Recreational vehicles

Abstract

A system and method for receiving and detecting speech in connection with a communication system is disclosed.

Description

Related Applications 【0001】 【0001】This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 012814, entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VOICE RECEPTION AND DETECTION," filed on April 20, 2020, the entire disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 012811, entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMMUNICATING INFORMATION," filed on April 20, 2020, the entire disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 【Technical Field】 【0002】 【0002】This disclosure relates generally to communication systems, and more particularly to communication systems having microphones for receiving and / or detecting voice. Background 【0003】 【0003】Recreational vehicles such as motorcycles, or off-road vehicles such as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and snowmobiles are widely used for recreational purposes. While riding, a user (e.g., a driver / rider) can control some functions of the recreational vehicle by voice commands and / or participate in telephone or wireless communication. To do so, a user (e.g., a driver / rider) of a recreational vehicle may wear one or more wearable devices with microphones (e.g., a headset or a helmet with a microphone) to capture the user's voice or sound. However, the microphone inevitably captures noise (e.g., engine noise, traffic noise, wind) in addition to the user's voice. Summary 【0004】 【0004】As described above, the embodiments provided herein relate to voice capture in recreational vehicles. Exemplary embodiments include, but are not limited to, the following examples. 【0005】

[0005] In one embodiment, a recreational vehicle is provided. This recreational vehicle includes a frame, a front ground engagement member and a rear ground engagement member supporting the frame, a powertrain coupled to one of the front ground engagement member and the rear ground engagement member to transmit power, a steering assembly coupled to the front ground engagement member for steering the recreational vehicle, a seat supported by the frame, and a communication system. The communication system has a microphone positioned between the seat and the steering assembly. 【0006】

[0006] In some embodiments, the recreational vehicle may further include a fuel tank supported by a frame and located between the seat and the steering assembly. A microphone may be mounted on top of the fuel tank. 【0007】

[0007] In some embodiments, the recreational vehicle may further include an airbox supported by a frame and located between the seat and the steering assembly. A microphone may be mounted on top of the airbox. 【0008】

[0008] In some embodiments, the communication system may be configured to receive the voice of the user of the recreation vehicle via a microphone. 【0009】

[0009] In some embodiments, the steering assembly may further include a front fairing and a user grip. In such embodiments, the microphone may be positioned behind the front fairing and below the user grip to reduce the amount of airflow hitting the microphone. 【0010】

[0010] In some embodiments, the microphone may be mounted at an angle, facing upward toward the user of the recreational vehicle, in order to reduce exhaust noise and / or engine noise. 【0011】

[0011] In another embodiment, a wearable device for detecting voice is provided. The wearable device has a communication system, which includes a processor, a microphone configured to generate voice data of the voice of a user of the wearable device, an accelerometer configured to capture vibrations of the user's head and / or neck to generate accelerometer data, and a memory containing instructions, when executed by the processor, to cause the processor to detect the user's voice using the accelerometer data. 【0012】

[0012] In some embodiments, generating audio data may include generating audio data of the user's voice in response to detecting the user's voice. 【0013】

[0013] In some embodiments, detecting a user's voice using accelerometer data may include detecting a user's voice by correlating audio data with accelerometer data. 【0014】

[0014] In some embodiments, the microphone may be coupled to the wearable device near the user's mouth to receive the user's voice. 【0015】

[0015] In some embodiments, the accelerometer may be coupled to the wearable device in a position where the wearable device is likely to come into contact with the user's head and / or neck in order to detect audible frequencies produced by the user's vocal cords in real time. 【0016】

[0016] In some embodiments, the wearable device may be a helmet. 【0017】

[0017] In some embodiments, the accelerometer may be placed on the chin strap of the wearable device. 【0018】

[0018] In some embodiments, the memory may further include instructions, when executed by the processor, that cause the processor to process the audio data using beamforming techniques to achieve spatial selectivity, filter the processed audio data to remove low-frequency noise, and filter the accelerometer data to remove high-frequency noise. In some embodiments, detecting the user's voice using the accelerometer data may include detecting the user's voice by correlating the filtered processed audio data with the filtered accelerometer data. 【0019】

[0019] In some embodiments, the communication system may further include a low-pass filter configured to receive the accelerometer output signal generated by the accelerometer and remove high-frequency noise. 【0020】

[0020] In some embodiments, the communication system may further include a high-pass filter configured to receive the audio output signal generated by the microphone and remove low-frequency noise. 【0021】

[0021] In another embodiment, a method for detecting voice is provided. This method includes the steps of capturing vibrations of the user's head and / or neck to generate accelerometer data using the accelerometer of a wearable device, and using the accelerometer data to detect the user's voice. 【0022】

[0022] In some embodiments, the method may further include the step of generating audio data of the user's voice by a microphone of a wearable device in response to the step of detecting the user's voice. 【0023】

