System and method for selectively switching between a plurality of audio channels
First Claim
1. An apparatus for selectively switching between audio channels, the apparatus comprising:
- a vehicular audio device including;
a first audio input connection located inside the vehicle for receiving audio content;
a second audio input connection for receiving an acoustic signal associated with sound external to the vehicle;
a memory device for prestoring a plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns, each of the plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns corresponding to a preselected external audio sound;
a controller for receiving the audio content from the first audio connection and the acoustic signal from the second audio input connection, for determining whether the acoustic signal matches at least one of the plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns prestored in the memory device, wherein if the acoustic signal associated with sound external to the vehicle matches at least one of the plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns, the controller sends the acoustic signal to an output connection within the vehicle such that the acoustic signal associated with sound external to the vehicle is generated within the vehicle and, if the acoustic signal does not match the at least one of the plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns, the controller outputs the audio content to the output connection that generates an audible signal based on the audio content.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for selectively switching between a plurality of audio channels are provided. The system and method of the present disclosure will enable a user to listen to desired audio content, e.g., music with a total lack of distraction while selectively allowing certain important and selected sounds to interrupt the audio content. The system for selectively switching between a plurality of audio channels includes an audio content device (ACD) for supplying audio content on a first channel; at least one microphone input device for generating an acoustic signal from sound external to the system on a second channel; an audio signal processing control unit (ASPCU) for receiving the audio content on the first channel and the acoustic signal on the second channel and for selectively switching between the first and second channel; and an audio output device (AOD) for audibly producing sounds from the selected channel.
30 Citations
55 Claims
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1. An apparatus for selectively switching between audio channels, the apparatus comprising:
a vehicular audio device including; a first audio input connection located inside the vehicle for receiving audio content; a second audio input connection for receiving an acoustic signal associated with sound external to the vehicle; a memory device for prestoring a plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns, each of the plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns corresponding to a preselected external audio sound; a controller for receiving the audio content from the first audio connection and the acoustic signal from the second audio input connection, for determining whether the acoustic signal matches at least one of the plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns prestored in the memory device, wherein if the acoustic signal associated with sound external to the vehicle matches at least one of the plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns, the controller sends the acoustic signal to an output connection within the vehicle such that the acoustic signal associated with sound external to the vehicle is generated within the vehicle and, if the acoustic signal does not match the at least one of the plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns, the controller outputs the audio content to the output connection that generates an audible signal based on the audio content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 47, 48, 49)
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15. A system for selectively switching between a plurality of audio channels, the system comprising:
a vehicular audio device including; an audio content device (ACD) for supplying audio content on a first channel; at least one microphone input device for generating an acoustic signal from sound external to the vehicle on a second channel; a memory device for prestoring a plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns, each of the plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns corresponding to a preselected external audio sound; an audio signal processing control unit (ASPCU) for receiving the audio content on the first channel and the acoustic signal on the second channel for selectively switching between the first and second channel, wherein if the acoustic signal matches at least one of the plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns stored in the memory device, the ASPCU selects the second channel such that an audio output device (AOD) generates the acoustic signal from the second channel based on the acoustic signal from sound external to the vehicle, and if the acoustic signal from sound external to the vehicle does not match the at least one of the plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns stored in the memory device, the ASPCU selects the first channel such that the audio output device (AOD) generates an audible sound from the first channel based on the audio content. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 50, 51, 52)
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27. A vehicular audio device for selectively switching between a plurality of audio channels, the headphone comprising:
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an audio content device (ACD) for supplying audio content on a first channel; at least one microphone input device for generating an acoustic signal from sound external to the vehicle on a second channel; a memory device for prestoring a plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns, each of the plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns corresponding to a preselected external audio sound; an audio signal processing control unit (ASPCU) for receiving the audio content on the first channel and the acoustic signal on the second channel for selectively switching between the first and second channel, wherein if the acoustic signal matches at least one of the plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns stored in the memory device, the ASPCU selects the second channel such that first and second speakers generate the acoustic signal from the second channel based on the acoustic signal from sound external to the vehicle, and if the acoustic signal from sound external to the vehicle does not match the at least one of the plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns stored in the memory device, the ASPCU selects the first channel such that first and second speakers generate an audible sound from the first channel based on the audio content. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 53, 54, 55)
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40. A method for selectively switching between a plurality of audio channels in an audio device, the method comprising the steps of:
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prestoring a plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns in a memory device, each of the plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns corresponding to a preselected external audio sound; supplying audio content on a first channel of the audio device; generating an acoustic signal from sound external to the audio device on a second channel receiving the audio content on the first channel and the acoustic signal on the second channel; determining whether the acoustic signal matched at least one of the plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns stored in the memory device, wherein if the acoustic signal matches at least one of the plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns stored in the memory device, selecting the second channel such that an audible sound is generated from the second channel based on the acoustic signal, and if the acoustic signal does not match at least one of the plurality of predetermined digital sound patterns stored in the memory device, selecting the first channel such that an audible sound is generated from the first channel based on the audio content wherein the audio device includes a vehicular audio device. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification