Vehicle comprising a vehicle cabin delimiting an acoustic space

Abstract

A vehicle (1) comprising a vehicle cabin (2) defining, in a reference state, an acoustic space having certain acoustically perceptible properties; a device (3) for outputting an audio signal (4) in the vehicle cabin (2), characterized in that the device (3) for outputting an audio signal (4) in the vehicle cabin (2) comprises: - audio output means (6) configured to output an audio signal (4) in the vehicle cabin (2); - acoustic impression modifying means (8) configured to generate an acoustic space modifying signal (9) allowing to modify the acoustically perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle cabin (2) with respect to the reference state.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a vehicle cabin defining in a reference state an acoustic space having specific acoustically perceptible properties, the vehicle comprising a device for outputting an audio signal in the vehicle cabin. BACKGROUND

[0002] It is generally known from the prior art a corresponding vehicle comprising a vehicle cabin defining in a reference state an acoustic space having specific acoustically perceptible properties, the vehicle comprising a device for outputting or reproducing an audio signal in the vehicle cabin (for example, implemented by a vehicle audio system).

[0003] The acoustic perception of the audio signal outputted or reproduced in the vehicle cabin (the vehicle cabin defining in a reference state an acoustic space having specific acoustically perceptible properties, for example, in an unoccupied state) is essentially determined by the characteristics of the sound reverberation within the vehicle cabin and by the acoustic space defined by the vehicle cabin, respectively.

[0004] In view of the above, there is a continuous need to technically enhance the acoustic perception of the audio signal outputted or reproduced in the vehicle cabin by a corresponding device for outputting or reproducing an audio signal in the vehicle cabin. Such enhancement is specifically directed to a simple and reliable technical solution for individually modifying the properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle cabin. SUMMARY

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle comprising a device for outputting or reproducing an audio signal in the vehicle cabin which allows to enhance the acoustic perception of the audio signal outputted or reproduced in the vehicle cabin.

[0006] This object is achieved by a vehicle according to claim 1. The claims dependent on claim 1 relate to possible embodiments of the vehicle.

[0007] A first aspect of the present invention relates to a vehicle, i.e. in particular a passenger vehicle, such as a car, a truck, a van, etc., comprising a vehicle cabin defining in a reference state an acoustic space having specific acoustically perceptible properties with respect to a person in the vehicle cabin (the term "person" generally refers to any person in the vehicle cabin, for example, such as a driver or a co-driver); as will become more clear from the following, the acoustically perceptible properties of the acoustic space are mainly defined by the reverberation within the vehicle cabin. The vehicle cabin typically defines a coherent acoustic space.

[0008] The auditory perceptibility of an acoustic space is typically (basically) defined by the spatial dimensions (i.e., especially volume) of the vehicle compartment. Therefore, the structural components that spatially define the vehicle compartment (such as parts of the vehicle body) typically define the acoustic space. However, structural components located within the vehicle compartment (such as seats, trim elements, etc.) typically also define both the auditory perceptibility of the acoustic space and the acoustic space itself.

[0009] A reference state can refer to a state in which a vehicle compartment is unoccupied, particularly under specific physical conditions, such as at a specific temperature and / or pressure within the vehicle compartment. In a reference state, the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment possesses specific audibly perceptible properties, such as specific reverberation. A reference state can specifically refer to the state in which the acoustic properties of the (unoccupied) vehicle compartment are measured, or parameters related to the acoustic parameters of the (unoccupied) vehicle compartment (e.g., the vehicle compartment's interior impulse response, reverberation, etc.). Therefore, a reference state can refer to the tuning state or tuned state of a vehicle compartment, in which tuning is performed or has been performed on devices for outputting audio signals (the term "output" should be understood as outputting audio signals as sound or playback) within the vehicle compartment.

[0010] The reference state can specifically refer to the state in which the acoustic impression modification device of the equipment is not in use.

[0011] The vehicle includes equipment (hereinafter referred to as "equipment") for outputting and / or reproducing audio signals (e.g., a piece of music) within the vehicle compartment. The equipment may be implemented as a vehicle audio system or as part of a vehicle audio system.

