Mobile sound field correcting device

• US 4,648,117 A
• Filed: 05/31/1985
• Issued: 03/03/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Electronics (USA) Incorporated (Pioneer Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Electronics (USA) Incorporated (Pioneer Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Takeshi, Kato, Shinjiro, Sasaki, Yoshio, Yoshimi, Toshikazu, Tokumo, Akio, Kunugi, Yoshiro, Odaka, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schroeder, L. C.
• Application Number:
  US06/739,652
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 381/86, 381/102, 381/103, 381/107
• US Class Current: 381/86
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/00 Gain control in amplifiers or frequency changers
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/00 Tone control or bandwidth control in amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/002 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 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

A sound field correcting device for use in a stereophonic system intended for vehicular use. Speakers are installed on opposite sides of both the front and rear seats of the vehicle. The number of persons seated in the vehicle is determined and applied to a correcting unit. When plural persons are seated in the vehicle, the sound pressure levels in the high-frequency range of loudspeakers is increased. Also, the sound pressure levels of the speakers can be corrected in accordance with the positions at which persons are seated in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A mobile sound field correcting device for correcting an acoustic characteristic in a vehicle sound field formed by direct waves radiated by loudspeakers installed in correspondence to seats in the vehicle and by reflected waves thereof, comprising:

means for inputting data representing a number of persons seated in said vehicle; and

correcting means for varying, when a plurality of persons are seated in said vehicle, sound pressure level of said loudspeakers corresponding to the difference in level therebetween, according to said data inputted by said inputting means.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of loudspeakers are installed on the right and left sides of a front seat of said vehicle and a pair of loudspeakers are installed on the right and left sides of a rear seat of said vehicle.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said correcting means comprises means for varying a sound pressure level of each loudspeaker by an amount of approximately 1 to 2 dB in a frequency range higher than 1 KHz.

4. A mobile sound field correcting device for correcting an acoustic characteristic in a vehicle sound field formed by direct waves radiated from a pair of loudspeakers installed on right and left sides of a front seat of the vehicle and by reflected waves thereof, comprising:

means for inputting data representing a number of persons seated on said front seat; and

correcting means for, according to said data inputted by said inputting means, increasing, when one person is seated on said front seat, the output level of a one of said loudspeakers closer to said one person.

5. A mobile sound field correcting device for correcting an acoustic characteristic in a vehicle sound field formed by direct waves radiated from a pair of loudspeakers installed on right and left sides of a front seat of the vehicle and by reflected waves thereof, comprising:

means for inputting data representing a number of persons seated in said vehicle;

first correcting means for, according to said data inputted by said inputting means, making output levels of said pair of loudspeakers substantially equal to each other when a plurality of persons are seated on said front seat and increasing, when only one person is seated on said front seat, the output level of a one of said loudspeakers closer to said person; and

second correcting means for, according to said data inputted by said inputting means, varying a sound pressure level of said pair of loudspeakers corresponding to the difference in level therebetween, when a plurlity of persons are seated on said front seat.

6. A mobile sound field correcting device for correcting an acoustic characteristic in a vehicle sound field formed by direct waves radiated from a pair of front side loudspeakers installed on right and left sides of a front seat of the vehicle and a pair of rear side loudspeakers installed on right and left sides of a rear seat of the vehicle and by reflected waves thereof, comprising:

means for inputting data representing a number of persons seated on said front seat and data representing a number of persons seated on said rear seat;

first correcting means for, according to said data inputted by said inputting means, making output levels of said pair of front side loudspeakers subtantially equal to each other when a plurality of persons are seated on said front seat and increasing, when only one person is seated on said front seat, the output level of a one of said pair of front side loudspeakers closer to said person; and

second correcting means for, according to said data inputted by said inputting means, making output levels of said rear side loudspeakers equal to each other when a plurality of persons are seated on said rear seat, and decreasing, when only one person is seated on said rear seat, the output level of a one of said pair of rear side loudspeakers closer to said one person.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said pair of rear side loudspeakers are installed on a parcel tray.

8. A mobile sound filed correcting device for correcting an acoustic characteristic in a vehicle sound field formed by direct waves radiated from a pair of front side loudspeakers installed on right and left sides of a front seat of a vehicle and a pair of rear side loudspeakers installed on right and left sides of a rear seat in said vehicle and by reflected waves thereof, comprising:

means for inputting data representing a number of persons seated on said front seat and data representing a number of persons seated on said rear seat;

first correcting means for, according to said data inputted by said inputting means, varying a sound pressure level of said pair of front said loudspeaker corresponding to the difference in level therebetween, when a plurality of persons are seated on said front seat; and

second correcting means for, according to said data inputted by said inputting means, making output levels of said one pair of rear side loudspeakers equal to each other when a plurality of persons are seated on said rear seat and when only one person is seated decreasing the output level of a one of said rear side loudspeakers closer to said person on said rear seat.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said rear side loudspeakers are installed on a parcel tray.

10. A mobile sound field correcting device for correcting an acoustic characteristic in a vehicle sound field formed by direct waves radiated from loudspeakers installed for seats in said vehicle and by reflected waves thereof, comprising:

means for inputting data representing a number of persons sitting on each seat; and

correcting means for, according to said data inputted by said inputting means, varying output characteristics of said loudspeakers to correct said acoustic characteristic in said vehicle sound field.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said inputting means comprises a plurality of operating means provided for said front and rear seats for inputting the number of persons sitting on each seat.

12. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said inputting means comprises a plurality of detecting means each detecting when a person is seated on a respective seat, thereby to automatically input a number of persons sitting on each seat.

13. The device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising visual display means for displaying the number of persons on each seat.