Automated Audio Optimization System
First Claim
1. An audio optimization system for a vehicle, comprising:
- an audio system comprised of a plurality of speakers, said plurality of speakers integrated within a vehicle passenger compartment of said vehicle;
a system controller coupled to said audio system;
a memory coupled to said system controller, wherein a plurality of acoustic sweet spots located within said vehicle passenger compartment are stored within said memory, wherein each acoustic sweet spot of said plurality of acoustic sweet spots is based on an acoustic pre-characterization of said vehicle passenger compartment, and wherein each acoustic sweet spot of said plurality of acoustic sweet spots defines a specific left-right speaker balance setting from a plurality of left-right speaker balance settings and a specific front-rear speaker fader setting from a plurality of front-rear speaker fader settings; and
a plurality of vehicle seat sensors integrated within a corresponding plurality of vehicle seats located within said vehicle passenger compartment, wherein said plurality of vehicle seat sensors are coupled to said system controller, wherein said system controller is configured to monitor said plurality of seat sensors to determine which of said plurality of vehicle seats are occupied, wherein said system controller is configured to select a pre-defined optimum acoustic sweet spot from said plurality of acoustic sweet spots based on which of said plurality of vehicle seats are occupied and based on a set of acoustic optimization configuration instructions, and wherein said system controller is configured to automatically adjust a left-right speaker balance controller to said specific left-right speaker balance setting defined by said optimum acoustic sweet spot and automatically adjust a front-rear speaker fade controller to said specific front-rear speaker fader setting defined by said optimum acoustic sweet spot.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An audio system is provided, as well as a method of using same, which utilizes a plurality of sensors integrated into the vehicle'"'"'s seats to determine which of the seats are occupied. The system selects a pre-defined optimum acoustic sweet spot from a plurality of stored acoustic sweet spots based on which seats are occupied and based on a set of acoustic optimization configuration instructions. The system automatically adjusts the left-right speaker balance controller and the front-rear speaker fade controller to the specific left-right speaker balance setting and the specific front-rear speaker fader setting defined by the optimum acoustic sweet spot. The acoustic optimization configuration instructions, which define the optimum acoustic sweet spot for each combination of occupied vehicle seats, may be stored in the system'"'"'s memory by a vehicle manufacturer, third party, or end user.
11 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An audio optimization system for a vehicle, comprising:
-
an audio system comprised of a plurality of speakers, said plurality of speakers integrated within a vehicle passenger compartment of said vehicle; a system controller coupled to said audio system; a memory coupled to said system controller, wherein a plurality of acoustic sweet spots located within said vehicle passenger compartment are stored within said memory, wherein each acoustic sweet spot of said plurality of acoustic sweet spots is based on an acoustic pre-characterization of said vehicle passenger compartment, and wherein each acoustic sweet spot of said plurality of acoustic sweet spots defines a specific left-right speaker balance setting from a plurality of left-right speaker balance settings and a specific front-rear speaker fader setting from a plurality of front-rear speaker fader settings; and a plurality of vehicle seat sensors integrated within a corresponding plurality of vehicle seats located within said vehicle passenger compartment, wherein said plurality of vehicle seat sensors are coupled to said system controller, wherein said system controller is configured to monitor said plurality of seat sensors to determine which of said plurality of vehicle seats are occupied, wherein said system controller is configured to select a pre-defined optimum acoustic sweet spot from said plurality of acoustic sweet spots based on which of said plurality of vehicle seats are occupied and based on a set of acoustic optimization configuration instructions, and wherein said system controller is configured to automatically adjust a left-right speaker balance controller to said specific left-right speaker balance setting defined by said optimum acoustic sweet spot and automatically adjust a front-rear speaker fade controller to said specific front-rear speaker fader setting defined by said optimum acoustic sweet spot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of setting audio balance, the method comprising the steps of:
-
monitoring a plurality of vehicle seat sensors integrated within a corresponding plurality of vehicle seats located within a vehicle passenger compartment of a vehicle, said monitoring step performed by a system controller; determining which of said plurality of vehicle seats are occupied; selecting an optimum acoustic sweet spot from a plurality of acoustic sweet spots based on which of said plurality of vehicle seats are occupied and based on a set of acoustic optimization configuration instructions, wherein each acoustic sweet spot of said plurality of acoustic sweet spots is based on an acoustic pre-characterization of said vehicle passenger compartment, wherein said set of acoustic optimization configuration instructions define said optimum acoustic sweet spot for each combination of occupied vehicle seats of a plurality of combinations of occupied vehicle seats; automatically adjusting a left-right speaker balance controller to a specific left-right speaker balance setting corresponding to said optimum acoustic sweet spot, wherein each acoustic sweet spot of said plurality of acoustic sweet spots corresponds to one of a plurality of left-right speaker balance settings, and wherein said left-right speaker balance controller is coupled to a vehicle audio system; and automatically adjusting a front-rear speaker fade controller to a specific front-rear speaker fader setting corresponding to said optimum acoustic sweet spot, wherein each acoustic sweet spot of said plurality of acoustic sweet spots corresponds to one of a plurality of front-rear speaker fader settings, and wherein said front-rear speaker fade controller is coupled to said vehicle audio system. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification