Voice amplification system for vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle comprising: at least one lateral glazing; at least one vibration sensor arranged on a lateral glazing for detecting sound vibrations propagating on the glazing; at least one audio transmitter; a calculation unit connected to the vibration sensor and the audio transmitter; characterized in that the computing unit is arranged to: receive an electrical signal representing a sound signal from the vibration sensor; the signal is processed in order to isolate a useful signal representing speech, which is transmitted by the computing unit towards the audio transmitter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of voice amplification systems for vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, it is known that autonomous vehicles may create an acoustic environment that interferes with occupants while in motion.

[0003] This noise is similar to background noise, which can sometimes make it difficult for occupants who want to communicate with each other.

[0004] In fact, one of the main factors affecting the ease of communication is the ratio between signal (in this case, speech) and noise (in this case, ambient noise in an autonomous vehicle cabin). The higher this ratio, known as the "signal-to-noise ratio," the easier it is to understand.

[0005] To mitigate this inconvenience, efforts are being made to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Two methods exist that allow for optimization of this ratio: reducing the level of ambient noise (acoustic and vibration isolation, active solutions, etc.) or increasing the level of speech (=signal).

[0006] Various devices have been created to enhance speech quality. One known solution involves a vehicle in which a person (e.g., the driver) speaks. The sound signal is then captured by a microphone and simultaneously played into a speaker closer to the ear of the person speaking (e.g., a rear passenger), as in... Figure 1 As can be seen in the text.

[0007] In addition to partially addressing the signal-to-noise ratio problem, the system also has the advantage of artificially creating a field directly between the speaker and the listener.

[0008] However, such a system has a major inconvenience: each seat in the vehicle must be equipped with a microphone. Such an installation requires each microphone to be well-arranged to allow for potentially better sound signal reception. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Therefore, this invention proposes to solve these inconveniences by providing a simple and effective device that allows amplification of voice in a vehicle.

[0010] Therefore, the present invention relates to a vehicle comprising: At least one side window; At least one vibration sensor is arranged on the side window to detect acoustic vibrations propagating on the side window; At least one audio transmitter; A computing unit is connected to the vibration sensor and the audio transmitter; The computing unit is characterized in that it is configured to: receive an electrical signal representing a sound signal from the vibration sensor; process the signal to isolate a useful signal representing speech, the useful signal representing speech being transmitted by the computing unit toward the audio transmitter.

[0011] The present invention therefore has the following advantages: it can detect vibrations representing sound signals, convert them into electrical signals, process these electrical signals, and then transmit them to a transducer, which converts the electrical signals into sound signals that are equal to or nearly equal to the sound signals that generated the vibrations. Thus, the occupant's speech and voice generate vibrations, which are sensed and processed to provide a useful signal, which is transmitted to the transducer, which generates a sound signal that is nearly equal to or nearly equal to the occupant's speech and voice.

[0012] According to the example, the vehicle is divided into a front area and a rear area, the side windows are equipped with the vibration sensors, the vibration sensors are arranged in the front area or the rear area, and the audio transmitter is arranged in a different area from the sensors.

[0013] According to the example, the vehicle is divided into a front area and a rear area, each area including at least one side window equipped with the vibration sensor and at least one audio transmitter.

[0014] According to the example, each area includes two side windows, each equipped with the vibration sensor, and these side windows are placed from both sides of the vehicle.

[0015] According to the example, the vehicle is divided into zones equal to the number of side windows, each zone including a side window equipped with the vibration sensor and an audio transmitter.

[0016] According to the example, the computing unit is adapted to process the electrical signal representing the sound signal from the vibration sensor of the side window and to transmit the useful signal toward the audio transmitter of another side window.

[0017] According to the example, the vehicle also includes a presence module, which includes a presence sensor that allows it to know whether an occupant is in place, and a computing unit adapted to process electrical signals representing sound signals from the vibration sensors of the side windows and adapted to transmit useful signals toward an audio transmitter of another side window, wherein the presence of an occupant is detected for the other side window.

[0018] The present invention also relates to a voice amplification method for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising: at least one side window; at least one vibration sensor disposed on the side window for detecting sound vibrations propagating on the side window; at least one audio transmitter; and a computing unit connected to the vibration sensor and the audio transmitter, the method comprising the following steps: - Sound signals are detected by a vibration sensor; - An electrical signal representing a sound signal is generated by the vibration sensor; - Transmit the electrical signal representing the sound signal to the computing unit; - Process the electrical signals representing sound signals to provide useful signals; - Transmit the useful signal toward at least one audio transmitter.

