Audio Control in Vehicles

• US 20170371618A1
• Filed: 09/08/2017
• Published: 12/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: TRAPP, Hannes, URBINA CAZENAVE, Mario
• Granted Patent: US 11,042,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

An audio device for vehicles includes two audio sources; three audio sinks formed of two headphone connections and a speaker system; and a touch-sensitive display. The audio device is configured to simultaneously play back the two audio sources; display one representation each for the audio sources and the audio sinks on the display; and detect a touch input, wherein the touch input includes a motion of a finger of the user on the display. The motion begins on the representation of an origin audio source and proceeds toward a destination audio sink. In response to the detection, the origin audio source is output on the destination audio sink.

Claims

1. An audio device for a vehicle, comprising:

two audio sources;

three audio sinks, comprising two headphone connections and a speaker system;

a touch-sensitive display;

wherein the audio device is configured to execute;

simultaneous playing back of the two audio sources,

displaying one representation respectively for the audio sources and audio sinks in the display,

detecting a touch input, wherein the touch input comprises a motion of the user'"'"'s finger on the display, wherein the motion starts on the representation of an origin audio source and extends in the direction of a destination audio sink, and

in response to the detection, outputting the origin audio source on the destination audio sink.

2. The audio device according to claim 1, wherein the representation of the audio sources comprises information concerning the currently playing-back audio content.

3. The audio device according to claim 1, wherein, beside the representations of the audio sinks in the display, switching surfaces for controlling the output volume are displayed.

4. The audio device according to claim 1, wherein, beside the representations of the audio sinks in display, switching surfaces for controlling the played-back audio content are displayed.

5. The audio device according to claim 1, wherein the current assignment between audio sources and audio sinks is displayed on the display by graphic connections.

6. The audio device according to claim 2, wherein the information concerning the currently playing-back audio content is an album cover or images pertaining to the currently playing-back audio content.

7. The audio device according to claim 4, wherein the played-back audio content is a piece of music or a radio station.

8. A vehicle, comprising:

first and second rows of seats arranged one behind the other;

an audio device, comprising;

two audio sources;

three audio sinks, comprising two headphone connections and a speaker system;

a touch-sensitive display;

wherein the audio device is configured to execute;

simultaneous playing back the two audio sources,

displaying one representation respectively for the audio sources and audio sinks in the display,

detecting a touch input, wherein the touch input comprises a motion of the user'"'"'s finger on the display, wherein the motion starts on the representation of an origin audio source and extends in the direction of a destination audio sink, and

in response to the detection, outputting the origin audio source on the destination audio sink;

wherein the display is arranged on a backside of a front one of the first and second rows of seats.