Audio output mode setting apparatus and an audio output mode setting method

• US 20060002567A1
• Filed: 07/05/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Kato, Shiro, Sato, Shinichi, Makino, Atsushi, Yusa, Hideyuki
• Application Number:
  US11/172,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20060002567A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/008 in which the audio signals are in digital form, i.e. employing more than two discrete digital channels data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02

Abstract

An audio output mode setting apparatus for setting an output mode of audio signals to a plurality of speakers which are located at mutually different positions including: a detection device which detects a direction of a seat on which a listener of the audio signals which are outputted from the speakers sits; and an output mode setting device which sets up an output mode of the audio signals respectively to the speakers in response to the detected direction of the seat.

Claims

1. An audio output mode setting apparatus for setting an output mode of audio signals to a plurality of speakers which are located at mutually different positions comprising:

a detection device which detects a direction of a seat on which a listener of the audio signals which are outputted from the speakers sits; and

an output mode setting device which sets up an output mode of the audio signals respectively to the speakers in response to the detected direction of the seat.

2. The audio output mode setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the output mode setting device refers to information pieces which show output modes of the audio signals which are preset for each of a plurality of directions of the seat, and sets up the output mode of the audio signals in response to the detected direction of the seat.

3. The audio output mode setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the seat is provided so as to be rotatable around a reference plumb line of the seat, and

the detection device detects a rotational angle of the seat as the direction of the seat.

4. The audio output mode setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the output mode setting device sets up the allocations of the audio signals to the speakers in response to the detected direction of the seat.

5. The audio output mode setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the output mode setting device sets up an output timing of the audio signals to the speakers in response to the detected direction of the seat.

6. The audio output mode setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the output mode setting device sets up an output volume of the audio signals respectively to the speakers in response to the detected direction of the seat.

7. The audio output mode setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of the seats is plural, and the seats are arranged at mutually different positions, wherein the audio output mode setting apparatus further comprising:

a designation receipt device which accepts a designation of any one of the plurality of the seats from the listener, wherein

the output mode setting device sets up the output modes of the audio signals respectively to the speakers in response to the direction of the designated seat and the detected direction of the seat.

8. The audio output mode setting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the number of the seats is plural, and the seats are arranged at mutually different positions, wherein the audio output mode setting apparatus further comprising:

a seat setup device which sets up at least any one of the plurality of the seats on the basis of the direction of the detected seat and a preset order of priority of the seats, wherein

the output mode setting device sets up the output modes of the audio signals respectively to the speakers in response to the detected direction of the seat which is set up by the seat setup device.

9. An audio output mode setting apparatus for setting up an output mode of audio signals to a plurality of speakers which are located at mutually different positions comprising:

a display control device which makes at least one of a plurality of mutually different output modes being the output modes of the audio signals respectively to the speakers display so as to be selectable;

a selection reception device for accepting a selection of the at least one output mode from a listener of the audio signals which are outputted from the speakers, and

an output mode setting device which sets up the output mode of the audio signals to the speakers on the basis of the selected output mode.

10. The audio output mode setting apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a display switching instruction reception device for receiving a display switching instruction of the output mode from the listener, wherein

the display control device sequentially switches to display one output mode among the plurality of output modes on the basis of the display switching instruction.

11. The audio output mode setting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the output mode of the audio signals to the speakers includes at least one of an allocation of the audio signals to the speakers, an output timing of the audio signals to the speakers and an output volume of the audio signals to the speakers.

12. An audio output mode setting method for setting up an output mode of audio signals to a plurality of speakers which are located at mutually different positions comprising any one of sets of steps of:

detecting a direction of a seat on which a listener of the audio signals which are outputted from the speakers sits; and

setting up the output mode of the audio signals respectively to the speakers in response to the direction of the detected seat, or

displaying at least one of a plurality of mutually different output modes of the audio signals respectively to the speakers so as to be selectable;

accepting a selection of one of the output mode from the listener of the audio signals outputted from the speakers; and

setting up the output modes of the audio signals respectively to the speakers on the basis of the selected output mode.