SOUND PLACEMENT OF COMFORT ZONES

• US 20160329040A1
• Filed: 05/08/2015
• Published: 11/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Whinnery, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,595,251 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/879 with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17821 characterised by the analysis of the input signals only
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17823 Reference signals, e.g. ambient acoustic environment
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17853 of the filter
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17857 Geometric disposition, e.g. placement of microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17873 using a reference signal without an error signal, e.g. pure feedforward
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1282 Automobiles
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3016 Control strategies, e.g. energy minimization or intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3219 Geometry of the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3221 Headrests, seats or the like, for personal ANC systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3226 Sensor details, e.g. for producing a reference or error signal

Abstract

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a device for noise cancelling using a method of updating a noise cancelling distribution area. The device may include: a memory; a processor configured to: measure a location of a user'"'"'s head; measure an acoustic environment surrounding the user; determine active noise reduction controller configuration parameters for a noise cancelling distribution area; generate at least one active noise reduction control from the active noise reduction controller configuration parameters; and apply the at least one active noise reduction control creating the noise cancelling distribution area in a region around the user'"'"'s head or ear.

Claims

1. A method of updating a noise cancelling distribution area, the method comprising:

measuring a location of a user'"'"'s head;

measuring an acoustic environment surrounding the user;

determining active noise reduction controller configuration parameters for a noise cancelling distribution area;

generating at least one active noise reduction control from the active noise reduction controller configuration parameters; and

applying the at least one active noise reduction control creating the noise cancelling distribution area around the user'"'"'s ear.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a shift in the user'"'"'s head; and

when the shift is greater than a threshold, updating configuration parameters such that the user'"'"'s ears remain within the noise cancelling distribution area.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

using iterative closest point to track and determine a shift in the user'"'"'s head.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

tracking a planar axis connecting the user'"'"'s ears of the user'"'"'s head to determine shifts in the user'"'"'s head.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration parameters are filter parameters for the noise cancelling distribution area.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

using pose estimation to identify and track the location and an orientation of the users head.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

applying the produced signal to multiple speakers which are adjustable and can adjust as the user'"'"'s head adjusts accordingly.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

updating the configuration parameters at a specified rate.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

modifying the specified rate based upon movement of the location of the user'"'"'s head.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

modifying the specified rate based upon changes in the acoustic environment.

11. A device for noise cancelling using a method of updating a noise cancelling distribution area comprising:

a memory;

a processor configured to;

measure a location of a user'"'"'s head;

measure an acoustic environment surrounding the user;

determine active noise reduction controller configuration parameters for a noise cancelling distribution area;

generate at least one active noise reduction control from the active noise reduction controller configuration parameters; and

apply the at least one active noise reduction control creating the noise cancelling distribution area in a region around the user'"'"'s ear.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a shift in the user'"'"'s head; and

when the shift is greater than a threshold, update configuration parameters such that the user'"'"'s ears remain within the noise cancelling distribution area.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to:

use iterative closest point to track and determine a shift in the user'"'"'s head.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to:

track a planar axis connecting the user'"'"'s ears of the user'"'"'s head to determine shifts in the user'"'"'s head.

15. The device of claim 11 wherein the configuration parameters are filter parameters for the noise cancelling distribution area.

16. The device of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to:

use pose estimation to identify and track the location and an orientation of the users head.

17. The device of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to:

apply the produced signal to multiple speakers which are adjustable and can adjust as the user'"'"'s head adjusts.

18. The device of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to:

update the configuration parameters at a specified rate.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the processor is further configured to:

modify the specified rate based upon movement of the location of the user'"'"'s head.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein the processor is further configured to:

modify the specified rate based upon changes in the acoustic environment.