Automobile audio system

• US 7,724,909 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Greenberger, Hal P., Ludwig, Christopher, Stark, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUTHERS, DOUGLAS JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/933,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20080117038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 381/86, 381/124, 381/61, 381/78, 381/302, 381/307, 381/18, 381/123, 381/17, 381/58, 381/104, 381/101, 381/103, 381/55, 584/55, 340/455
• US Class Current: 381/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/082 to be used in vehicles H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/30 Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/40 Visual indication of stereophonic sound image

Abstract

The invention features a dual-mode audio system for an automobile which in one mode is configured for play while the doors to the automobile are closed, and in a second mode, is configured for play while a door, such as a tailgate, is opened. Additionally, the invention also features a battery monitor which monitors the operating condition of the battery and may estimate the energy capacity of the battery. The system may also take power conservation measures if the system determines that the engine is not running or the operating condition of the batter reaches a predetermined state. The invention also features a remote control integrated within a key fob for controlling the audio system. The invention features various orientations for mounting a pair of loudspeakers within an automobile which directly radiate sound out of a rear opening of the automobile.

Claims

1. A method for operating an audio system having one or more equalization signal processes in a vehicle with a battery, the method comprising:

monitoring one or more operating conditions of the battery;

comparing one or more of the monitored conditions of the battery to a predetermined state; and

if one or more of the monitored operating conditions of the battery reaches the predetermined state, then adjusting one or more of equalization signal processes to change the frequency response of the audio system,

wherein one of the equalization processes includes a high pass filter having a cutoff frequency, and the step of adjusting one or more of the equalization processes comprises raising the cutoff frequency of the high pass filter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring one or more operating conditions of the battery comprises one or more of following:

sensing the output voltage level of the battery, sensing the discharge current of the battery;

or sensing the ambient temperature.