Harman International Industries, Inc.

William N House

Bradley F Eid

Steven W Hutt

Ryan J Mihelich

Roger E Shively

Mark Justin Armitage

A directional loudspeaker provides an enhanced listening environment by producing an indirect sound field of greater amplitude than that of the direct sound field. The directional loudspeaker includes loudspeaker elements positioned to provide a listener located below the loudspeaker elements with an impression of sound spaciousness in a vehicle environment. The loudspeaker elements may include baffles or acoustic lenses to deflect the indirect field away from the path to the listener position. The loudspeaker may also be operated with windows open by channeling the indirect sound field through an acoustic waveguide and deflector to the listener. A sound processor is also provided to accept a sound input, create an indirect and direct sound field, output the sound fields to loudspeaker elements, and also may provide electronic enhancement effects such as multi-channel sound or sound parameter adjustment.

Directional loudspeaker to reduce direct sound

A sound processing system reduces the instances when only a center speaker is heard. The gain of a volume setting is adjusted for individual speakers in response to one or more input signals. The gain of the center speaker is attenuated in relation to the global volume setting. In addition or as an alternative, the gain of front and/or rear speakers is increased. A virtual center channel is generated for locations where the center speaker may not be heard.

Sound processing system using spatial imaging techniques

A sound reproduction unit comprises a central, head receiving portion and opposite first and second ends. The first and second ends have opposed front and back surfaces. A first acoustic transducer is mounted within the first end and a second acoustic transducer is mounted within the second end. First, second, third and fourth acoustically substantially transparent pathways are provided between the first transducer and the front surface of the first end, the first transducer and the back surface of the first end, the second transducer and the front surface of the second end, and between the second transducer and the back surface of the second end, respectively.

Dipole speaker headrests

A vehicle seatback audio controller includes an entertainment interface that receives an entertainment audio signal from entertainment audio source, and a telematics interface that receives a telematics audio signal from a telematics audio source. The controller has an output that provides either the telematics audio signal to a seatback speaker when the telematics audio source is active or the entertainment audio signal to the seatback speaker when the telematics audio source is inactive. The controller may include an accelerometer or a microphone that generates a vibration signal and/or a noise signal. A level detector may receive the vibration signal and/or a noise signal, and adjust a level of the telematics audio signal to the seatback speaker as a function of the vibration signal and/or a noise signal.

Seatback audio controller

A sound processing system reduces speaker distortion at high volume levels by attenuating the filter gain and/or tone of audio and mixed output signals. The sound processing system has one or more filters to attenuate the filter gain and tone in response to the high volume levels. The sound processing system also can attenuate the filter gain and tone in response to a sound pressure level, which may be provided by a microphone.

Sound processing system using distortion limiting techniques

A sound processing system adaptively mixes active matrix decoding and passive matrix processing of incoming audio signals. Mixed output signals are generated with active matrix decoding where the audio signals are stereo. Mixed output signals are generated with passive matrix processing where the audio signals are monaural. The sound processing system reduces the degree of active matrix decoding in the mixed output signals where the incoming audio signals are stereo and monaural. The sound processing system also generates virtual stereo signals from incoming audio signals having monaural signals. Mixed output signals are generated of the virtual stereo signals using active matrix decoding.

Sound processing system with degraded signal optimization

A mounting apparatus for attaching a device like an electro-dynamic loudspeaker to a mounting location in an automobile or other vehicle. The mounting apparatus employs bracket hardware that is either affixed to or integral with the loudspeaker that is to be mounted. The mounting apparatus can position the loudspeaker in a fixed angular orientation, or enable the angular orientation of the loudspeaker to be variable, as desired, to achieve the optimum performance of the loudspeaker.

Electro-dynamic loudspeaker mounting system

A seatback audio system having one or more speakers mounted in a surface of a seatback or a headrest. The speakers may be separated by a sound barrier to reduce cross-talk between the speakers. The surface may have a concave area where the speakers and the sound barrier are mounted. Alternatively, the surface may have two concave areas, and one speaker may be mounted in each concave area. The system may include a manual or an automated positioning system for one or both of the speakers. The system may also include a soft-cell waveguide having a plurality of tubes to direct the sound from one or both of the speakers. The seatback may include a backrest and a removable headrest, each including an electrical connector, where the one or more speakers are mounted to the headrest and the electrical connectors form a circuit when the headrest is mounted to the backrest.

Seatback audio system

A loudspeaker comprises a diaphragm having an outer perimeter, a voice coil, a frame for supporting the diaphragm, and a motor stator providing a magnetic field in which the voice coil is supported. Current through the voice coil reciprocates the voice coil and the diaphragm coupled thereto. Ribs extend outwardly at the perimeter of the diaphragm to mount the voice coil to the perimeter of the diaphragm. The motor stator includes at least one inner flux return providing slots through which the ribs extend between the perimeter of the diaphragm and the voice coil. Alternatively, a loudspeaker comprises a diaphragm having an outer perimeter and a central axis defining between them a relatively inner region of the diaphragm extending outwardly from the axis and a relatively outer region of the diaphragm extending inwardly from the perimeter, a voice coil, a frame for supporting the diaphragm, and a motor stator providing a magnetic field in which the voice coil is supported. Current through the voice coil reciprocates the voice coil and the diaphragm coupled thereto. Ribs extend outwardly from the inner region and inwardly from the outer region to support the voice coil between the inner and outer regions. The motor stator includes at least one inner and/or outer flux return providing slots through which the ribs extend.

Slotted diaphragm loudspeaker

Sound system

A returnless coil motor assembly comprising a voice coil, first and second magnets, the poles of the first and second magnets providing aligned, opposing lines of force in first and second opposite directions, a first spacer having a first face adjacent a pole of the first magnet and a second opposite face, a second spacer having a first face adjacent the like pole of the second magnet and a second opposite face, a third magnet oriented between the second faces of the first and second spacers, and the voice coil mounted in close proximity to the third magnet, the third magnet providing lines of force extending in a third direction generally transverse to both the first and second directions, and the voice coil having a direction of motion extending generally perpendicular to the third direction.

Transducer motor assembly

A transducer comprises a diaphragm including a perimeter, a motor for causing the diaphragm to vibrate in response to an electrical signal corresponding to program material to convert the electrical signal to motion of the diaphragm and thus to an audio reproduction of the electrical program material signal, and a surround and a frame for supporting the diaphragm from its perimeter to permit such motion. Additional diaphragm supports are provided on the frame and project from the frame toward the diaphragm. Additional compliances are provided on the diaphragm and are coupled to the additional diaphragm supports. The additional compliances are located adjacent the additional diaphragm supports.

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Bloomington, IN, United States of America

William N House