[0012] The corresponding audio signal can be provided from an audio signal source, such as a data carrier device (e.g., a USB stick), a wireless device (e.g., an FM radio), a network device (e.g., a web application (application, browser, etc.)), or a mobile device (e.g., a smartphone, smartwatch, tablet, laptop, etc.). Therefore, the device can be connected to or be connected to the corresponding audio signal source.

[0013] The device includes at least one audio output device configured to output and / or reproduce at least one audio signal (e.g., a piece of music) in the vehicle compartment. The at least one audio output device typically includes one or more audio output elements, such as speakers. Each audio output element may define an acoustic channel for the at least one audio output device. Each audio output element may be assigned to a specific location or space in the vehicle compartment, i.e., particularly to a specific seat. The one or more audio output elements may typically be arranged or positioned to output a corresponding audio signal in the vehicle compartment. The one or more audio output elements may be arranged or positioned at and / or within structural elements of the vehicle (e.g., dashboard, pillars, doors, roof, etc.). Notably, the one or more audio output elements and the at least one audio output device may each be standard components of a vehicle audio system implemented by the device. Therefore, at least structurally, the at least one audio output device of the device may be a standard audio output device for a vehicle audio system.

[0014] The device also includes a hardware and / or software-implemented acoustic impression modification device configured to generate an acoustic space modification signal, thereby allowing modification of the audible perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment specifically with respect to a reference state. Therefore, at least one acoustic impression modification device is configured to generate an acoustic space modification signal that, when output in the vehicle compartment via at least one audio output device, allows for the deliberate modification of the audible perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment with respect to a reference state. Thus, the corresponding acoustic space modification signal allows for the deliberate modification of the audible perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment with respect to a reference state. In other words, when the corresponding acoustic space modification signal is output or has been output in the vehicle compartment, the audible perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment differ from the audible perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment in the reference state. As indicated above, the different audible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment, generated by outputting a corresponding acoustic space modification signal in the vehicle compartment, can be specifically generated by the different reverberations or different reverberation characteristics in the vehicle compartment that have been generated by outputting a corresponding acoustic space modification signal in the vehicle compartment.

[0015] Therefore, the device allows audio signals to be output or reproduced in the vehicle compartment, and can selectively enhance (i.e., in particular modify) the acoustic perception of the audio signals output or reproduced in the vehicle compartment.

[0016] As will become clearer from the following text, an acoustic space modification signal can be an echo signal that allows for the artificial modification of the echo properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment with respect to a reference state.

[0017] The acoustic spatial modification signal can be output alone or in combination with other audio signals. Therefore, the corresponding acoustic spatial modification signal can also be mixed with an audio signal (e.g., a piece of music) that can be output or output in the vehicle compartment, such that a mixed audio signal comprising one or more original audio signals and one or more acoustic spatial modification signals is generated and output in the vehicle compartment.

[0018] The acoustic impression modification device can be configured to modify the audible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment from a reference state to a target state. The target state can generally be understood as a state in which the audible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment differ from the audible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment with respect to the reference state.

[0019] The target state or a target state may specifically refer to a particular auditory perceptible property of an acoustic space that differs from the auditory perceptible property of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment in the reference state. Therefore, the acoustic impression modification device allows for alteration of the auditory perceptible property of the vehicle compartment compared to the reference state, which allows for the generation of acoustic impressions of a person not in the vehicle compartment but in a different acoustic environment.

[0020] For example, a target state can specifically refer to a particular acoustic environment, particularly a specific part of a particular building, and its specific auditory perceptible properties. Therefore, an acoustic impression modification device allows for alteration of the auditory perceptible properties of a vehicle compartment compared to a reference state. This allows for the generation of an acoustic impression of a person not in the vehicle compartment but in a specific part of a particular acoustic environment (such as in a particular building (e.g., a church, opera house, music club, etc.) and / or in a specific part of a particular building (e.g., an orchestra pit, soundbox, rehearsal room, etc.)). However, a particular acoustic environment can also refer to a specific environment within a particular building, and can also refer to a specific environment in nature, such as in a cave, a desert, or a forest.

