Method and device for controlling an audio system of a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling an audio system of a vehicle (10). To this end, items of data for controlling the activation of a power saving mode of the audio system are received. Items of occupancy detection data for a set of seats (111, 112, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132) of the vehicle (10) are received from a set of sensors on board the vehicle (10). The audio system is controlled so as to activate the power saving mode, wherein controlling the audio system comprises activating at least some of a set of speakers (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106) according to the items of occupancy data.

Description

DESCRIPTION Title: Method and device for controlling a vehicle audio system Technical field

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2305255 filed on 26.05.2023, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention relates to methods and devices for controlling an audio system of a vehicle, in particular but not exclusively of a motor vehicle. The present invention also relates to a method and device for controlling the activation and deactivation of a set of loudspeakers of the vehicle. Technological background

[0002] A vehicle's electrical energy needs are met by one or more batteries on board the vehicle. For vehicles with internal combustion engines, the electrical energy is supplied by a 12 V battery. For vehicles with electric motors, the electrical energy is supplied by a so-called traction battery.

[0003] With the development of driver assistance systems, infotainment systems, and other on-board systems, the electrical energy requirements of vehicles are increasing. This means that vehicle batteries need to be recharged more regularly, which increases consumption (fuel for combustion-engine vehicles and electrical energy for electric vehicles).

[0004] An increase in power consumption by the peripheral systems of an electric vehicle, i.e. systems other than the electric motor(s), leads to a reduction in range and a need for more regular charging. With the development of electric vehicles, these needs are increasingly important, including when the vehicle is stationary and the battery(ies) are not being recharged. For example, modern vehicles have certain devices that need to remain in operation even when the vehicle is not being used for movement, for example to ensure vehicle safety, remote vehicle control or the transmission of information from the vehicle to one or more remote devices such as a server or a mobile communication device. These devices correspond, for example, to calculators, also called ECUs (Electronic Control Units), or telematic control units, called TCUs (Telematic Control Units).

[0005] Controlling the electrical consumption of contemporary vehicles is an important issue for increasing the vehicle's autonomy and / or reducing its consumption and associated pollution. Summary of the present invention

[0006] An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to reduce the electrical consumption of a vehicle.

[0008] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method of controlling an audio system of a vehicle, the audio system comprising a set of loudspeakers arranged in the vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: - receiving command data for activating an energy saving mode of the audio system; - receiving occupancy data representative of detection of occupancy of a set of vehicle seats by a set of occupants from a set of sensors on board the vehicle; - audio system control to activate power saving mode, control of the audio system comprising activation of at least part of the speaker set based on occupancy data.

[0009] Taking into account the presence of one or more occupants (driver and / or passengers) in the vehicle to activate all or part of the vehicle's speakers makes it possible, in an energy-saving mode of the vehicle's audio system, to adjust the needs in terms of rendering sound content according to the number and / or location of the occupants in the vehicle. Thus, in certain situations, only part of the speakers is activated for rendering sound content, which makes it possible to reduce the vehicle's electrical energy requirements.

[0010] According to a variant, the vehicle comprising a plurality of rows of seats forming the set of seats, at least one loudspeaker being associated with each row of seats of the plurality of rows of seats, the occupancy data comprising occupied seat identification data identifying each seat of the set of seats occupied by an occupant of the set of occupants, the activation of the at least part of the set of loudspeakers comprises, for each row of seats comprising at least one seat identified as occupied, called occupied row of seats, an activation of the at least one loudspeaker associated with the occupied row of seats.

[0011] According to another variant, the activation of at least one part of the set of loudspeakers comprises, for each row of seats not comprising any seat identified as occupied, called unoccupied row of seats, a deactivation of the at least one loudspeaker associated with the unoccupied row of seats.

[0012] According to a further variant, the vehicle comprising a first row of seats and a second row of seats located behind the first row of seats in a direction of travel of the vehicle, the activation of at least one part of the set of loudspeakers comprises: - activating the at least one loudspeaker associated with the first row of seats only when the occupied seat identification data uniquely identifies one or more seats in the first row of seats as occupied; - activation of at least one loudspeaker associated with the first row of seats and of the at least one loudspeaker associated with the second row of seats when the occupied seat identification data identifies one or more seats in the first row of seats and one or more seats in the second row of seats as occupied; and - activating the at least one loudspeaker associated with the first row of seats and the at least one loudspeaker associated with the second row of seats when the occupied seat identification data identifies only one or more seats in the second row of seats as occupied.

