VOICE AMPLIFICATION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of voice amplification systems for vehicles. PREVIOUS ART

[0002] Currently, it is known that vehicles of the automobile type, while in motion, can generate a noisy acoustic environment for passengers.

[0003] This noise, which is similar to background noise, sometimes causes difficulty for passengers who wish to communicate with each other.

[0004] Indeed, one of the main factors influencing ease of communication is the ratio between the signal (in this case, the voice) and the noise (in this case, the ambient noise in a car interior). The higher this "signal-to-noise" ratio, the easier it is to understand.

[0005] To overcome this drawback, efforts have been made to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. There are two ways to optimize this ratio: reducing the ambient noise level (acoustic and vibration isolation, active solutions, etc.) or increasing the voice level (signal).

[0006] Devices have been created to amplify voice volume. One known solution involves having a vehicle in which someone is speaking (the driver, for example). The sound signal is then captured by a microphone and simultaneously broadcast through the speakers closest to the ears of the other passengers (a rear passenger, for example), as if seen by the... figure 1 .

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

[0008] However, such a system has the major drawback of requiring each seat in the vehicle to be equipped with a microphone. This installation necessitates that each microphone be carefully positioned to obtain the best possible audio signal. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention is defined by independent claims 1 and 8 and aims to resolve these drawbacks by providing a device enabling voice amplification in a vehicle that is simple and effective.

[0010] The invention therefore offers the advantage of being able to detect vibrations representative of a sound signal, transform them into an electrical signal, which is then processed and sent to a transducer that transforms this electrical signal into a sound signal. This sound signal is identical or substantially identical to the one that generated the vibrations. Thus, the words and voice of a passenger generate vibrations that are captured and then processed to provide a useful signal sent to a transducer, which generates a sound signal substantially identical or identical to the words and voice of said passenger.

[0011] According to one example, the vehicle is divided into a front zone and a rear zone, said side glazing equipped with said vibration sensor being arranged in the front zone or the rear zone and said audio transmitter being arranged in a different zone from said sensor.

[0012] According to one example, the vehicle is divided into a front zone and a rear zone, each zone comprising at least one side window equipped with said vibration sensor and at least one audio transmitter.

[0013] According to one example, each zone comprises two side windows, each equipped with said vibration sensor, these side windows being placed on either side of the vehicle.

[0014] According to one example, the vehicle is divided into a number of zones equal to the number of side windows, each zone comprising a side window equipped with said vibration sensor and an audio transmitter.

[0015] According to an example, the computing unit is capable of processing an electrical signal representative of a sound signal from said vibration sensor of a side window and transmitting the useful signal to the audio transmitter of the other side windows.

[0016] According to one example, the vehicle further includes a presence module comprising presence sensors to determine if passengers are installed, the computing unit is capable of processing an electrical signal representative of an audible signal from said vibration sensor of a side window and transmitting the useful signal to the audio transmitter of the other side windows for which the presence of a passenger is detected.

[0017] According to one example, the step of processing said electrical signal representative of a sound signal includes digital processing and / or a first stage of filtering on the electrical signal representative of a sound signal to attenuate background noise related to the dynamics of the sensor and / or any other vibrations received on the automotive glass when the vehicle is moving.

[0018] According to one example, the step of processing said electrical signal representative of a sound signal includes, in addition, a second digital processing or a second filtering stage to compensate for the tint brought to the recordings by the resonances of the glass. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0019] Other features and advantages will become clear from the description given below, which is indicative and in no way exhaustive, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: there Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a vehicle equipped with a voice amplification system according to the prior art; the Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a vehicle equipped with a voice amplification system according to the invention; the Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a voice amplification system according to the invention; the Fig. 4is a schematic representation of a signal diagram representing the voice generated by a microphone or vibration sensor according to the invention; the Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a voice amplification system according to the invention; the Figs. 6 to 10 are schematic representations of the different configurations of a vehicle equipped with the voice amplification system according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] To the figure 2A vehicle 1 according to the invention is represented. This vehicle may be a motor 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 a mobility tool. The vehicle includes mobility-related parts, such as a motor powertrain, a transmission, a suspension, a driveshaft, and / or wheels, etc. The vehicle may be non-autonomous, semi-autonomous (for example, certain routine motor functions controlled by the vehicle), or autonomous (for example, the motor functions are controlled by the vehicle without direct driver intervention).

