Pioneer Electronic Corporation

Yoshiro Kunugi

Akio Tokumo

Takeshi Sato

Toshikazu Yoshimi

Yoshio Sasaki

Shinjiro Kato

Makoto Odaka

Shinichi Suzuki

Masayuki Kato

Yoshiharu Ueki

Shozaburo Sakaguchi

Kazuyuki Tanaka

Shuuichi Mori

A sound field correcting system for correcting for mulitpath frequency-characteristic distortion in an acoustic reproducing system. In one embodiment, the level and delay of an original signal are adjusted and superposed on the original signal so as to obtain a signal which, when reproduced by a loudspeaker, yields a sound pattern at a listening point having a flat frequency characteristic. The delay adjustment is effected in accordance with a difference between the travel distances of direct and reflected sound waves to the listening point.

Sound field correction system

A sound field correcting system for correcting for multipath frequency-characteristic distortion in an acoustic reproducing system. In one embodiment, the level and delay of an original signal are adjusted and superposed on the original signal so as to obtain a signal which, when reproduced by a loudspeaker, yields a sound pattern at a listening point having a flat frequency characteristic. The delay adjustment is effected in accordance with a difference between the travel distances of direct and reflected sound waves to the listening point.

The acoustic transmission characteristics of a sound field, such as in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, are measured by placing microphones at the positions of ears of a dummy mannequin having a sound absorbing characteristic similar to that of a clothed adult human. The transmission characteristics are then corrected, such as with an automatic graphic equalizer, to provide optimized listening conditions inside the sound field for an actual listener. The use of the invention results in a listener's perception of completely natural sound.

Method and apparatus for measuring and correcting acoustic

An automatic sound field correcting system with graphic equalizer means to be provided in an audio signal supply line. A test signal such as a pink noise is radiated in the listening space and detected at a predetermined listening point to determine the detection frequency characteristic of the test signal, thereby to adjust the frequency characteristic of the graphic equalizer means. Thereafter, the frequency characteristic of the graphic equalized means is made equal to different band-pass filter characteristics, one after another, and each time the equalization is effected, the detected test signal is obtained through the grapic equalizer means for determination of the detected frequency characteristic of the test signal.

Automatic sound field correcting system

An automatic graphic equalizer for a sound system has circuitry for measuring the effect of the physical environment receiving a sound on the frequency characteristics of the sound, and for adjusting the characteristics of a graphic equalizer to compensate for distortions in the desired flat frequency response caused by the physical environment. The circuitry includes a pink noise generator supplying pink noise to the graphic equalizer during an initialization operation, the graphic equalizer being controlled by a controller to present a flat frequency characteristic. The equalizer output is sent to a speaker which supplies the pink noise as a sound signal to the selected environment. A microphone picks up the sound in the selected environment and converts it to an electrical signal which is supplied through an ALC amplifier to a frequency-variable band-pass filter to detect the signal level in each of the equalizer frequency bands. The level signals are smoothed in a level detector and digitized to be input to the controller which readjusts the graphic equalizer to compensate for distortions in the desired flat frequency response caused by the selected environment.

Automatic graphic equalizer

A sound field correcting device for use in a stereophonic system intended for vehicular use. Speakers are installed on opposite sides of both the front and rear seats of the vehicle. The number of persons seated in the vehicle is determined and applied to a correcting unit. When plural persons are seated in the vehicle, the sound pressure levels in the high-frequency range of loudspeakers is increased. Also, the sound pressure levels of the speakers can be corrected in accordance with the positions at which persons are seated in the vehicle.

Mobile sound field correcting device

An automatic gain control unit particularly adapted for vehicular use is disclosed. The ambient noise level inside the vehicle is detected, as is the level of the audio signal. A difference is formed between detection signals thus produced, and a frequency characteristic of a gain varying device, inserted in an audio signal path of the audio device, is varied according to this difference.

Automatic gain and frequency characteristic control unit in audio device

There is provided in a car-mounted audio system an operator control section, a display section and a mechanical deck section in a central console or dashboard unit, wherein other units are located in hideaway positions, the system being characterized in that, a built-in microphone and a microphone amplifier are provided at the central control apparatus, buffers are provided at the hideaway units, and a microphone signal bus line is incorporated in the signal line connection between the central control and the hideaway units to couple a common microphone output signal therebetween.

Car-mounted audio system

A mobile sound field correcting system for correcting an acoustic characteristic in a vehicle sound field formed by direct waves radiated from loudspeakers and reflected waves thereof providing satisfactory acoustic characteristics for different vehicles and different listening points within a vehicle. A first correcting means corrects a power spectrum of each loudspeaker in a frequency range above a frequency at which a decrease of starts of the power spectrum in a high-frequency range of each loudspeaker. Second correcting means corrects for irregularities in the frequency characteristic of each loudspeaker caused by interference of the direct waves with the reflected waves in a frequency lower than the drop-off frequency of this power spectrum.

An oscillator circuit adapted for use as a voltage controlled oscillator in which all of the transistors of the oscillator circuit are operated in non-saturated regions so that the minority carrier accumulation time does not affect the maximum operating frequency of the circuit. First and second current mirror circuits are coupled to opposed outputs of a differential amplifier circuit and are coupled to charge and discharge a capacitor with constant current in response to the states of the differential amplifier circuit. The differential amplifier circuit is provided with a hysteresis characteristic.

Oscillator having capacitor charged and discharged by current mirror

A pulse width modulation amplifier in which interchannel distortion is eliminated by making the pulse transition times different between different ones of the channels. Ramp carrier signals having different phases are applied to respective pulse width modulation comparators of the two channels. The ramp carrier signals are generated by applying the output of an oscillator directly to one of the pulse width modulation comparators while the other is generated through a phase delay circuit which provides constant phase relationship independent of the frequency of the output of the oscillator. The output of the oscillator is coupled to one input of a comparator which produces first and second output signals one of which is in a high state depending upon the relative potentials of the two inputs to the comparator. The outputs are coupled to respective constant current sources which charge and discharge a capacitor in accordance with the output state of the comparator. The output voltage from the capacitor is coupled through an integrator circuit to the second of the input terminals of the comparator.

Pulse width modulation amplifier

A preset lighting device in which the number of common input and output terminals is reduced and which does not respond to a duplicate switch activation state so that a previously-determined lighting state as maintained until a valid activation state is present. A lighting element is provided for each of plural input switches which are in turn coupled to corresponding input/output terminals. A latch circuit is provided for each lighting element to maintain the lighted state until reset occurs. First and second gate circuits detect a duplicate switching state and control the activation of the lighting elements accordingly.

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Saitama, Japan

Yoshiro Kunugi