Harman International Industries, Inc.

Chris Ludwig

Riley Winton

Christopher Michael Trestain

David Mossington

Maxwell B Willis

Lars Goller

Jason Choi

Martin Olsen

Amin Einakian

Tomas DeLuna

Bradford Hamme

Morten Lydolf

Gorm H Jorgensen

Riley Iakovidis

Ilya Kiselev

Kyle David Kramer

Aleksei Mikhailov

Jonathan Carpenter

In at least one embodiment, a loudspeaker assembly including a first loudspeaker and a first acoustic lens is provided. The first loudspeaker is positioned on a first side of a headrest of a first vehicle seat for transmitting a first audio output toward one of a side pillar and a door of a vehicle. The first acoustic lens is coupled to the first loudspeaker and defining a first opening to enable the first audio output to pass from the first opening at a first predetermined angle. The first acoustic lens is positioned between the first loudspeaker and the one of the side pillar and the door of the vehicle.

Side-firing headrest loudspeaker with omnidirectional lens

An apparatus for providing a contrast mode and a front optimized mode for audio in a vehicle is provided. An audio controller is programmed to transmit first audio content in a first zone seating area and to transmit second audio content in a second zone seating area. The audio controller receives a first indication to transmit the first audio content in the first zone seating area and the second audio content in the second zone seating area in the contrast mode to provide an equal listening experience. The audio controller receives a second indication to transmit the first audio content in the first zone seating area and the second audio content in the second zone seating area in the front optimized mode to increase a quality of sound in the first zone seating area and to decrease a quality of sound in the second zone seating area.

System and method for sound zone experience optimization control

In some embodiments, methods and systems for combining a prerecorded performance with a live performance within a space (such as a vehicle) are disclosed. A first performance (which may be a prerecorded performance) may be started within the space, and a second performance (such as a live performance) may subsequently be initiated within the space as well. The second performance may be detected, and based upon the detection, one or more volume parameters of the first performance may be modified. One or more properties of the second performance may also be modified, and the modified first performance may then be combined with the modified second performance to create a combined performance.

Combining prerecorded and live performances in a vehicle

Systems and methods for managing content of a vehicle infotainment system are presented. In one example, one or more servers may activate and deactivate hardware components and software modules for vehicle infotainment systems to scale functionality and performance of the vehicle infotainment systems. The servers may receive upgrade and downgrade requests via a plurality of sources.

System and method for managing content of in vehicle infotainment systems

Methods and systems are provided for a portable speaker arranged in a vehicle. In one example, a system comprises a speaker configured to dock mechanically to a docking station in an area of a vehicle, wherein the speaker further comprises a removable battery.

Modular removable speaker system

A spatial infotainment rendering system may include at least one infotainment device configured to present information to a vehicle occupant traveling along a vehicle route at one of a plurality of infotainment locations within the vehicle and at least one spatial rendering processor. The processor may be configured to receive vehicle location and direction information of the vehicle along the vehicle route, receive event data indicative of an event having a potential to affect the vehicle route, and determine an event location based on event data. The processor may also be configured to select one of the infotainment locations based on the event location relative to the vehicle location and direction to present event information to the vehicle occupant relating to the event at a location spatially related to the event location relative to the vehicle route.

Spatial infotainment rendering system for vehicles

A loudspeaker assembly for a vehicle includes a loudspeaker mounted in the vehicle, the loudspeaker having a first side facing an interior of the vehicle and an opposed second side. The loudspeaker is configured to generate an acoustical signal having a front wave directed into the interior of the vehicle and a rear wave directed away from the interior of the vehicle. An acoustic coupler is disposed on the second side of the loudspeaker and extending toward an exterior of the vehicle, the acoustic coupler arranged to transmit the rear wave to the exterior of the vehicle such that the acoustical signal is audible in the interior of the vehicle and at the exterior of the vehicle.

Loudspeaker assembly for providing audio external to a vehicle

Systems and methods for generating sounds in a vehicle or other location are presented. In one example, a single user input may be a basis for adjusting a sound level and a frequency of occurrence of a sound that is stored in controller memory and that is output via one or more speakers.

Systems and methods for adjusting activity control parameters

In at least one embodiment, a system for providing an immersive audio experience at an entertainment venue is provided. The system includes at least one loudspeaker and a server. The at least one loudspeaker is attached to the entertainment venue. The server is associated with the entertainment venue and is programmed to communicate with a mobile device associated with a vehicle occupant and to enable access to the at least one loudspeaker to position the at least one loudspeaker in a vehicle in response to the mobile device being authenticated with the server.

System and method for providing an immersive drive-in experience

Systems and methods for generating sound elements in a vehicle are present. In one example, a method comprises selecting a sound element, the sound element corresponding to a natural environment; and broadcasting the sound element via one or more speakers of a vehicle. In this way, a sound environment may be provided to a vehicle user based on the at least one vehicle state.

Systems and methods for providing nature sounds

The present disclosure relates to loudspeaker devices and configurations. In at least one embodiment, a loudspeaker includes a housing structure having a multi-sided cross-sectional profile, a first speaker configuration coupled to a first face of the housing structure, and a second speaker configuration coupled to a second face of the housing structure. The first face of the housing structure and the second face of the housing structure may be adjacent to each other, and the first face of the housing structure and the second face of the housing structure may be substantially planar, in one or more examples. The loudspeaker may further comprise a controller configured to rotate the housing structure. For example, the housing structure may be rotated about a central axis of the housing structure. Further, the housing may be an elongated triangular structure in at least one example.

Rotating loudspeaker

An in-vehicle noise-cancellation system may optimize far-end user experience. The noise-cancellation system may incorporate real-time acoustic input from the vehicle, as well microphones from a telecommunications device. Audio signals from small, embedded microphones mounted in the vehicle can be processed and mixed into an outgoing telecom signal to effectively cancel acoustic energy from one or more unwanted sources in the vehicle. Multiple microphones may be mounted to headrests and spaced apart in one or more directions to give an indication of the direction of incoming sound from one or more listening zones so that sounds from certain zones may be suppressed. Unwanted noise captured by the embedded microphones may be used as direct inputs to the noise-cancellation system. As direct inputs, these streams can, therefore, be cancelled from the outgoing telecom signal, thus providing the user's far-end correspondent with much higher signal-to-noise ratio, call quality, and speech intelligibility.

Acoustical in-cabin noise cancellation system for far-end telecommunications

The present disclosure relates to vehicle speaker systems and configurations. In one embodiment, a vehicle headrest is provided including a head support, loudspeakers, and loudspeaker supports. The loudspeaker supports can position and direct the loudspeakers in at least one of a retracted and extended position.

Vehicle headrest with speakers and control for adaptive spatial performance

Embodiments are disclosed for providing voice calls to users of a motor vehicle. As an example, a method comprises: responsive to a voice call, routing the voice call to at least one phone zone of a plurality of phone zones based on at least one of a user input and a source of the voice call, the plurality of phone zones included in a cabin of a motor vehicle. In this way, sonic interference with a voice call may be reduced, while a main system audio may continue to play for unselected phone zones.

Growing community of inventors

Birmingham, MI, United States of America

Chris Ludwig