[0021] The vehicle further comprises a windscreen 10, a rear window 11, and at least one side window 12, ideally on the driver's side, and seats for at least two passengers. Preferably, the vehicle comprises multiple side windows 12.

[0022] According to the invention, the vehicle includes a voice amplification system 20 enabling improved communication between passengers. This voice amplification system 20 cleverly uses a side window 12 as a means of voice reception. For this purpose, the 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, and also of different shapes (standard cube, flat, compact, etc.).

[0023] This vibration sensor 21 is preferably placed at the level of the non-visible part of the side windows (part where the fixings of the side window are located which is hidden by the door trim).

[0024] This vibration sensor 21 is mounted on the glazing to allow vibrations to be detected by said vibration sensor. For this purpose, the vibration sensor 21 is interfaced with the glazing via a rigid adhesive / glue interface or by a base interface, through encapsulation. This vibration sensor is connected to a computing unit 22 as shown in the figure 3 .

[0025] Indeed, it was observed that sound vibrations directed towards the glazing propagate through said glazing. More interestingly, these sound vibrations, captured by the vibration sensor, generate a representative electrical signal whose curve is similar to those recorded by a microphone, as seen in the figure 4 .

[0026] Therefore, the sound vibrations captured by the sensor 21 can be used to generate an electrical signal representative of a sound signal Sv. To this end, the vibration sensor 21 sends the electrical signal representing a sound signal to a processing unit 22 configured to handle this electrical signal. This processing unit 22 is first used to receive the electrical signal representing a sound signal Sv and then transmit it.

[0027] However, the processing unit 22 also performs digital processing on the electrical signal representing a sound signal and / or a first filtering stage. Indeed, it has been observed that the electrical signal representing a sound signal can exhibit background noise related to the sensor's dynamics, but also to any other vibrations received on the automotive glass while a car is in motion.

[0028] This first filtering stage is of the low-cut type, meaning that it allows for the cleaning of low frequencies.

[0029] A second digital processing or a second filtering stage is optionally considered to compensate for the tint brought to the recordings by the resonances of the glass.

[0030] This second filtering stage is of the high-cut type, meaning that it allows for the cleaning of high frequencies.

[0031] The filtering performed allows us to maintain a frequency range of 50 to 1500 Hz, preferably 60 Hz to 1200 Hz. This frequency range is that of the human voice. Once this processing has been carried out, the signal representing a processed sound signal becomes a useful signal Su which is sent, transmitted to at least one electroacoustic transducer 23 or audio transmitter of the loudspeaker type so that it reproduces a sound signal as seen at the figure 5The transducer used is located inside the vehicle and is preferably a transducer connected to a device such as a car radio or multimedia player.

[0032] The invention is ingenious in that the processing of the computing unit 22 is direct, that is to say, when this function is activated / when the computing unit 22 is activated, then the recovery of an electrical signal representative of a sound signal, its processing in order to obtain a useful signal and the sending of this useful signal to at least one transducer is automatic.

[0033] The invention thus makes it possible to recover vibrations representative of a sound signal in order to generate a useful signal transmitted to a transducer. The transducer converts this useful signal into a sound signal substantially identical to the sound signal that generated the recovered vibrations.

[0034] According to the invention, the vehicle is divided into two zones Z: a ​​front zone Z1 containing a left front side window and a right front side window, and a rear zone Z2 containing a left rear side window and a right rear side window. These windows are equipped with a vibration sensor 21. The windows 12 of each zone Z1 and Z2 are thus positioned on opposite sides of the vehicle. Essentially, the invention consists of having a window 12 equipped with a vibration sensor 21 in zone Z1 and an audio transducer or transmitter 23 in zone Z2, as shown in the illustration. figure 6 .

