Vehicular audio system and electromagnetic transducer assembly for use therein

• US 7,050,593 B1
• Filed: 08/25/1999
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Prince, David J., Sleboda, Pawel W., True, Robert J., Emerling, David M., Mola, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Huyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAO, LUNSEE
• Application Number:
  US09/382,851
• Time in Patent Office: 2,463 Days
• Field of Search: 381/361, 381/365, 381/386, 381/296, 381/280, 381/99, 381/190, 381/186, 381 84- 89, 381/59, 381/302, 381/389, 381/152, 381/341, 381/184, 381/96, 181/161, 181/144, 181/296, 181/280
• US Class Current: 381/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers

Abstract

A vehicle overhead audio system and an electromagnetic transducer assembly for use therein are provided where a headliner of the vehicle is a loudspeaker of the system thereby replacing many other loudspeakers and being invisible to the occupants. The headliner is driven in multiple zones that effect proper imaging for all occupants. Supplemental high frequency and subwoofer speakers and signal processing circuitry are included in one aspect of the invention.

Claims

1. An audio system for use in a vehicle having a roof, the system comprising:

an acoustically-insulating headliner adapted to be mounted adjacent the roof so as to underlie the roof and shield the roof from view, the headliner having an upper surface and a sound-radiating, lower surface;

a source of audio signals;

an array of electromagnetic transducer assemblies supported at the upper surface of the headliner;

signal processing circuitry coupled to the assemblies for processing the audio signals to obtain processed audio signals wherein the assemblies convert the processed audio signals into mechanical motion of corresponding zones of the headliner and wherein the headliner is made of a material which is sufficiently stiff and low in density so that substantially the entire headliner acts as a single headliner speaker diaphragm and radiates acoustic power into the interior of the vehicle with a frequency range defined by a lower limit of 100 hertz or less and an upper limit of 12 kilohertz or more and the processed audio signals at a low end of the frequency range are matched to the processed audio signals at mid and high ends of the frequency range and wherein the headliner material has a stiffness between 1E9PA and 5E9PA and a density of between 100 and 800 kilograms per meter cubed.

2. An audio system for use in a vehicle having a roof, the system comprising:

an acoustically-insulating headliner adapted to be mounted adjacent the roof so as to underlie the roof and shield the roof from view, the headliner having an upper surface and a sound-radiating, lower surface;

a source of audio signals;

an array of electromagnetic transducer assemblies supported at the upper surface of the headliner;

signal processing circuitry coupled to the assemblies for processing the audio signals to obtain processed audio signals wherein the assemblies convert the processed audio signals into mechanical motion of corresponding zones of the headliner and wherein the headliner is made of a material which is sufficiently stiff and low in density so that substantially the entire headliner acts as a single headliner speaker diaphragm and radiates acoustic power into the interior of the vehicle with a frequency range defined by a lower limit of 100 hertz or less and an upper limit of 12 kilohertz or more and the processed audio signals at a low end of the frequency range are matched to the processed audio signals at mid and high ends of the frequency range and wherein the headliner material has a stiffness (modulus of elasticity, Youngs modulus) between 1E9 Pa and 5e9 Pa and a density between 100 and 800 Kg/m^3 and wherein the headliner material may be made from single materials or composites.

3. An audio system for use in a vehicle having a roof, the system comprising:

an acoustically-insulating headliner adapted to be mounted adjacent the roof so as to underlie the roof and shield the roof from view, the headliner having an upper surface and a sound-radiating, lower surface;

a source of audio signals;

an array of electromagnetic transducer assemblies supported at the upper surface of the headliner;

signal processing circuitry coupled to the assemblies for processing the audio signals to obtain processed audio signals wherein the assemblies convert the processed audio signals into mechanical motion of corresponding zones of the headliner and wherein the headliner is made of a material which is sufficiently stiff and low in density so that the headliner radiates acoustic power into the interior of the vehicle with a frequency range defined by a lower limit of 100 hertz or less and an upper limit of 12 kilohertz or more and the processed audio signals at a low end of the frequency range are matched to the processed audio signals at mid and high ends of the frequency range and wherein the headliner material has a stiffness between 1E9PA and 5E9PA and a density of between 100 and 800 kilograms per meter cubed.

4. An audio system for use in a vehicle having a roof, the system comprising:

an acoustically-insulating headliner adapted to be mounted adjacent the roof so as to underlie the roof and shield the roof from view, the headliner having an upper surface and a sound-radiating, lower surface;

a source of audio signals;

an array of electromagnetic transducer assemblies supported at the upper surface of the headliner;

signal processing circuitry coupled to the assemblies for processing the audio signals to obtain processed audio signals wherein the assemblies convert the processed audio signals into mechanical motion of corresponding zones of the headliner and wherein the headliner is made of a material which is sufficiently stiff and low in density so that the headliner radiates acoustic power into the interior of the vehicle with a frequency range defined by a lower limit of 100 hertz or less and an upper limit of 12 kilohertz or more and the processed audio signals at a low end of the frequency range are matched to the processed audio signals at mid and high ends of the frequency range and wherein the headliner material has a stiffness (modulus of elasticity, Youngs modulus) between 1E9 Pa and 5e9 Pa and a density between 100 and 800 Kg/m^3 and wherein the headliner material is made from single materials or composites.