Automobile audio system

• US 7,957,540 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Hiroshi, Ludwig, Christopher, Stark, Michael W., Greenberger, Hal
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUTHERS, DOUGLAS JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/933,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20080117070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 381/86, 381/124, 381/61, 381/78, 381/302, 381/307, 381/18, 381/123, 381/17, 381/58, 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 in a vehicle with a battery and an engine, the method comprising:

monitoring an operating state of the engine;

if the engine is not running, then adjusting a topology of the audio system to decrease the electrical load of the audio system,

adjusting the topology of the audio system comprising turning off one or more speakers of the audio system while continuing to operate one or more additional speakers of the audio system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein turning off the one or more speakers comprises placing an amplifier of the audio system associated with the one or more speakers in a standby mode.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein turning off the one or more speakers comprises removing power from an amplifier of the audio system associated with the one or more speakers.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting the topology of the audio system further comprises redirecting signals previously provided to the one or more speakers that were turned off to one or more of the additional speakers that are continuing to operate.

4. A method for operating an audio system in a vehicle with a battery and an engine, the method comprising:

monitoring an operating state of the engine;

if the engine is not running, then adjusting an equalization signal process of the audio system to change the frequency response of the audio system,

wherein the equalization process includes a limiter that controls the maximum voltage of an audio signal provided to one or more speakers of the audio system based on a threshold value, and

the step of adjusting the equalization signal process comprises lowering the threshold value of the limiter, such that the limiter allows a maximum voltage of the audio signal that is lower than a level dictated by the capabilities of the audio system.