[0035] In a preferred version, the vehicle includes at least two electroacoustic transducers 23: one in the front zone Z1 and one in the rear zone Z2 as seen in the figure 7 .

[0036] The vehicle according to the invention is designed so that the passenger who is speaking can see their message transmitted to the other passengers.

[0037] To do this, an optional first step is to activate voice amplification mode. This can be done via voice command or manually using a switch. The voice command includes a keyword that is detected.

[0038] Once the voice amplification mode is activated, a sound signal can be detected by a side window or side window 12. In an enclosed space such as a vehicle, sound propagates in such a way that several side windows will pick up a sound signal representative of a passenger's voice. To determine which side window corresponds to the speaking passenger, it is assumed that the vibration amplitudes are very low on the windows that are not in the immediate vicinity of the speaker. However, it is possible to detect the side window by different shapes: trigger threshold (amplitude) at a certain vibration level; trigger threshold by variation in signal dynamics But this glazing selection can also be done by manual triggering (button type) or by voice recognition triggering (by using a keyword for example).

[0039] Once the side window is selected, the associated vibration sensor 21 detects the vibrations propagating across the side window 12 and generates a signal representative of a sound signal Vs, which is sent to a processing unit 22 for processing. This processing unit 22 then generates and sends the useful signal Su to an electroacoustic transducer 23.

[0040] If the speaking passenger is at the front zone Z1 then the useful signal Su is sent to the electroacoustic transducer 23 located at the rear zone Z2 and conversely if the speaking passenger is at the rear then the useful signal Su is sent to the electroacoustic transducer 23 located at the front in zone Z1.

[0041] In a first variant, the voice amplification system 20 is more advanced. For this, each side window 12 equipped with a vibration sensor 21 is associated with an electroacoustic transducer 23. Thus, the vehicle includes an electroacoustic transducer 23 arranged towards a front left side window 12, a second arranged towards a front right side window 12, a third arranged towards a rear left side window 12, and a fourth arranged towards a rear right side window 12. This results in four virtual zones Z: front left Z'1, front right Z'2, rear left Z'3, and rear right Z'4, as seen in the figure 8 .

[0042] This variant advantageously allows the computing unit 22 to send the useful signal Su to the electroacoustic transducer 23 of each unselected side window 12, enabling other passengers to hear the speaker's voice as visible to the figure 9 .

[0043] In a second variant compatible with the first variant visible at the Figure 10 The voice amplification system is associated with a presence module 25. This presence module 25 also includes presence sensors 26. These presence sensors 26 are, for example, force or pressure sensors installed under each seat to determine whether a person is seated or not.

[0044] These presence sensors 26 are connected to the computing unit 22, which is thus able to know how many passengers are present and their location.

[0045] Therefore, the processing unit 22, upon receiving a signal representing an audible signal, will process it and send it to the transducer(s) for which the presence of a passenger is detected. For example, assuming that, apart from the driver, only the right rear passenger is present, then a signal representing an audible signal generated by a vibration sensor at the left front window is processed, and the useful signal is then sent to the electroacoustic transducer located near a right rear side window.

[0046] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example but is susceptible to various variants and modifications which will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0047] Indeed, it is possible that the windscreen or rear window or even a sunroof could be used as a support for one or more vibration sensors 21.

[0048] Furthermore, it is possible to have a number of Z' zones equal to the number of side windows. Indeed, for large vehicles with at least three rows of seats, all passengers must be covered by the system according to the invention. Thus, each side window belongs to a zone comprising said side window, a vibration sensor 21 mounted on the side window, and an audio transmitter. This allows the processing unit 22 to transmit the useful signal Su to the Z' zones other than the one in which the vibration sensor 21 generated a representative signal Sv.

