Audio system and vehicle comprising same

Abstract

The present application relates to an audio system and a vehicle comprising the same, the audio system comprising, connected via an in-vehicle audio bus: a first processing device configured to receive sound signals from a first plurality of sound sources and to select a temporary target sound source from among the first plurality of sound sources as a sound source for playing according to a predetermined priority of each of the first plurality of sound sources; a second processing device configured to receive sound signals from a second plurality of sound sources and to select a target sound source for playing according to a predetermined priority of each of the temporary target sound source and the second plurality of sound sources; and an audio output unit configured to play sound signals including sound signals output by the target sound source.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to an in-vehicle intelligent cockpit audio system, and more specifically, to an audio system and a vehicle including the audio system. Background Technology

[0002] As vehicles become increasingly intelligent, the cockpit audio system, as part of intelligent services, is gradually becoming a significant factor influencing vehicle purchase decisions. The audio bus solutions used in cockpit audio systems are also constantly evolving, with Analog Devices Inc.'s A2B (Automotive Audio Bus) standing out. Compared to traditional analog audio buses, A2B offers superior audio quality while reducing the weight of automotive audio wiring harnesses, thus saving on vehicle development costs. Therefore, A2B has become a preferred choice for cockpit audio systems.

[0003] However, conventional A2B links are designed with a master-slave architecture, allowing only one master device, such as the infotainment head unit. Since both the infotainment head unit and amplifiers are pre-installed components, the arbitration logic and audio playback configurations for all audio sources are determined during the early architecture design phase, and the design is frozen after the vehicle leaves the factory. If the audio source for a later-installed passenger / rear-seat entertainment system is desired, the pre-installed high-performance vehicle audio system cannot be utilized; only external low-quality speakers or headphones can be used to play audio signals, a solution that is often unsatisfactory.

[0004] Therefore, an improved audio system is needed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Embodiments of this application provide an audio system and a vehicle including the same, for expanding the use cases of in-vehicle audio systems, thereby improving the user experience in various locations within the vehicle.

[0006] According to one aspect of this application, an audio system is provided, comprising: a first processing device connected via an in-vehicle audio bus, configured to receive sound signals from a first plurality of sound sources and select a temporary target sound source among the first plurality of sound sources as a sound source for playback according to a predetermined priority of each of the first plurality of sound sources; a second processing device configured to receive sound signals from a second plurality of sound sources and select a target sound source for playback according to the temporary target sound source and a predetermined priority of each of the second plurality of sound sources; and an audio output unit configured to play sound signals including those output by the target sound source.

[0007] In some embodiments of this application, the audio output unit may optionally include: a first power amplifier unit that amplifies the sound signal and a first speaker array driven by it, wherein the first speaker array is arranged at the front of the vehicle; and a second power amplifier unit that amplifies the sound signal and a second speaker array driven by it, wherein the second speaker array is arranged at the rear of the vehicle.

[0008] In some embodiments of this application, the audio system may optionally include an audio receiving unit connected to the vehicle audio bus, configured to pick up voice signals within the vehicle.

[0009] In some embodiments of this application, the audio receiving unit may optionally include a first digital microphone arranged at the front of the vehicle and a second digital microphone arranged at the rear of the vehicle.

[0010] In some embodiments of this application, optionally, the first processing device is an entertainment host arranged at the front of the vehicle, and the second processing device is an entertainment host arranged at the rear of the vehicle.

[0011] In some embodiments of this application, the second processing device may optionally be a slave device of the first processing device.

[0012] In some embodiments of this application, optionally, the second processing device includes: a first processing unit configured to communicate with the first processing device to receive the selection result of the temporary target sound source and its sound signal; and a second processing unit configured to select a target sound source for playback according to the temporary target sound source and a predetermined priority of each of the second plurality of sound sources.

[0013] In some embodiments of this application, optionally, the target audio source includes two audio sources with the highest predetermined priority among the first plurality of audio sources and the second plurality of audio sources, and the audio output unit plays a mixture of audio signals output from the two audio sources.