[0023] In some embodiments, the method further includes the step of generating audio data of the user's voice by a microphone of a wearable device, and the step of detecting the user's voice using accelerometer data includes detecting the user's voice by correlating the audio data with the accelerometer data. 【0024】

[0024] In some embodiments, the microphone may be coupled to the wearable device near the user's mouth in order to receive the user's voice. 【0025】

[0025] In some embodiments, the accelerometer may be coupled to the wearable device in a position where the wearable device is likely to come into contact with the user's head and / or neck in order to detect audible frequencies produced by the user's vocal cords in real time. 【0026】

[0026] In some embodiments, the wearable device may be a helmet. 【0027】

[0027] In some embodiments, the accelerometer may be placed on the chin strap of the wearable device. 【0028】

[0028] In some embodiments, the method may further include the steps of processing audio data using a beamforming technique to achieve spatial selectivity, filtering the processed audio data to remove low-frequency noise, and filtering accelerometer data to remove high-frequency noise. In some embodiments, the step of detecting a user's voice may include detecting the user's voice by correlating the filtered processed audio data with the filtered accelerometer data to detect the user's voice. 【0029】 【0029】In one aspect, a communication system for processing noise is provided. The communication system includes a processor and a memory that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to receive voice data including a user's voice through a microphone and process the voice data to remove unwanted ambient noise based on current vehicle information of the user's recreational vehicle and output the processed voice data. 【0030】 【0030】In some embodiments, predictable noise may include engine noise generated by the state of the engine of the recreational vehicle on which the user is riding. 【0031】 【0031】In some embodiments, unpredictable noise may include traffic noise, wind noise, and / or any other environmental noise. 【0032】 【0032】In some embodiments, the microphone may be mounted on the recreational vehicle. 【0033】 【0033】In some embodiments, the microphone may be mounted on the user's wearable device. 【0034】 【0034】In some embodiments, processing the voice data includes removing a first set of noise from the voice data based on current vehicle information, where the current vehicle information includes the type, model, and / or manufacturer of the recreational vehicle, a vehicle noise profile associated with the recreational vehicle, and / or the current state of the engine of the recreational vehicle. 【0035】 【0035】The current state of the engine of the recreational vehicle may include any current state of the engine parameters, and the vehicle noise profile is generated based on the engine parameters of the recreational vehicle. 【0036】

[0036] In some embodiments, engine parameters may include engine phase, engine speed, transmission gear, clutch position, throttle position, and wheel speed. 【0037】

[0037] In some embodiments, processing the audio data may include removing a second set of noise from the audio data using a moving average filter. 【0038】

[0038] In another embodiment, a method for processing noise is provided. This method includes the steps of: receiving audio data, including the user's voice, with a microphone; processing the audio data to remove unwanted ambient noise based on current vehicle information of the user's recreational vehicle; and outputting the processed audio data. 【0039】

[0039] In some embodiments, predictable noise may include engine noise generated by the state of the engine of the recreational vehicle in which the user is riding. 【0040】

[0040] In some embodiments, unpredictable noise may include traffic noise, wind noise, and / or other arbitrary environmental noise. 【0041】

[0041] In some embodiments, the microphone may be mounted on a recreation vehicle. 【0042】

[0042] In some embodiments, the microphone may be attached to the user's wearable device. 【0043】

[0043] In some embodiments, the step of processing the audio data may include removing a first set of noise from the audio data based on current vehicle information, which includes the type, model, and / or manufacturer of the recreational vehicle, a vehicle noise profile associated with the recreational vehicle, and / or the current state of the recreational vehicle's engine. 【0044】

[0044] In some embodiments, the current state of the recreational vehicle's engine may include any current state of the engine parameters, and the vehicle noise profile is generated based on the recreational vehicle's engine parameters. 【0045】

[0045] In some embodiments, engine parameters may include engine phase, engine speed, transmission gear, clutch position, throttle position, and wheel speed. 【0046】

[0046] In some embodiments, the step of processing the audio data may include removing a second set of noise from the audio data using a moving average filter. 【0047】

[0047] Although numerous embodiments are disclosed, further embodiments of the subject matter of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description illustrating and describing explanatory embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. Therefore, the drawings and detailed description are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. 【0048】

[0048] The other features and advantages of the present disclosure, as well as the methods for achieving them, will become more apparent and better understood by referring to the following description of embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing] 【0049】 【Figure 1】

[0049] Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a recreational vehicle according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. 【0050】 【Figure 2】

[0050] Figure 2 is a block diagram of the communication system of the recreation vehicle shown in Figure 1. 【0051】 【Figure 3】

[0051] Figure 3 shows a system for a user to receive voice, including a user's wearable device having a communication system, according to an example of the present disclosure. 【0052】 【Figure 4】