[0049] Of course, the vehicle according to the invention optionally includes a control means, integrated into the vehicle's on-board computer or specific such as a switch, for activating or deactivating the function of the invention, namely the function for capturing vibrations in a window to recover at least one useful signal representative of a voice, which is sent by said computing unit to an audio transmitter. The presence sensors 26 can be used to detect passengers and activate or deactivate said function.

Claims

1. A vehicle (1) comprising, At least one side glazing (12); At least one vibration sensor (21) arranged on the side glazing for detecting sound vibrations propagating on said glazing (12); At least one audio transmitter (23); A computing unit (22) connected to said vibration sensor (21) and to the audio transmitter (23); characterized in that said computing unit (22) is configured to receive from said vibration sensor (21) an electrical signal representative of an audio signal (Sv) representative of the voice of a passanger, to process this audio signal (Sv) in order to isolate a useful signal (Su) representative of the voice of the passanger, the useful signal (Su) representative of the voice being sent by said computing unit (22) to said audio transmitter (23) located inside the vehicle (1).

2. A vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the vehicle (1) is divided into a front zone (Z1) and a rear zone (Z2), said side glazing (12) provided with said vibration sensor (21) being arranged in the front zone (Z1) or the rear zone (Z2) and in that said audio transmitter (23) is arranged in a zone different from said vibration sensor (21).

3. A vehicle (1) according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle (1) is divided into a front zone (Z1) and a rear zone (Z2), each zone (Z1, Z2) comprising at least one side glazing (12) provided with said vibration sensor (21) and at least one audio transmitter (23).

4. A vehicle (1) according to claim 3, wherein each zone (Z1, Z2) comprises two side glazings (12) each provided with said vibration sensor (21), these side glazings (12) being placed on opposite sides of the vehicle (1).

5. A vehicle (1) according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle (1) is divided into a number of zones (Z) equal to the number of side glazings (12), each zone comprising a side glazing (12) provided with said vibration sensor (21) and an audio transmitter (23).

6. A vehicle (1) according to claim 5, wherein the computing unit (22) is able to process an electrical signal representative of the audio signal (Sv) from said vibration sensor (21) of a side glazing (12) and to transfer the useful signal (Su) to the audio transmitter (23) of the other side glazings (12).

7. A vehicle (1) according to claim 6, further comprising a presence module (25) comprising presence sensors (26) allowing for knowing whether passengers are seated, the computing unit (22) is able to process an electrical signal representative of an audio signal (Sv) from said vibration sensor (21) of a side glazing (12) and to transfer the useful signal (Su) to the audio transmitter (23) of the other side glazings (12) for which the presence of a passenger is detected.

8. A voice amplification method for a vehicle (1), comprising at least one side glazing (12), at least one vibration sensor (21) arranged on the side glazing for detecting sound vibrations propagating on said glazing (12), at least one audio transmitter (23) and a computing unit (22) connected to said vibration sensor (21) and to the audio transmitter (23), said computing unit being configured for: - detecting, via the vibration sensor (21), an audio signal (Sv) representative of the voice of a passenger; - generating, via said vibration sensor (21), an electrical signal representative of the audio signal (Sv); - sending the electrical signal representative of the audio signal (Sv) to the computing unit (22); - processing said electrical signal representative of the audio signal (Sv) to provide a useful signal (Su); - sending said useful signal (Su) to at least one audio transmitter (23) located inside the vehicle (1).

9. An amplification method according to claim 8, wherein the step of processing said one electrical signal representative of the audio signal (Sv) comprises a digital processing and / or a first step of filtering the electrical signal representative of the audio signal (Sv) to attenuate a background noise related to the dynamics of the sensor and / or to any other vibrations received on the automotive glass when the vehicle (1) is moving.

10. An amplification method according to claim 9, wherein the step consisting of processing said one electrical signal representative of the audio signal (Sv) further comprises a second digital processing or second step of filtering that filters to offset the distortion of recordings by glass resonances.