Acoustic sound routing in vehicles

• US 7,508,952 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2003
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Linhard, Klaus, Hofmann, Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey, Brian
• Application Number:
  US10/535,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20060056650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,951 Days
• Field of Search: 381/86, 381/348, 381/386, 381/387, 381/388, 381/389
• US Class Current: 381/348
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/879 with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02491 Materials with nonlinear acoustic properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/023 Screens for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles

Abstract

To ensure the same high quality of acoustic radiation from audio systems on each seat of current vehicles, an acoustic device is provided for generating audio signals, which allows sound sources to be integrated into the area located near the headrest of a vehicle seat such that the volume can be regulated in an individual manner without unduly disturbing the other passengers in a vehicle. The headrest does not comprise any loudspeakers, thus is safe regarding accident protection. The acoustic near field at the headrest is generated by means of a sound channel. The loudspeaker is disposed inside the backrest or under the seat, for example, while the sound channel terminates in the headrest. Tuned pipes, the end of which is adjusted to the acoustic impedance of the clearance zone, are used as a sound channel.

Claims

1. An acoustic apparatus for producing audio signals,

wherein the sound transducer and the at least one sound emergence location are physically separate from one another,

in which the sound transducer is connected to the sound emergence location by means of at least one air-guiding sound conduit,

wherein the at least one sound emergence location is provided with a means for achieving acoustic impedance matching for the air in the sound conduit and the ambient air in order to reduce resonance effects,

wherein the means for acoustic resonance matching is made of a material which has the acoustic impedance of air, and

wherein this material is placed in two dimensions and contiguously over the at least one sound emergence location.

2. The acoustic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material which has the acoustic impedance of air is a fibrous and/or porous material with an acoustic impedance in the order of 41.4 rayl.

3. The acoustic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus has at least two sound conduits, where the sound emerging jointly from the sound conduit has a high sound level through superimposition in a preferred direction and has a lower sound level in an unwanted direction as a result of the design of the sound conduit and/or as a result of the manner in which the sound is supplied by the sound transducer.

4. The acoustic apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sound emergence locations of the individual sound conduit are arranged relative to one another such that a flat radiating element is produced.

9. The acoustic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sound emergence locations are placed in the headrests of a vehicle seat, and the sound transducers are located outside of the headrests.

10. The acoustic apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the support rods of the headrests are used for acoustic sound transmission.

11. The acoustic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the material which has the acoustic impedance of air is felt, sponge material, unwoven fabric or felt metal.

12. The acoustic apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the thickness of the felt metal is in the order of magnitude of 1 mm.

13. The acoustic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one air-guiding sound conduit has a length of up to 1 meter.

5. An acoustic apparatus for producing audio signals,

in which the sound transducer and the at least one sound emergence location are physically separate from one another,

in which the sound transducer is connected to the sound emergence location by means of at least one air-guiding sound conduit,

and in which the at least one sound emergence location is provided with a means for achieving acoustic impedance matching for the air in the sound conduit and the ambient air in order to reduce resonance effects,

and the means for acoustic resonance matching is made of a material which has the acoustic impedance of air,

wherein this material is placed in two dimensions and contiguously over the at least one sound emergence location,

wherein the apparatus has at least two sound conduits, where the sound emerging jointly from the sound conduits has a high sound level through superimposition in a preferred direction and has a lower sound level in an unwanted direction as a result of the design of the sound conduit and/or as a result of the manner in which the sound is supplied by the sound transducer,

wherein the sound emergence locations of the individual sound conduits are arranged relative to one another such that a flat radiating element is produced, and

wherein the flat radiating element comprises individual conventional loudspeakers in addition to the sound emergence locations of the individual sound conduits.

6. The acoustic apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the conventional loudspeakers used are small tweeters, which are suitable for radiating the high frequencies within the audible frequency range.

7. An acoustic apparatus for producing audio signals,

in which the sound transducer and the at least one sound emergence location are physically separate from one another,

in which the sound transducer is connected to the sound emergence location by means of at least one air-guiding sound conduit,

and in which the at least one sound emergence location is provided with a means for achieving acoustic impedance matching for the air in the sound conduit and the ambient air in order to reduce resonance effects,

and the means for acoustic resonance matching is made of a material which has the acoustic impedance of air,

wherein this material is placed in two dimensions and contiguously over the at least one sound emergence location and

wherein to produce acoustic directivity the sound emergence locations are firstly arranged like a flat panel loudspeaker, but secondly directivity is also obtained through antiphase cancellation.

8. An acoustic apparatus for producing audio signals,

in which the sound transducer and the at least one sound emergence location are physically separate from one another,

in which the sound transducer is connected to the sound emergence location by means of at least one air-guiding sound conduit,

and in which the at least one sound emergence location is provided with a means for achieving acoustic impedance matching for the air in the sound conduit and the ambient air in order to reduce resonance effects,

and the means for acoustic resonance matching is made of a material which has the acoustic impedance of air,

wherein this material is placed in two dimensions and contiguously over the at least one sound emergence location, and

wherein the sound transducer used is an isobaric push/pull system.