[0052] Figure 4 shows a method for detecting the user's voice using the wearable device shown in Figure 3. 【0053】 【Figure 5】

[0053] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing a method for noise cancellation of audio data performed by a computer. Detailed explanation of the drawings 【0054】

[0054] Similar reference letters indicate similar components across several figures. While the drawings represent embodiments of the present disclosure, they are not necessarily to scale, and certain features may be exaggerated to better illustrate and illustrate the present disclosure. The examples described herein represent one embodiment of the present disclosure in one form, and such examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 【0055】

[0055] Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals represent the same parts and assemblies in several of the drawings. The scope of the present invention is not limited by reference to various embodiments, but is limited only by the claims appended herein. In addition, none of the examples described herein are limiting, but merely illustrate some of the many possible embodiments of the claimed invention. 【0056】

[0056] Referring here to Figure 1, a recreation vehicle 100 is shown as an embodiment of a motorcycle. Although the recreation vehicle 100 is exemplified as a motorcycle in Figure 1, it should be understood that the recreation vehicle can be exemplified as any off-road vehicle widely used for recreational purposes, such as an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and a snowmobile. The recreation vehicle may include several functions that can be controlled by the user (e.g., driver / rider) by voice commands. In addition, or otherwise, the user may wish to participate in telephone or radio communication while riding the recreation vehicle. To do so, the exemplary recreation vehicle 100 has one or more microphones directly mounted on the recreation vehicle 100 for capturing the user's voice or speech, without requiring the wearing of a wearable device such as a headset or helmet. 【0057】

[0057] As shown in Figure 1, the recreation vehicle 100 includes a plurality of ground engagement members 102. The ground engagement members 102 include wheels, contact surfaces, skis, and other appropriate devices for supporting the vehicle 100 with respect to the ground. The recreation vehicle 100 further includes a frame 104 supported by the plurality of ground engagement members 102. The front wheels and / or rear wheels 102 are coupled to a powertrain assembly 114 to propel the vehicle 100 forward during its operation. The powertrain assembly 114 includes both an engine and a transmission. The transmission is coupled to the engine and powers the front wheels and / or rear wheels 102. 【0058】

[0058] The seat 106 is supported by the frame 104 to function. The seat 106 may include a straddle seat, a bench seat, a bucket seat, and other suitable support members. In addition to the seat 106, the recreation vehicle 100 may further include passenger seats. Exemplary passenger seats include a straddle seat, a bench seat, a bucket seat, and other suitable support members. In some examples, the passenger seats are located immediately behind the user seat. One or more floorboards 112 are supported by the frame 104. The vehicle floorboards 112 are configured to support the user's underside when the user is operating the vehicle 100. For example, when the user is seated in the seat 106, the user can place their shoes, boots, and / or other accessories on the floorboards 112. 【0059】

[0059] The steering system 120 includes a user input section, or steering member 108, which is coupled to at least one of the ground engagement members 102 and is generally configured to be gripped by a user of the vehicle 100. An exemplary steering member 108 includes a handlebar and / or a handle. In addition, and / or otherwise, the steering member 108 includes one or more user grips 110. An exemplary user grip 110 is a handgrip (e.g., a motorcycle handgrip). 【0060】

[0060] The recreation vehicle 100 further includes a communication system 130, which is depicted in detail in Figure 2. The communication system 130 includes a microphone 118 for capturing the user's voice. In a descriptive embodiment, the microphone 118 is mounted between the steering system 120 and the seat 106 of the recreation vehicle 100 for capturing the user's voice to activate voice commands and / or to participate in telephone or radio communication. To do so, the microphone 118 is mounted in the recreation vehicle 100 in a specific configuration that minimizes noise (e.g., wind, engine noise, and traffic noise) that may be captured by the microphone 118. More specifically, the microphone 188 is configured to be located behind the front fairing 122 and below the user grip 110 in order to reduce the amount of airflow that may reach the microphone 188. In addition, the microphone 118 is mounted diagonally upward toward the user in order to reduce engine noise and / or exhaust noise that may be captured from the muffler 124 at the rear of the recreation vehicle 100. 【0061】

[0061] In the exemplary recreational vehicle 100, the fuel tank 116 is located between the steering system 120 and the seat 106, and the microphone 118 is located on top of the fuel tank 116. However, it should be understood that in some recreational vehicles, the microphone may be located on top of the airbox located between the steering system 120 and the seat 106. In other words, the microphone 118 is configured to be mounted on an element located between the steering system 120 and the seat 106 of the recreational vehicle. Although one microphone 118 is shown in Figure 1, it should be understood that the communication system of the recreational vehicle may include multiple microphones mounted on the recreational vehicle to capture the user's voice. 【0062】