[0013] According to a further variant, the vehicle further comprising a third row of seats located behind the second row of seats in a direction of travel of the vehicle, the activation of at least one part of the set of loudspeakers further comprises: - activating the at least one loudspeaker associated with the first row of seats, the at least one loudspeaker associated with the second row of seats and the at least one loudspeaker associated with the third row of seats when the occupied seat identification data identifies one or more seats in the first row of seats, one or more seats in the second row of seats and one or more seats in the third row of seats as occupied; - activating only the at least one loudspeaker associated with the first row of seats and the at least one loudspeaker associated with the third row of seats when the occupied seat identification data identifies only one or more seats in the first row of seats and one or more seats in the third row of seats as occupied; and - activating the at least one loudspeaker associated with the first row of seats, the at least one loudspeaker associated with the second row of seats and the at least one loudspeaker associated with the third row of seats when the occupied seat identification data uniquely identifies one or more seats in the second row of seats and / or one or more seats in the third row of seats as occupied.

[0014] According to an additional variant, the control data for activating a power saving mode of the audio system are received: - a touch interface of a display screen on board the vehicle, the energy saving mode activation command data being representative of a touch press on a graphic object displayed on the display screen and associated with the energy saving mode activation command; or - a device for controlling a vehicle driving mode when a vehicle driving mode corresponding to an energy saving mode is activated.

[0015] According to another variant, the set of sensors comprises: - a set of seat belt buckle sensors associated with the set of seats; and / or - a set of pressure sensors arranged in the seat assembly.

[0016] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a device for controlling an audio system in a vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured to implement the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0017] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle, for example of the automobile type, comprising a device as described above according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0018] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for executing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

[0019] Such a computer program may use any programming language, and may be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0020] According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0021] On the one hand, the recording medium can be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may include a storage medium, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit type ROM memory, or a magnetic recording medium or a hard disk.

[0022] Furthermore, this recording medium may also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or hertzian radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention may in particular be downloaded from a network such as the Internet.

[0023] Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to perform or to be used in performing the method in question.

[0024] Brief description of the figures

[0025] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 3, in which:

[0026] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates a vehicle comprising a plurality of seats, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] [Fig. 2] schematically illustrates a device configured for controlling an audio system of the vehicle of FIG. 1, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] [Fig. 3] illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for controlling an audio system of the vehicle of FIG. 1, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Description of examples of implementation

[0030] A method and device for controlling an audio system of a vehicle will now be described in the following with joint reference to Figures 1 to 3. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description which follows.

[0031] The terms "first(s)", "second(s)" (or "first(s)", "second(s)"), etc. are used in this document by arbitrary convention to identify and distinguish different elements (such as operations, means, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below. Such elements may be distinct or correspond to a single element, depending on the embodiment.

[0032] Contemporary vehicles are equipped with an on-board audio system to enhance vehicle journeys and offer the driver and / or passengers the ability to listen to any recorded or broadcast audio content. An on-board audio system in a vehicle generally comprises a head unit, an amplifier and a set of loudspeakers (also called speaker enclosures) arranged in the vehicle's passenger compartment, in different locations for better spatialization of the sound produced by these loudspeakers.

[0033] According to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention, the control of an audio system of a vehicle, for example by a computer of the vehicle controlling the audio system and in particular the activation and / or deactivation of each speaker of a set of speakers equipping the vehicle, comprises the reception of data for controlling the activation of an energy saving mode of the audio system, for example from a device on board the vehicle via one or more data buses. Occupancy data representative of the detection of the occupation of one or more seats of a set of seats of the vehicle by a set of occupants are further received from a set of sensors on board the vehicle, for example seat belt buckle sensors and / or pressure sensors arranged in the seats.The audio system is then controlled based on the received data to activate the power saving mode of the audio system and to activate all or part of the speakers, i.e. to turn each speaker in the vehicle's speaker system on or off.

[0034] Figure 1 schematically illustrates the interior of a vehicle 10 according to a top view, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] The vehicle 10 corresponds, for example, to a vehicle with a thermal engine, with an electric motor(s) or even a hybrid vehicle with a thermal engine and one or more electric motors. The vehicle 10 thus corresponds, for example, to a land vehicle, for example a car, a van, a bus or a truck.