[0021] The vehicle may include a storage device, typically a data storage device such as a memory, configured to store, or store, at least one predefined audible property of a target state, thereby allowing the generation of an acoustic space modification signal that modifies the audible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment in order to generate the corresponding target state. Therefore, an acoustic impression modification device can use one or more audible properties of at least one target state stored in a corresponding storage device to generate one or more modification signals, thereby allowing modification of the audible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment in order to generate or obtain the corresponding target state. This saves computational resources for the acoustic impression modification device, because the device can use the stored audible properties from the storage device to generate the corresponding target state, making it unnecessary to generate the audible properties themselves.

[0022] At least one auditory perceptible property of a target state can be stored in a storage device in a categorized manner (i.e., by assigned categories). The corresponding category may refer to parameters of a specific acoustic environment, such as parameters of a specific building, for example, building-related parameters (such as building time, building location, etc.), site-related parameters (such as opera house, concert hall, music club, etc.), which can be selected by a person or generally by the user to select the desired target state. For example, a person can select parameters (such as building time, building location) to select, for example, the acoustic environment of a 12th-century French church as the target state, such that one or more auditory perceptible properties of the corresponding French church are available or provided to the person for selection via a user interface (e.g., a touchscreen).

[0023] The corresponding storage device may be structurally assignable to or assigned to the acoustic impression modification device. However, it is also conceivable that the storage device or corresponding storage device may only be functionally assignable to or assigned to the acoustic impression modification device. In this case, the vehicle may include a communication device to allow communication with an external data storage device that stores at least one auditory perceptible property of a target state and associated acoustic space modification signals, thereby allowing modification of the auditory perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment to generate the corresponding target state via a wired or wireless communication link. The corresponding communication link can generally be established via a wired or wireless communication connection. Exemplary wireless communication connections are Bluetooth connections, Wi-Fi connections, etc.

[0024] As indicated above, the acoustic space modification signal can be an echo signal that allows modification of the reverberation properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment, particularly with respect to a reference state. Therefore, the corresponding echo signal can add reverberation to an audio signal (e.g., a piece of music) to be output in the vehicle compartment via at least one audio output device. Thus, the corresponding echo signal allows for the artificial modification of the audible perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment with respect to a reference state by artificially altering the reverberation properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment, i.e., by artificially increasing the reverberation properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment (adding reverberation). Therefore, at least one acoustic impression modification device can be configured to add reverberation to an audio signal to be output in the vehicle compartment via at least one audio output device.

[0025] Adding reverberation to an audio signal or audio signal component generally means increasing the reverberation level of the audio signal (artificially, especially through signal processing that adds reverberation) relative to a reference reverberation level, particularly the original reverberation level of the audio signal.

[0026] As indicated above, at least one audio output device may include multiple audio output channels, each audio output channel allowing the output of an audio signal or an audio signal component of a specific audio signal within the vehicle compartment. Thus, the acoustic impression modification device may be configured to add a first reverberation amount to or from the audio signal or audio signal component output through the first audio output channel and a second reverberation amount to or from the audio signal or audio signal component output through the second audio output channel. In other words, different acoustic channels of at least one audio output device may output audio signals or audio signal components with different reverberations, which can cause a multidimensional temporal and / or spatial resolution modification of the audible perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment.

[0027] The device may also include at least one audio receiving device configured to receive sounds present in the vehicle compartment, such as noise, particularly sounds different from audio signals output in the vehicle compartment. The at least one audio receiving device is specifically configured to receive sound from audibly perceptible internal and / or external sound sources within the vehicle compartment. For example, the at least one audio receiving device may be implemented as a microphone device. Examples of sounds that can be received or are received by the at least one audio receiving device are human speech, road sounds, engine sounds, etc. In other words, the term "sound" typically does not refer to audio signals that will be output or are output in the vehicle compartment.

[0028] At least one audio receiving device typically includes one or more audio receiving elements, such as a microphone. Each audio receiving element may be assigned to a specific location or space within the vehicle cabin, i.e., particularly to at least one specific seat. The one or more audio receiving elements may be arranged or positioned at and / or within structural elements of the vehicle (e.g., dashboard, pillars, doors, headliner, etc.) to receive audibly perceptible sound within the vehicle cabin. Notably, the one or more audio receiving elements and at least one audio receiving device may each be standard components of a vehicle audio system implemented by the device. Therefore, at least from a structural perspective, at least one audio receiving device of the device may be a standard audio receiving device for a vehicle audio system.

