Method and system for improving communication in a vehicle

• US 7,415,116 B1
• Filed: 11/09/2000
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Inventors: Fels, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei; Xu
• Application Number:
  US10/148,433
• Time in Patent Office: 2,840 Days
• Field of Search: 381/86, 381/71.4, 381/77, 381/79, 381/91, 381/110, 381/102, 381/104, 381/107, 455/345
• US Class Current: 381/86
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0282 for the use of several passengers, e.g. simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system
• 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
• 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 embodiment and/or method to improve communication in a vehicle. Voice signals of the occupants of a vehicle may be picked up on an individual basis via separately arranged microphones. The individually picked-up voice signals may then be amplified separately for each occupant in an input stage and filtered for purposes of minimizing interference levels and for frequency adaptation. The signals may be subjected in a process stage to a signal processing that may be specific to each output channel, in the form of a delay correction and a level differentiation. And, via an adaptation stage having a level adaptation, the signals may then be distributed to likewise separately assigned loudspeakers, in accordance with the spatial conditions of the vehicle and the desired loudness level. The embodiment and/or method may be effectively used in passenger cars, larger vehicles including multimedia buses and trucks, ships, trains and airplanes/airborne spaces.

Claims

1. A method for improving communication in a vehicle, comprising:

assigning at least one occupant in an area of a seat inside the vehicle with a respective microphone;

picking up a voice signal of the at least one occupant of the vehicle by the respective microphone;

amplifying the picked-up voice signal in an input stage;

filtering the amplified picked-up voice signal for purposes of interference level minimization and frequency adaptation;

providing a voice-output device, the voice-output device including at least one loudspeaker configured to output the voice signal, each loudspeaker of the at least one loudspeaker being associated with at least one output channel;

signal processing the amplified and filtered voice signal of the at least one occupant via a summing and distribution stage, the signal processing being specific to each respective at least one output channel in the form of a delay correction and a level differentiation in a process stage as a function of a local allocation of the microphone that picked up the voice signal and as a function of a local allocation of the at least one loudspeaker of the voice-output device;

assigning the processed voice signal on an individual basis for each respective at least one output channel to the at least one loudspeaker of the voice-output device via an adaptation stage; and

tuning an adaptation of the processed voice signal via a level adaptation and a frequency adaptation in the adaptation stage to a spatial condition of the vehicle and to a desired sound level.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a signal supplied from one of an internal audiovisual storage device and an external information channel via an input channel connected to the input stage as tuned to the spatial condition of the vehicle via the process stage and the adaptation stage to the respective at least one output channel to at least one of the at least one loudspeaker and an individual component for picture reproduction depending upon a type of the signal supplied from the one of the internal audio visual storage device and the external information channel.

3. A system for improving communication in a vehicle, comprising:

a voice pick-up device including at least one microphone, each one of the at least one microphone being assigned to a respective seat of the vehicle;

a voice-output device including at least one loudspeaker, each one of the at least one loudspeaker being assigned to the respective seat of the vehicle;

a process stage including;

a module for delay correction,

a module for level differentiation,

a summing stage, and

a distribution stage;

an input stage via which each of the at least one microphone is connected to the process stage into order to minimize an interference level and to achieve a frequency adaptation, the input stage including a microphone amplifier and an input filter;

an adaptation stage including a level adaptation stage and a room correction filter for the frequency adaptation, the process stage being linked via the adaptation stage to the at least one loudspeaker,

a central operating unit; and

a control unit connected to the central operating unit and linked to the input stage, the process stage, and the adaptation stage.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the adaptation stage is connected to at least one external information channel.

5. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the process stage is connected to at least one of an internal audiovisual storage device and an external information channel.

6. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the process stage is connected to at least one of at least one external information channel and at least one internal audio visual storage device.

7. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein:

the input-stage is connected to at least one external information channel, and the at least one external information channel is connected via the process stage and the adaptation stage to the at least one loudspeaker.

8. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the central operating unit is assigned to a front-passenger seat.

9. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the control unit is connected to at least one operating unit assigned to a different seat and has limited functioning.