[0036] The vehicle 10 is advantageously equipped with seats to accommodate one or more occupants, driver or passenger, each sitting on a seat of the set of seats 111, 112, 121, 122, 123, 131 and 132.

[0037] According to the example of Figure 1, the seats 111, 112, 121, 122, 123, 131 and 132 of the vehicle 10 are arranged in 3 rows or rows 11, 12, 13, the first row 11 comprising 2 seats 111 and 112, the second row 12 comprising 3 seats 121, 122 and 123 and the third row 13 comprising 2 seats 131 and 132.

[0038] The number of rows of seats in the vehicle 10 is not limited to 3 but is for example equal to 2, or even 4, 5 or more (for example in the case of a coach or a bus). According to a particular example, the vehicle 10 comprises only one row of seats.

[0039] The number of seats per row is not limited to 2 or 3 but extends to 1 or 4 seats for example. Similarly, the first row 11 comprises, according to a particular example, 3 seats, the second row 12 comprises 2 seats and the third row 13 comprises 3 seats.

[0040] The first row 11 corresponds to the front row and includes the driver's seat 111, the second row 12 is arranged behind the first row 11 according to the direction of travel of the vehicle 10 and the third row 13 is arranged behind the second row 12 according to the direction of travel of the vehicle 10. The second row 12 is thus arranged in the middle of the vehicle 10 between the first row 11 and the third row 13 and the third row 13 corresponds to the rear row of the vehicle 10.

[0041] Each seat 111, 112, 121, 122, 123, 131 and 132 is advantageously equipped with a seat belt, a buckle being associated with each seat in addition to the seat belt. The buckle is configured to receive a flat lock corresponding to the end of the seat belt which is inserted into the buckle when the seat belt is buckled to retain or hold the occupant in his seat.

[0042] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, each buckle of each seat is equipped with one or more sensors configured to detect the fastening of the seat belt (i.e. the insertion of the flat lock into the buckle). When the fastening of the belt is detected by the sensor(s), a signal is transmitted to a computer of the vehicle, the computer determining via the reception of this signal that the seat in question is occupied by an occupant seated on this seat. The computer is then able to determine or identify each seat of the vehicle 10 occupied by an occupant from the signals or data received from all of the seat belt buckle sensors of the vehicle 10.

[0043] According to another exemplary embodiment, each seat 111, 112, 121, 122, 123, 131 and 132 is equipped with a pressure or weight sensor configured to detect the presence of an occupant seated on a seat. A computer controlling these pressure or weight sensors is thus configured to determine or identify which seat(s) of the vehicle 10 is (are) occupied by an occupant.

[0044] According to yet another exemplary embodiment, each seat 111, 112, 121, 122, 123, 131 and 132 is equipped with a capacitive and / or electric field sensor determining the presence and position of an occupant by analyzing the disturbances of the oscillation in a low-intensity magnetic field generated by the system. A computer controlling these capacitive sensors is thus configured to determine or identify which seat(s) of the vehicle 10 is (are) occupied by an occupant.

[0045] According to a particular example, the vehicle 10 is equipped with several types of sensors configured to detect the presence of an occupant on the seat, for example a seat belt buckle sensor and a pressure sensor per seat, or for some of the seats only (e.g. first row seats 11 or first and second row seats 11 and 12).

[0046] The vehicle 10 advantageously incorporates an audio and / or multimedia system configured for the rendering of sound content.

[0047] An in-vehicle audio system includes, for example: - a head unit, generally placed on the dashboard; a head unit combines several functions, such as controlling the overall volume of the system and controlling different audio sources in a vehicle: car radio, multimedia player such as an MP3 player or a smartphone (or in French "intelligent telephone"), USB reader (from the English "Universal Serial Bus" or "Universal Serial Bus" in French), data storage device integrated into the audio system, etc.; control is advantageously carried out via a user interface, for example via a touch screen and / or by issuing voice commands; - an audio amplifier corresponding to an electronic amplifier configured to amplify an audio electrical signal in order to obtain sufficient power to vibrate one or more loudspeakers and generate sounds corresponding to the audio or sound signal to be reproduced; and - a set of loudspeakers 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106.