[0014] In some embodiments of this application, optionally, the audio source with a higher predetermined priority among the two audio sources has a higher volume level in the mix.

[0015] According to another aspect of this application, a vehicle is provided that includes any of the audio systems described above. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The above and other objects and advantages of this application will become more fully clear from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0017] Figure 1 An audio system is shown;

[0018] Figure 2 An audio system according to an embodiment of this application is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0019] For purposes of brevity and illustration, the principles of this application are described herein primarily with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the same principles are equivalently applicable to all types of audio systems and vehicles including them, and that these same or similar principles can be implemented therein, without departing from the true spirit and scope of this application.

[0020] Figure 1 An A2B-based audio system 10 is shown. A2B is a high-bandwidth (50Mbps), bidirectional, digital audio bus used in vehicles, employing a daisy-chain structure. Traditional A2B-based audio systems are single-master, multi-slave systems.

[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, in a conventional in-vehicle A2B audio system 10, the entertainment head unit 101 acts as the arbitrator of the entire vehicle's audio system, serving as the main control device and determining the playback priority logic for various audio sources (not shown in the figure), such as media sounds, telephone sounds, alarm tones, and navigation playback sounds. The power amplifier 104 and slave amplifier 105 act as receivers of the audio sources output after arbitration by the entertainment head unit 101, ultimately transmitting the audio to speakers 141 and 151 respectively to achieve full-vehicle audio playback. Speakers 141 and 151 can be speaker arrays capable of producing stereo effects, and speakers 141 and 151 can also have separate sound-producing units (e.g., tweeters, midrange speakers, and woofers) to present sound signals in different frequency ranges.

[0022] In addition, the in-vehicle A2B audio system 10 also includes a front digital microphone 102 and a rear digital microphone 103 connected to the A2B. These microphones can be an array composed of several separate microphones. Figure 1As shown, the A2B bus displays the A2B downlink and A2B uplink channels, both used to handle A2B audio digital signals (as shown by the solid lines in the figure). Specifically, the A2B downlink channel performs the following functions: mutual exclusion audio stream channel, alarm audio stream channel, mixing audio stream channel, and feedback audio stream channel. The A2B uplink channel performs the following functions: power amplifier reference audio input, rear digital microphone audio input, and front digital microphone audio input. The connection between the output port Audio out of power amplifier 104 and speaker 141 is used to transmit Analog Audio signals (as shown by the dashed lines in the figure). Similarly, the connection between the output port Audio out of power amplifier 105 and speaker 151 is also used to transmit Analog Audio signals.

[0023] Modifying the previously developed audio system design is extremely costly and introduces additional uncertainties to the native audio performance. To expand the application scenarios of in-vehicle audio systems and improve the user experience in various locations within the vehicle, the following embodiments propose a dual A2B link audio architecture solution. This solution can form a dual A2B audio architecture system by introducing a rear-seat entertainment system without altering the audio logic design of the original entertainment system head unit, thereby achieving a more user-friendly rear-seat entertainment system for overall vehicle audio performance.

[0024] like Figure 2 As shown, one aspect of this application provides an audio system. Figure 2 Zhongyu Figure 1 Components with the same markings perform the same or similar functions, which will not be elaborated here due to space limitations. The audio system 20 includes a first processing device 101 (shown as entertainment head unit 101), a second processing device 201 (shown as the newly added rear entertainment head unit 201), and audio output units 104, 141, 105, and 151 (shown as including main amplifier 104 and its driven speaker 141, and slave amplifier 105 and its driven speaker 151) connected via an A2B vehicle audio bus. The audio system 20 divides the vehicle's A2B network into two parts, one centered on the first processing device 101 and the other on the second processing device 201, enabling the introduction of a second entertainment audio source into the vehicle without causing issues with the vehicle's audio source logic arbitration or overall audio playback.

[0025] The first processing device 101 of the audio system 20 is configured to receive sound signals from a first plurality of sound sources (not shown), and, based on a predetermined priority of each of the first plurality of sound sources, select a temporary target sound source from among the first plurality of sound sources as the sound source for playback. Generally, the first processing device 101 can select the highest priority sound source from the first plurality of sound sources for playback, or it can select several (e.g., two) of the highest priority sound sources for playback. It is worth noting that introducing other components into the audio system 20 does not require any changes to the first processing device 101 or its A2B network.

