Sound control device, system, and method

Abstract

Some demonstrative examples include sound control devices, systems, and methods, such as a device configured to process one or more audio inputs heard in one or more personal sound zones and a plurality of monitoring inputs, the plurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined monitoring sensing locations defined within the one or more personal sound zones, determine a sound control pattern based on the one or more audio inputs and the plurality of monitoring inputs, the sound control pattern comprising a plurality of sound control signals configured to respectively drive a plurality of acoustic transducers so that the one or more audio inputs are heard in the one or more personal sound zones, and output the plurality of sound control signals to the plurality of acoustic transducers.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 788,868, entitled "APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SOUND CONTROL," filed on January 6, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD The embodiments described herein relate generally to audio control (also referred to as "sound control"). [Background technology]

[0003] For example, there may be many multi-sound environments, such as trains, buses, airplanes, etc., in which multiple users can produce and / or hear multiple different sounds.

[0004] In such a multi-sound environment, a user may be disturbed by the sounds of one or more other users.

[0005] For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity of presentation. In addition, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or similar elements. The figures are listed below. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a sound control system, according to some demonstrative embodiments. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a deployment scheme of components of a sound control system, according to some demonstrative embodiments. [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic block diagram of a controller, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. [Figure 4A]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an array of loudspeakers deployed to control sound in multiple sound control zones, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. [Figure 4B] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an array of loudspeakers deployed to control sound in multiple sound control zones, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. [Diagram 5] 1 is a schematic diagram of a deployment scheme for a sound control system, according to some demonstrative embodiments. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a deployment scheme of components of a sound control system, according to some demonstrative embodiments. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a deployment scheme of components of a sound control system, according to some demonstrative embodiments. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a deployment scheme of components of a sound control system, according to some demonstrative embodiments. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a deployment scheme of components of a sound control system, according to some demonstrative embodiments. [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic diagram of a controller, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. [Figure 11] 1 is a schematic diagram of a frequency selector, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. [Figure 12] 1 is a schematic diagram of a Speaker Transfer Function (STF) adapter, according to some demonstrative embodiments. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a sound control pattern generator, according to some demonstrative embodiments. [Figure 14] 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a controller including an Active Noise Control (ANC) mechanism, according to some demonstrative embodiments. [Figure 16] FIG. 1 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method for sound control, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. [Figure 17]1 is a schematic diagram of a product, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some embodiments. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that some embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, units, and / or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the discussion.

[0008] For example, discussions herein utilizing terms such as "processing," "computing," "calculating," "determining," "establishing," "analyzing," "checking," and the like may refer to operations and / or processing of a computer, computing platform, computing system, or other electronic computing device that manipulates and / or converts data represented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within the computer's registers and / or memory to other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer's registers and / or memory or other information storage medium that may store instructions for performing the operations and / or processing.

[0009] As used herein, the terms "plurality" and "a plurality" include, for example, "a plurality" or "two or more." For example, "a plurality of items" includes two or more items.

[0010] Some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits or binary digital signals within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations may be the techniques used by those skilled in the data processing arts to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art.

[0011] An algorithm is herein generally conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of operations or computations leading to a desired result. These involve physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. However, it should be understood that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities.

[0012] Some demonstrative examples include systems and methods that may be effectively implemented to control sound within predefined areas and / or zones, for example, as described below.

[0013] Some demonstrative examples may include, for example, methods and / or systems configured to control sound within at least one personal sound zone (also referred to as a "Personal Sound Bubble (PSB)"), as described below.

[0014] In some demonstrative examples, a sound control system (also referred to as a "PSB system") may be configured to generate a sound control pattern, which may be based on at least one audio input, such that, for example, at least one personal sound zone may be generated based on the audio input.

[0015] In some demonstrative examples, the sound control system may be configured to control sound within at least one predefined location, area, or zone, such as at least one PSB, based on audio heard by a user at the PSB, for example, as described below.

[0016] In some demonstrative examples, the sound control system may be configured to control the sound contrast between one or more first sound patterns and one or more second sound patterns in the PSB, for example, as described below.

[0017] In some demonstrative examples, for example, the sound control system may be configured to control the sound contrast between one or more first sound patterns and one or more second sound patterns of audio heard by a user in the PSB, e.g., as described below.

[0018] In some demonstrative examples, for example, the sound control system may be configured to selectively increase and / or amplify the amplitude of sound energy and / or waves of one or more types of sound patterns within the PSB based, for example, on audio heard at the PSB, selectively reduce and / or eliminate the amplitude of sound energy and / or waves of one or more types of sound patterns within the PSB based, for example, on audio provided to one or more other PSBs, and / or selectively maintain and / or preserve the amplitude of sound energy and / or waves of one or more other types of sound patterns within the PSB.

[0019] In some demonstrative embodiments, the sound control system may be configured to control sound within the PSB based on any other additional or alternative inputs or criteria, for example as described below.

[0020] In some demonstrative examples, for example, the sound control system may be configured to control sound within the PSB based on one or more attributes of sounds in, e.g., an environment, such as the environment surrounding the PSB, e.g., outside the PSB, and / or one or more other PSBs, such as, for example, nearby PSBs, as described below.

[0021] In some demonstrative examples, for example, the sound control system may be configured to control sound within the PSB based on one or more attributes of noise and / or unwanted sound, for example, to reduce and / or eliminate one or more sound patterns within the PSB, for example, as described below.

[0022] In some demonstrative examples, for example, the sound control systems and / or methods described herein may be configured to control the sound energy and / or wave amplitude of one or more sound patterns within a PSB in any other manner, for example to affect, modify, and / or correct the sound energy and / or wave amplitude of one or more acoustic patterns within a predefined zone.

[0023] In some demonstrative examples, a personal sound zone may include, for example, a three-dimensional zone that defines a volume (also called a "volume") within which sound is controlled.

[0024] In one example, the personal sound zone may include a spherical volume, such as a bubble-like volume, or any other volume having any other shape or form, and the PSB system may be configured to control sound within the spherical volume.

[0025] In other embodiments, the personal sound zone may include any other suitable volume, which may be defined, for example, based on one or more attributes of the location in which the personal sound zone is maintained.

[0026] Reference is now made to Fig. 1, which illustrates a schematic of a sound control system 100 (also referred to as a "PSB system"), according to some demonstrative embodiments. Reference is also made to Fig. 2, which illustrates a schematic of a deployment scheme 200 of components of the PSB system 100, according to some demonstrative embodiments.

[0027] In some demonstrative examples, system 100 may be configured to control sound within at least one personal sound zone 201, including at least one personal sound zone 220, e.g., designated "Zone 1," based at least on at least one audio input. For example, the PSB system may be configured to control audio within at least one PSB 220, e.g., based at least on at least one audio input heard by a user at PSB 220, e.g., as described below.

[0028] In some demonstrative examples, the personal sound zone 220 may include a three-dimensional zone. For example, the personal sound zone 220 may include a spherical zone.

[0029] In one example, the personal sound zone 220 may include a predefined zone and / or area, which may be suitable for a single person, animal, plant, device, such as a smart home device, or any other object.

[0030] In one instance, the personal sound zones 220 may include, for example, three-dimensional zones that define volumes within which sounds are controlled.

[0031] In some demonstrative examples, the audio input may include audio designated for listening in a personal sound zone, for example, as described below.

[0032] In some demonstrative examples, the system 100 may be configured to control sound within multiple personal sound zones 201, including, for example, two or more personal sound zones, as described below.

[0033] In some demonstrative examples, the multiple sound zones 201 may include P personal sound zones, including, for example, personal sound zone 220 and at least one other personal sound zone 229, denoted as “Zone P.”

[0034] In some demonstrative examples, for example, as described below, multiple personal sound zones 201 may be configured for one or more, e.g., multiple people, animals, plants, devices, or any other objects, such as computing devices or personal assistant devices.

[0035] In one example, some environments, e.g., multi-sound environments such as vehicles, trains, airplanes, workspaces, homes, public places, etc., may include spaces shared by multiple users, where each user may want to hear different sounds, e.g., audio, music, voice, etc. According to this example, for example, as described below, it may be necessary to enable multiple users to enjoy individual sound experiences.

[0036] In some demonstrative examples, the sound control system 100 may be configured to generate separation between personal sound zones of the multiple sound zones 201, for example, to implement sound separation in such a multi-sound environment, as described below.

[0037] In some demonstrative examples, the sound control system 100 may be configured to divide the environment 215, which is, for example, a multi-sound environment, into several virtual independent zones, for example in the form of several personal sound zones, such that, for example, a personal sound experience is conveyed to each personal sound zone, for example, as described below.

[0038] In some demonstrative examples, the sound control system 100 may be configured to use an array of acoustic transducers 108, e.g., loudspeakers, deployed in the environment 215, e.g., in a manner that may be configured to divide the environment into multiple personal sound zones 201, e.g., as described below.

[0039] Several illustrative examples are described herein with respect to sound control systems that utilize multiple loudspeakers. In other examples, the sound control system may include, for example, one or more other types of acoustic transducers in addition to or instead of one or more of the loudspeakers.

[0040] In some demonstrative embodiments, the sound control system 100 may be configured to implement advanced signal processing methods, for example, to divide the environment 215 into multiple personal sound zones 201, as described below.

[0041] In some demonstrative examples, sound control system 100 may enable and / or support focused sound transmission to a personal sound zone, such as personal sound zone 220, while reducing, minimizing, or even eliminating sound intensity elsewhere, such as, for example, other personal sound zones of the plurality of personal sound zones 201 and / or one or more other locations in environment 215 outside sound zone 220, as described below.

[0042] In some demonstrative examples, the sound control system 100 may enable and / or support providing independent audio content to multiple personal sound zones 201, for example, in an environment, even a homogenous environment such as a room or a car. For example, listeners in the environment, for example, each listener, may be able to enjoy their own selection of audio, such as, for example, music, voice, news, etc., as described below.

[0043] In some demonstrative embodiments, the sound control system 100 may be configured to be implemented in and / or support a variety of environments, for example, as described below.

[0044] In some demonstrative embodiments, the sound control system 100 may include a vehicle system, for example, as described below.

[0045] In one example, the sound control system 100 may be implemented as part of one or more vehicle systems of a vehicle, for example, as described below. For example, the sound control system 100 may be implemented within the interior of a vehicle. For example, the vehicle may include a bus, van, car, truck, airplane, ship, train, autonomous vehicle, etc.

[0046] In other embodiments, the sound control system 100 may be implemented in conjunction with any other device, system, and / or environment.

[0047] In one example, the sound control system 100 may be configured and / or arranged to be implemented to support a transportation environment, such as, for example, an airplane, train, and / or car, allowing users, e.g., each user, such as, for example, a driver, passenger, and / or traveler, to enjoy audio of their own choosing.

[0048] In one example, the sound control system 100 may be configured to be implemented in and / or support a home environment, e.g., to enable and / or support the provision of a customized multimedia experience, such as, for example, television, audio, video and / or games, to one or more users while accommodating the individual preferences of the users.

[0049] In one example, the sound control system 100 may be configured to be implemented in and / or support a work environment, e.g., to enable privacy and / or improve confidentiality within the work environment, e.g., for users sharing the same work space.

[0050] In one example, the sound control system 100 may be configured to be implemented in and / or support a public environment, for example, to enable and / or support audio transitions of an audio signal to one or more associated zones in the public environment.

[0051] In other instances, the sound control system 100 may be configured to be implemented in and / or support any other environment.

[0052] In some demonstrative examples, the sound control system 100 may be configured to, for example, focus one or more input audio signals 117 to particular personal sound zones, e.g., using multiple acoustic transducers 108, e.g., loudspeakers, such that each personal sound zone may experience a respective audio signal, e.g., a desired audio signal or audio signals, as described below.

[0053] In some demonstrative examples, the sound control system 100 may implement advanced signal processing methods, for example, to increase, for example, maximize, the intensity of one or more input audio signals, for example, signal 117, in each personal sound zone, while reducing, for example, minimizing or even eliminating, the intensity of one or more unwanted audio signals in the personal sound zone 220, as described below.

[0054] In some demonstrative examples, the sound control system 100 may be configured to implement one or more signal processing techniques, e.g., to individually process the sound of the multiple sound control zones 201, e.g., to increase, e.g., maximize, the intensity of the sound in each of the multiple personal sound zones 201, e.g., as described below.

[0055] In some demonstrative examples, the sound control system 100 may be configured to implement one or more signal processing techniques, e.g., to jointly process sound in two or more sound control zones of the plurality of personal sound zones 201, e.g., to increase, e.g., maximize, the intensity of sound in each zone of the plurality of personal sound zones 201, e.g., as described below.

[0056] In some demonstrative examples, the sound control system 100 may be configured to provide audio to a personal sound zone with, e.g., reduced, e.g., minimal impact on audio quality, e.g., without disturbing or minimizing disturbance to others who are not in the personal sound zone, while still providing a personal sound experience, e.g., as described below.

[0057] In some demonstrative examples, the sound control system 100 may include a sound controller 102 configured to control sound within the environment 215, for example, as described below.

[0058] In one example, the environment 215 may include the interior of a vehicle, a shared office, and / or any other environment.