[0029] The acoustic impression modification device can also be configured to add reverberation to the sound received by at least one audio receiving device. Adding reverberation to the received sound can significantly improve the effect of modifying the acoustic space in the vehicle compartment because it can not only modify the acoustic space in the vehicle compartment by processing (especially by adding reverberation) the audio signal, but also receive and process (especially by adding reverberation) all other kinds of sounds present in the vehicle compartment. Adding reverberation to the received sound means increasing (especially by signal processing) the reverberation level of the received sound relative to a reference reverberation level, especially the original reverberation level of the received sound.

[0030] Therefore, at least one audio output device can also be configured to output the received sound present in the vehicle compartment with added reverberation.

[0031] Therefore, the corresponding sound correction signal can also be mixed with the received sound that can be output or output in the vehicle compartment, so that a mixed audio signal including the received sound and the sound correction signal is generated and output in the vehicle compartment. The corresponding mixed audio signal may also include the audio signal that will be output or output in the vehicle compartment.

[0032] The device may also include at least one hardware and / or software-implemented suppression device configured to suppress unwanted sounds in the vehicle compartment, particularly by receiving an audio signal that can be output or output in the vehicle compartment during processing via at least one audio output device and / or by receiving acoustic feedback generated by sound present in the vehicle compartment that can be output or output in the vehicle compartment during processing via at least one audio output device. Therefore, unwanted sounds in the vehicle compartment can be suppressed, particularly by receiving an audio signal that can be output or output in the vehicle compartment during processing via at least one audio output device and / or by receiving acoustic feedback generated by sound present in the vehicle compartment that can be output or output in the vehicle compartment during processing via at least one audio output device. Suppression of unwanted sounds can be performed at dynamic or static suppression levels ranging from 100% (complete suppression) to 0% (no suppression). Suppressing the signal of unwanted sounds may require separating the unwanted sound signal from the acoustic signal that will be output in the vehicle compartment. The suppression device may be implemented as or include one or more suitable filter devices.

[0033] Suppressing unwanted sounds may require identifying and / or extracting the corresponding unwanted sounds from the acoustic signals to be output into the vehicle compartment. Therefore, a suppression device can be configured to identify and / or extract the corresponding sounds to be suppressed from the acoustic signals to be output into the vehicle compartment. This identification and / or extraction can be achieved by analyzing the acoustic properties (e.g., spectrum) of the sound with respect to acoustic properties (e.g., a specific frequency range) that can be assigned to the sound and / or distinguished from acoustic signals that do not contain sound (e.g., contain human speech, musical instrument sounds, etc.). Once identified and / or extracted in the appropriate manner, the sound can be suppressed as specified above.

[0034] A second aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus for outputting audio signals in a vehicle, particularly a vehicle according to a first aspect of the invention, within the vehicle compartment. The apparatus comprises: at least one audio output device configured to output audio signals within the vehicle compartment; and at least one acoustic impression modification device configured to generate an acoustic space modification signal, thereby allowing modification of the audible perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment with respect to a reference state.

[0035] All notes relating to the vehicle of the first aspect of the invention, with necessary modifications, also apply to the device of the second aspect of the invention.

[0036] A third aspect of the invention relates to a method for outputting an audio signal in a vehicle compartment, the vehicle compartment defining an acoustic space with specific audible properties in a reference state. The method includes the step of generating an acoustic space modification signal via an acoustic impression modification device, thereby allowing modification of the audible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment with respect to the reference state. The method may further include outputting the generated acoustic space modification signal in the vehicle compartment or a vehicle compartment to artificially modify the audible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment with respect to the reference state.

[0037] All notes relating to the vehicle of the first aspect of the invention, with necessary modifications, also apply to the method of the third aspect of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0038] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the only drawing shows a schematic diagram of a vehicle according to the exemplary embodiments.

[0039] The only accompanying drawing shows a vehicle 1, for example, a passenger vehicle, according to an exemplary embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0040] Vehicle 1 includes a vehicle compartment 2, which, in a reference state, defines an acoustic space having specific auditory perceptible properties with respect to the acoustic perception of a person (not shown) in the vehicle compartment 2. Vehicle compartment 2 typically defines a coherent acoustic space.

