Spatial Systems Including Eye Tracking Capabilities and Related Methods

• US 20160286316A1
• Filed: 03/27/2015
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales Avionics Incorporated (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Thales Avionics Incorporated (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Bleacher, Brett, Mondragon, Christopher K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,788,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0217 for loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/023 in a chair, pillow
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/303 Tracking of listener position or orientation

Abstract

Entertainment systems are provided including a plurality of spatial sound speakers embedded in a headrest of a passenger seat and associated with a media player of the entertainment system. A spatial sound controller associated with the plurality of spatial sound speakers of the media player is also provided. The spatial sound controller is configured to provide simulated surround sound associated with the media player to a defined target region. The plurality of spatial sound speakers are adjusted to a position of a passenger seated in the passenger seat based on external input associated with the passenger.

Claims

1. An entertainment system comprising:

a plurality of spatial sound speakers embedded in a headrest of a passenger seat and associated with a media player of the entertainment system; and

a spatial sound controller associated with the plurality of spatial sound speakers of the media player, the spatial sound controller being configured to provide simulated surround sound associated with the media player to a defined target region,

wherein the plurality of spatial sound speakers are adjusted to a position of a passenger seated in the passenger seat based on external input associated with the passenger.

2. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the headrest including the plurality of speakers is configured to adjust a position thereof based on the external input associated with the passenger seated in the passenger seat.

3. The entertainment system of claim 1:

wherein the headrest including the plurality of spatial sound speakers comprises three portions, a center portion and two wing portions; and

wherein each of the center portion and two wing portions are configured to move separately.

4. The entertainment system of claim 3, wherein the headrest is configured to move at least one of up and down;

side to side; and

forward and backward to adjust to the position of the passenger seated in the passenger seat.

5. The entertainment system of claim 3, wherein the two wing portions are configured to move between a first position, remote from ears of the passenger, to a second position, closer to ears of the passenger.

6. The entertainment system of claim 5, wherein the two wings are configured to adjust to a plurality of positions between the first position and the second position.

7. The entertainment system of claim 2, wherein the headrest including the plurality of spatial sound speakers are configured to adjust responsive to an external voice input of the passenger.

8. The entertainment system of claim 2, wherein the headrest including the plurality of spatial sound speakers are configured to adjust responsive to an external manual input of the passenger.

9. The entertainment system of claim 2, wherein the headrest including the plurality of spatial sound speakers are configured to adjust responsive to external eye tracking input from eyes of the passenger.

10. The entertainment system of claim 9, wherein the system further comprises an eye tracking system comprising at least one eye tracking camera and associated sensors,

wherein the eye tracking system is configured to obtain a location of a passenger'"'"'s eyes such that a position of the passenger'"'"'s ears are determined;

and

wherein the headrest is adjusted responsive to the determination of the position of the passenger'"'"'s ears.

11. The entertainment system of claim 10, wherein the system is further configured to fine tune the position of the headrest using one of audio input, manual input or a combination thereof.

12. The entertainment system of claim 1:

wherein the system further comprises a directional microphone;

wherein the system is further configured to obtain a location of a passenger'"'"'s ears by locating a direction and location of a voice via the directional microphone using microphone triangulation;

wherein the system is further configured to calculate the location of the passenger'"'"'s ears based on location of a mouth via voice source location.

13. The entertainment system of claim 1:

wherein the system further comprises pressure sensors associated with the passenger seat; and

wherein the system is further configured to locate head and ears of the passenger based on information obtained from the pressure sensors.

14. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the entertainment system comprises an in-flight entertainment (IFE) system on an aircraft.

15. The entertainment system of claim 14, wherein the IFE system is designed to comply with all relevant government and airlines standards.

16. The entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the entertainment system is integrated with a vehicle.

17. The entertainment system of claim 16, wherein the vehicle comprises a train, a bus, a cruise ship and/or a military aircraft.

18. An in-flight entertainment (IFE) system for use on an aircraft, the IFE system comprising:

a media player integrated into the aircraft;

a plurality of spatial sound speakers embedded in a headrest of a passenger seat associated with the media player of the IFE system; and

a spatial sound controller associated with the plurality of spatial sound speakers of the media player, the spatial sound controller being configured to provide simulated surround sound associated with the media player to a defined target region,

wherein the plurality of spatial sound speakers are adjusted to a position of a passenger seated in the passenger seat based on external input associated with the passenger.

19. The IFE system of claim 18, wherein the headrest including the plurality of spatial sound speakers is configured to adjust a position thereof based on a passenger seated in the passenger seat.

20. The IFE system of claim 18:

wherein the headrest including the plurality of spatial sound speakers comprises three portions, a center portion and two wing portions; and

wherein each of the center portion and two wing portions are configured to move separately.

21. The IFE system of claim 20, wherein the headrest is configured to move at least one of up and down;

side to side; and

forward and backward to adjust to the position of the passenger seated in the passenger seat.

22. The IFE system of claim 20, wherein the two wing portions are configured to move between a first position, remote from ears of the passenger, to a second position, closer to ears of the passenger.

23. The IFE system of claim 22, wherein the two wings are configured to adjust to a plurality of positions between the first position and the second position.

24. The IFE system of claim 19, wherein the headrest including the plurality of spatial sound speakers is configured to adjust responsive to one or more of voice input of the passenger;

manual input of the passenger;

seat pressure sensors of the passenger; and

eye tracking input from the passenger'"'"'s eyes.

25. The IFE system of claim 24, wherein the system further comprises an eye tracking system comprising at least one eye tracking camera and associated sensors,

wherein the eye tracking system is configured to obtain a location of a passenger'"'"'s eyes such that a position of the passenger'"'"'s ear are determined;

and

wherein the headrest is adjusted responsive to the determination of the position of the passenger'"'"'s ears.

26. The IFE system of claim 25, wherein the system is further configured to fine tune the position of the headrest using one of audio input, manual input or a combination thereof.

27. A method of providing sound from a media system, the method comprising:

positioning at least two spatial sound speakers in a headrest of a passenger seat in a passenger vehicle; and

adjusting the headrest including the at least two spatial sound speakers to accommodate a passenger seated in the passenger seat such that a defined target region in which sound is audible is customized for the passenger seated in the passenger seat.

28. The method of claim 27:

wherein the headrest including the at least spatial sound speakers comprises three portions, a center portion and two wing portions; and

wherein adjusting further comprises adjusting each of the center portion and two wing portions separately.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein adjust further comprises at least one of moving the headrest up and down;

side to side; and

forward and backward.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising moving the two wing portions between a first position, remote from ears of the passenger, to a second position, closer to ears of the passenger.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising moving the two wings to one of a plurality of positions between the first position and the second position.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein adjusting further comprises adjusting the position of the headrest responsive to at least one of voice input of the passenger;

manual input of the passenger;

seat pressure sensors of the passenger; and

eye tracking input from the passenger'"'"'s eyes.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

obtaining a location of a passenger'"'"'s eyes such that a position of the passenger'"'"'s ear are determined; and

adjusting the headrest responsive to the determination of the position of the passenger'"'"'s ears.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising fine tuning the position of the headrest using one of audio input, manual input or a combination thereof.

35. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

obtaining a location of a passenger'"'"'s ears by locating a direction and location of a voice via a directional microphone using microphone triangulation; and

calculating the location of the passenger'"'"'s ears based on location of a mouth via voice source location.

36. The method of claim 27, further comprising locating head and ears of a passenger based on information obtained from pressure sensors in the passenger seat.