[0059] In some demonstrative examples, the sound controller 102 may include an input 125 configured to receive one or more audio inputs 117 to be heard in one or more of the personal sound zones 201, for example, as described below. For example, the one or more audio inputs 117 may be from one or more audio sources 119.

[0060] In one example, the one or more audio inputs 117 may include, for example, music, telephone conversations, human-machine interaction sounds, navigation inputs, vehicle alerts, and / or any other sounds and / or audio inputs.

[0061] In some demonstrative embodiments, input 125 may be configured to receive multiple monitoring inputs 113, for example, as described below.

[0062] In some demonstrative examples, the multiple monitoring inputs 113 may represent acoustic sounds at multiple predefined monitoring sensing locations 207, which may be defined within one or more of the multiple personal sound zones 201, for example, as described below.

[0063] In some demonstrative embodiments, the sound controller 102 may include a controller 120 configured to determine a sound control pattern 123 based on one or more audio inputs 117 and multiple monitoring inputs 113, for example, as described below.

[0064] In some demonstrative examples, the sound control pattern 123 may include a plurality of sound control signals configured to drive a plurality of acoustic transducers 108 such that, for example, one or more audio inputs 117 are heard in one or more personal sound zones, for example, of a plurality of personal sound zones 201, respectively, as described below.

[0065] In some demonstrative examples, the sound controller 102 may include outputs 127 for outputting a plurality of sound control signals to a plurality of acoustic transducers 108, for example, as described below.

[0066] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 123 based on, for example, environmental acoustic information, for example, as described below.

[0067] In other embodiments, the controller 120 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 123 without using, for example, environmental acoustic information.

[0068] In some demonstrative embodiments, the input 125 may be configured to receive environmental acoustic information 111 representing environmental acoustic sounds at a number of predefined environmental locations 205, which may be defined with respect to an environment 215 including one or more personal sound zones 201, for example, as described below.

[0069] In one instance, the controller 120 may be configured to improve the quality of the audio stream transmitted to the personal sound zone using an acoustic sensor, which may be configured as an "ambient acoustic sensor" that, for example, "listens" to environmental sounds and / or noises. For example, implementing an ambient acoustic sensor may provide technical advantages, for example, allowing the sound control system 100 to control, for example, in real time, the frequencies heard by a listener in the personal sound zone 220 at any given time, as described below.

[0070] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 123 based on, for example, the environmental acoustic information 111, for example, as described below.

[0071] In some demonstrative examples, the environmental acoustic information 111 may include, for example, information of acoustic sounds sensed by the acoustic sensor 110 at an environmental location 205 among a plurality of predefined environmental locations 205, as described below.

[0072] In some demonstrative examples, the environmental acoustic information 111 may include, for example, information of audio signals consisting of one or more audio inputs 117, acoustic sounds 203 produced by predefined audio sources, and / or any other information related to sounds at one or more locations in the environment 215, as described below.

[0073] For example, the predefined audio sources 203 may include a speaker on a cellular phone, an audible alert of a vehicle safety system, and the like.

[0074] In other embodiments, the environmental acoustic information 111 may include any other additional or alternative acoustic information associated with the environment 215 .

[0075] In some demonstrative examples, controller 120 may be configured to determine a number of selected frequencies to be included in sound control pattern 123, for example, as described below.

[0076] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to select a number of selected frequencies from the frequency spectrum based on, for example, the environmental acoustic information 111 and one or more audio inputs 117, for example, as described below.

[0077] In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may be configured to determine the multiple selected frequencies based on, for example, the prominent audio and the prominent environmental sounds, for example, as described below.

[0078] In some demonstrative examples, the prominent audio may be based on the prominence of the audio input 117 heard in the personal sound zone 220, for example, by a transfer function from the multiple transducers 108 to the personal sound zone 220, as described below.

[0079] In some demonstrative examples, the salient environmental sounds may be based on the salience of the environmental acoustic sounds according to a transfer function from a number of predefined environmental positions 205 to the personal sound zone 220, for example, as described below.

[0080] In some demonstrative examples, controller 120 may be configured to determine, for example, whether a particular frequency should be included in the plurality of selected frequencies based on prominent audio at the particular frequency and prominent ambient sounds at the particular frequency, e.g., as described below.

[0081] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to determine that a particular frequency should be included in the plurality of selected frequencies if, for example, a difference between prominent audio at the particular frequency and prominent environmental sounds at the particular frequency is greater than a predefined threshold, as described below. The threshold may be defined based on, for example, a desired contrast between audio heard in the personal sound zone and environmental sounds affecting the personal sound zone.

[0082] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to determine multiple sound control signals based on a set of one or more weighting vectors corresponding to one or more personal sound zones 210, for example, as described below.

[0083] In some demonstrative examples, a set of weighting vectors corresponding to a personal sound zone 220 may include multiple weighting vectors each corresponding to multiple acoustic transducers 108, for example, as described below.

[0084] In some demonstrative examples, a weight vector in the set of weight vectors may be based on an acoustic transfer function between an acoustic transducer 108 of the multiple acoustic transducers 108 and a personal sound zone 220, for example, as described below.

[0085] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to determine a sound control signal for a particular acoustic transducer 108, for example, by applying a weighting vector corresponding to the particular acoustic transducer 108 from a set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone 220 to the audio input 117 heard in the personal sound zone 220, as described below.

[0086] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to determine a set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone 220 based on, for example, a first plurality of acoustic transfer functions and a second plurality of acoustic transfer functions, for example, as described below.

[0087] In some demonstrative examples, the first plurality of acoustic transfer functions may include, for example, acoustic transfer functions between the plurality of acoustic transducers 108 and the personal sound zone 220, as described below.

[0088] In some demonstrative examples, the second plurality of acoustic transfer functions may include, for example, acoustic transfer functions between the plurality of acoustic transducers 108 and one or more monitoring locations outside the personal sound zone 220, for example, one or more monitoring locations in one or more other personal sound zones and / or one or more monitoring locations in the environment 215, as described below.

[0089] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on environmental acoustic information 111, which may be defined for an environment 215 that represents environmental acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined environmental locations 205 and includes one or more personal sound zones 201, for example, as described below.

[0090] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on, for example, a change in the position of the personal sound zone 220, for example, as described below.

[0091] In one example, the environment 215 may include the interior of a vehicle, and the personal sound zone 220 may include an area near the head of a traveler, e.g., a driver or a passenger. For example, the personal sound zone 220 may be defined to cover an area near or around at least one ear of the traveler. According to this example, a change in the position of the personal sound zone 220 may include, for example, a movement of the traveler's headrest and / or seat, e.g., up and down, backward and / or forward, which may move the driver's head. In one example, the controller 120 may be configured to receive position information of the position of the seat and / or headrest, e.g., from a vehicle system of the vehicle, and the controller 120 may be configured to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions for the personal sound zone based on the position information.

[0092] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on environmental parameter information of one or more environmental parameters of the environment 215, for example, as described below.

[0093] In one example, the environmental parameter information of the environment 215 may include a temperature in the environment 215, such as, for example, a temperature inside the vehicle, which may be received from one or more vehicle systems, such as, for example, an air conditioning vehicle system, if the system 100 is implemented in a vehicle. According to this example, the controller 120 may be configured to receive the temperature information and / or any other information of the environment in the vehicle, for example, from a system controller of the vehicle, and the controller 120 may be configured to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions for the personal sound zones based on the environmental parameter information.

[0094] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to determine a set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone 220 based on, for example, a criterion relating to contrast between the first acoustic energy and the second acoustic energy, for example, as described below.

[0095] In some demonstrative examples, the first acoustic energy may include acoustic energy in personal sound zone 220, for example, based on a set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone, as described below.

[0096] In some demonstrative examples, the second acoustic energy may include acoustic energy at one or more monitoring locations outside the personal sound zone 220, e.g., one or more locations in one or more other personal sound zones, and / or any other locations in the environment 215, e.g., based on a set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone 220, as described below.

[0097] In some demonstrative examples, the weight vector may include a number of weights corresponding to a number of respective audio frequencies, for example as described below.

[0098] In one example, the weight vector may include a number of weights corresponding to some or all of a number of frequencies selected from a frequency spectrum, for example as described below.

[0099] In some demonstrative embodiments, the controller 120 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 123 based on, for example, at least the first and second audio inputs 117, for example, as described below.

[0100] In some demonstrative examples, the first audio input may be for a first personal sound zone, e.g., personal sound zone 220, and the second audio input may be for a second personal sound zone, e.g., personal sound zone 229.

[0101] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to determine the sound control pattern 123 based on, for example, a first plurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sounds at a first plurality of monitoring sensing locations defined within a first personal sound zone 220 and a second plurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sounds at a second plurality of monitoring sensing locations defined within a second personal sound zone 229, for example, as described below.

[0102] In some demonstrative embodiments, the controller 120 may be configured to utilize an active noise cancellation (ANC) mechanism, for example, to dynamically control, reduce, or eliminate noise from the environment 215 of the personal sound zone 201.

[0103] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to determine a sound control pattern based on an ANC mechanism configured to reduce residual noise outside a personal sound zone, for example, based on one or more audio inputs and input from an ANC microphone, as described below.

[0104] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to control sound within at least one personal sound zone 220, for example, as described in more detail below.

[0105] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to control sound within the personal sound zone 220 based on audio input 117 that may be designated to be heard in the personal sound zone 220, for example, as described below.

[0106] In some demonstrative examples, controller 120 may be configured to receive audio input 117 from at least one audio source 119, for example, as described below.

[0107] In some demonstrative embodiments, for example, audio source 119 may include one or more digital audio sources, for example, as described below.

[0108] In one example, audio source 119 may include any audio source configured to provide audio input 117, such as audio signals, telephone calls, navigation instructions, human voices, mechanical sounds, system alerts, and / or any other voices, sounds, and / or noises.

[0109] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to provide sound, e.g., audio, to the personal sound zone 220 in a localized manner, e.g., such that one or more frequencies of sound may be directed to the sound zone 220 while controlling, e.g., reducing or eliminating, the influence of one or more frequencies of sound outside the personal sound zone 220, as described below.

[0110] In one example, the controller 120 may be configured to control and / or localize sound to the personal sound zone 220 based on, for example, the audio input 117, for example, as described below.

[0111] For example, the controller 120 may be configured to control and / or localize sound in the personal sound zone 220, e.g., at one or more audio frequencies, e.g., only at audio frequencies associated with a desired sound to be heard by a user, e.g., to maximize sound performance in the personal sound zone 220, e.g., as described below.

[0112] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to receive, for example, via input 125, a plurality of monitoring inputs 113 that may represent acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined monitoring sensing locations 207 that may be defined within a personal sound zone 220.

[0113] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may receive multiple monitoring inputs 113, for example, from multiple monitoring sensors 112, such as microphones, accelerometers, tachometers, etc., positioned at one or more of the monitoring sensing locations 207, as described in more detail below, and / or from one or more virtual sensors configured to estimate acoustic-audio at one or more of the monitoring sensing locations 207.

[0114] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to receive, for example, via an input 125, environmental acoustic information 111 that may represent environmental acoustic sounds at a number of predefined environmental locations 205 that may be defined with respect to an environment 215 including a personal sound zone 220, for example, as described below.

[0115] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may receive acoustic sound information 111 from, for example, multiple acoustic sensors 110, e.g., microphones, accelerometers, tachometers, etc., positioned at one or more of the multiple predefined environmental locations 205, as described in more detail below, and / or from one or more virtual sensors configured to estimate acoustic sounds at one or more of the multiple predefined environmental locations 205.

[0116] In some demonstrative embodiments, the controller 120 may be configured to determine a sound control pattern 123 based on, for example, audio input 117 provided to the sound control zone 220, environmental acoustic information 111, and / or multiple monitoring inputs 113, and output the sound control pattern 123 to control multiple acoustic transducers 108, for example, as described in more detail below.

[0117] In some demonstrative examples, for example, multiple acoustic transducers 108, e.g., multiple speakers, may comprise a speaker array, for example, as described below.

[0118] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may, for example, control the multiple acoustic transducers 108 as described below to create an audio output pattern 122 configured to control audio within the personal sound zone 220 based on, for example, a sound control pattern 123.

[0119] In one example, the multiple acoustic transducers 108 may include multiple speakers, loudspeakers, or any other acoustic transducers configured to focus an audio output pattern 122, for example, to one or more personal sound zones 201 based, for example, on the multiple audio inputs 117, such that, for example, each personal sound zone 220 can experience a respective audio input, as described below.

[0120] In some demonstrative examples, the plurality of acoustic transducers 108 may include, for example, an array of loudspeakers deployed in the environment 215, including, for example, a personal sound zone 220, as described below.

[0121] In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of acoustic transducers 108 may include, for example, an array of one or more acoustic transducers, for example at least one suitable speaker, for producing, for example, an audio output pattern 122 based on a sound control pattern 123.

[0122] In some demonstrative examples, the multiple acoustic transducers 108 may be positioned at one or more locations that may be determined based on one or more attributes of the personal sound zone 220, such as, for example, the size and / or shape of the zone 220, the expected location and / or direction of the personal sound zone 220, one or more attributes of the audio input 117 heard in the personal sound zone 220, the number of multiple acoustic transducers 108, etc.