[0019] According to the example, the step of processing the electrical signal representing the sound signal includes digital processing of the electrical signal representing the sound signal and / or a first filtering stage for attenuating background noise related to sensor dynamics and / or background noise related to all other vibrations received on the automatic car windows when the vehicle is moving.

[0020] According to the example, the step of processing the electrical signal representing the sound signal further includes a second digital processing or a second filtering stage to compensate for deviations in the recording caused by glass resonance. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Referring to the accompanying drawings, and from the following description in an indicative and non-limiting manner, other features and advantages will become apparent, as shown in the drawings: - Figure 1 It is an illustrative representation of a vehicle equipped with a voice amplification system based on existing technology; - Figure 2 This is a schematic representation of a vehicle equipped with the voice amplification system according to the present invention; - Figure 3 This is a schematic representation of the speech amplification system according to the present invention; - Figure 4 This is a schematic representation of a signal representing speech generated by a microphone or vibration sensor according to the present invention; - Figure 5 This is a schematic representation of the speech amplification system according to the present invention; - Figures 6 to 10 These are schematic representations of different configurations of vehicles equipped with the voice amplification system according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0022] exist Figure 2The image shows a vehicle 1 according to the present invention. The vehicle can be an engine vehicle (such as an internal combustion engine vehicle), a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, and / or any other type of vehicle with mobility capabilities. The vehicle includes mobility-related components such as an engine assembly, transmission, suspension, driveshaft, and / or wheels. The vehicle can be a non-autonomous vehicle, a semi-autonomous vehicle (e.g., some routine motion functions are controlled by the vehicle), or an autonomous vehicle (e.g., motion functions are controlled by the vehicle without direct driver intervention).

[0023] The vehicle also includes: a windshield 10; a rear window 11; and at least one side window or side glass 12, ideally on the driver's side; and seats that allow at least two occupants to be seated in the vehicle. Preferably, the vehicle includes multiple side windows 12.

[0024] According to the present invention, the vehicle includes a voice amplification system 20, which allows for better communication between occupants. The voice amplification system 20 cleverly utilizes the side glass 12 as a voice receiving component. For this purpose, the glass window is equipped with a vibration sensor 21. This vibration sensor is an accelerometer, which can be of different types, such as piezoelectric or MEMS types, but also of different shapes ("standardly" cubic, flat, compact, etc.).

[0025] The vibration sensor 21 is preferably placed in a non-obvious part of the side glass (located in the part of the side glass that is covered by the door cover).

[0026] The vibration sensor 21 is disposed on the glass window to allow vibrations to be sensed by the sensor. For this purpose, the vibration sensor 21 is connected to the glass window via a rigid interface of adhesive / gluing type or by means of a plug-in interface (through encapsulation). The vibration sensor is connected to a computing unit 22, as shown in... Figure 3 As can be seen in the text.

[0027] In fact, sound vibrations directed toward the glass window have been found to propagate within it. More interestingly, these sound vibrations, sensed by vibration sensors, allow the generation of electrical signals whose curves resemble those recorded by a microphone, as in... Figure 4 As can be seen in the text.

[0028] Therefore, the sound vibrations sensed by sensor 21 can be used to form an electrical signal representing the sound signal Sv. For this purpose, vibration sensor 21 transmits the electrical signal representing the sound signal toward computing unit 22, which is configured to manage the electrical signal representing the sound signal. The computing unit 22 is first used to receive and transmit the electrical signal representing the sound signal Sv.

[0029] However, the computing unit 22 also performs digital processing and / or a first filtering stage on the electrical signal representing the sound signal. In fact, it has been pointed out that the electrical signal representing the sound signal may exhibit background noise related to the dynamics of the sensor and any other vibrations received on the automatic car windows while the car is in motion.

[0030] The first filter stage is a low-cutoff type, meaning it allows the elimination of low frequencies.

[0031] Optionally, a second digital processing or a second filtering stage can be considered to compensate for the recording bias caused by glass resonance.

[0032] The second filter stage is of the high cutoff type, meaning it allows for the elimination of high frequencies.

[0033] The implemented filtering allows preservation of the frequency range from 50Hz to 1500Hz (preferably 60Hz to 1200Hz). This frequency range corresponds to the range of human speech. Once this or these processes are performed, the processed signal representing the sound signal becomes the useful signal Su to be transmitted, which is directed toward at least one electroacoustic transducer 23 of the speaker type or an audio transmitter so that the latter can reproduce the sound signal, as in... Figure 5 As can be seen in the image. The transducer used is located inside the vehicle and is preferably a transducer connected to a device of the type of vehicle radio or multimedia player.

