising a plurality of input channels, said input channels comprising surround channels, said front/rear fade system comprising a plurality of operating modes,

a first operating mode characterized by a fade front condition in which the radiation from said front loudspeakers is affected by said front/rear fade system, and

a second operating mode characterized by a fade front condition in which the radiation from said front loudspeakers is not affected by said front/rear fade system.