[0123] In one example, the plurality of acoustic transducers 108 may include a speaker array including a predetermined number, denoted M, of speakers or multi-channel acoustic sources.

[0124] In some demonstrative examples, the plurality of acoustic transducers 108 may include an array of speakers implemented using suitable "compact acoustic sources" located at suitable locations, e.g., outside the personal sound zone 220. In another example, the array of speakers may be implemented using multiple speakers distributed in a space, e.g., around the personal sound zone 220.

[0125] In some demonstrative examples, the plurality of environmental locations 205 may be distributed outside of the personal sound zone 220. For example, one or more of the plurality of environmental locations 205 may be distributed on or near an envelope or enclosure surrounding the personal sound zone 220.

[0126] For example, if the personal sound zone 220 is defined by a spherical volume, one or more of the plurality of environmental locations 205 may be distributed on a surface of the spherical volume and / or outside the spherical volume.

[0127] In another example, one or more of the multiple environmental locations 205 may be distributed in any combination of locations on and / or outside the personal sound zone 220, for example, one or more locations surrounding a spherical volume.

[0128] In some demonstrative examples, the monitoring sensing locations 207 may be distributed within the personal sound zone 220, for example, near the envelope of the personal sound zone 220, and / or at any other locations within the personal sound zone 220.

[0129] For example, if the zone 220 is defined by a spherical volume, the monitoring sensing locations 207 may be distributed on a sphere having a radius smaller than the radius of the personal sound zone 220 .

[0130] In some demonstrative examples, multiple acoustic sensors 110 may be configured and / or distributed to sense acoustic sounds at one or more of multiple environmental locations 205 .

[0131] In some demonstrative examples, multiple acoustic sensors 110 may be configured to listen to the environment and / or provide a reference signal, such as, for example, environmental acoustic information 111, based on sounds sensed in the environment 215, e.g., as described below.

[0132] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to control a “desired” sound within at least one personal sound zone, e.g., sound input 117 provided to personal sound zone 220, e.g., by selectively controlling the desired sound at one or more frequencies, e.g., only at audible frequencies associated with the desired sound, as described below.

[0133] For example, selective control of a desired sound at one or more frequencies, e.g., only those audible frequencies associated with the desired sound, may provide the technical advantage of increasing, e.g., maximizing, the controller sound performance of the controller 120.

[0134] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to utilize the environmental acoustic information 111 to estimate acoustic energy, e.g., unwanted acoustic energy, at one or more audible frequencies, at a number of environmental locations 205. For example, the controller 120 may be configured to determine a sound control pattern 123 for the personal sound zone 220 while utilizing estimated environmental unwanted acoustic energy, e.g., at the monitoring location 205, that may mask sounds heard in the personal sound zone 220, e.g., audio input 117.

[0135] In one example, the controller 120 may be configured to utilize the environmental acoustic information 111 to estimate audible frequencies within at least one personal sound zone 220, for example, associated with unwanted acoustic energy in the environment that masks sounds that are desired to be heard in the private sound zone 220.

[0136] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to spectrally estimate the environmental noise and its contribution to the personal sound zone 220 based on, for example, the environmental acoustic information 111 .

[0137] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to control the sound within the personal sound zone 220 based on, for example, the "dominant" audio frequencies associated with the environmental noise sources. For example, using only the dominant audio frequencies rather than the entire frequency spectrum may provide a technical solution that supports, for example, reduced complexity of the system 100, e.g., reduced computational complexity, reduced processing complexity, reduced processing delay, and / or reduced power consumption.

[0138] In some demonstrative embodiments, the controller 120 may be configured to perform and / or support performing spectral analysis on the incoming audio streaming 117 to optimize a solution using associated governing frequency constraints, for example, by determining a frequency to solve for, and / or optimizing the complexity of the solution.

[0139] In one example, the controller 120 may be configured to perform a spectral analysis, for example, on different sound types of the audio input, such as speech, music, alerts, and the like.

[0140] In another example, the controller 120 may be configured to perform a spectral analysis, for example, on a plurality of sound bubbles.

[0141] In some demonstrative examples, multiple monitoring sensors 112 may be configured to sense acoustic sounds at one or more of the monitoring sensing locations 207.

[0142] In one example, multiple monitoring sensors 112 may be configured to sense and / or monitor the effectiveness of acoustic sounds at multiple predefined monitoring sensing locations 207.

[0143] In some demonstrative examples, the multiple monitoring sensors 112 may be configured to produce multiple monitoring inputs 113 representing acoustic sounds at multiple predefined monitoring sensing locations 207 within the personal sound zone 220, for example, as described below.

[0144] In some demonstrative examples, multiple monitoring sensors 112 may be configured to produce monitoring signals, e.g., multiple monitoring inputs 113, and / or may be located in a personal sound zone 220.

[0145] In one example, multiple monitoring sensors 112 may be used to monitor the effectiveness of the audio in the personal sound zone 220, e.g., in real time, to define the dimensions of the personal sound zone 220 and / or to continuously optimize the performance of the audio in the personal sound zone 220, e.g., in real time.

[0146] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to adjust and / or optimize a transfer function, e.g., from the multiple transducers 108 to one or more personal sound zones 220, e.g., in real time, as described below, to respond to changes in the system and / or environment, e.g., when a user changes the acoustic environment effects.

[0147] In some demonstrative examples, controller 120 may be configured to use monitoring input 113 and / or environmental acoustic information 111, for example, to optimize one or more of the transfer functions, for example, as described below.

[0148] In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 120 may optimize one or more of the transfer functions based on, for example, a virtual sensing methodology, eg, as described below.

[0149] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may adjust and / or optimize one or more of the transfer functions based on, for example, one or more scenarios that may cause acoustic environmental effects and / or changes, e.g., as described below.

[0150] For example, the controller 120 may adjust to optimize one or more of the transfer functions based on, for example, movement of a person, movement of an object, temperature changes, and / or any other environmental and / or physical changes in the environment 215.

[0151] For example, controller 120 may adjust and / or optimize one or more of the transfer functions based on, for example, a change in the position of personal sound zone 220. For example, personal sound zone 220 may be moved and / or changed. In one example, if system 100 is implemented inside a vehicle, a driver's personal sound zone may be moved based on movement of the driver and / or the driver's seat.

[0152] In one example, the monitoring sensors 112 and / or the acoustic sensors 110 may include or be embodied by one or more electronic sources, acoustic sources, electronic signals, and / or sensors, such as, for example, microphones, accelerometers, optical sensors, such as, for example, laser sensors, lidar sensors, cameras, radar, digital acoustic signals, and / or other sensors.

[0153] In some demonstrative examples, one or more of the acoustic sensors 110 and / or one or more of the monitoring sensors 112 may be implemented using one or more “virtual sensors” (“virtual microphones”). A virtual microphone corresponding to a particular microphone location may be implemented by any suitable algorithm and / or method capable of evaluating an acoustic pattern that would have been sensed by an actual acoustic sensor located at the particular microphone location.

[0154] In some demonstrative embodiments, the controller 120 may be configured to simulate and / or perform the function of a virtual microphone, for example, by estimating and / or evaluating an acoustic audio pattern at a particular position of the virtual microphone.

[0155] In some demonstrative examples, system 100 may include a first array of one or more of a plurality of acoustic sensors 110, e.g., microphones, accelerometers, tachometers, etc., configured to sense acoustic sounds at one or more of a plurality of environmental locations 205. For example, the plurality of acoustic sensors 110 may include one or more sensors that sense acoustic sounds in a zone outside of personal sound zone 220.

[0156] In some demonstrative examples, one or more of the sensors of the first array may be implemented using one or more “virtual sensors.” For example, the first array may be implemented by a combination of at least one microphone and at least one virtual microphone. A virtual microphone corresponding to a particular microphone location of the plurality of environmental locations 205 may be implemented as part of the controller 120, or any other element of the system 100, that can evaluate, by any suitable algorithm and / or method, for example, an acoustic pattern that would have been sensed by an acoustic sensor located at the particular microphone location. For example, the controller 120 may be configured to evaluate the acoustic pattern of the virtual microphone based on at least one actual acoustic pattern sensed by at least one microphone of the first array.

[0157] In some demonstrative examples, system 100 may include multiple monitoring sensors 112, such as one or more second arrays of microphones, configured to sense acoustic sounds at one or more of monitoring sensing locations 207. For example, multiple monitoring sensors 112 may include one or more sensors that sense acoustic sound patterns in a zone within personal sound zone 220.

[0158] In some demonstrative examples, one or more of the sensors of the second array may be implemented using one or more “virtual sensors.” For example, the second array may include a combination of at least one microphone and at least one virtual microphone. The virtual microphone corresponding to a particular microphone location of the monitoring sensing locations 207 may be implemented by any suitable algorithm and / or method, e.g., as part of the controller 120 or any other element of the system 100, that can evaluate an acoustic pattern that would have been sensed by an acoustic sensor located at the particular microphone location. For example, the controller 120 may be configured to evaluate the acoustic pattern of the virtual microphone based on at least one actual acoustic pattern sensed by at least one microphone of the second array.

[0159] In some demonstrative examples, the number, location, and / or distribution of environmental locations 205 and / or monitoring sensing locations 207 and / or the number, location, and / or distribution of one or more acoustic sensors at one or more of environmental locations 205 and / or monitoring sensing locations 207 may be determined based on the size of the personal sound zone 220 or the envelope of the personal sound zone 220, the shape of the personal sound zone 220 or the envelope of the personal sound zone 220, one or more attributes of the acoustic sensor located at one or more of environmental locations 205 and / or monitoring sensing locations 207, such as, for example, the sampling rate of the sensor, and the like.

[0160] In one example, one or more acoustic sensors, e.g., microphones, accelerometers, tachometers, etc., may be deployed at the environmental locations 205 and / or monitoring sensing locations 207, e.g., according to the spatial sampling theorem as defined below by Equation 1:

[0161] For example, the number of the multiple acoustic sensors 110, the distance between the multiple acoustic sensors 110, the number of the monitoring sensors 112, and / or the distance between the monitoring sensors 112 may be determined according to the spatial sampling theorem, for example, as defined below by Equation 1.

[0162] In one example, the acoustic sensors 110 and / or the monitoring sensors 112 may be distributed, for example, evenly distributed, at a distance d from each other. For example, the distance d may be determined as follows:

number

[0163] For example, if the maximum frequency of interest is f max = 100 [Hz], the distance d is

number

[0164] In other embodiments, any other distance and / or expansion scheme may be used.

[0165] 2, the deployment scheme 200 may be configured with respect to a circular or spherical personal sound zone 220. For example, the multiple environmental locations 205 may be distributed in a spherical or circular manner around and outside the personal sound zone 220, e.g., substantially evenly distributed, and / or the monitoring sensing locations 207 may be distributed in a spherical or circular manner, e.g., substantially evenly distributed, within the personal sound zone 220.

[0166] However, in other embodiments, the components of system 100 may be deployed according to any other deployment scheme including, for example, any suitable distribution of environmental locations 205 and / or monitoring sensing locations 207 arranged with respect to personal sound zones of any other suitable form and / or shape.

[0167] In some demonstrative examples, for example, multiple monitoring sensors 112 and / or acoustic sensors 110 may be arranged, for example, using virtual sensing techniques to place monitoring sensors 112 and / or acoustic sensors 110 in feasible locations, such as, for example, above an occupant seat in a car, such as in a headrest, while enabling a personal sound zone 220 for user 202 without having to place microphones at the user's human ears and / or around the user's head.

[0168] In one example,

number

number

number

number

[0169] For example, {h i,j A virtual sensing transfer function, denoted as}, may be defined to satisfy the following requirements:

number

[0170] For example, the virtual sensory transfer function {h i,j}teeth,

number

number

[0171] For example, the virtual microphone signal may be determined, for example, as follows:

number

[0172] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to control the acoustic contrast of sounds within the personal sound zone 220, for example, as described below.

[0173] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to create an acoustic contrast between the personal sound zone 220 and the surroundings of the personal sound zone 220, for example, as described below.

[0174] In one example, the acoustic contrast may be between an audio input of a personal sound zone 220, e.g., audio input 117, and one or more other audio inputs of other personal sound zones, and / or between a subset of the multiple audio inputs and a complementary subset of the multiple audio inputs.

[0175] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured, for example, to utilize the environmental acoustic information 111 to increase, e.g., maximize, the acoustic contrast between, for example, the personal sound zone 220 and the surroundings of the personal sound zone 220, with reduced, e.g., minimal, impact on the audio quality in the personal sound zone 220, the environment 215, and / or one or more other personal sound zones.

[0176] In one example, the environmental acoustic information 111 may serve as a reference signal to the controller 120. According to this example, the controller 120 may use a priori acoustic knowledge of the environment to correct, for example, in the audio output pattern 122, one or more relevant frequencies that may be designated to be heard by the user in the personal sound zone 220.

[0177] In some demonstrative embodiments, the controller 120 may be configured to receive environmental acoustic information 111 and / or multiple monitoring inputs 113, for example, as described below, and output sound control signals 122 to multiple acoustic transducers 108 based, for example, on the acoustic contrast of the personal sound zone 220.