[0034] The ingenuity of this invention lies in the fact that the processing of the computing unit 22 is direct, that is, when the function is activated / the computing unit 22 is activated, the reception of the electrical signal representing the sound signal, the processing performed to obtain the useful signal, and the transmission of the useful signal toward at least one transducer are automatic.

[0035] This invention therefore allows the sound signal to be recovered from vibrations representing the sound signal in order to generate a useful signal that is transmitted to a transducer. The transducer converts the useful signal into a sound signal that is almost identical to the sound signal that generated the recovered vibrations.

[0036] According to the present invention, the vehicle is divided into two regions Z, namely a front region Z1 and a rear region Z2. The left front side glass and the right front side glass are located in the front region Z1, and the left rear side glass and the right rear side glass are located in the rear region Z2. These glass panels are equipped with vibration sensors 21. The glass panels 12 in the same regions Z1 and Z2 are therefore placed from both sides of the vehicle. Essentially, the invention lies in having glass panels 12 equipped with vibration sensors 21 in region Z1 and transducers or audio transmitters 23 in region Z2, as in… Figure 6 As can be seen in the text.

[0037] In a preferred version, the vehicle includes at least two electroacoustic transducers 23: one in the front region Z1 and one in the rear region Z2, as shown in... Figure 7 As can be seen in the text.

[0038] The vehicle according to the invention is conceived to enable a speaking occupant to transmit their message to other occupants.

[0039] Therefore, an optional first step is to activate the voice amplification mode. This can be done via voice or manual control of a switch. Voice control includes detecting keywords.

[0040] Once the voice amplification mode is activated, acoustic sound signal detection using the side windows or side glass 12 can be performed. However, in an enclosed space such as a vehicle, sound propagation causes multiple side windows to sense sound signals representing the occupant's speech. To determine the side window corresponding to the speaking occupant, it is assumed that the amplitude of vibration on the window not directly adjacent to the speaker is very weak. However, different methods of detecting the side windows can be considered: - The trigger threshold (amplitude) at a specific vibration level. - The trigger threshold due to the dynamic changes in the signal.

[0041] However, this glass window selection may also be achieved through manual (button type) activation or activation using voice recognition (e.g., by using keywords).

[0042] Once the side glass is selected, the associated vibration sensor 21 senses the vibration propagating on the side glass 12 and generates a signal representing the sound signal Vs, which is transmitted to the computing unit 22 for processing. The computing unit 22 generates a useful signal Su and thus transmits it toward the electroacoustic transducer 23.

[0043] If the occupant speaking is in the front region Z1, the useful signal Su is transmitted toward the electroacoustic transducer 23 located in the rear region Z2, and conversely, if the occupant speaking is in the rear, the useful signal Su is transmitted toward the electroacoustic transducer 23 located in the front region Z1.

[0044] In the first variation, the voice amplification system 20 is further evolved. For this purpose, each side glass 12 equipped with a vibration sensor 21 is associated with an electroacoustic transducer 23. Therefore, the vehicle also includes an electroacoustic transducer 23 arranged towards the left front side glass 12, a second electroacoustic transducer arranged towards the right front side glass 12, a third electroacoustic transducer arranged towards the left rear side glass 12, and a fourth transducer arranged towards the right rear side glass 12. Thus, reproduction is essentially performed using four regions Z: left front Z'1, right front Z'2, left rear Z'3, and right rear Z'4, as shown in... Figure 8 As can be seen in the text.

[0045] This modification advantageously allows the computing unit 22 to transmit the useful signal Su toward the electroacoustic transducer 23 of each unselected side glass 12, allowing other occupants to hear the speaker's voice, such as in Figure 9 As can be seen in the text.

[0046] exist Figure 10 In the second variant, which is compatible with the first variant, the voice amplification system is associated with the presence module 25. The presence module 25 also includes presence sensors 26. These presence sensors 26 are, for example, pressure or push-button sensors, which are installed under each seat to allow detection of whether a person is seated.

[0047] These presence sensors 26 are connected to the computing unit 22, which is thus able to determine how many occupants are present and their locations.

[0048] Therefore, the computing unit 22, which receives the signal representing the sound signal, processes the signal and transmits it toward one or more transducers to detect the presence of an occupant. For example, by assuming that there is only one occupant besides the driver on the right rear side, the signal representing the sound signal generated by the vibration sensor at the left front window is processed, and then the useful signal is transmitted toward the electroacoustic transducer—which is arranged toward the right rear side window.

