Distributed and upgradable audio system

• US 10,250,983 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2017
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NIO Technology Company Limited (Shanghai Anbin Technology Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nio Usa Inc.
• Inventors: Graham, Philip Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US15/705,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20190090059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 342 27, 348 1404, 369 3007, 370450, 381 1, 381 17, 381 58, 381 60, 381 86, 381101, 386239, 455 73, 700 94, 701 36, 705 4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/03 the amplifier being designed for audio applications
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/183 with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/187 in integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

The systems and methods described herein provide an audio system and modules that include speakers that can be packaged in new locations, and/or that can be driven by a local amplifier (amp). The new audio system can be easily upgraded with more modules inserted into the speaker network. For example, the custom system can increase capacity by replacing a trim panel with a new integrated trim panel having a module with one or more smaller speakers and the local amp. A control processor can detect the modules, which may include a digital signal processor (DSP), an amp, and/or at least one speaker.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

an interior of the vehicle; and

a modular audio system provided in the interior of the vehicle, the audio system comprising;

an audio network backbone including a single strand of cable circling the interior of the vehicle;

a digital audio controller (DAC) connected to the single strand of cable; and

two or more digital signal processor (DSP), amp, speaker (DAS) modules connected to the single strand of cable at different locations in the interior of the vehicle, wherein each of the two or more DAS modules are in communication with the DAC via the connection to the single strand of cable, wherein each DAS module of the two or more DAS modules receives a digital sound signal from the DAC and converts the digital sound signal into sound through the corresponding speaker, and wherein the DAC identifies each of the two or more DAS modules connected to the single strand of cable without requiring a direct connection to the two or more DAS modules.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein in each DAS module the digital signal processor receives and processes the digital sound signal.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein in each DAS module the amplifier amplifies the converted digital sound signal for the speaker.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein each DAS module converts the digital sound signal into an analog sound signal.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein a first DAS module of the two or more DAS modules is in a first physical location inside the vehicle and a second DAS module of the two or more DAS modules is in a second physical location inside the vehicle, and wherein the first physical location is not in physical proximity in the interior with the second physical location.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein each DAS module comprises two or more speakers.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein each speaker of the two or more speakers consumes less than 4 watts power.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein each DAS module is connected to the single strand of cable in parallel to one another along the audio network backbone.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein each DAS module receives power from a power connection located in physical proximity to each DAS module.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a third DAS module of the two more DAS modules connected directly to the DAC.

11. A method, comprising:

creating a modular audio network comprising an audio network backbone including a single strand of cable circling the interior of a vehicle, a digital audio controller (DAC) connected to the audio network backbone, and two or more digital signal processor (DSP), amp, speaker (DAS) modules connected to the single strand of cable at different locations in the interior of the vehicle, wherein each of the two or more DAS modules are in communication with the DAC via the connection to the single strand of cable, wherein each DAS module of the two or more DAS modules receives a digital sound signal from the DAC and converts the digital sound signal into sound through the corresponding speaker;

the DAC identifying each of the two or more DAS modules connected to the single strand of cable without requiring a direct connection to the two or more DAS modules;

the DAC determining a configuration for the two or more DAS modules;

the DAC receiving an audio input signal;

the DAC configuring the received audio input signal;

the DAC addressing the configured audio input signal for at least one DAS module of the two or more DAS modules; and

the DAC sending the addressed audio input signal to the at least one DAS module of the two or more DAS modules.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the addressed audio input signal is a digital audio signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein configuring the received audio input signal comprises creating an effect for the received audio input signal.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the DAC identifying a signal type for the speaker included with each of the two or more DAS modules.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

the at least one DAS module receiving the addressed audio input signal;

the at least one DAS module configuring the addressed audio input signal;

the at least one DAS module converting the addressed audio input signal into an analog signal;

the at least one DAS module outputting the analog signal to the speaker included with the at least one DAS module; and

the speaker included with the at least one DAS module outputting sound based on the analog signal.

16. A non-transitory information storage media having stored thereon one or more instructions, that when executed by one or more processors, cause an audio system in a vehicle to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving a digital audio signal from a digital audio controller (DAC) over an audio network backbone including a single strand of cable circling the interior of the vehicle at a digital signal processor (DSP), amp, speaker (DAS) module, wherein the DAC sends the digital audio signal to two or more DAS modules connected at distinct locations along the single strand of cable circling the interior of the vehicle, and wherein the DAC identifies each of the two or more DAS modules connected to the single strand of cable without requiring a direct connection to the two or more DAS modules;

the DAS module configuring the digital audio signal;

the DAS module converting the digital audio signal into an analog signal; and

the DAS module outputting the analog signal to the speaker associated with the DAS module, wherein the speaker outputs sound based on the analog signal.

17. The media of claim 16, wherein the digital audio signal is addressed to the DSP associated with the DAS module.

18. The media of claim 17, wherein the digital audio signal includes information about an effect to the output sound to be created by the DAS module, and wherein the DAS module creates the effect when converting the digital audio signal.

19. The media of claim 18, wherein the audio network backbone including the single strand of cable is a fiber optic ring network.

20. The media of claim 19, the method further comprising:

the DAC identifying information about the DAS module;

the DAC determining a configuration for the two or more DAS modules including the DAS module based on the information about the identified DAS module;

the DAC receiving an audio input signal;

the DAC configuring the received audio input signal;

the DAC addressing the configured audio input signal for the DAS module; and

the DAC sending the addressed audio input signal to the DAS module.