[0178] In one example, the environmental acoustic information 111 and / or the multiple monitoring inputs 113 may be delayed by a delay time configurable by the controller 120, e.g., to allow sufficient time for transmission and processing of the sound control signal 123. For example, the delay time may be based, for example, on one or more properties of the inputs to the controller 120.

[0179] In some demonstrative embodiments, the controller 120 may be configured to implement and / or support optimization methods to improve, for example, the audio output pattern 122, e.g., the quality of the audio stream transmitted to the personal sound zone 220, based on the environmental acoustic information 111, which may represent, for example, environmental noise and / or may enable control of the audio in the personal sound zone 220, for example, in real time.

[0180] In one example, the controller 120 may be configured to utilize the environmental acoustic information 111 to consider one or more frequencies, for example, only those frequencies heard by a listener at a particular time, and / or any other frequencies.

[0181] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to implement an optimization method that reduces, e.g., minimizes, the impact on audio quality, while providing a personal sound experience, e.g., without disturbing other users not located at the PSB 220.

[0182] In some demonstrative examples, the controller may be configured to utilize the environmental acoustic information 111 and / or the multiple monitoring inputs 113 to improve audio, for example, in the personal sound zone 220, with reduced, e.g., minimal, interference to other zones located outside the personal sound zone 220, which may be defined, for example, by the multiple monitoring sensors 112.

[0183] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to, for example, correct the sound control pattern 123 transmitted to the acoustic transducer 108 based on the environmental acoustic information 111 to reduce, e.g., minimize, the impact on ambient sound, e.g., in the environment 215, to achieve, e.g., a localized sound bubble, e.g., PSB 220.

[0184] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to support optimization methods, for example, to enable a personal sound experience, for example, in the personal sound zone 220, without disturbing other people who are not located in the personal sound zone 220.

[0185] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to individually or jointly control multiple audio inputs to multiple personal sound zones, for example, by performing one or more of the operations described above for each zone of the multiple personal sound zones, for example, one personal sound zone, which is personal sound zone 220, as described below.

[0186] In one example, for example, in the case of acoustic transducer 108, the sound control signal indicated as an “audio signal” among the multiple sound control signals of sound control pattern 123 may be determined, for example, based on audio input 117 designated to be heard in personal sound zone 220, input from acoustic sensor 110, input from monitoring sensor 112, and / or based on other audio signals not required in personal sound zone 220.

[0187] For example, the sound control signal may be determined based on one or more audio inputs 117, the environmental acoustic information 111, and / or the multiple monitoring inputs 113, for example, as follows: (Sound control signal'=f(environment microphone (n), monitoring microphone (n), audio signal 1-P (n)))

[0188] In some demonstrative embodiments, a PSB system, such as system 100, may be combined with one or more other systems to improve audio quality, for example, in personal sound zone 220.

[0189] In some demonstrative embodiments, the PSB system 100 may be combined with and / or implemented with an active noise control / cancellation (ANC) system that may be configured to reduce or eliminate undesirable noise, for example, in the personal sound zone 220, for example, as described below.

[0190] In one example, the controller 120 may be configured to control the sound in the PSB 220 based on a combination of the audio input 117 and ANC of one or more unwanted noise signals, e.g., utilizing a combination of the personal sound control techniques described herein with ANC techniques, e.g., as described below. According to this example, the performance of the PSB system may be improved by, e.g., using ANC to reduce remaining unwanted sounds in the PSB, e.g., originating from other PSBs and / or other noise sources. For example, the audio streams of the PSB 220 may be used as inputs to the ANC system, e.g., as a reference input, e.g., to reduce the impact of these audio streams, e.g., in zones where those streams are not desired, e.g., as described below.

[0191] In one example, the controller 120 may be configured to determine a sound control pattern 123 for Q sound zones 210, including, for example, personal sound zones 220 and 229.

[0192] In some demonstrative examples, a predefined number of monitoring sensors, denoted Lq, are placed within sound zone q.

[0193] In some illustrative examples, the sum of the monitoring sensors is the sum of the monitoring sensors Lq in all personal sound zones Q, e.g.,

number

[0194] In some illustrative examples, the zone at a particular frequency, denoted w

number

number

[0195] In some illustrative examples, the sound pressure vector P in zone q is q is g q and a transfer function between a plurality of acoustic transducers M, e.g., a plurality of acoustic transducers 108, and a personal sound zone q, e.g., a transfer function H between the plurality of acoustic transducers M and a monitoring sensor in the personal sound zone q as follows: q The product of this with the transfer function P q =H q g q (7) It can be defined based on:

[0196] In some illustrative examples, the weight vector g q The set of weight vectors g q The set of weight vectors g qm For example, the weight vectors may include multiple weight vectors corresponding to multiple acoustic transducers M at a particular frequency w, such that m corresponds to each m-th transducer of the multiple transducers M.

number

[0197] In one example, the weight vector g qmay include, for example, a vector of loudspeaker drive signals at a given frequency w to generate a personal sound zone q, which is a personal sound zone 220, and / or q may represent the matrix of acoustic transfer functions between the loudspeaker drivers and the monitoring microphones in zone q.

[0198] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may be configured to maximize the contrast in acoustic energy between a personal sound zone b (a “light zone”) in which the audio input is heard, such as personal sound zone 220, and another zone d (a “dark zone”), such as one or more other personal sound zones of the plurality of personal sound zones 201.

[0199] In one example, personal sound zone q of the plurality of personal sound zones Q may be defined as light zone b, and the remaining Q-1 sound zones of the plurality of personal sound zones Q may be defined as dark zones d.

[0200] In another example, the dark zone d may include one or more other zones or areas in the environment 215, such as inside or outside the zone 201.

[0201] In some demonstrative examples, in the light zone, E b The energy denoted by is expressed as, for example, the weight vector g corresponding to the personal sound zone q as follows: q and between a plurality of acoustic transducers M and a personal sound zone q, for example at one or more monitoring positions inside the personal sound zone q, H b The acoustic energy in personal sound zone q may be based on an acoustic transfer function denoted as:

number

[0202] In some demonstrative examples, in the dark zone, E d The energy denoted by is expressed as, for example, the weight vector g corresponding to the personal sound zone q as follows: q and between a plurality of acoustic transducers M and the remaining Q-1 sound zones, for example at one or more monitoring locations outside the personal sound zone q, H d The acoustic energy in the remaining Q−1 sound zones may be based on an acoustic transfer function denoted as:

number

[0203] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may, for example, adjust the first acoustic energy E b and the second acoustic energy E d Based on the criterion regarding the contrast between q The method may be configured to determine a set of

[0204] In some demonstrative examples, the criterion may be, for example, a sound energy E based on the volume, denoted B, at which the audio input is heard in the personal sound zone q. b and / or to maximize the contrast between the light and dark zones based on, for example, some or all of the following set of criteria: d The method may include minimizing

number

[0205] In some demonstrative examples, an objective function, denoted L(g), may be defined based on the criterion set (11), for example, as follows:

number

[0206] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 120 may optimize the weight vector g by, for example, determining the largest eigenvector that minimizes the objective function L(g), e.g., as follows: q The method may be configured to determine a set of

number

[0207] In some illustrative examples, the weight vector g q A set of weight vectors {right arrow over (w)} may be determined for a particular personal sound zone q and a particular frequency w, and may include multiple weight vectors corresponding to multiple acoustic transducers, for example, from 1 to M.

[0208] In some demonstrative embodiments, the controller 120 may:

number

number

number

[0209] In some demonstrative embodiments, the controller 120 may, for example, receive a signal

number

number

number

[0210] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which illustrates a schematic of a PSB controller 320, according to some demonstrative embodiments.

[0211] In one example, controller 120 (FIG. 1) may perform one or more operations, one or more functions, and / or roles of PSB controller 320 (FIG. 3).

[0212] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 3, the PSB controller 320 may be implemented as a multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) PSB controller for receiving multiple environmental inputs 311 from multiple environmental sensors 310.

[0213] In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, the PSB controller 320 may receive multiple monitoring inputs 313 from multiple monitoring sensors 312.

[0214] In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, the PSB controller 320 may output sound control patterns 322 to multiple acoustic transducers 308.

[0215] Reference is made to Figures 4A and 4B which illustrate generally an array of loudspeakers 400 deployed for controlling sound in multiple sound control zones, according to some demonstrative embodiments.

[0216] In some demonstrative embodiments, the array of loudspeakers 400 may be configured to focus two audio inputs, for example, into two respective personal sound zones, as described below.

[0217] For example, as shown in FIG. 4A , the array of loudspeakers 400 may include a plurality of loudspeakers that may be configured to transmit a first sound transmission 402 toward a first personal sound zone 404 and a second sound transmission 406 toward a second personal sound zone 408, e.g., as described above.

[0218] For example, as shown in FIG. 4B , multiple loudspeakers of array 400 may be configured to transmit a first sound transmission 412, e.g., as described above, directed toward a first sound zone 414, e.g., a personal sound zone, and a second sound transmission 416 for a second sound zone 418, e.g., in an environment surrounding the first sound zone 414.

[0219] In other embodiments, any other configuration of first and second sound zones may be implemented and / or any other number of multiple sound zones may be implemented.

[0220] Reference is made to FIG. 5, which illustrates, in a simplified manner, a deployment scheme 500 of a PSB system, according to some demonstrative embodiments.

[0221] In some demonstrative embodiments, the PSB system 100 (FIG. 1) may be implemented in environments such as, for example, a car and an airplane, and may be configured for, for example, two people sitting in two seats, as described below.

[0222] In one example, the deployment scheme 500 may implement a PSB system for two seats, e.g., the two front seats of a vehicle, back-to-back, and / or any other number of seats, and / or any other seating arrangement.

[0223] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 5, the PSB system may be configured to generate at least one first PSB 502 around a head of a first user, e.g., two PSBs around two ears of the first user, and / or at least one second PSB 508 around a head of a second user, e.g., two PSBs around two ears of the second user.

[0224] In one example, controller 120 (FIG. 1) may be configured to control an array of loudspeakers 400 (FIG. 4) to generate PSBs 504 and / or 508.

[0225] In some demonstrative examples, a sound control system, e.g., PSB system 100 (FIG. 1), may be configured to implement and / or support various deployment schemes of one or more PSBs, e.g., as described below.

[0226] Reference is now made to Fig. 6, which generally illustrates a deployment scheme of a PSB system 600, according to some demonstrative embodiments. For example, noise control system 100 (Fig. 1) may perform one or more operations, one or more functions, and / or roles of PSB system 600.

[0227] In some demonstrative embodiments, the PSB system 600 may be configured to generate a PSB 602 for an audio signal designated "Signal 1," for example, as described below.

[0228] In some demonstrative embodiments, the PSB system 600 may generate the PSB 602, for example, by creating an acoustic contrast for the audio signal 1 between the PSB 602 and one or more other areas, for example, as described below.

[0229] In some demonstrative examples, the PSB system 600 may be configured to generate a high contrast between a first amplitude, e.g., a high amplitude, of the audio signal 1 inside the PSB 602 and a second amplitude, e.g., a low amplitude, of the audio signal 1 outside the PSB 602.

[0230] Reference is now made to Fig. 7, which diagrammatically illustrates a deployment scheme of a PSB system 700, according to some demonstrative embodiments. For example, the noise control system 100 (Fig. 1) may perform one or more operations, one or more functions, or roles of the PSB system 700.

[0231] In some demonstrative embodiments, the PSB system 700 may be configured to generate multiple PSBs for each of multiple audio signals, denoted as "signals 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . ", for example, as described below.

[0232] In one example, the PSB system 700 may be implemented using multiple PSB systems. For example, the PSB system 700 may include multiple PSB systems for processing multiple audio signals for multiple PSBs, e.g., individually and / or independently.

[0233] In another example, the PSB system 700 may be implemented to jointly implement and / or control two or more PSBs of a plurality of PSBs.

[0234] In some demonstrative examples, the PSB system 700 may be configured to generate multiple PSBs, for example, by creating acoustic contrast between multiple audio signals, for example, as described below.

[0235] In some demonstrative examples, the PSB system 700 may be configured to generate, for an audio signal, e.g., each signal, of a plurality of audio signals, a high contrast between a first amplitude, e.g., a high amplitude, of the audio signal inside a respective PSB corresponding to the audio signal, and a second amplitude, e.g., a low amplitude, of the audio signal outside the respective PSB.

[0236] In one example, the PSB system 700 may be configured to generate high contrast for each signal, for example, by repeating the operations of the PSB system 600 (FIG. 6) for each signal of a plurality of audio signals.

[0237] For example, the PSB system 700 may include a first PSB 712, denoted as “PSB A”, for a first audio signal, denoted as “Signal 1”, e.g., by generating a high contrast between a first amplitude, e.g., a high amplitude, of audio signal 1 inside PSB 712 and a second amplitude, e.g., a low amplitude, of signal 1 outside PSB 712; a second PSB 714, denoted as “PSB B”, for a second audio signal, denoted as “Signal 2”, e.g., by generating a high contrast between a high amplitude of signal 2 inside PSB 714 and a low amplitude of audio signal 2 outside PSB 714; and a second PSB 715, denoted as “PSB C”, for a third audio signal, denoted as “Signal 3”, e.g., by generating a high contrast between a high amplitude of signal 3 inside PSB 716 and a low amplitude of audio signal 3 outside PSB 716. A third PSB 716 denoted "PSB C" and / or a fourth PSB 718 denoted "PSB D" for a fourth audio signal denoted "Signal 4", for example, by creating a high contrast between the high amplitude of signal 4 inside PSB 718 and the low amplitude of signal 4 outside PSB 718.