[0048] The loudspeakers 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106 are spatially distributed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 10 in such a way that one or more loudspeakers of the set of loudspeakers 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106 are associated with each row of seats 11, 12, 13 of the vehicle 10.

[0049] According to the example of Figure 1, the loudspeakers 101, 102 (called front loudspeakers) are associated with the first row of seats 11, the loudspeakers 103, 104 (called middle or intermediate loudspeakers) are associated with the second row of seats 12 and the loudspeakers 105, 106 (called rear loudspeakers) are associated with the third row of seats 13. For example, the loudspeakers 101, 102 are arranged to the left and right of the first row of seats 11 (depending on the direction of travel of the vehicle 10), the loudspeakers 103, 104 are arranged to the left and right of the second the row of seats 12 and the loudspeakers 105, 106 are arranged to the left and right of the third row of seats 13. Loudspeakers are said to be associated with a row of seats in that they are configured to reproduce sound as close as possible to the row of seats with which they are associated, for example.

[0050] The number of loudspeakers associated with each row of seats is not limited to 2 but extends to any number, this number being for example equal to 4 or 6.

[0051] The audio and / or multimedia system is advantageously controlled by one or more computers 100 of the vehicle 10, for example by a computer called IVI (from the English “In-Vehicle Infotainment” or in French “Infodivertissement monté”).

[0052] The vehicle 10 for example has a display screen, for example arranged in the dashboard. Such a display screen corresponds for example to a touch interface screen and is called a touch screen. Such a screen is for example of the LCD type (from the English “Liquid Crystal Display” or in French “Display à cristals liquide”), for example of the TFT type (from the English “Thin-Film Transistor” or in French “Transistor en film mince”), or OLED (from the English “Organic Light-Emitting Diode” or in French “Diode électroluminescente biologique”).

[0053] Such a touch screen is configured for displaying graphical contents, for example contents of one or more human-machine interfaces (called HMIs). An HMI is for example provided and adapted to control the multimedia system of the vehicle 10, in particular the audio system of the vehicle 10. Such an HMI comprises for example a set of graphical objects each configured to control a set of parameters of the audio system such as for example, the volume of the sound, the spatial distribution of the sound rendering between the different speakers (for example left / right and / or front / rear), etc. According to a particular exemplary embodiment, the HMI comprises a graphical object (for example a virtual button or an icon) configured to activate or deactivate an energy saving mode of the audio system by touching the location of this graphical object on the touch screen displaying the HMI.

[0054] According to another example, the vehicle 10 comprises an interface allowing the driver or a passenger to choose a driving mode from a set of driving modes comprising for example a so-called normal mode, a so-called sport mode and a so-called energy saving mode. Activating the energy saving mode (for example by touching the touch screen displaying the HMI) or by selecting the mode via a button or a physical control lever provided in the vehicle 10 makes it possible, for example, to configure a set of parameters reducing the consumption of the vehicle 10 (for example acceleration profile parameters, speed parameters, etc.).

[0055] The various computers controlling the systems or sets of sensors described above form, for example, a multiplexed architecture for the implementation of various services useful for the proper functioning of the vehicle. The computers communicate and exchange data with each other via one or more computer buses, for example a communication bus of the CAN (Controller Area Network), CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (according to the ISO 17458 standard), LIN (Local Interconnect Network) or Ethernet (according to the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard) data bus type.

[0056] A process for controlling the audio system of the vehicle 10 is advantageously implemented by the vehicle 10, for example by a computer 100 of the on-board system of the vehicle 10.

[0057] In a first operation of the process, control data for activating an energy saving mode of the audio system are received by the computer 100, for example from another device on board the vehicle 10 via one or more data buses.

[0058] For example, order data is received: - of the touch screen or of a computer controlling the touch screen following a request to activate the energy saving mode of the audio system made by touching a graphic object provided for this purpose of an HMI configured for controlling the audio system. According to this example, the control data correspond for example to data representative of a touch press on the graphic object, for example by the driver or a passenger of the vehicle 10. Such an example corresponds to a manually configuring the audio system's power saving mode; or - a computer controlling the driving mode of the vehicle 10, the control data being received automatically according to this example when the driving mode corresponding to the energy saving mode is activated for the vehicle 10, for example following a request from the driver made by actuating the control provided for this purpose (for example by touching a graphic object of an associated HMI displayed on the touch screen). According to this example, switching to the so-called energy saving driving mode automatically results in the generation of a request for the audio system to switch to the energy saving mode.