[0062] Referring now to Figure 2, a block diagram of a recreation vehicle 100 having a communication system 130 is shown. In a descriptive embodiment, the communication system 130 of the recreation vehicle 100 includes a processor 132, memory 134, input / output (I / O) controller 136 (e.g., a network transceiver), memory unit 138, user interface 140, one or more speakers 142, and a microphone 118, all of which can be interconnected via one or more address / data buses. Although the I / O controller 136 is shown as a single block, it should be understood that the I / O controller 136 may include several different types of I / O components. The user interface 140 may include one or more input devices (e.g., buttons, touchpads, keyboards) that can receive user input. 【0063】

[0063] The processor 132 disclosed herein may be any electronic device capable of processing data, such as a central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), system on a chip (SoC), or any other suitable type of processor. It should be understood that various operations of the exemplary methods described herein (i.e., performed by the communication system 130) may be performed by one or more processors 132. The memory 134 may be random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, or any other suitable type of memory capable of storing data such as instruction codes that the processor 132 needs to access in order to perform any of the methods disclosed herein. Although only one processor 132 is shown, it should be understood that the communication system 130 may include multiple processors 132. 【0064】

[0064] The communication system 130 may further include a database 144. In this specification, the term “database” may refer to a single database or other structured data storage, or a collection of two or more different databases or structured data storage components. In a descriptive embodiment, the database 144 is part of the communication system 130. In some embodiments, the communication system 130 may access the database 144 via a network (not shown). 【0065】

[0065] The communication system 130 may further include several software applications stored in a memory unit 138, sometimes called program memory. Various software applications of the communication system 130 may include specific programs, routines, or scripts for performing processing functions related to the methods described herein. In addition, or otherwise, various software applications of the communication system 130 may include general-purpose software applications for data processing, database management, data analysis, network communication, web server operation, or other functions described herein, or functions typically performed by a communication system of a recreational vehicle. Various software applications may run on the same computer processor or on different computer processors. In addition, or otherwise, software applications may interact with various hardware modules that may be installed in or connected to the communication system 130. Such modules may implement some or all of the various exemplary method functions or other related embodiments discussed herein. 【0066】

[0066] One or more speakers 142 can be any electronic device capable of generating sound in response to an electrical voice signal input. For example, the communication system 130 can be communicatively coupled to a user's mobile device. In such a case, the electrical voice signal input is received from the user's mobile device and can be used, for example, to deliver a voice conversation during a phone call, to play music, and / or to play a text message or email to the user via one or more speakers 142. In another example, the communication system of a recreation vehicle 100 can be communicatively coupled to the communication system of another recreation vehicle. In such a case, the electrical voice signal input is received from another user via the communication system of the other recreation vehicle and can deliver a communication or message from the other user. 【0067】

[0067] The microphone 118 can be any electronic device capable of capturing sound and converting it into an electrical voice output signal. As described above, in the descriptive embodiment, the microphone 118 is mounted on the recreation vehicle 100 to capture the user's voice and activate voice commands and / or to participate in telephone or radio communication. The voice output signal from the microphone 118 can be transmitted to the user's mobile device during a telephone call and / or to create a voice-text message or email to be sent to another computer device. In addition, the voice output signal may be transmitted to a communication system in another user's recreation vehicle to deliver a communication or message from that user to another user. 【0068】

[0068] By directly mounting the microphone 118 to the recreation vehicle 100 as part of the recreation vehicle's communication system 130, the user does not need to use a separate microphone that needs to be physically mounted to the recreation vehicle 100 or that needs to be communicatively coupled to the recreation vehicle 100 (for example, via Bluetooth®). However, as will be discussed in detail in Figure 3, it should be understood that in some embodiments the microphone may be incorporated into the user's wearable device (e.g., a helmet) to capture the user's voice. 【0069】

[0069] Referring now to Figure 3, a system 300 for detecting the voice of a user (e.g., driver / rider) of a recreation vehicle 340 by a wearable device 302 (e.g., a helmet). The wearable device 302 is worn by the user when they get into the recreation vehicle 340 and is configured to detect the user's voice or speech while they are in the vehicle. Detecting the user's voice while they are in the vehicle using a microphone 324 coupled to the wearable device 302 can be difficult because the microphone 324 picks up ambient noise such as engine noise, tire noise, and wind noise. To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of voice reception, the exemplary wearable device 302 further includes an accelerometer 326, which will be described in detail below. 【0070】

[0070] In a descriptive embodiment, the system 300 includes a wearable device 302 having a communication system 310 which is wirelessly (e.g., via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) coupled to a recreation vehicle 340. However, it should be understood that in some embodiments, the wearable device 302 may be wired to the recreation vehicle 340. The system 300 may further include one or more wearable devices 330 and / or one or more computer devices 360 (e.g., mobile devices, servers) which are communicatively coupled to the wearable device 302 via a network 350. 【0071】