[0041] The reference state can refer to the unoccupied state of vehicle compartment 2, particularly under specific physical conditions, such as a specific temperature and / or pressure within vehicle compartment 2. In the reference state, the acoustic space defined by vehicle compartment 2 possesses specific audibly perceptible properties, such as specific reverberation. The reference state can specifically refer to the state in which the acoustic properties of the (unoccupied) vehicle compartment 2 are measured, or parameters related to the acoustic parameters of the (unoccupied) vehicle compartment 2 (e.g., the vehicle compartment's interior impulse response, reverberation, etc.). Therefore, the reference state can refer to the tuning state or tuned state of vehicle compartment 2, in which tuning of the device 3 for outputting audio signals 4 within vehicle compartment 2 is performed or has been performed.

[0042] The vehicle includes a device 3 for outputting and / or reproducing an audio signal 4 (e.g., a piece of music) in the vehicle compartment 2. The device 3 may be implemented as a vehicle audio system or as part of a vehicle audio system.

[0043] The corresponding audio signal 4 can be provided from an audio signal source 5, such as a data carrier device (e.g., a USB stick), a wireless device (e.g., an FM radio), a network device (e.g., a web application (application, browser, etc.)), or a mobile device (e.g., a smartphone, smartwatch, tablet, laptop, etc.). Therefore, the device 3 can be connected to or be connected to the corresponding audio signal source 5.

[0044] The device 3 includes at least one audio output device 6 configured to output and / or reproduce at least one audio signal 4 (e.g., a piece of music) in the vehicle compartment 2. The audio output device 6 includes one or more audio output elements 7, such as speakers. Each audio output element 7 may define an acoustic channel for the audio output device 6. Each audio output element 7 may be assigned to a specific location or space in the vehicle compartment 2, i.e., particularly to a specific seat. One or more audio output elements 7 are typically arranged or positioned to output a corresponding audio signal 4 in the vehicle compartment 2. One or more audio output elements 7 may be arranged or positioned at and / or within structural elements (not shown) of the vehicle 1 (e.g., dashboard, pillars, doors, roof, etc.). Notably, the one or more audio output elements 7 and the audio output device 6 may be standard components of a vehicle audio system implemented by the device 3. Therefore, at least from a structural perspective, the audio output device 6 of the device 3 may be a standard audio output device for a vehicle audio system.

[0045] The device 3 also includes an acoustic impression modification device 8 implemented in hardware and / or software, configured to generate an acoustic space modification signal 9, thereby allowing modification of the audible perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2 with respect to a reference state. Therefore, the acoustic impression modification device 8 is configured to generate an acoustic space modification signal 9, which, when output in the vehicle compartment 2 via the audio output device 6, allows for the deliberate modification of the audible perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2 with respect to a reference state. Thus, the corresponding acoustic space modification signal 9 allows for the deliberate modification of the audible perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2 with respect to a reference state. In other words, when the corresponding acoustic space modification signal 9 is output or has been output in the vehicle compartment 2, the audible perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2 differ from the audible perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2 in the reference state. As indicated above, the different audible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2, generated by outputting the corresponding acoustic space modification signal 9 in the vehicle compartment 2, can be specifically generated by the different reverberations or different reverberation characteristics in the vehicle compartment 2 that have been generated by outputting the corresponding acoustic space modification signal 9 in the vehicle compartment 2.

[0046] Therefore, the device 3 allows the output or reproduction of audio signal 4 in the vehicle compartment 2, and can selectively enhance (i.e., in particular modify) the acoustic perception of the audio signal 4 output or reproduced in the vehicle compartment 2.

[0047] As will become clearer from the following text, the acoustic space modification signal 9 can be an echo signal that allows for the artificial modification of the echo properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2 with respect to the reference state.

[0048] The acoustic spatial modification signal 9 can be output alone or in combination with other audio signals 4. Therefore, the corresponding acoustic spatial modification signal 9 can also be mixed with an audio signal 4 (e.g., a piece of music) that can be output or output in the vehicle compartment 2, so that a mixed audio signal including one or more original audio signals 4 and one or more acoustic spatial modification signals 9 is generated and output in the vehicle compartment 2.

[0049] The acoustic impression modification device 8 can be configured to modify the audible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2 from a reference state to a target state. The target state can generally be understood as a state in which the audible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2 are different from the audible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2 in the reference state.