[0238] Reference is now made to Fig. 8, which generally illustrates a deployment scheme of a PSB system 800, according to some demonstrative embodiments. For example, noise control system 100 (Fig. 1) may perform one or more operations, one or more functions, and / or roles of PSB system 800.

[0239] In some demonstrative embodiments, the PSB system 800 may be configured to generate a PSB for an audio signal designated "Signal 1."

[0240] In some demonstrative examples, the PSB system 800 may generate a PSB for audio signal 1, for example, by creating an acoustic contrast between audio signal 1 and multiple other (unwanted) audio signals, denoted as “signals 2, 3, 4, . . ,” as described below.

[0241] In some demonstrative examples, the PSB system 800 may be configured to generate high contrast for audio signal 1, for example, by generating a first amplitude, e.g., a high amplitude, of signal 1 inside the PSB 802 and generating a second amplitude, e.g., a low amplitude, of multiple other audio signals inside the PSB 802.

[0242] Reference is now made to Fig. 9, which diagrammatically illustrates a deployment scheme of a PSB system 900, according to some demonstrative embodiments. For example, the sound control system 100 (Fig. 1) may perform one or more operations, one or more functions, and / or roles of the PSB system 900.

[0243] In some demonstrative embodiments, the PSB system 900 may be configured to generate multiple PSBs for respective multiple input audio signals, for example, as described below.

[0244] In one example, the PSB system 900 may be implemented using multiple PSB systems. For example, the PSB system 900 may include multiple PSB systems for processing multiple audio signals for multiple PSBs, e.g., individually and / or independently.

[0245] In another example, the PSB system 900 may be implemented to jointly implement and / or control two or more PSBs of a plurality of PSBs.

[0246] In some demonstrative examples, the PSB system 900 may be configured to create acoustic contrast between audio signals in multiple PSBs, for example, as described below.

[0247] In some demonstrative examples, the PSB system 900 may be configured to generate high contrast for audio signals of a PSB, e.g., each PSB, of multiple PSBs, e.g., by generating a first amplitude, e.g., a high amplitude, inside the PSB, for a dedicated audio signal of the PSB, and by generating a second amplitude, e.g., a low amplitude, inside the PSB, for residual audio signals of the multiple audio signals inside the PSB.

[0248] For example, the PSB system 900 may include a first PSB 912, denoted "PSB A," for a first audio signal, denoted "Signal 1," by generating, e.g., inside PSB 912, a high contrast between a first amplitude, e.g., a high amplitude, of audio signal 1 and a second amplitude, e.g., a low amplitude, of signals 2, 3, and / or 4; a second PSB 914, denoted "PSB B," for a second audio signal, denoted "Signal 2," by generating, e.g., inside PSB 914, a high contrast between a high amplitude of signal 2 and a low amplitude of signals 1, 3, and / or 4; and a third PSB 915, denoted "PSB C," for a third audio signal, denoted "Signal 3," by generating, e.g., inside PSB 916, a high contrast between a high amplitude of signal 3 and a low amplitude of signals 1, 2, and / or 4. A third PSB 916 denoted "PSB C" may be generated for a fourth audio signal denoted "Signal 4," for example by creating a high contrast between the high amplitude of signal 4 and the low amplitude of signals 1, 2, and / or 3, and a fourth PSB 918 denoted "PSB D" may be generated for a fourth audio signal denoted "Signal 4."

[0249] In one example, the PSB system 900 may be configured to generate high contrast for each PSB, for example, by repeating the operation of the PSB system 800 (FIG. 8) for each PSB of a plurality of PSBs.

[0250] Reference is now made to Figure 10, which illustrates a schematic of a controller 1020, according to some demonstrative embodiments. For example, controller 120 (Figure 1) may include, execute, perform functions, execute roles, and / or perform one or more operations of controller 1020.

[0251] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 10, the controller 1020 may include a frequency selector 1050, implemented, for example, as a frequency list module, to output a plurality of selected frequencies 1052, as described below.

[0252] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 10, the controller 1020 may include a speaker transfer function (STF) adapter 1040, implemented, for example, as an adaptive STF module, to output multiple acoustic transfer functions 1042, for example, as described below.

[0253] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 10 , the controller 1020 may include a sound control pattern generator 1030, implemented, for example, as an output module, for processing the multiple sets of weight vectors 1023 and generating a sound control pattern including multiple sound control signals 1032 to the multiple acoustic transducers 1008, for example, as described below.

[0254] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 10 , the plurality of sound control signals 1032 may be based on the weight vector 1023 and the audio input 1017, for example, after transforming the audio input into the frequency domain, for example, by applying a Fast Fourier Transfer (FFT) 119 to the audio input 1017.

[0255] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 10, the controller 1020 may determine a weighting vector 1023 based on a number of selected frequencies 1052 and an acoustic transfer function 1042, for example, as described below.

[0256] As indicated by blocks 1012 and 1014, in some demonstrative embodiments, controller 1020 may cycle through a number of selected frequencies 1052 across frequency W, for example, as described below.

[0257] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in block 1016, the controller 1020 may determine a first transfer function, e.g., a dark zone transfer function, denoted Hd(W), and / or a second transfer function, e.g., a light zone transfer function, denoted Hb(W), based on multiple acoustic transfer functions, e.g., from the STF adapter 1040, e.g., as described above.

[0258] In one example, for example, as described above, the light transfer function may include an acoustic transfer function between the multiple acoustic transducers 1008 and a personal sound zone q, and the dark acoustic transfer function may include an acoustic transfer function between the multiple acoustic transducers 1008 and one or more monitoring positions outside the personal sound zone q.

[0259] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in block 1018, the controller 1020 may determine a set of weighting vectors corresponding to personal sound zone q, e.g., based on Equation 13, e.g., as described above.

[0260] Reference is made to Figure 11, which illustrates a schematic of a frequency selector 1150, according to some demonstrative embodiments. For example, the controller 120 (Figure 1) may be configured to perform one or more operations or functions of the frequency selector 1150.

[0261] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 11, a frequency selector 1150 may be configured to determine a plurality of selected frequencies 1112, e.g., a plurality of selected frequencies 1052 (FIG. 10), to be included in a sound control pattern, e.g., sound control pattern 1032 (FIG. 10).

[0262] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 11, a frequency selector 1150 may select a number of selected frequencies 1112 from a frequency spectrum based on, for example, environmental acoustic information 1111 and an audio input 1117.

[0263] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 11, for example, a frequency selector 1150 may determine a number of selected frequencies 1112 based on prominent audio 1119 and prominent ambient sounds 1113, as described above.

[0264] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 11, for example as described above, the prominent audio 1119 may be based on the prominence 1131 of the audio input 1117 from the multiple transducers 1008 (FIG. 10) according to a transfer function to personal sound zone q.

[0265] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 11, the salient environmental sound 1113 may be based on the salience 1133 of the environmental acoustic sound 1111 according to a transfer function from a plurality of predefined environmental locations, e.g., a plurality of environmental locations 205 (FIG. 1), to a personal sound zone q, as described above.

[0266] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 11, a frequency selector 1150 may create prominent ambient sounds 1113 in the frequency domain, for example using an FFT 1115 .

[0267] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 11, a frequency selector 1150 may produce prominent audio 1119 in the frequency domain, for example using an FFT 1118.

[0268] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in block 1124, the frequency selector 1150 may determine whether a particular frequency Wk should be included in the plurality of selected frequencies 1112 based, for example, on whether a difference between prominent audio 1119 at a particular frequency and prominent environmental sound 1113 at a particular frequency is greater than a predefined threshold.

[0269] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in block 1126, the frequency selector 1150 may add a particular frequency Wk to the plurality of selected frequencies 1112, for example, if a difference between the audio 1119 that is prominent at a particular frequency and the environmental sound 1113 that is prominent at a particular frequency is greater than a predefined threshold.

[0270] Reference is now made to Fig. 12, which illustrates, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments, a STF adapter 1240. For example, the controller 120 (Fig. 1) may be configured to perform one or more operations or functions of the frequency selector STF adapter 1240.

[0271] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 12, the STF adapter 1240 may be configured to process acoustic sound 1213 sensed by a monitoring microphone 1210 at a monitoring sensing location that may be defined, for example, within a personal sound zone q, as described above.

[0272] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 12, the STF adapter 1240 may be configured to dynamically adjust an acoustic transfer function 1214 between the multiple acoustic transducers 1008 (FIG. 10) and a monitoring sensing location within the personal sound zone q, for example, based on audio input 1217 from the multiple acoustic transducers 1008 (FIG. 10).

[0273] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 12, the STF adapter 1240 may be configured to adapt the acoustic transfer function 1214 based on a comparison of, for example, an acoustic sound 1213 sensed by a monitoring microphone 1210 at a monitoring sensing location and a result of applying the determined acoustic transfer function 1214 to an audio input 1217, for example, as described above.

[0274] Reference is now made to Fig. 13, which illustrates, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments, a sound control pattern generator 1330. For example, the controller 120 (Fig. 1) may be configured to perform one or more operations or functions of the sound control pattern generator 1330.

[0275] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 13, a sound control pattern generator 1330 may process an audio input 1317, e.g., after an FFT operation 1319, as described below, and produce a sound control pattern including a plurality of sound control signals 1325 provided to respectively drive a plurality of acoustic transducers 1308.

[0276] For example, as shown in FIG. 13, a sound control pattern generator 1330 may produce M sound control signals 1325 to drive a plurality of M respective acoustic transducers 1308, such as transducer 108 (FIG. 1).

[0277] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in blocks 1321 and 1323, the sound control pattern generator 1330 may generate multiple sound control signals 1325, for example, by iterating over a frequency W of the multiple selected frequencies 1052, as described above ( FIG. 10 ).

[0278] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 13, the sound control pattern generator 1330 may generate multiple sound control signals 1325 based on multiple weight vectors 1327 corresponding to multiple acoustic transducers 1308 for personal sound zone q, for example, as described above.

[0279] In some demonstrative examples, the weight vector 1327 of the acoustic transducer 1308 for personal sound zone q may be based on, for example, an acoustic transfer function between the acoustic transducer 1308 and personal sound zone q, for example, as described above.

[0280] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 13, the sound control pattern generator 1330 may generate multiple sound control signals 1325, for example, by multiplying multiple weight vectors 1327 with the audio input 1317 at particular frequencies w, for example, according to Equation 14, as described above.

[0281] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 13, the sound control pattern generator 1330 may perform an IFFT operation 1329 on the multiple sound control signals 1325, for example, to convert the sound control signals 1325 from the frequency domain to the time domain.

[0282] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 13, a sound control pattern generator 1330 may provide multiple sound control signals 1325 to multiple acoustic transducers 1308, for example.

[0283] Reference is made to FIG. 14, which is a schematic illustration of a vehicle 1400, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

[0284] In one example, vehicle 1440 may include one or more elements and / or components of system 100 (FIG. 1), for example, to control sound within one or more personal sound zones within vehicle 1400.

[0285] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 14 , a vehicle 1400 may include multiple speakers 1408, multiple monitoring microphones 1412, and multiple environmental microphones 1410.

[0286] In some demonstrative examples, vehicle 1400 may include a controller 120 ( FIG. 1 ) configured to control multiple speakers 1408 to provide a first personal sound zone 1420 to a driver of vehicle 1400, for example, at the driver's headrest position.

[0287] In some demonstrative examples, controller 120 (FIG. 1) may be configured to control multiple speakers 1408 to provide a second personal sound zone 1420, for example, for a passenger, e.g., in a front seat near the driver's seat, e.g., at the location of a passenger headrest.

[0288] In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 14, multiple monitoring microphones 1412 may be positioned within first and second personal sound zones 1420 and 1430.

[0289] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 14, multiple environmental microphones 1410 may be placed in the environment outside of personal sound zones 1420 and 1430.

[0290] In other embodiments, vehicle 1400 may include any other number of speakers 1408, monitoring microphones 1412, and / or environmental microphones 1410, speakers 1408, monitoring microphones 1412, and / or environmental microphones 1410 in any other arrangements, locations, and / or positions, and / or any other additional or alternative components.

[0291] Reference is now made to Fig. 15, which is a schematic illustration of a controller 1520 including an ANC mechanism, according to some demonstrative embodiments. For example, controller 120 (Fig. 1) may include, perform, execute, perform the functions, execute the roles, and / or perform one or more operations of controller 1520.

[0292] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 15, the controller 1520 may include an ANC controller 1560 configured to reduce residual noise from outside one or more personal sound zones, for example, as described below.

[0293] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 15, the controller 1520 may determine the sound control pattern 1523 to be provided to the multiple acoustic transducers 1508, for example, by combining the output 1566 of the ANC controller 1560 with the output of the sound control pattern generator 1430, e.g., the sound control pattern generator 1330 (FIG. 13).

[0294] In some demonstrative examples, as shown in FIG. 15, the ANC controller 1560 may produce an output 1566, for example, based on one or more audio inputs 1517 and based on one or more ANC acoustic sensor inputs 1562.