[0071] In a descriptive embodiment, the communication system 310 of the wearable device 302 includes a processor 312, memory 314, input / output (I / O) controller 316 (e.g., a network transceiver), memory unit 318, user interface 320, one or more speakers 322, one or more microphones 324, and accelerometer 326, all of which can be interconnected via one or more address / data buses. Although the I / O controller 316 is shown as a single block, it should be understood that the I / O controller 316 may include several different types of I / O components. The user interface 320 may include one or more input devices (e.g., buttons, touchpads, keyboards) that can receive user input. 【0072】

[0072] The processor 312 disclosed herein may be any electronic device capable of processing data, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a system on a chip (SoC), or any other suitable type of processor. It should be understood that various operations of the exemplary methods described herein (i.e., performed by the communication system 310) may be performed by one or more processors 312. The memory 314 may be random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, or any other suitable type of memory capable of storing data such as instruction codes that the processor 312 needs to access in order to perform any of the methods disclosed herein. Although only one processor 312 is shown, it should be understood that the communication system 310 may include multiple processors 312. 【0073】

[0073] The communication system 310 may further include a database 328. In this specification, the term “database” may refer to a single database or other structured data storage, or a collection of two or more different databases or structured data storage components. In a descriptive embodiment, the database 328 is part of the communication system 310. In some embodiments, the communication system 310 may access the database 328 via a network (e.g., network 350). The database 328 may store data to be received and / or transmitted to and from one or more communication systems of other wearable devices 330, computer devices 340, and one or more servers 360. It should be understood that each of the other wearable devices 330 includes a communication system similar to the communication system 310 of wearable device 302. 【0074】

[0074] Generally, the computer device 360 ​​may include any existing or future device that can receive and / or transmit data to and from the user. For example, the computer device may be a mobile device, smartphone, tablet, wearable, smart glasses, computer, notebook, laptop, or any other suitable computer device that can communicate with the communication system 310 of the wearable device 302. It should be understood that in some embodiments, the computer device 360 ​​may be directly coupled to the wearable device 302 by a wire. 【0075】

[0075] The communication system 310 may further include several software applications stored in a memory unit 138, sometimes called program memory. Various software applications of the communication system 310 may include specific programs, routines, or scripts for performing processing functions related to the methods described herein. In addition, or otherwise, various software applications of the communication system 310 may include general-purpose software applications for data processing, database management, data analysis, network communication, web server operation, or other functions described herein, or for functions typically performed by a communication system of a wearable device (e.g., a helmet). Various software applications may run on the same computer processor or on different computer processors. In addition, or otherwise, software applications may interact with various hardware modules that may be installed in or connected to the communication system 310. Such modules may implement some or all of the various exemplary method functions or other related embodiments discussed herein. 【0076】

[0076] One or more speakers 322 can be any electronic device capable of generating sound in response to an electro-voice signal input. In a descriptive embodiment, the speaker 322 is positioned near the user's ear to transmit audible sound to the user. If the wearable device 302 is embodied as a helmet, the speaker 322 may be positioned inside the helmet near the user's ear to transmit audible sound to the user. For example, the electro-voice signal input may be received from a recreational vehicle 340 via one or more speakers 322 for voice commands, telephone communications, and / or wireless communications (e.g., vehicle-to-vehicle communications). In some embodiments, the electro-voice signal input may be received directly from a communication system (e.g., 330) of another wearable device to receive communications or messages from another user. In other embodiments, the communication system 310 of the wearable device 302 can be communicably coupled to the user's mobile device (e.g., a computer device 360). In such cases, the electrical audio signal input is received directly from the user's mobile device (e.g., computer device 360) and can be used, for example, to deliver voice conversations during a phone call, play music, and / or play text messages or emails to the user via one or more speakers 322. 【0077】

[0077] One or more microphones 324 can be any electronic device capable of capturing sound and converting it into an electro-voice output signal. In a descriptive embodiment, the microphones 324 may be mounted near the user's mouth to receive audible sound from the user. If the wearable device 302 is embodied as a helmet, the microphones may be mounted on the outside and / or inside of the helmet near the user's mouth. For example, the electro-voice output signals from one or more microphones 324 may be transmitted to a recreational vehicle 340 for voice commands, telephone communications, and / or wireless communications (e.g., vehicle-to-vehicle communications). The electro-voice output signals may be transmitted directly to a communication system of another wearable device (e.g., 330) of another user to deliver communications or messages from that user to another user. In addition, in some embodiments, the communication system 310 can communicate directly with the user's mobile device (e.g., a computer device 340) to make telephone communications and / or create voice-text messages or emails to be sent to another computer device. 【0078】