[0059] In a second operation of the process, the computer 100 controls the audio system of the vehicle 10 to switch it from a current mode to the energy saving mode following receipt of the energy saving mode activation control data.

[0060] In a third operation, the computer receives occupancy data representative of the occupancy detection of each of the seats 111, 112, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132 of the vehicle 10 obtained from a set of sensors on board the vehicle, for example the seat belt fastening sensors associated with each seat 111, 112, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132 of the vehicle 10 and / or the pressure sensors arranged in the seats 111, 112, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132 of the vehicle 10.

[0061] This occupancy data is for example obtained at the request of the computer 100, such a request being for example transmitted to the computer(s) controlling the sensors or directly to the sensors (for example when the computer 100 also controls these sensors).

[0062] According to another example, the occupancy data are obtained, received or retrieved from a memory of the vehicle 10 accessible by the computer 100, such a memory storing for example current information (in real time) on the occupancy of each of the seats 111, 112, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132 of the vehicle 10 obtained from the data received from the sensors.

[0063] Occupancy data includes, for example, identification data identifying or locating each seat occupied by an occupant, enabling the calculator 100 to determine which seat(s) is(are) occupied by an occupant (called occupied seat) and which seat(s) is(are) not occupied by an occupant (called unoccupied seat).

[0064] In a fourth operation of the process, the computer 100 controls the activation of at least a part of the set of loudspeakers 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106 according to the occupancy data.

[0065] Controlling activation includes activating all or part of the speakers 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106 and deactivating the other speakers, if any.

[0066] For example, speakers are by default in the off state and activation control includes controlling the transition from the off state to the on state for the speaker(s) determined to be switched to the on state.

[0067] In another example, the speakers are by default in the enabled state and controlling the activation includes controlling the transition from the enabled state to the disabled state for the speaker(s) determined to transition to the disabled state, if applicable.

[0068] The activation of at least one part of the set of loudspeakers 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106 comprises, for each row of seats comprising at least one seat identified as occupied, called occupied row of seats, an activation of the at least one loudspeaker associated with the occupied row of seats.

[0069] The activation of at least one part of the set of loudspeakers 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106 comprises, for each row of seats not comprising any seat identified as occupied, called unoccupied row of seats, a deactivation of the at least one loudspeaker associated with the unoccupied row of seats.

[0070] According to an example in which the vehicle 10 comprises 2 rows of seats, namely the first row 11 and the second row 12, the activation of all or part of the set of loudspeakers 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106 comprises: - activating the speaker(s) 101, 102 associated with the first row of seats 11 only when the occupied seat identification data uniquely identifies one or more seats in the first row of seats 11 as being occupied, the second row 12 not including any seats detected as being occupied; - activating the speaker(s) 101, 102 associated with the first row of seats 11 and the speaker(s) 103, 104 associated with the second row of seats 12 when the occupied seat identification data identifies one or more seats in the first row of seats 11 and one or more seats in the second row of seats 12 as being occupied; and - activating the speaker(s) 101, 102 associated with the first row of seats 11 and activating the speaker(s) 103, 104 associated with the second row of seats 12 when the occupied seat identification data identifies only one or more seats in the second row of seats 12 as being occupied, the first row of seats 11 not comprising any seat detected as being occupied.