[0295] In some demonstrative examples, the ANC acoustic sensor input 1562 from the personal sound zone may be from one or more sensing locations outside the personal sound zone. For example, the one or more ANC acoustic sensor inputs 1562 may be from one or more locations around the personal sound zone, e.g., near and / or adjacent to the personal sound zone. In another example, the one or more ANC acoustic sensor inputs 1562 may be from one or more other personal sound zones and / or from any other locations in the environment.

[0296] In some demonstrative examples, the controller 1520 may be configured to sum one or more, e.g., all, of the outputs 1566 of the ANC controller 1560 and one or more, e.g., all, of the sound control signals of the sound control pattern 1523.

[0297] In one example, a left seat headrest speaker in a left seat in a vehicle, e.g., vehicle 1440 (FIG. 14), can be used for the left seat PSB in the case of ANC as well, e.g., to reduce the audio sent to a right seat headrest speaker in a right seat in the vehicle, e.g., to achieve PSB for the right seat, and / or vice versa, e.g., for the left seat PSB.

[0298] In some demonstrative embodiments, incorporating active noise control technology together with PSB technology may enable improving the performance of the PSB, for example by using the ANC controller 1560 to reduce residual unwanted sounds in the personal sound bubble that may arise, for example, from other personal sound bubbles.

[0299] In some demonstrative examples, for example, referring to ANC controller 1560, audio streams of audio streams 1517 that may be sent to ANC controller 1560 may be reduced in zones where those streams are not desired.

[0300] Reference is now made to Fig. 16, which illustrates a schematic diagram of a method of sound control, according to some demonstrative embodiments. For example, one or more operations of the method of Fig. 16 may be performed by one or more elements of a sound control system, e.g., sound control system 100 (Fig. 1), a sound controller, e.g., sound controller 102 (Fig. 1), and / or a controller, e.g., controller 120 (Fig. 1), and / or any other components of the sound control system.

[0301] As shown in block 1602, the method may include receiving one or more audio inputs heard in one or more personal sound zones and a plurality of monitoring inputs, the plurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined monitoring sensing locations defined within the one or more personal sound zones. For example, the controller 120 (FIG. 1) may receive one or more audio inputs 117 (FIG. 1) heard in one or more personal sound zones and a plurality of monitoring inputs 113 representing acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined monitoring sensing locations 207 (FIG. 2), which may be defined within the one or more personal sound zones, e.g., as described above.

[0302] As shown in block 1604, the method may include determining a sound control pattern based on the one or more audio inputs and the multiple monitoring inputs, the sound control pattern including multiple sound control signals configured to respectively drive multiple acoustic transducers 108 (FIG. 1) such that the one or more audio inputs 117 (FIG. 1) are audible in one or more personal sound zones. For example, the controller 120 (FIG. 1) may determine a sound control pattern 123 (FIG. 1) based on the one or more audio inputs 117 (FIG. 1) and the multiple monitoring inputs 113 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above, the sound control pattern 123 (FIG. 1) including multiple sound control signals configured to respectively drive multiple acoustic transducers 108 (FIG. 1) such that the one or more audio inputs 117 (FIG. 1) are audible in one or more personal sound zones.

[0303] As indicated at block 1608, the method may include outputting a plurality of sound control signals to a plurality of acoustic transducers. For example, the controller 120 (FIG. 1) may output a plurality of sound control signals to a plurality of acoustic transducers 108 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

[0304] Reference is now made to FIG. 17, which diagrammatically illustrates an article of manufacture 1700, according to some demonstrative embodiments. The article of manufacture 1700 may include one or more tangible, computer-readable, non-transitory storage media 1702, which may include computer-executable instructions, e.g., embodied by logic 1704, that, when executed by at least one computer processor, are operable to cause the at least one computer processor to perform one or more operations in the sound control system 100 (FIG. 1) and / or the controller 120 (FIG. 1) and / or to perform, trigger, and / or implement one or more operations, communications, and / or functions in accordance with one or more of FIGS. 1-16 and / or one or more operations described herein. The phrase "non-transitory machine-readable medium" is intended to include all computer-readable media, with the sole exception of transitory, propagating signals.

[0305] In some demonstrative examples, product 1700 and / or machine-readable storage medium 1702 may include one or more types of computer-readable storage media capable of storing data, including volatile memory, non-volatile memory, removable or non-removable memory, erasable or non-erasable memory, writable or rewritable memory, etc. For example, the machine-readable storage medium 1702 may be a RAM, DRAM, Double-Data-Rate DRAM (DDR-DMAM), SDRAM, static RAM (SRAM), ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), Compact Disk ROM (CD-ROM), Compact Disk Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Rewritable (CD-RW), flash memory (e.g., NOR or NAND flash memory), content addressable memory (CAM), or a combination of both. memory, polymer memory, phase change memory, ferroelectric memory, silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) memory, disk, solid state drive (SSD), floppy disk, hard drive, optical disk, magnetic disk, card, magnetic card, optical card, tape, cassette, etc. The computer readable storage medium may include any suitable medium involved in carrying and downloading or transferring a computer program from a remote computer to a requesting computer via a communications link, e.g., modem, wireless or network connection, conveyed by a data signal embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium.

[0306] In some demonstrative examples, logic 1704 may include instructions, data, and / or code that, when executed by a machine, may cause the machine to perform the methods, processes, and / or operations described herein. The machine may include, for example, any suitable processing platform, computing platform, computing device, processing device, computing system, processing system, computer processor, etc., and may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware, software, firmware, etc.

[0307] In some demonstrative examples, logic 1704 may include or be embodied as software, software modules, applications, programs, subroutines, instructions, instruction sets, computational code, words, values, symbols, etc. The instructions may include any suitable type of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, etc. The instructions may be implemented according to a predefined computer language, scheme, or syntax to instruct a processor to perform a particular function. The instructions may be implemented using any suitable high-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled, and / or interpreted programming language, such as C, C++, Python, Java, BASIC, Matlab, Pascal, Visual Basic, assembly language, machine language, etc. EXAMPLES

[0308] The following examples relate to further embodiments.

[0309] Example 1 includes an apparatus comprising: an input for receiving one or more audio inputs to be heard in one or more personal sound zones and a plurality of monitoring inputs, the plurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined monitoring sensing locations defined within the one or more personal sound zones; a controller configured to determine a sound control pattern based on the one or more audio inputs and the plurality of monitoring inputs, the sound control pattern comprising a plurality of sound control signals configured to respectively drive a plurality of acoustic transducers so that the one or more audio inputs are heard in the one or more personal sound zones; and an output for outputting the plurality of sound control signals to a plurality of acoustic transducers.

[0310] Example 2 includes the subject matter of Example 1, and optionally, the input is configured to receive environmental acoustic information representative of environmental acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined environmental locations defined with respect to an environment including one or more personal sound zones, and the controller is configured to determine a sound control pattern based on the environmental acoustic information.

[0311] Example 3 includes the subject matter of Example 2, and optionally, the environmental acoustic information comprises information of acoustic sounds sensed by an acoustic sensor at environmental locations among a plurality of predefined environmental locations.

[0312] Example 4 includes the subject matter of Example 2 or Example 3, and optionally, the environmental acoustic information comprises at least one of information of an audio signal, or an acoustic sound produced by a predefined audio source.

[0313] Example 5 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 2 to 4, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a plurality of selected frequencies to be included in the sound control pattern, and the controller is configured to select the plurality of selected frequencies from the frequency spectrum based on the environmental acoustic information and the one or more audio inputs.

[0314] Example 6 includes the subject matter of Example 5, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine the plurality of selected frequencies based on prominent audio and prominent environmental sounds, the prominent audio being based on prominence of an audio input heard in the personal sound zone according to a transfer function from a plurality of transducers to the personal sound zone, and the prominent environmental sounds being based on prominence of environmental acoustic sounds according to a transfer function from a plurality of predefined environmental locations to the personal sound zone.

[0315] Example 7 includes the subject matter of Example 6, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine whether a particular frequency is included in the plurality of selected frequencies based on prominent audio at the particular frequency and prominent ambient sound at the particular frequency.

[0316] Example 8 includes the subject matter of Example 7, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine that the particular frequency is included in the plurality of selected frequencies if a difference between the prominent audio at the particular frequency and the prominent ambient sound at the particular frequency is greater than a predefined threshold.

[0317] Example 9 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 8, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a plurality of sound control signals based on one or more sets of weighting vectors each corresponding to one or more personal sound zones, the sets of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zones each comprising a plurality of weighting vectors corresponding to a plurality of acoustic transducers, and a weighting vector in the set of weighting vectors is based on an acoustic transfer function between an acoustic transducer of the plurality of acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone.

[0318] Example 10 includes the subject matter of Example 9, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a sound control signal for a particular acoustic transducer by applying a weighting vector corresponding to the particular acoustic transducer from a set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone to an audio input heard in the personal sound zone.

[0319] Example 11 includes the subject matter of Example 9 or Example 10, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone based on a first plurality of acoustic transfer functions and a second plurality of acoustic transfer functions, the first plurality of acoustic transfer functions comprising acoustic transfer functions between the plurality of acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone, and the second plurality of acoustic transfer functions comprising acoustic transfer functions between the plurality of acoustic transducers and one or more monitoring locations outside the personal sound zone.

[0320] Example 12 includes the subject matter of Example 11, and optionally, the controller is configured to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on environmental acoustic information representing environmental acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined environmental locations defined with respect to an environment including one or more personal sound zones.

[0321] Example 13 includes the subject matter of Example 11 or Example 12, and optionally, the controller is configured to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on a change in position of the personal sound zone.

[0322] Example 14 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 11 to 13, and optionally, the controller is configured to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on environmental parameter information of one or more environmental parameters of the environment, including one or more personal sound zones.

[0323] Example 15 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 9 to 14, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a set of weighting vectors corresponding to a personal sound zone based on a criterion relating to a contrast between a first acoustic energy and a second acoustic energy, wherein the first acoustic energy comprises acoustic energy in the personal sound zone based on the set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone, and the second acoustic energy comprises acoustic energy at one or more monitoring positions outside the personal sound zone based on the set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone.

[0324] Example 16 includes the subject matter of Example 15, and optionally, the criterion comprises limiting the first energy based on the volume at which the audio input is heard in the personal sound zone and minimizing the second energy.

[0325] Example 17 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 9-16, and optionally, the weight vector comprises a plurality of weights corresponding to a plurality of respective acoustic frequencies.

[0326] Example 18 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 17, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a sound control pattern based on at least first and second audio inputs, a first audio input for a first personal sound zone and a second audio input for a second personal sound zone, and the controller is configured to determine the sound control pattern based on a first plurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sounds at a first plurality of monitoring sensing locations defined within the first personal sound zone and a second plurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sounds at a second plurality of monitoring sensing locations defined within the second personal sound zone.

[0327] Example 19 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1 to 18, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a sound control pattern based on one or more audio inputs and based on one or more active noise cancellation (ANC) acoustic sensor inputs and an ANC mechanism configured to reduce residual noise from outside one or more personal sound zones.

[0328] Example 20 includes a system for sound control, the system comprising a plurality of monitoring acoustic sensors for detecting acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined monitoring sensing locations defined within one or more personal sound zones, a plurality of acoustic transducers, and a controller receiving one or more audio inputs heard in the one or more personal sound zones and a plurality of monitoring inputs from the plurality of monitoring acoustic sensors, the plurality of monitoring inputs representing the acoustic sounds at the plurality of predefined monitoring sensing locations, the controller configured to determine a sound control pattern based on the one or more audio inputs and the plurality of monitoring inputs, the sound control pattern comprising a plurality of sound control signals configured to respectively drive a plurality of acoustic transducers, thereby causing the one or more audio inputs to be heard in the one or more personal sound zones.

[0329] Example 21 includes the subject matter of Example 20, and optionally, the controller is configured to receive environmental acoustic information representing environmental acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined environmental locations defined with respect to an environment including one or more personal sound zones, and the controller is configured to determine a sound control pattern based on the environmental acoustic information.

[0330] Example 22 includes the subject matter of Example 21, and optionally, the environmental acoustic information comprises information of acoustic sounds sensed by an acoustic sensor at environmental locations among a plurality of predefined environmental locations.

[0331] Example 23 includes the subject matter of Example 21 or Example 22, and optionally, the environmental acoustic information comprises at least one of information of an audio signal, or an acoustic sound produced by a predefined audio source.

[0332] Example 24 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 21 to 23, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a plurality of selected frequencies to be included in the sound control pattern, and the controller is configured to select the plurality of selected frequencies from the frequency spectrum based on the environmental acoustic information and the one or more audio inputs.

[0333] Example 25 includes the subject matter of Example 24, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine the multiple selected frequencies based on prominent audio and prominent environmental sounds, where the prominent audio is based on prominence of an audio input heard in the personal sound zone according to a transfer function from a plurality of transducers to the personal sound zone, and the prominent environmental sounds are based on prominence of environmental acoustic sounds according to a transfer function from a plurality of predefined environmental locations to the personal sound zone.

[0334] Example 26 includes the subject matter of Example 25, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine whether a particular frequency is included in the plurality of selected frequencies based on prominent audio at the particular frequency and prominent ambient sound at the particular frequency.