[0078] The accelerometer 326 may be any sensor capable of measuring frequency vibrations. In a descriptive embodiment, the accelerometer 326 is positioned where the wearable device 302 is likely to come into contact with the user's head and / or neck. This allows the accelerometer 326 to capture vibrations of the user's head and / or neck to detect the user's voice or speech. For example, if the wearable device 302 is embodied as a helmet, the accelerometer is mounted or embedded on the inside of the helmet and positioned where the user's cheeks are likely to come into contact with the helmet when worn. Alternatively, or in addition, if the helmet has headphones or earmuffs inside (e.g., noise-canceling headphones or earmuffs), the accelerometer may be mounted or embedded in the ear covers of the earmuffs. However, it should be understood that in some embodiments, the accelerometer may be positioned anywhere inside the helmet where the helmet comes into contact with the user's body (e.g., the user's head, face, and / or neck). It should also be understood that in some embodiments, the accelerometer 326 may be positioned on the chin strap of the wearable device 302. By attaching the accelerometer 326 to the wearable device or chin strap that comes into contact with the user's head and / or neck, the audible frequencies produced by the user's vocal cords can be detected in real time. The accelerometer signal is minimized to the influence of ambient audible noise such as engine noise. In one example, the accelerometer 326 may be embodied as a low-noise, high-bandwidth 3-axis accelerometer with a time-division multiplexed slave interface. In such an example, the signal bandwidth may be 2340 Hz and the supply voltage may be 1.71 to 1.99 Hz. 【0079】

[0079] Network 350 is any suitable type of computer network that functionally connects the communication system 310 of a wearable device 302 with another wearable device 330 and / or a computer device 360. In some embodiments, network 350 may be any suitable type of computer network that functionally connects a recreational vehicle 340 with one or more computer devices 360 and / or one or more wearable devices. Network 350 may also include other types of networks, such as a private network, a secure public internet, a virtual private network, and / or one or more dedicated access lines, telephone lines, satellite links, cellular data networks, or a combination thereof. In embodiments in which network 350 includes the internet, data communication may be conducted through network 350 by internet communication protocols. 【0080】

[0080] Network 350 may be any number of different types of communication networks, such as bus networks, short message service (SMS), local area networks (LANs), wireless LANs (WLANs), wide area networks (WANs), personal area networks (PANs), the Internet, P2P networks, custom-designed communication or message protocols, or may include any number of these. Network 350 may also include a combination of multiple networks. 【0081】

[0081] It should be understood that this figure is merely an example and should not be used to unduly limit the scope of the claims. Many variations, alternatives, and modifications will be recognizable to those skilled in the art. 【0082】

[0082] Referring now to Figure 4, a computer-based method 400 is shown for detecting voice in the wearable device 302 using an accelerometer 326 and a microphone 324. In a descriptive embodiment, method 400 is performed by the communication system 310 of the wearable device 302. As discussed above, detecting a user's voice in a noisy environment using a microphone coupled to a wearable device can be difficult because the microphone picks up ambient audible noise or environmental noise, such as engine noise. However, unlike the voice output signal generated by the microphone, the accelerometer output signal is less affected by ambient audible noise because the accelerometer is configured to detect audible frequencies produced by the user's vocal cords in real time or near real time. Based on the accelerometer data, the communication system 310 can detect whether the user is making a sound and activate the microphone 324 to acquire microphone data. In other words, the microphone 324 can be inactive or muted until the communication system 310 detects the user's voice or sound. It should be understood that in some embodiments, the microphone 324 may be kept active at all times. In this way, the communication system 310 of the wearable device 302 utilizes the output signals from the microphone 324 and accelerometer 326 of the wearable device 302 to more accurately detect the user's voice. 【0083】

[0083] As described above, the accelerometer 326 is configured to detect audible frequencies generated by the user's vocal cords in real time. The detected frequencies can then be amplified in the signal path of the microphone 324 to improve voice detection accuracy. In a descriptive embodiment, frequency detection and amplified are performed using standard digital signal processing techniques with a low-pass filter 402, beamforming 404 and a high-pass filter 406. As shown in Figure 4, the low-pass filter 402 is connected to the accelerometer 326. The high-pass filter 406, on the other hand, is connected to the microphone 324 via a beamformer or spatial filter 404. 【0084】

[0084] The low-pass filter 402 is configured to receive the accelerometer output signal generated by the accelerometer 326 and remove high-frequency noise. In other words, the accelerometer data enables the low-frequency speech representation of the user's voice. 【0085】

[0085] The high-pass filter 406 is configured to receive the audio output signal generated by the microphone 324 of the wearable device 302 and remove low-frequency noise (e.g., ambient noise). To do so, the audio output signal from the microphone 324 is processed using beamforming techniques for directional signal reception to achieve spatial selectivity by the beamformer or spatial filter 404. It should be understood that a different type of beamforming technique may be used depending on how the microphone is fitted or positioned in the user's mouth. 【0086】