[0049] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated examples but can be used for various variations and modifications that will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0050] In practice, it is possible that the windshield or rear window, or even the canopy, could be used as a support for one or more vibration sensors 21.

[0051] Furthermore, the number of regions Z' can be considered equal to the number of side windows. In practice, for large vehicles including at least three rows of seats, all occupants should be considered by the system according to the invention. Therefore, each side window belongs to a region that includes the side window, a vibration sensor 21 arranged on the side window, and an audio transmitter. This allows the computing unit 22 to transmit the useful signal Su towards region Z' outside the region where the vibration sensor 21 generates the signal Sv.

[0052] Of course, the vehicle according to the invention may optionally include control components integrated into the vehicle's onboard computer, or specifically, such as a switch, that allow activation or deactivation of the functions of the invention, that is, allow sensing of window vibrations for at least recovering useful signals representing speech transmitted by the computing unit toward the audio transmitter. A presence sensor 26 can be used to detect occupants and to activate or deactivate the functions.

Claims

1. A vehicle (1), comprising: At least one side glass window (12); At least one vibration sensor (21) is arranged on the side glass window for detecting sound vibrations propagating on the glass window (12); At least one audio transmitter (23); A computing unit (22) is connected to the vibration sensor (21) and the audio transmitter (23). The computing unit (22) is characterized in that it is configured to: receive an electrical signal representing a sound signal (Sv) from the vibration sensor (21), the sound signal (Sv) representing the voice of the occupant; process the sound signal (Sv) to isolate a useful signal (Su) representing the voice of the occupant, the useful signal (Su) representing the voice of the occupant being transmitted by the computing unit (22) toward the audio transmitter (23) located inside the vehicle (1).

2. The vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the vehicle (1) is divided into a front region (Z1) and a rear region (Z2), the side window (12) is equipped with the vibration sensor (21), the vibration sensor (21) is arranged in the front region (Z1) or the rear region (Z2), and the audio transmitter (23) is arranged in a different region from the vibration sensor (21).

3. The vehicle (1) according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle (1) is divided into a front region (Z1) and a rear region (Z2), each region (Z1, Z2) including at least one side window (12) equipped with the vibration sensor (21) and at least one audio transmitter (23).

4. The vehicle (1) according to claim 3, wherein each region (Z1, Z2) includes two side windows (12), each side window being equipped with the vibration sensor (21), and the side windows (12) are positioned from both sides of the vehicle (1).

5. The vehicle (1) according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle (1) is divided into regions (Z) equal to the number of side windows (12), each region including a side window (12) equipped with the vibration sensor (21) and an audio transmitter (23).

6. The vehicle (1) according to claim 5, wherein the computing unit (22) is adapted to process the electrical signal representing the sound signal (Sv) from the vibration sensor (21) of the side window (12) and to transmit the useful signal (Su) toward the audio transmitter (23) of the other side window (12).

7. The vehicle (1) according to claim 6 further includes a presence module (25) comprising a presence sensor (26) that allows the determination of whether an occupant is present, and a computing unit (22) adapted to process an electrical signal representing a sound signal (Sv) from the vibration sensor (21) of the side window (12) and adapted to transmit a useful signal (Su) toward an audio transmitter (23) of another side window (12), wherein the presence of an occupant is detected for said other side window (12).

8. A method for amplifying the voice of a vehicle (1), the vehicle comprising: The method comprises at least one side window (12); at least one vibration sensor (21) disposed on the side window for detecting sound vibrations propagating on the window (12); at least one audio transmitter (23); and a computing unit (22) connected to the vibration sensor (21) and the audio transmitter (23), the method comprising the following steps: - The sound signal (Sv) representing the occupant's speech is detected by the vibration sensor (21); - An electrical signal representing the sound signal (Sv) is generated by the vibration sensor (21); - Transmit the electrical signal representing the sound signal (Sv) to the computing unit (22). - Process the electrical signal representing the sound signal (Sv) to provide a useful signal (Su); - The useful signal (Su) is transmitted toward at least one audio transmitter (23) located inside the vehicle (1).

9. The amplification method according to claim 8, wherein the step of processing the electrical signal representing the sound signal (Sv) includes digital processing of the electrical signal representing the sound signal (Sv) and / or a first filtering stage for attenuating background noise related to sensor dynamics and / or background noise related to all other vibrations received on the automatic car windows when the vehicle (1) is moving.

10. The amplification method of claim 9, wherein the step of processing the electrical signal representing the sound signal (Sv) further comprises a second digital processing or a second filtering stage for compensating for deviations in the recording caused by glass resonance.

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