[0071] According to an example in which the vehicle 10 comprises 3 rows of seats, namely the first row 11, the second row 12 and the third row 13, the activation of all or part of the set of loudspeakers 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106 comprises: - activation of the speaker(s) 101, 102 associated with the first row of seats 11 only when the occupied seat identification data identifies only one or more seats in the first row of seats 11 as occupied, the second 12 and third row 13 not including any seats detected as occupied; - activating the speaker(s) 101, 102 associated with the first row of seats 11 and the speaker(s) 103, 104 associated with the second row of seats 12 when the occupied seat identification data identifies one or more seats in the first row of seats 11 and one or more seats in the second row of seats 12 only as being occupied, the third row 13 not comprising any seat detected as being occupied; - the activation of the speaker(s) 101, 102 associated with the first row of seats 11, the activation of the speaker(s) 103, 104 associated with the second row of seats 12 and the activation of the speaker(s) 105, 106 associated with the third row of seats 13 when the occupied seat identification data identifies one or more seats in the first row of seats 11, one or more seats in the second row of seats 12 and one or more seats in the third row of seats 13 as being occupied; - activating only the speaker(s) 101, 102 associated with the first row of seats 12 and the speaker(s) 105, 106 associated with the third row of seats 13 when the occupied seat identification data identifies only one or more seats in the first row of seats 11 and one or more seats in the third row of seats 11 as occupied, the second row of seats 12 not comprising any seat detected as being occupied; and - activating the speaker(s) 101, 102 associated with the first row of seats 11, activating the speaker(s) associated with the second row of seats 12 and activating the speaker(s) associated with the third row of seats 13 when the occupied seat identification data identifies only one or more seats in the second row of seats 12 and / or one or more seats in the third row of seats 12 as being occupied, the first row of seats 11 not comprising any seat detected as being occupied.

[0072] Figure 2 schematically illustrates a device 2 configured to control the audio system of a vehicle, for example of the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The device 2 corresponds for example to a device on board the vehicle 10, for example a computer, for example the computer 100.

[0073] The device 2 is for example configured for the implementation of the operations described with regard to figure 1 and / or the steps of the method described with regard to figure 3. Examples of such a device 2 include, but are not limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as an on-board computer of a vehicle, an electronic calculator such as an ECU (“Electronic Control Unit”), a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop. The elements of the device 2, individually or in combination, can be integrated into a single circuit integrated, in several integrated circuits, and / or in discrete components. The device 2 can be produced in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0074] The device 2 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 20 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the method and / or for executing the instructions of the software(s) embedded in the device 2. The processor 20 may include integrated memory, an input / output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 2 further comprises at least one memory 21 corresponding for example to volatile and / or non-volatile memory and / or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

[0075] The computer code of the embedded software(s) including the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored in the memory 21.

[0076] According to various particular embodiments, the device 2 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and / or with communication devices, for example a TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit” or in French “Telematic Control Unit”), for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input / output ports.

[0077] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 2 comprises a block 22 of interface elements for communicating with external devices. The interface elements of block 22 include one or more of the following interfaces: - RF radio frequency interface, for example Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi® type, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced; - USB interface (from the English “Universal Serial Bus” or “Universal Serial Bus” in French); - HDMI interface (from the English “High Definition Multimedia Interface” or “High Definition Multimedia Interface” in French); - LIN interface (from the English “Local Interconnect Network”).

[0078] According to another particular embodiment, the device 2 comprises a communication interface 23 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as other computers of the on-board system) via a communication channel 230. The communication interface 23 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and / or data via the communication channel 230. The communication interface 23 corresponds for example to a wired network of the CAN (Controller Area Network), CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (standardized by the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (standardized by the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0079] According to a further particular embodiment, the device 2 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 240, one or more speakers 250 and / or other peripherals 260 (projection system) via output interfaces 24, 25 and 26 respectively. According to a variant, one or other of the external devices is integrated into the device 2.

[0080] Figure 3 illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for controlling an audio system of a vehicle, for example the audio system of the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method is for example implemented by a device on board the vehicle 10, for example by one or more processors on board the vehicle 10, or by the device 2 of Figure 2.

[0081] In a first step 31, control data for activating an energy saving mode of the audio system are received.

[0082] In a second step 32, occupancy data representative of detection of occupancy of a set of seats of the vehicle by a set of occupants are received from a set of sensors on board the vehicle.

[0083] In a third step 33, the audio system is controlled to enter the power saving mode (power saving mode activation), the control of the audio system comprising an activation of at least a portion of the speaker set based on the occupancy data.

[0084] According to an alternative embodiment, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to figure 1 apply to the steps of the method of figure 3.

[0085] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but extends to a method for broadcasting sound content by one or more loudspeakers of a vehicle which would include secondary steps without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for the implementation of such a method.

[0086] The invention also relates to a system comprising the device 2 of Figure 2 connected in communication with the speaker assembly of the vehicle.