[0086] After the accelerometer output signal and the audio output signal are processed, the communication system 310 of the wearable device 302 is configured to combine the filtered output signals to detect the user's voice or speech. In other words, vibrations of the user's head and / or neck detected by the accelerometer 326 are correlated with the sound captured by the microphone 324 to improve the accuracy of speech detection. The combined filtered output signals are transmitted to a destination by wired or wireless communication. The destination may include another wearable device, another vehicle, and / or a software application or server performing speech recognition. 【0087】

[0087] In some embodiments, when sound is transmitted through the user's head, distortion may occur in the accelerometer signal at high frequencies, and therefore, the voice quality of the accelerometer signal at low frequencies may be more representative. In such embodiments, the communication system may process only the acceleration signal from the accelerometer without using the voice output signal from the microphone to detect the user's voice in the low frequency range of the voice, for example, 150 Hz to 1.5 kHz. In addition, in such embodiments, method 400 can also be performed (i.e., using the output signals from the accelerometer and the microphone) to detect the user's voice at the higher end of the vocal speech range, for example, 1.5 kHz to 4 kHz. 【0088】

[0088] Referring now to Figure 5, a computer-implemented method 500 for noise cancellation of audio data is shown. In a descriptive embodiment, method 500 is performed by a communication system (e.g., a communication system 130 of a recreation vehicle 100, or a communication system 130 of a helmet 302). In block 502, the communication system receives or acquires audio data in real time or near real time. It should be understood that the audio data can be collected by a microphone configured to capture the user's voice or speech. In the example of the recreation vehicle 100 shown in Figure 1, a microphone 118 mounted on the recreation vehicle 100 is configured to capture the voice of a user (e.g., a rider / driver) while riding in the recreation vehicle 100. Similarly, in the example of the helmet 302 shown in Figure 3, one or more microphones 324 of the helmet 302, which can be positioned or mounted inside and / or outside the helmet 302, are configured to capture the voice of a user (e.g., a wearer) while riding in the recreation vehicle (e.g., recreation vehicle 100). Therefore, it is unavoidable that the microphone will pick up not only the user's voice but also noise (for example, engine noise, traffic noise, wind). 【0089】

[0089] In order to reduce unwanted ambient noise from the voice data captured by the microphone, the communication system is configured to perform a noise processing algorithm to remove unwanted ambient noise from the voice data, as shown in block 504. Unwanted ambient noise can be characterized as predictable or unpredictable. Predictable noise may include engine noise generated by the state of the engine of the recreational vehicle in which the user is currently riding, and unpredictable noise may include traffic noise, wind noise, and / or any other environmental noise captured during the ride. 【0090】

[0090] In block 506, the communication system removes predictable noise from the voice data based on current vehicle information of the recreational vehicle the user is currently riding in. Current vehicle information includes the type / model / manufacturer of the recreational vehicle, a vehicle noise profile associated with the recreational vehicle, and the current state of the recreational vehicle's engine in real time or near real time. The current state of the engine includes any current state of engine parameters such as the engine phase, engine speed, transmission gear, clutch position, throttle position, and wheel speed of the recreational vehicle. It should be understood that the vehicle noise profile is generated based on known engine parameters (e.g., engine phase, engine speed, transmission gear, clutch position, throttle position, and wheel speed) of each or similar recreational vehicles. 【0091】

[0091] In other words, based on the current state of the recreational vehicle's engine, the communication system can predict what kind of noise is expected. This allows the communication system to filter out sudden noises emanating from the vehicle that might otherwise not have been characterized as noise. In a descriptive embodiment, it should be understood that the vehicle noise profile is preloaded into the communication system before receiving voice data. However, in some embodiments, the vehicle noise profile may be acquired in real time. 【0092】

[0092] Subsequently or simultaneously, in block 508, the communication system also removes unpredictable noise from the voice data. To do this, for example, the communication system can use a moving average filter by collecting voice data over a predetermined period and averaging the voice data to determine the noise. For example, the communication system can use a 4-second window filter to collect data, calculate what kind of noise it is, and remove that noise from the data collected in the next time window. However, since the noise is determined based on the previous time window, it may not respond to abrupt changes (e.g., noise from rapid acceleration). Therefore, the communication system uses a vehicle noise profile, as described above, to recognize and cancel out those sudden noises originating from the vehicle. It should be understood that in some embodiments, the communication system may execute block 508 before executing block 506. 【0093】

[0093] After unwanted ambient noise is removed or canceled out from the audio data, the communication system outputs the processed audio data in the user's voice or voice, as shown in block 510. The improved noise cancellation operation of the communication system allows the user to communicate with the recreation vehicle using voice commands. This noise cancellation operation can also be used for telephone conversations and / or long-range radio conversations. 【0094】

