Convertible automobile sound system equalizing

• US 7,583,806 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2003
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Holmi, Douglas J., Torio, Guy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran; Con P
• Application Number:
  US10/457,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20040247141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,276 Days
• Field of Search: 381/86, 381/1, 381/104, 381/106, 381/103, 381/98, 381/300, 381/302
• US Class Current: 381/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/024 Positioning of loudspeaker enclosures for spatial sound reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

A convertible automobile sound system is responsive to the state of the convertible automobile top for providing equalization to speakers related to the state of the convertible top.

Claims

1. A sound system for a convertible automobile having a convertible automobile top, the sound system comprising:

a front loudspeaker;

a rear loudspeaker;

an input to receive a top state signal representative of a state of the convertible automobile top; and

equalization circuitry coupled to said front and rear loudspeakers and responsive to said top state signal;

the equalization circuitry configured to provide equalization based on the state of the convertible top by;

selecting a first non-zero amount of delay when the convertible top is in a first state;

selecting a second non-zero amount of delay when the convertible top is in a second state; and

delaying, by the first non-zero amount of delay when the convertible top is in the first state and the second non-zero amount of delay when the convertible top is in the second state, signals sent to one of the loudspeakers with respect to signals sent to the other loudspeaker.

2. The sound system of claim 1 also comprising changing a polarity relationship between signals for the front loudspeaker and signals for the rear loudspeaker based on the state of the convertible top.

3. The sound system of claim 2 in which the signals for the rear loudspeaker comprise surround sound signals.

4. The sound system of claim 1 in which selecting the first delay comprises delaying the signals for the rear loudspeaker 5 ms relative to the signals for the front speakers when the top is in an up state and delaying the signals for the rear loudspeaker 6 ms relative to the signals for the front speakers when the top is in a down state.

5. The sound system of claim 1 further comprising reversing a polarity of signals for the rear speakers relative to a polarity of signals for the front speakers when the top is in an up state and not reversing the polarity when the top is in a down state.

6. A method comprising:

in a sound system for an automobile having a convertible top, receiving a top state signal representative of a state of the convertible top; and

providing equalization based on the state of the convertible top by;

selecting a first non-zero amount of delay when the convertible top is in a first state;

selecting a second non-zero amount of delay when the convertible top is in a second state; and

delaying, by the first non-zero amount of delay when the convertible top is in the first state and the second non-zero amount of delay when the convertible top is in the second state, signals sent to one of the loudspeakers with respect to signals sent to the other loudspeaker.

7. The method of claim 6 also comprising changing a polarity relationship between signals for the front loudspeaker and signals for the rear loudspeaker based on the state of the convertible top.

8. The method of claim 6 in which selecting the first delay comprises delaying the signals for the rear loudspeaker 5 ms relative to the signals for the front speakers when the top is in an up state and delaying the signals for the rear loudspeaker 6 ms relative to the signals for the front speakers when the top is in a down state.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising reversing a polarity of signals for the rear speakers relative to a polarity of signals for the front speakers when the top is in an up state and not reversing the polarity when the top is in a down state.

10. A computer-readable medium bearing instructions to

receive a top state signal representative of a state of a convertible top of an automobile;

and

cause components of a sound system for the automobile to provide equalization based on the state of the convertible top by;

selecting a first non-zero amount of delay when the convertible top is in a first state;

selecting a second non-zero amount of delay when the convertible top is in a second state; and

delaying, by the first non-zero amount of delay when the convertible top is in the first state and the second non-zero amount of delay when the convertible top is in the second state, signals sent to one of the loudspeakers with respect to signals sent to the other loudspeaker.

11. The medium of claim 10 also comprising changing a polarity relationship between signals for the front loudspeaker and signals for the rear loudspeaker based on the state of the convertible top.

12. An apparatus comprising:

an input to receive a top state signal representative of a state of a convertible automobile top; and

equalization circuitry coupled to a front loudspeaker and a rear loudspeaker and responsive to said top state signal;

the equalization circuitry configured to provide equalization based on the state of the convertible top by;

selecting a first non-zero amount of delay when the convertible top is in a first state;

selecting a second non-zero amount of delay when the convertible top is in a second state; and

delaying, by the first non-zero amount of delay when the convertible top is in the first state and the second non-zero amount of delay when the convertible top is in the second state, signals sent to one of the loudspeakers with respect to signals sent to the other loudspeaker.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 also comprising changing a polarity relationship between signals for the front loudspeaker and signals for the rear loudspeaker based on the state of the convertible top.