Device and method for reproducing an audio signal

• US 9,780,739 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2012
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Muench, Tobias, Schmauderer, Philipp, Benz, Christoph, Koerner, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ganmavo, Kuassi
• Application Number:
  US13/650,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20130094665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 381 56- 57, 381 86, 381 98, 700 94, 704224, 704225, 7042001
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/20 Speech recognition techniques specially adapted for robustness in adverse environments, e.g. in noise, of stress induced speech G10L21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/0208 Noise filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/02 Modifications of amplifiers to raise the efficiency, e.g. gliding Class A stages, use of an auxiliary oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/181 Low-frequency amplifiers, e.g. audio preamplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/04 in untuned amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/22 having semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/95 characterised by a specific format, e.g. an encoded audio stream

Abstract

A device and method for controlling reproduction of an audio signal is provided, wherein the device is operated by means of an energy storage device. The method comprises the steps of deactivating a normal mode and activating an energy saving mode. Power consumption from the energy storage device for reproduction of the audio signal is reduced in the energy saving mode when compared to the normal mode. The method comprises reducing in the energy saving mode, a bass frequency component of a frequency spectrum of the audio signal and outputting the audio signal with reduced bass frequency component. The method further comprises ascertaining a charge state of the energy storage device and controlling the reduction in the bass frequency component based on a decrease in the charge state of the energy storage device.

Claims

1. A device for reproducing an audio signal, the device comprising:

a first interface for connection to an energy storage device;

a second interface for connection to a loud speaker;

an amplifier connectable to the second interface and to the energy storage device for operation, the amplifier being configured to amplify the audio signal;

a control device being connected to the first interface and to the amplifier, the control device being configured to;

operate in a normal mode and in an energy saving mode, wherein in the energy saving mode, power consumption from the energy storage device for reproduction of the audio signal is reduced when compared to the normal mode;

reduce a bass frequency component of a frequency spectrum of the audio signal with the reduced bass frequency component in the energy saving mode;

determine a charge state of the energy storage device;

control a reduction in the bass frequency component based on a decrease in the charge state of the energy storage device; and

control the amplifier to amplify the audio signal and to transmit the amplified audio signal to the loud speaker in the normal mode, and with the reduced bass frequency component, in the energy saving mode,

wherein the control device is further configured to control the reduction in the bass frequency component based on the charge state and a distance to a certain destination, and

wherein the control device is connectable to a database that includes stored audio files

wherein an energy value is stored for each audio file and the energy value is based on the bass frequency component of the frequency spectrum of the audio file, and

wherein the control device is further configured to;

determine an energy threshold based on the charge state of the energy storage device;

determine the audio file to be output based on an associated energy value and based on the energy threshold for purposes of controlling the bass frequency component and

output the audio file as the audio signal.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the control device is further configured to filter the audio signal to be output through one of a digital filter and a analog filter to reduce the bass frequency component.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the control device is further configured to determine a threshold frequency of the one of the digital filter and the analog filter based on the charge state of the energy storage device.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the control device is further configured to activate the energy saving mode based on a signal from an input unit.

5. A method for controlling a reproduction of an audio signal of a device powered by an energy storage device, the method comprising the steps of:

deactivating a normal mode and activating an energy savings mode, wherein power consumption from the energy storage device for reproduction of the audio signal is reduced in the energy savings mode when compared to the normal mode;

reducing, in the energy savings mode, a bass frequency component of a frequency spectrum of the audio signal and outputting the audio signal with a reduced bass frequency component;

ascertaining a charge state of the energy storage device;

controlling a reduction in the bass frequency component based on a decrease in the charge state of the energy storage device;

controlling an amplifier to amplify the audio signal and to transmit the amplified audio signal to a loudspeaker in the normal mode and with the reduced bass frequency component in the energy saving mode;

controlling the reduction in the bass frequency component based on the charge state and on a distance to a certain destination;

storing audio files in a database, each audio filed being provided with an energy value that is based on the bass frequency component of the frequency spectrum;

determining an energy threshold based on the charge state of the energy storage device;

determining the audio file to be output based on the associated energy value and based on an energy threshold for purposes of controlling the bass frequency; and

outputting the audio file as the audio signal.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising filtering the audio data to be output through one of a digital filter and an analog filter to reduce the bass frequency component.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising determining a threshold frequency of the one of the digital filter and the analog filter based on the charge state of the energy storage device.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising activating the energy saving mode based on a signal from an input unit.

9. An apparatus for reproducing an audio signal, the apparatus comprising:

a control device being operably coupled to an energy storage device, the control device being configured to;

transmit the audio signal to an amplifier for amplifying the audio signal for playback via a loudspeaker, the audio signal including a bass frequency component of a frequency spectrum;

receive a charge signal indicative of a charge state of the energy storage device;

enable the loudspeaker to playback the audio signal at the bass frequency component if the charge state is above a predetermined threshold;

reduce the bass frequency component if the charge state is below the predetermined threshold to reduce power consumption; and

control the amplifier to amplify the audio signal and to transmit the amplified audio signal to the loudspeaker in a normal mode, and with the reduced bass frequency component, in an energy saving mode,

wherein the control device is capable of being positioned in a vehicle and the control device is further configured to receive a first signal corresponding to a distance between the vehicle and a destination and to reduce the bass frequency component based on the first signal, and

wherein the control device is further configured to determine an energy threshold based on a charge state of the energy storage device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the control device is further configured to activate one of a digital filter and an analog filter for filtering the audio signal to reduce the bass frequency component thereof.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the control device is further configured to determine a threshold frequency of the one of the digital filter and the analog filter based on the charge signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the control device is further configured to adjust the threshold frequency of the one of the digital filter and the analog filter in the event the charge state of the energy storage device is decreasing.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the control device is further configured to associate a plurality of threshold frequencies to a plurality of charge states of the energy storage device, each threshold frequency corresponding to charge state of the energy storage device.

14. The apparatus of claim10 wherein the one of the digital filter and the analog filter is one of a high pass filter and a band pass filter.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the control device is connectable to a database that includes stored audio files,

wherein an energy value is stored for each audio file and the energy value is based on the bass frequency component of the frequency spectrum of the audio file, and

wherein the control device is further configured to:

determine the audio file to be output based on an associated energy value and based on the energy threshold for purposes of controlling the bass frequency component; and

output the audio file as the audio signal.