[0335] Example 27 includes the subject matter of Example 26, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine that a particular frequency is included in the plurality of selected frequencies if a difference between the prominent audio at the particular frequency and the prominent ambient sound at the particular frequency is greater than a predefined threshold.

[0336] Example 28 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 20 to 27, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a plurality of sound control signals based on one or more sets of weighting vectors corresponding to one or more personal sound zones, each of the sets of weighting vectors corresponding to one or more personal sound zones, each of the sets of weighting vectors including a plurality of weighting vectors corresponding to a plurality of acoustic transducers, and a weighting vector in the set of weighting vectors is based on an acoustic transfer function between an acoustic transducer of the plurality of acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone.

[0337] Example 29 includes the subject matter of Example 28, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a sound control signal for a particular acoustic transducer by applying a weighting vector corresponding to the particular acoustic transducer from a set of weighting vectors corresponding to personal sound zones to an audio input heard in the personal sound zone.

[0338] Example 30 includes the subject matter of Example 28 or Example 29, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone based on a first plurality of acoustic transfer functions and a second plurality of acoustic transfer functions, the first plurality of acoustic transfer functions comprising acoustic transfer functions between the multiple acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone, and the second plurality of acoustic transfer functions comprising acoustic transfer functions between the multiple acoustic transducers and one or more monitoring locations outside the personal sound zone.

[0339] Example 31 includes the subject matter of Example 30, and optionally, the controller is configured to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on environmental acoustic information representing environmental acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined environmental locations defined with respect to an environment including one or more personal sound zones.

[0340] Example 32 includes the subject matter of Example 30 or Example 31, and optionally, the controller is configured to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on a change in position of the personal sound zone.

[0341] Example 33 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 30 to 32, and optionally, the controller is configured to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on environmental parameter information of one or more environmental parameters of the environment, including one or more personal sound zones.

[0342] Example 34 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 28 to 33, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a set of weighting vectors corresponding to a personal sound zone based on a criterion relating to a contrast between a first acoustic energy and a second acoustic energy, wherein the first acoustic energy comprises acoustic energy in the personal sound zone based on the set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone, and the second acoustic energy comprises acoustic energy at one or more monitoring positions outside the personal sound zone based on the set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone.

[0343] Example 35 includes the subject matter of Example 34, and optionally, the criterion comprises limiting the first energy based on the volume at which the audio input is heard in the personal sound zone and minimizing the second energy.

[0344] Example 36 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 28-35, and optionally, the weight vector comprises a plurality of weights corresponding to a plurality of respective acoustic frequencies.

[0345] Example 37 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 20 to 36, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a sound control pattern based on at least first and second audio inputs, a first audio input for a first personal sound zone and a second audio input for a second personal sound zone, and the controller is configured to determine the sound control pattern based on a first plurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sounds at a first plurality of monitoring sensing locations defined within the first personal sound zone and a second plurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sounds at a second plurality of monitoring sensing locations defined within the second personal sound zone.

[0346] Example 38 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 20 to 37, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a sound control pattern based on one or more audio inputs and based on one or more active noise cancellation (ANC) acoustic sensor inputs and an ANC mechanism configured to reduce residual noise from outside one or more personal sound zones.

[0347] Example 39 includes a vehicle having one or more seats and a sound control system configured to control sound within one or more personal sound zones defined with respect to the one or more seats, the sound control system comprising a plurality of monitoring acoustic sensors for detecting acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined monitoring sensing locations defined within the one or more personal sound zones, a plurality of acoustic transducers, and a controller receiving one or more audio inputs heard in the one or more personal sound zones and a plurality of monitoring inputs from the plurality of monitoring acoustic sensors, the plurality of monitoring inputs representing the acoustic sounds at the plurality of predefined monitoring sensing locations, the controller configured to determine a sound control pattern based on the one or more audio inputs and the plurality of monitoring inputs, the sound control pattern comprising a plurality of sound control signals configured to respectively drive a plurality of acoustic transducers, thereby causing the one or more audio inputs to be heard in the one or more personal sound zones.

[0348] Example 40 includes the subject matter of Example 39, and optionally, the controller is configured to receive environmental acoustic information representing environmental acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined environmental locations defined with respect to an environment including one or more personal sound zones, and the controller is configured to determine a sound control pattern based on the environmental acoustic information.

[0349] Example 41 includes the subject matter of Example 40, and optionally, the environmental acoustic information comprises information of acoustic sounds sensed by an acoustic sensor at environmental locations among a plurality of predefined environmental locations.

[0350] Example 42 includes the subject matter of Example 40 or Example 41, and optionally, the environmental acoustic information comprises at least one of information of an audio signal, or an acoustic sound produced by a predefined audio source.

[0351] Example 43 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 40 to 42, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a plurality of selected frequencies to be included in the sound control pattern, and the controller is configured to select the plurality of selected frequencies from the frequency spectrum based on the environmental acoustic information and the one or more audio inputs.

[0352] Example 44 includes the subject matter of Example 43, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine the multiple selected frequencies based on the prominent audio and the prominent environmental sounds, the prominent audio based on the prominence of an audio input heard in the personal sound zone according to a transfer function from the multiple transducers to the personal sound zone, and the prominent environmental sounds based on the prominence of the environmental acoustic sounds according to a transfer function from the multiple predefined environmental locations to the personal sound zone.

[0353] Example 45 includes the subject matter of Example 44, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine whether a particular frequency is included in the plurality of selected frequencies based on prominent audio at the particular frequency and prominent ambient sounds at the particular frequency.

[0354] Example 46 includes the subject matter of Example 45, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine that a particular frequency is included in the plurality of selected frequencies if a difference between prominent audio at the particular frequency and prominent ambient sound at the particular frequency is greater than a predefined threshold.

[0355] Example 47 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 39 to 46, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a plurality of sound control signals based on one or more sets of weighting vectors corresponding to one or more personal sound zones, each of the sets of weighting vectors corresponding to one or more personal sound zones, each of the sets of weighting vectors including a plurality of weighting vectors corresponding to a plurality of acoustic transducers, and a weighting vector in the set of weighting vectors based on an acoustic transfer function between an acoustic transducer of the plurality of acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone.

[0356] Example 48 includes the subject matter of Example 47, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a sound control signal for a particular acoustic transducer by applying a weighting vector corresponding to the particular acoustic transducer from a set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone to an audio input heard in the personal sound zone.

[0357] Example 49 includes the subject matter of Example 47 or Example 48, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone based on a first plurality of acoustic transfer functions and a second plurality of acoustic transfer functions, the first plurality of acoustic transfer functions comprising acoustic transfer functions between the plurality of acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone, and the second plurality of acoustic transfer functions comprising acoustic transfer functions between the plurality of acoustic transducers and one or more monitoring locations outside the personal sound zone.

[0358] Example 50 includes the subject matter of Example 49, and optionally, the controller is configured to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on environmental acoustic information representing environmental acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined environmental locations defined with respect to an environment including one or more personal sound zones.

[0359] Example 51 includes the subject matter of Example 49 or Example 50, and optionally, the controller is configured to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on a change in position of the personal sound zone.

[0360] Example 52 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 49 to 51, and optionally, the controller is configured to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on environmental parameter information of one or more environmental parameters of the environment, including one or more personal sound zones.

[0361] Example 53 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 47 to 52, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a set of weighting vectors corresponding to a personal sound zone based on a criterion relating to a contrast between a first acoustic energy and a second acoustic energy, wherein the first acoustic energy comprises acoustic energy in the personal sound zone based on the set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone, and the second acoustic energy comprises acoustic energy at one or more monitoring positions outside the personal sound zone based on the set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone.

[0362] Example 54 includes the subject matter of Example 53, and optionally, the criterion comprises limiting the first energy based on the volume at which the audio input is heard in the personal sound zone and minimizing the second energy.

[0363] Example 55 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 47 to 54, and optionally, the weight vector comprises a plurality of weights corresponding to a plurality of acoustic frequencies respectively.

[0364] Example 56 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 39 to 55, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a sound control pattern based on at least first and second audio inputs, a first audio input for a first personal sound zone and a second audio input for a second personal sound zone, and the controller is configured to determine the sound control pattern based on a first plurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sounds at a first plurality of monitoring sensing locations defined within the first personal sound zone and a second plurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sounds at a second plurality of monitoring sensing locations defined within the second personal sound zone.

[0365] Example 57 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 39 to 56, and optionally, the controller is configured to determine a sound control pattern based on one or more audio inputs and based on one or more active noise cancellation (ANC) acoustic sensor inputs and an ANC mechanism configured to reduce residual noise from outside one or more personal sound zones.

[0366] Example 58 includes a method of sound control comprising: processing one or more audio inputs heard in one or more personal sound zones and a plurality of monitoring inputs, the plurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined monitoring sensing locations defined within the one or more personal sound zones; determining a sound control pattern based on the one or more audio inputs and the plurality of monitoring inputs, the sound control pattern comprising a plurality of sound control signals configured to respectively drive a plurality of acoustic transducers so that the one or more audio inputs are heard in the one or more personal sound zones; and outputting the plurality of sound control signals to the plurality of acoustic transducers.

[0367] Example 59 includes the subject matter of Example 58 and optionally comprises receiving environmental acoustic information representative of environmental acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined environmental locations defined with respect to an environment including one or more personal sound zones, and determining a sound control pattern based on the environmental acoustic information.

[0368] Example 60 includes the subject matter of Example 59, and optionally, the environmental acoustic information comprises information of acoustic sounds sensed by an acoustic sensor at environmental locations among a plurality of predefined environmental locations.

[0369] Example 61 includes the subject matter of Example 59 or Example 60, and optionally, the environmental acoustic information comprises at least one information of an audio signal, or an acoustic sound produced by a predefined audio source.

[0370] Example 62 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 59 to 61, and optionally includes determining a plurality of selected frequencies to be included in the sound control pattern, and selecting the plurality of selected frequencies from the frequency spectrum based on the environmental acoustic information and the one or more audio inputs.

[0371] Example 63 includes the subject matter of Example 62, and optionally comprises determining a plurality of selected frequencies based on prominent audio and prominent environmental sounds, where the prominent audio is based on the prominence of an audio input heard in the personal sound zone according to a transfer function from a plurality of transducers to the personal sound zone, and the prominent environmental sounds is based on the prominence of environmental acoustic sounds according to a transfer function from a plurality of predefined environmental locations to the personal sound zone.

[0372] Example 64 includes the subject matter of Example 63, optionally comprising determining whether a particular frequency is included in the plurality of selected frequencies based on prominent audio at the particular frequency and prominent ambient sounds at the particular frequency.

[0373] Example 65 includes the subject matter of Example 64, optionally comprising determining that a particular frequency is included in the plurality of selected frequencies if a difference between prominent audio at the particular frequency and prominent ambient sound at the particular frequency is greater than a predefined threshold.

[0374] Example 66 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 58 to 65, and optionally includes determining a plurality of sound control signals based on one or more sets of weighting vectors each corresponding to one or more personal sound zones, the sets of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zones each including a plurality of weighting vectors corresponding to a plurality of acoustic transducers, and a weighting vector in the set of weighting vectors is based on an acoustic transfer function between an acoustic transducer of the plurality of acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone.

[0375] Example 67 includes the subject matter of Example 66, and optionally comprises determining a sound control signal for a particular acoustic transducer by applying a weighting vector corresponding to the particular acoustic transducer from a set of weighting vectors corresponding to personal sound zones to an audio input heard in the personal sound zone.

[0376] Example 68 includes the subject matter of Example 66 or Example 67, and optionally includes determining a set of weighting vectors corresponding to a personal sound zone based on a first plurality of acoustic transfer functions and a second plurality of acoustic transfer functions, where the first plurality of acoustic transfer functions comprise acoustic transfer functions between a plurality of acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone, and the second plurality of acoustic transfer functions comprise acoustic transfer functions between the plurality of acoustic transducers and one or more monitoring locations outside the personal sound zone.

[0377] Example 69 includes the subject matter of Example 68, and optionally comprises adjusting one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on environmental acoustic information representing environmental acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined environmental locations defined with respect to an environment including one or more personal sound zones.

[0378] Example 70 includes the subject matter of Example 68 or Example 69, optionally comprising adjusting one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on a change in position of the personal sound zone.

[0379] Example 71 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 68 to 70, and optionally includes adjusting one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on environmental parameter information of one or more environmental parameters of an environment, including one or more personal sound zones.

[0380] Example 72 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 66 to 71, and optionally includes determining a set of weighting vectors corresponding to a personal sound zone based on a criterion relating to a contrast between a first acoustic energy and a second acoustic energy, wherein the first acoustic energy comprises acoustic energy in the personal sound zone based on the set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone, and the second acoustic energy comprises acoustic energy at one or more monitoring locations outside the personal sound zone based on the set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone.

[0381] Example 73 includes the subject matter of Example 72, and optionally, the criterion comprises limiting the first energy based on the volume at which the audio input is heard in the personal sound zone and minimizing the second energy.

[0382] Example 74 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 66-73, and optionally, the weight vector comprises a plurality of weights corresponding to a plurality of respective acoustic frequencies.