[0050] Therefore, the target state or a target state can refer to a specific auditory perceptible property of an acoustic space that differs from the auditory perceptible property of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2 in the reference state. Thus, the acoustic impression modification device 8 allows for alteration of the auditory perceptible property of the vehicle compartment 2 compared to the reference state, which allows for the generation of an acoustic impression of a person not in the vehicle compartment 2 but in a different acoustic environment.

[0051] For example, the target state can specifically refer to a particular acoustic environment, particularly a specific part of a particular building, and its specific auditory perceptibility properties. Therefore, the acoustic impression modification device 8 allows for alteration of the auditory perceptibility properties of the vehicle compartment 2 compared to a reference state. This allows for the generation of an acoustic impression of a person not in the vehicle compartment 2 but in a specific part of a particular acoustic environment (such as in a particular building (e.g., a church, opera house, music club, etc.) and / or in a specific part of a particular building (e.g., an orchestra pit, soundbox, rehearsal room, etc.)). However, a particular acoustic environment can also refer to a specific environment within a particular building, and can also refer to a specific environment in nature, such as in a cave, a desert, or a forest.

[0052] Vehicle 1 may include a storage device 11, typically a data storage device such as a memory, configured to store, or store, at least one predefined audible property of a target state and associated acoustic space modification signals 9, thereby allowing modification of the audible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2 to generate the corresponding target state. Therefore, the acoustic impression modification device 8 can use one or more audible properties of at least one target state stored in the corresponding storage device 11 and associated acoustic space modification signals 9 to generate one or more modification signals 9, thereby allowing modification of the audible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 1 to generate the corresponding target state. This saves computational resources for the acoustic impression modification device 8, as it can use the stored acoustic space modification signals 9 from the storage device 11 to generate the corresponding target state, making it unnecessary for the acoustic impression modification device 8 to generate such acoustic space modification signals 9 in practice.

[0053] At least one audible property of a target state and its associated acoustic space modification signal 9 can be stored in storage device 11 in a categorized manner (i.e., by assigned categories). The corresponding category may refer to parameters of a specific acoustic environment, such as parameters of a specific building, for example, building-related parameters (such as building time, building location, etc.), site-related parameters (such as opera house, concert hall, music club, etc.), which can be selected by a person or generally by a user to select a desired target state. For example, a person can select parameters (such as building time, building location) to select, for example, the acoustic environment of a 12th-century French church as the target state, such that one or more audible properties of the corresponding French church and its associated acoustic space modification signal 9 are available or provided to the person for selection via a user interface (e.g., a touchscreen).

[0054] The corresponding storage device 11 may be structurally designated or assigned to the acoustic impression modification device 8. However, it is also conceivable that the storage device or the corresponding storage device 11 may only be functionally designated or assigned to the acoustic impression modification device 8. In this case, the vehicle 1 may include a communication device (not shown) to allow communication with an external data storage device 11 that stores at least one audible property of a target state and an associated acoustic space modification signal 9, thereby allowing modification of the audible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2 to generate the corresponding target state via a wired or wireless communication link. The corresponding communication link can generally be established via a wired or wireless communication connection. Exemplary wireless communication connections are Bluetooth connections, Wi-Fi connections, etc.

[0055] As indicated above, the acoustic space modification signal 9 can be an echo signal, allowing modification of the echo properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2, particularly with respect to a reference state. Therefore, the corresponding echo signal can add echo to the audio signal 4 (e.g., a piece of music) to be output in the vehicle compartment 2 via the audio output device 6. Thus, the corresponding echo signal allows for artificial modification of the audible perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2 with respect to a reference state by artificially altering the echo properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2, i.e., by artificially increasing the echo properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2 (adding echo). Therefore, the acoustic impression modification device 8 can be configured to add echo to the audio signal 4 to be output in the vehicle compartment 2 via at least one audio output device 6.

[0056] Adding reverberation to audio signal 4 or an audio signal component means artificially increasing (especially through signal processing of audio signal 4) the reverberation level of audio signal 4 with respect to a reference reverberation level, particularly the original reverberation level of audio signal 4.