[0087] The invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous land-based motor vehicle, comprising the device 2 of figure 2 or the system above.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A method of controlling an audio system of a vehicle (10), said audio system comprising a set of loudspeakers (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106) arranged in said vehicle (10), said method comprising the following steps: - receiving (31) control data for activating an energy saving mode of said audio system; - receiving (32) occupancy data representative of occupancy detection of a set of seats (111, 112, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132) of said vehicle (10) by a set of occupants from a set of sensors on board said vehicle (10); - controlling (33) said audio system to activate said energy saving mode, said controlling said audio system comprising activating at least part of said set of speakers (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106) as a function of said occupancy data.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein, said vehicle (10) comprising a plurality of rows of seats (11, 12, 13) forming said set of seats (111, 112, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132), at least one loudspeaker being associated with each row of seats of the plurality of rows of seats, said occupancy data comprising occupied seat identification data identifying each seat of said set of seats (111, 112, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132) occupied by an occupant of said set of occupants, the activation of the at least part of the set of loudspeakers (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106) comprises, for each row of seats comprising at least one seat identified as occupied, said row of seats occupied, an activation of the at least one loudspeaker associated with the occupied row of seats.

3. Method according to claim 2, for which the activation of the at least one part of the set of loudspeakers (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106) comprises, for each row of seats not comprising any seat identified as occupied, said unoccupied row of seats, a deactivation of at least one loudspeaker associated with the unoccupied row of seats.

4. Method according to claim 2, for which, said vehicle comprising a first row of seats (11) and a second row of seats (12) located behind the first row of seats (11) in a direction of travel of said vehicle (10), the activation of at least one part of the set of loudspeakers comprises: - activating the at least one loudspeaker (101, 102) associated with the first row of seats (11) only when said occupied seat identification data uniquely identifies one or more seats of the first row of seats (11) as occupied; - activating the at least one loudspeaker (101, 102) associated with the first row of seats (11) and the at least one loudspeaker (103, 104) associated with the second row of seats (12) when said occupied seat identification data identifies one or more seats of the first row of seats (11) and one or more seats of the second row of seats (12) as occupied; and - activating the at least one loudspeaker (101, 102) associated with the first row of seats (11) and the at least one loudspeaker (103, 104) associated with the second row of seats (12) when said occupied seat identification data uniquely identifies one or more seats of the second row of seats as occupied.

5. Method according to claim 4, for which, said vehicle (10) further comprising a third row of seats (13) located behind the second row of seats (12) in a direction of travel of said vehicle, the activation of the at least part of the set of loudspeakers further comprises: - activating the at least one loudspeaker (101, 102) associated with the first row of seats (11), the at least one loudspeaker (103, 104) associated with the second row of seats (12) and the at least one loudspeaker (105, 106) associated with the third row of seats (13) when said occupied seat identification data identifies one or more seats of the first row of seats (11), one or more seats of the second row of seats (12) and one or more seats of the third row of seats (13) as occupied; - activating only the at least one loudspeaker (101, 102) associated with the first row of seats (11) and the at least one loudspeaker (105, 106) associated with the third row of seats (13) when said occupied seat identification data uniquely identifies one or more seats of the first row of seats (11) and one or more seats of the third row of seats (13) as occupied; and - activating the at least one loudspeaker (101, 102) associated with the first row of seats (11), the at least one loudspeaker (103, 104) associated with the second row of seats (12) and the at least one loudspeaker (105, 106) associated with the third row of seats (13) when said occupied seat identification data uniquely identifies one or more seats of the second row of seats (12) and / or one or more seats of the third row of seats (13) as occupied.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, for which said data for controlling activation of an energy saving mode of the audio system are received: - a touch interface of a display screen on board said vehicle (10), said energy saving mode activation control data being representative of a touch press on a graphic object displayed on said display screen and associated with the energy saving mode activation control; or - a device for controlling a driving mode of the vehicle (10) when a driving mode of the vehicle corresponding to an energy saving mode is activated.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, for which said set of sensors comprises: - a set of seat belt buckle sensors associated with said set of seats (111, 112, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132); and / or - a set of pressure sensors arranged in said set of seats (111, 112, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132).

8. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, when these instructions are executed by a processor.

9. Device (2) for controlling an audio system of a vehicle, said device (2) comprising a memory (21) associated with at least one processor (20) configured for implementing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. Vehicle (10) comprising the device (2) according to claim 9.

Images