[0383] Example 75 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 58 to 74, and optionally includes determining a sound control pattern based on at least first and second audio inputs, a first audio input for a first personal sound zone and a second audio input for a second personal sound zone, and determining the sound control pattern based on a first plurality of monitoring inputs representative of acoustic sounds at a first plurality of monitoring sensing locations defined within the first personal sound zone and a second plurality of monitoring inputs representative of acoustic sounds at a second plurality of monitoring sensing locations defined within the second personal sound zone.

[0384] Example 76 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 58 to 75, and optionally includes determining a sound control pattern based on one or more audio inputs and based on one or more active noise cancellation (ANC) acoustic sensor inputs and an ANC mechanism configured to reduce residual noise from outside one or more personal sound zones.

[0385] Example 77 includes a product comprising one or more tangible, computer-readable, non-transitory storage media comprising computer-executable instructions operable, when executed by at least one processor, to cause the at least one processor to: cause a sound control system to process one or more audio inputs heard in one or more personal sound zones and a plurality of monitoring inputs, the plurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined monitoring sensing locations defined within the one or more personal sound zones; determine a sound control pattern based on the one or more audio inputs and the plurality of monitoring inputs, the sound control pattern comprising a plurality of sound control signals configured to respectively drive a plurality of acoustic transducers so that the one or more audio inputs are heard in the one or more personal sound zones; and cause the plurality of sound control signals to be output to the plurality of acoustic transducers.

[0386] Example 78 includes the subject matter of Example 77, and optionally, the instructions, when executed, cause the sound control system to receive environmental acoustic information representative of environmental acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined environmental locations defined with respect to an environment including one or more personal sound zones, and determine a sound control pattern based on the environmental acoustic information.

[0387] Example 79 includes the subject matter of Example 78, and optionally, the environmental acoustic information comprises information of acoustic sounds sensed by an acoustic sensor at environmental locations among a plurality of predefined environmental locations.

[0388] Example 80 includes the subject matter of Example 78 or Example 79, and optionally, the environmental acoustic information comprises at least one of information of an audio signal, or an acoustic sound produced by a predefined audio source.

[0389] Example 81 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 78 to 80, and optionally, the instructions, when executed, cause the sound control system to determine a plurality of selected frequencies to be included in a sound control pattern and to select the plurality of selected frequencies from a frequency spectrum based on environmental acoustic information and one or more audio inputs.

[0390] Example 82 includes the subject matter of Example 81, and optionally, the instructions, when executed, cause the sound control system to determine a plurality of selected frequencies based on prominent audio and prominent environmental sounds, where the prominent audio is based on the prominence of an audio input heard in the personal sound zone according to a transfer function from a plurality of transducers to the personal sound zone, and the prominent environmental sounds are based on the prominence of the environmental acoustic sounds according to a transfer function from a plurality of predefined environmental locations to the personal sound zone.

[0391] Example 83 includes the subject matter of Example 82, and optionally the instructions, when executed, cause the sound control system to determine whether a particular frequency is included in the plurality of selected frequencies based on prominent audio at the particular frequency and prominent ambient sound at the particular frequency.

[0392] Example 84 includes the subject matter of Example 83, and optionally the instructions, when executed, cause the sound control system to determine that a particular frequency is included in the plurality of selected frequencies if a difference between prominent audio at the particular frequency and prominent ambient sound at the particular frequency is greater than a predefined threshold.

[0393] Example 85 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 77 to 84, and optionally, the instructions, when executed, cause the sound control system to determine a plurality of sound control signals based on one or more sets of weighting vectors each corresponding to one or more personal sound zones, the sets of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zones each comprising a plurality of weighting vectors corresponding to a plurality of acoustic transducers, and the weighting vectors in the set of weighting vectors are based on an acoustic transfer function between an acoustic transducer of the plurality of acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone.

[0394] Example 86 includes the subject matter of Example 85, and optionally the instructions, when executed, cause the sound control system to determine a sound control signal for a particular acoustic transducer by applying a weighting vector corresponding to the particular acoustic transducer from a set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone to audio input heard in the personal sound zone.

[0395] Example 87 includes the subject matter of Example 85 or Example 86, and optionally, the instructions, when executed, cause the sound control system to determine a set of weighting vectors corresponding to a personal sound zone based on a first plurality of acoustic transfer functions and a second plurality of acoustic transfer functions, the first plurality of acoustic transfer functions comprising acoustic transfer functions between a plurality of acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone, and the second plurality of acoustic transfer functions comprising acoustic transfer functions between the plurality of acoustic transducers and one or more monitoring locations outside the personal sound zone.

[0396] Example 88 includes the subject matter of Example 87, and optionally, the instructions, when executed, cause the sound control system to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on environmental acoustic information representing environmental acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined environmental locations defined with respect to an environment including one or more personal sound zones.

[0397] Example 89 includes the subject matter of Example 87 or Example 88, and optionally, the instructions, when executed, cause the sound control system to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on a change in position of the personal sound zone.

[0398] Example 90 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 87 to 89, and optionally, the instructions, when executed, cause the sound control system to adjust one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on environmental parameter information of one or more environmental parameters of an environment, including one or more personal sound zones.

[0399] Example 91 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 85 to 90, and optionally, the instructions, when executed, cause the sound control system to determine a set of weighting vectors corresponding to a personal sound zone based on a criterion relating to a contrast between a first acoustic energy and a second acoustic energy, wherein the first acoustic energy comprises acoustic energy in the personal sound zone based on the set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone, and the second acoustic energy comprises acoustic energy at one or more monitoring locations outside the personal sound zone based on the set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone.

[0400] Example 92 includes the subject matter of Example 91, and optionally, the criterion comprises limiting the first energy based on the volume at which the audio input is heard in the personal sound zone and minimizing the second energy.

[0401] Example 93 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 85-92, and optionally, the weight vector comprises a plurality of weights corresponding to a plurality of respective acoustic frequencies.

[0402] Example 94 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 77 to 93, and optionally, the instructions, when executed, cause the sound control system to determine a sound control pattern based on at least first and second audio inputs, a first audio input for a first personal sound zone and a second audio input for a second personal sound zone, and to determine the sound control pattern based on a first plurality of monitoring inputs representative of acoustic sounds at a first plurality of monitoring sensing locations defined within the first personal sound zone and a second plurality of monitoring inputs representative of acoustic sounds at a second plurality of monitoring sensing locations defined within the second personal sound zone.

[0403] Example 95 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 77 to 94, and optionally, the instructions, when executed, cause the sound control system to determine a sound control pattern based on one or more audio inputs and based on one or more active noise cancellation (ANC) acoustic sensor inputs and an ANC mechanism configured to reduce residual noise from outside one or more personal sound zones.

[0404] Example 96 includes a sound control apparatus comprising: means for processing one or more audio inputs heard in one or more personal sound zones and a plurality of monitoring inputs, the plurality of monitoring inputs representing acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined monitoring sensing locations defined within the one or more personal sound zones; means for determining a sound control pattern based on the one or more audio inputs and the plurality of monitoring inputs, the sound control pattern comprising a plurality of sound control signals configured to respectively drive a plurality of acoustic transducers so that the one or more audio inputs are heard in the one or more personal sound zones; and means for outputting the plurality of sound control signals to the plurality of acoustic transducers.

[0405] Example 97 includes the subject matter of Example 96 and optionally includes means for receiving environmental acoustic information representative of environmental acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined environmental locations defined with respect to an environment including one or more personal sound zones, and determining a sound control pattern based on the environmental acoustic information.

[0406] Example 98 includes the subject matter of Example 97, and optionally, the environmental acoustic information comprises information of acoustic sounds sensed by an acoustic sensor at environmental locations among a plurality of predefined environmental locations.

[0407] Example 99 includes the subject matter of Example 97 or Example 98, and optionally, the environmental acoustic information comprises at least one of information of an audio signal, or an acoustic sound produced by a predefined audio source.

[0408] Example 100 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 97 to 99, and optionally includes means for determining a plurality of selected frequencies to be included in a sound control pattern and selecting a plurality of selected frequencies from a frequency spectrum based on environmental acoustic information and one or more audio inputs.

[0409] Example 101 includes the subject matter of Example 100 and optionally includes means for determining a plurality of selected frequencies based on prominent audio and prominent environmental sounds, where the prominent audio is based on the prominence of an audio input heard in the personal sound zone according to a transfer function from a plurality of transducers to the personal sound zone, and the prominent environmental sounds is based on the prominence of environmental acoustic sounds according to a transfer function from a plurality of predefined environmental locations to the personal sound zone.

[0410] Example 102 includes the subject matter of Example 101 and optionally includes means for determining whether a particular frequency is included in the plurality of selected frequencies based on prominent audio at the particular frequency and prominent ambient sounds at the particular frequency.

[0411] Example 103 includes the subject matter of Example 102, and optionally includes means for determining that a particular frequency is included in the plurality of selected frequencies if a difference between prominent audio at the particular frequency and prominent ambient sound at the particular frequency is greater than a predefined threshold.

[0412] Example 104 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 96 to 103, and optionally includes a means for determining a plurality of sound control signals based on one or more sets of weighting vectors each corresponding to one or more personal sound zones, the set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zones each including a plurality of weighting vectors corresponding to a plurality of acoustic transducers, and a weighting vector in the set of weighting vectors is based on an acoustic transfer function between an acoustic transducer of the plurality of acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone.

[0413] Example 105 includes the subject matter of Example 104 and optionally includes means for determining a sound control signal for a particular acoustic transducer by applying a weighting vector corresponding to the particular acoustic transducer from a set of weighting vectors corresponding to personal sound zones to an audio input heard in the personal sound zone.

[0414] Example 106 includes the subject matter of Example 104 or Example 105, and optionally includes means for determining a set of weighting vectors corresponding to a personal sound zone based on a first plurality of acoustic transfer functions and a second plurality of acoustic transfer functions, where the first plurality of acoustic transfer functions include acoustic transfer functions between a plurality of acoustic transducers and the personal sound zone, and the second plurality of acoustic transfer functions include acoustic transfer functions between the plurality of acoustic transducers and one or more monitoring locations outside the personal sound zone.

[0415] Example 107 includes the subject matter of Example 106 and optionally includes means for adjusting one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on environmental acoustic information representing environmental acoustic sounds at a plurality of predefined environmental locations defined with respect to an environment including one or more personal sound zones.

[0416] Example 108 includes the subject matter of Example 106 or Example 107, and optionally includes means for adjusting one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on a change in position of the personal sound zone.

[0417] Example 109 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 106 to 108, and optionally includes means for adjusting one or more acoustic transfer functions in the first or second plurality of acoustic transfer functions based on environmental parameter information of one or more environmental parameters of the environment, including one or more personal sound zones.

[0418] Example 110 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 104 to 109, and optionally includes means for determining a set of weighting vectors corresponding to a personal sound zone based on a criterion relating to a contrast between a first acoustic energy and a second acoustic energy, wherein the first acoustic energy comprises acoustic energy in the personal sound zone based on the set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone, and the second acoustic energy comprises acoustic energy at one or more monitoring positions outside the personal sound zone based on the set of weighting vectors corresponding to the personal sound zone.

[0419] Example 111 includes the subject matter of Example 110, and optionally, the criterion comprises limiting the first energy based on the volume at which the audio input is heard in the personal sound zone and minimizing the second energy.

[0420] Example 112 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 104-111, and optionally, the weight vector comprises a plurality of weights corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of acoustic frequencies.

[0421] Example 113 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 96 to 112, and optionally includes means for determining a sound control pattern based on at least first and second audio inputs, a first audio input for a first personal sound zone and a second audio input for a second personal sound zone, and for determining the sound control pattern based on a first plurality of monitoring inputs representative of acoustic sounds at a first plurality of monitoring sensing locations defined within the first personal sound zone and a second plurality of monitoring inputs representative of acoustic sounds at a second plurality of monitoring sensing locations defined within the second personal sound zone.

[0422] Example 114 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 96 to 113, and optionally includes means for determining a sound control pattern based on one or more audio inputs and based on one or more active noise cancellation (ANC) acoustic sensor inputs and an ANC mechanism configured to reduce residual noise from outside one or more personal sound zones.

[0423] Any features, operations, components, and / or features described herein with reference to one or more embodiments may be combined or utilized in combination with one or more other features, operations, components and / or features described herein with reference to one or more other embodiments, and vice versa.

[0424] While certain features have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is therefore to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims

[Claim 1] receiving one or more audio inputs heard in one or more personal sound zones, environmental information, and monitoring information comprising a plurality of monitoring inputs, the environmental information comprising information corresponding to an environment including the one or more personal sound zones, the plurality of monitoring inputs representing sounds at a plurality of pre-defined monitoring sensing locations within the one or more personal sound zones; determining a sound control pattern based on the one or more audio inputs, the environmental information, and the plurality of monitoring inputs, the sound control pattern comprising a plurality of sound control signals configured to respectively drive a plurality of acoustic transducers in the one or more personal sound zones such that the one or more audio inputs are audible, the sound control pattern being configured to be focused towards a personal sound zone such that the audio inputs are audible in that personal sound zone; outputting the plurality of sound control signals to the plurality of acoustic transducers.

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