[0057] As indicated above, the audio output device 6 may include multiple audio output channels, each allowing the output of an audio signal 4 or an audio signal component of a specific audio signal 4 within the vehicle compartment 2. Thus, the acoustic impression modification device 8 can be configured to add a first reverberation amount to or from the audio signal 4 or audio signal component output through the first audio output channel and a second reverberation amount to or from the audio signal 4 or audio signal component output through the second audio output channel. In other words, different acoustic channels of the audio output device 6 can output audio signals 4 or audio signal components with different reverberations, which can cause a multidimensional temporal and / or spatial resolution modification of the audible perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2.

[0058] The device 3 may include an audio receiver 12 configured to receive sounds present in the vehicle compartment 2, particularly sounds different from the audio signal 4 output in the vehicle compartment 2. The audio receiver 12 is specifically configured to receive sounds from audibly perceptible internal and / or external sound sources within the vehicle compartment 2. Examples of such sounds that can be received or are received by the audio receiver 12 include human speech, road sounds, engine sounds, etc. In other words, the term "sound" generally does not refer to the audio signal 4 that will be output or is output in the vehicle compartment 2.

[0059] The audio receiving device 12 includes one or more audio receiving elements 13, such as microphones. Each audio receiving element 13 may be assigned to a specific location or space within the vehicle compartment 2, i.e., particularly to at least one specific seat. The one or more audio receiving elements 13 may be arranged or located at and / or within structural elements of the vehicle 1 (e.g., dashboard, pillars, doors, roof, etc.) to receive audibly perceptible sounds within the vehicle compartment 2. Notably, the one or more audio receiving elements 13 and the audio receiving device 12 may each be standard components of a vehicle audio system implemented by the device 3. Therefore, at least from a structural perspective, the audio receiving device 12 of the device 3 may be a standard audio receiving device for a vehicle audio system.

[0060] The acoustic impression modification device 8 can also be configured to add reverberation to the sound received by the audio receiving device 12. Adding reverberation to the received sound can significantly improve the effect of modifying the acoustic space in the vehicle compartment 2, because not only can the audio signal 4 be modified (particularly by adding reverberation) with respect to the acoustic space in the vehicle compartment 2, but also all other kinds of sounds present in the vehicle compartment 2 can be received and processed (particularly by adding reverberation) with respect to the acoustic space in the vehicle compartment 2. Adding reverberation to the received sound means artificially increasing (particularly by processing the received sound signal) the reverberation level of the received sound with respect to a reference reverberation level, particularly the original reverberation level of the received sound.

[0061] Therefore, the audio output device 6 can also be configured to output the received sound present in the vehicle compartment 2 with added reverberation.

[0062] Therefore, the corresponding sound correction signal 9 can also be mixed with the received sound that can be output or output in the vehicle compartment 2, so that a mixed audio signal including the received sound and the sound correction signal 9 is generated and output in the vehicle compartment 2. The corresponding mixed audio signal may also include the audio signal 4 that will be output or output in the vehicle compartment 2.

[0063] The device 3 may also include a hardware and / or software-implemented suppression device 14 configured to suppress unwanted sounds in the vehicle compartment 2, particularly by receiving an audio signal 4 that can be output or output in the vehicle compartment 2 via the audio output device 6 during processing and / or by receiving acoustic feedback generated by sounds present in the vehicle compartment 2 that can be output or output in the vehicle compartment 2 via the audio output device 6 during processing. Therefore, unwanted sounds in the vehicle compartment 2 can be suppressed, particularly by receiving an audio signal 4 that can be output or output in the vehicle compartment 2 via the audio output device 6 during processing and / or by receiving acoustic feedback generated by sounds present in the vehicle compartment 2 that can be output or output in the vehicle compartment 2 via the audio output device 6 during processing. Suppression of unwanted sounds can be performed at dynamic or static suppression levels ranging from 100% (complete suppression) to 0% (no suppression). Suppressing the unwanted sound signal may require separating the unwanted sound signal from the acoustic signal 4 that will be output in the vehicle compartment 2. The suppression device 14 may be implemented as or include one or more suitable filter devices.

[0064] Suppressing unwanted sounds may require identifying and / or extracting the corresponding unwanted sounds from the acoustic signal 4 that will be output into the vehicle compartment 2. Therefore, the suppression device 14 can be configured to identify and / or extract the corresponding sounds that will be suppressed from the acoustic signal 4 that will be output into the vehicle compartment 2. This identification and / or extraction can be achieved by analyzing the acoustic properties (e.g., spectrum) of the sound with respect to acoustic properties (e.g., a specific frequency range) that can be assigned to the sound and / or distinguished from acoustic signals 4 that do not contain sound (e.g., contain human speech, musical instrument sounds, etc.). Once identified and / or extracted in the appropriate manner, the sound can be suppressed as specified above.