[0026] The second processing device 201 is configured to receive audio signals from a second plurality of audio sources 202 (illustrated as rear-row entertainment audio sources 202), and select a target audio source for playback based on the target audio source determined by the temporary first processing device 101 and the predetermined priority of each audio source among the second plurality of audio sources 202. Specifically, the second processing device 201 can be a slave device of the first processing device 101 to receive various types of audio data and instructions from the first processing device 101.

[0027] In some embodiments of this application, the first processing device 101 may be an entertainment head unit 101 arranged at the front of the vehicle, which acts as the audio arbitrator of the entire vehicle. The second processing device 201 may be an additional rear entertainment head unit 201 arranged at the rear of the vehicle, which is connected to a second plurality of audio sources 202 (shown as rear entertainment audio sources 202).

[0028] In some embodiments of this application, audio output units 104, 141, 105, and 151 ultimately output only one sound source with the highest priority. At this time, the temporary target sound source determined by the first processing device 101 has the highest predetermined priority among the first plurality of sound sources, while the target sound source determined by the second processing device 201 has the highest predetermined priority among the first plurality of sound sources and the second plurality of sound sources 202. That is, the first processing device 101 and the second processing device 201 determine the final sound source with the highest priority through two steps.

[0029] In some embodiments of this application, audio output units 104, 141, 105, and 151 can output sound from multiple audio sources. For example, the target audio sources include the two audio sources with the highest predetermined priority among the first plurality of audio sources and the second plurality of audio sources 202, and the audio output units 104, 141, 105, and 151 play a mixture of the audio signals output from the two audio sources. In some embodiments of this application, the audio source with the higher predetermined priority among the two audio sources has a higher volume level in the mixture.

[0030] Audio output units 104, 141, 105, and 151 are configured to play sound signals including those output by a target audio source. In some embodiments of this application, such as... Figure 2 As shown, the audio output units 104, 141, 105, and 151 include a first power amplifier unit 104 that amplifies the sound signal and a first speaker array 141 driven by it, wherein the first speaker array 141 is arranged at the front of the vehicle; the audio output units 104, 141, 105, and 151 also include a second power amplifier unit 105 that amplifies the sound signal and a second speaker array 151 driven by it, wherein the second speaker array 151 is arranged at the rear of the vehicle.

[0031] In some embodiments of this application, the audio system 20 further includes audio receiving units 102-103 connected to the vehicle audio bus, configured to pick up voice signals within the vehicle. In some embodiments of this application, the audio receiving units 102-103 include a first digital microphone (front digital microphone) 102 disposed at the front of the vehicle and a second digital microphone (rear digital microphone) 103 disposed at the rear of the vehicle.

[0032] The above solution divides the vehicle's A2B network into two parts. In the first part of the audio network, the front entertainment head unit 101 acts as the audio arbitration master device. The audio system 20 as a whole still follows the vehicle audio arbitration logic of the front entertainment head unit 101, realizing the priority judgment of audio sources such as vehicle media audio, navigation audio, alarm audio, and system feedback audio, and outputting the arbitration-ordered audio sources. The newly added rear entertainment head unit 201 is the center of the first part of the audio network.

[0033] Specifically, the second processing device 201 includes a first processing unit A2B_1 and a second processing unit A2B_2. The first processing unit A2B_1 can communicate with the first processing device 101 to receive the selection result of a temporary target audio source and its audio signal. The second processing unit A2B_2 can select a target audio source for playback based on the predetermined priority of each audio source among the temporary target audio source and the second plurality of audio sources 202. The newly added rear-seat entertainment host 201 first receives and processes various audio sources in the first audio network through the first A2B chip module A2B_1, and then, in the second audio network, through the introduction of the second A2B chip module A2B_2, arbitrates and judges the newly added audio source and finally outputs it to the power amplifier.