[0065] The device allows for the implementation of a method for outputting an audio signal 4 in a vehicle compartment 2, which, in a reference state, defines an acoustic space with specific audible properties. The method includes the step of generating an acoustic space modification signal 9 via an acoustic impression modification device 8, thereby allowing modification of the audible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2 with respect to the reference state. The method may also include outputting the generated acoustic space modification signal 9 into the vehicle compartment 2 to artificially modify the audible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment 2 with respect to the reference state.

Claims

1. A vehicle (1), comprising: Vehicle compartment (2), which defines an acoustic space with specific auditory perceptible properties in a reference state; Device (3) for outputting audio signals (4) in the vehicle compartment (2), wherein the device (3) for outputting audio signals (4) in the vehicle compartment (2) comprises: - Audio output device (6), the audio output device being configured to output audio signals (4) in the vehicle compartment (2); - Acoustic impression modification device (8), which is configured to generate an acoustic space modification signal (9) thereby allowing modification of the auditory perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment (2) with respect to a reference state; Its features The vehicle also includes at least one audio receiver (12), which is configured to receive sounds present in the vehicle compartment (2) that are different from the audio signals (4) output in the vehicle compartment (2); wherein The acoustic impression modification device (8) is configured to add reverberation to the received sound present in the vehicle compartment (2); wherein The at least one audio output device (6) is configured to output received sound present in the vehicle compartment (2) with added reverberation.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic impression modification device (8) is configured to modify the auditory perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment (2) from the reference state to the target state.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the target state refers to a specific auditory perceptible property of an acoustic space that is different from the auditory perceptible property of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment (2) in the reference state.

4. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the target state refers to a specific auditory perceptible property of a particular acoustic environment.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, comprising a storage device (11) configured to store at least one auditory perceptible property of a target state and associated modification signals, thereby allowing modification of the auditory perceptible property of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment (2) to generate a corresponding target state.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the modification signal (9) is an echo signal that allows modification of the echo properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment (2) with respect to the reference state.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic impression modification device (8) is configured to add reverberation to the audio signal (4) that will be output in the vehicle compartment (2) via the at least one audio output device (6).

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one audio output device (6) comprises a plurality of audio output channels, each audio output channel allowing the output of an audio signal (4) or an audio signal component of a specific audio signal (4) in the vehicle compartment (2), thereby The acoustic impression modification device (8) is configured to add a first reverberation amount to or from the audio signal (4) or audio signal component that will be output through the first audio output channel and to add a second reverberation amount to or from the audio signal (4) or audio signal component that will be output through the second audio output channel.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a suppression device (14) configured to suppress unwanted acoustic sounds in the vehicle compartment (2).

10. The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the suppression device is configured to suppress acoustic feedback generated by receiving sound present in the vehicle compartment (2) and / or by receiving the audio signal (4) that can be output or output in the vehicle compartment (2) via the at least one audio output device (6).

11. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the reference state refers to the state of an unoccupied vehicle compartment (2).

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the reference state refers to a state under specific physical conditions of specific temperature and / or pressure in the vehicle compartment (2).

13. A device (3) for outputting an audio signal (4) in the vehicle compartment (2) of the vehicle (1) according to claim 1, the device (3) comprising: - Audio output device (6), which is configured to output audio signals (4) in the vehicle compartment (2); - Acoustic impression modification device (8), which is configured to generate an acoustic space modification signal (9) thereby allowing modification of the audible perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment (2) with respect to a reference state.

14. A method for outputting an audio signal (4) in a vehicle compartment (2) of a vehicle according to claim 1, the vehicle compartment (2) defining an acoustic space having specific auditory perceptible properties in a reference state, the method comprising the steps of: An acoustic space modification signal (9) is generated by the acoustic impression modification device (8), thereby allowing modification of the auditory perceptible properties of the acoustic space defined by the vehicle compartment (2) with respect to the reference state or with respect to the reference state.

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