[0034] In this scheme, the newly added rear entertainment host 201 first obtains the audio source data transmitted from the first network, and obtains the rear entertainment audio source 202 input from the outside, as a secondary audio arbitration master device, thereby realizing the customized audio arbitration logic, and finally outputs it to the power amplifier 104 in the second audio network for playback from the power amplifier 105.

[0035] In a dual A2B audio system, by dividing the existing traditional A2B network into two parts, a more user-friendly vehicle audio performance for rear-seat entertainment system sources can be achieved without altering the audio logic design of the original entertainment system host. The newly added rear-seat entertainment system can act as an A2B Slave node in the first split A2B link system, reusing the original audio design and receiving audio sources. In the second A2B link system, it acts as an A2B Master node, handling the introduction of rear-seat entertainment audio sources, secondary audio arbitration, and outputting the final audio data to the vehicle audio system for playback. This dual A2B audio system design solution avoids changes to the traditional audio architecture, effectively reducing the cost of introducing rear-seat entertainment system audio sources. It also effectively solves the problems of vehicle audio source logic arbitration and vehicle audio playback after introducing rear-seat entertainment audio sources.

[0036] One aspect of this application provides a vehicle that includes any of the audio systems described above.

[0037] This application provides a smart cockpit audio source solution based on a dual A2B audio system design.

[0038] The above are merely specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art can conceive of other feasible variations or substitutions based on the technical scope disclosed in this application, and such variations or substitutions are all covered within the scope of protection of this application. Where there is no conflict, the embodiments and features described in the embodiments of this application can also be combined with each other. The scope of protection of this application is determined by the claims.

Claims

1. An audio system, characterized in that, The audio system includes components connected via an in-vehicle audio bus: A first processing device is configured to receive sound signals from a first plurality of sound sources and select a temporary target sound source from the first plurality of sound sources according to a predetermined priority of each of the first plurality of sound sources. The second processing device is configured to receive sound signals from a second plurality of sound sources and select a target sound source for playback based on the temporary target sound source and a predetermined priority of each of the second plurality of sound sources. as well as An audio output unit configured to play a sound signal including the sound signal output by the target sound source; The vehicle audio bus includes a first vehicle audio bus link and a second vehicle audio bus link. The second processing device is configured as a slave device in the first vehicle audio bus link to receive the temporary target audio source from the first processing device, and is configured as a master device in the second vehicle audio bus link to arbitrate the audio sources of the second plurality of audio sources and output the target audio source.

2. The audio system according to claim 1, wherein, The audio output unit includes: A first power amplifier unit that amplifies the sound signal and a first speaker array driven by it, wherein the first speaker array is arranged at the front of the vehicle; and A second power amplifier unit that amplifies the sound signal and a second speaker array that it drives, wherein the second speaker array is arranged at the rear of the vehicle.

3. The audio system according to claim 1, wherein, The audio system also includes an audio receiving unit connected to the vehicle audio bus, configured to pick up voice signals from inside the vehicle.

4. The audio system according to claim 3, wherein, The audio receiving unit includes a first digital microphone located at the front of the vehicle and a second digital microphone located at the rear of the vehicle.

5. The audio system according to claim 1, wherein, The first processing device is an entertainment host located at the front of the vehicle, and the second processing device is an entertainment host located at the rear of the vehicle.

6. The audio system according to claim 1, wherein, The second processing device is a slave device of the first processing device.

7. The audio system according to claim 6, wherein, The second processing device includes: A first processing unit is configured to communicate with the first processing device to receive the selection result of the temporary target sound source and its sound signal; and The second processing unit is configured to select a target audio source for playback based on the temporary target audio source and a predetermined priority of each of the second plurality of audio sources.

8. The audio system according to claim 1, wherein, The target audio source includes the two audio sources with the highest predetermined priority among the first plurality of audio sources and the second plurality of audio sources, and the audio output unit plays a mixture of the audio signals output from the two audio sources.

9. The audio system according to claim 8, wherein, The audio source with the higher predetermined priority among the two audio sources has a higher volume level in the mix.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle includes an audio system as claimed in any one of claims 1-9.

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