[0094] The above specification, examples and data fully illustrate the preparation and use of the compositions of the present invention. Many embodiments of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, so the present invention is within the scope of the claims appended herein. [Item of Invention] [Item 1] A recreational vehicle, comprising: a frame; a front ground engaging member and a rear ground engaging member supporting the frame; a power train coupled to one of the front ground engaging member and the rear ground engaging member to transmit power; a steering assembly coupled to the front ground engaging member for steering the recreational vehicle; a seat supported by the frame; and a communication system having a microphone disposed between the seat and the steering assembly. A recreational vehicle comprising the above components. [Item 2] The recreational vehicle according to Item 1, further comprising a fuel tank supported by the frame and disposed between the seat and the steering assembly, wherein the microphone is attached to an upper portion of the fuel tank. [Item 3] The recreational vehicle according to Item 1, further including an air box supported by the frame and disposed between the seat and the steering assembly, wherein the microphone is mounted on an upper portion of the air box. [Item 4] The recreational vehicle according to Item 1, wherein the communication system is configured to receive the voice of a user of the recreational vehicle with the microphone. [Item 5] The recreational vehicle according to Item 1, wherein the steering assembly further includes a front fairing and a user grip, and the microphone is disposed below the user grip behind the front fairing to reduce the amount of wind touching the microphone. [Item 6] The recreational vehicle according to Item 1, wherein the microphone is mounted obliquely upward toward the user of the recreational vehicle to reduce exhaust volume and / or engine volume. [Item 7] A wearable device for detecting sound, comprising: a processor; a microphone configured to generate voice data of the voice of a user of the wearable device; an accelerometer configured to capture vibrations of the user's head and / or neck and generate accelerometer data; and a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to detect the user's voice using the accelerometer data. A wearable device having a communication system comprising. [Item 8] The wearable device according to item 7, wherein generating the voice data includes generating voice data of the user's voice in response to detecting the user's voice. [Item 9] The wearable device according to item 7, wherein detecting the user's voice using the accelerometer data includes detecting the user's voice by correlating the voice data with the accelerometer data. [Item 10] The wearable device according to item 7, wherein the microphone is coupled to the wearable device near the user's mouth to receive the voice from the user. [Item 11] The wearable device according to item 7, wherein the accelerometer is coupled to the wearable device at a position where the wearable device is likely to contact the user's head and / or neck to detect audible frequencies generated by the user's vocal cords in real time. [Item 12] The wearable device according to item 7, wherein the wearable device is a helmet. [Item 13] The wearable device according to item 7, wherein the accelerometer is disposed on the chin strap of the wearable device. [Item 14] When executed by the processor, the memory causes the processor to process the voice data using beamforming techniques to achieve spatial selectivity, filter the processed voice data to remove low-frequency noise, filter the accelerometer data to remove high-frequency noise and further includes instructions to perform. The wearable device according to item 9, wherein correlating the voice data with the accelerometer data includes correlating the filtered processed voice data with the filtered accelerometer data to detect the user's voice. [Item 15] The wearable device according to item 7, wherein the communication system further comprises a low-pass filter configured to receive an accelerometer output signal generated by the accelerometer and remove high-frequency noise. [Item 16] The wearable device according to item 7, wherein the communication system further comprises a high-pass filter configured to receive an audio output signal generated by the microphone and remove low-frequency noise. [Item 17] A method for detecting sound, The steps include capturing vibrations of the user's head and / or neck and generating accelerometer data using the accelerometer of a wearable device, A step of detecting the user's voice using the accelerometer data. Methods that include... [Item 18] The method according to item 17, further comprising the step of generating audio data of the user's voice using the microphone of the wearable device in response to the step of detecting the user's voice. [Item 19] The method of item 18, further comprising the step of generating audio data of the user's voice using the microphone of the wearable device, wherein the step of detecting the user's voice using the accelerometer data includes detecting the user's voice by correlating the audio data with the accelerometer data. [Item 20] The method according to item 17, wherein the microphone is coupled to the wearable device near the user's mouth in order to receive the voice from the user. [Item 21] The method according to item 17, wherein the accelerometer is coupled to the wearable device in a position where the wearable device is likely to come into contact with the user's head and / or neck, in order to detect audible frequencies produced by the user's vocal cords in real time. [Item 22] The method according to item 17, wherein the wearable device is a helmet. [Item 23] The method according to item 17, wherein the accelerometer is located on the chin strap of the wearable device. [Item 24] A step of processing the audio data using beamforming techniques to achieve spatial selectivity, The process involves filtering the processed audio data to remove low-frequency noise, The steps include filtering the accelerometer data to remove high-frequency noise, and It further includes, The method of item 17, wherein the step of detecting the user's voice includes detecting the user's voice by correlating the filtered processed audio data with the filtered accelerometer data to detect the user's voice. [Item 25] A communication system that processes noise, Processor and It is memory, and when executed by the processor, the processor The microphone receives audio data, including the user's voice. The audio data is processed to remove unwanted ambient noise based on the current vehicle information of the user's recreational vehicle. Output processed audio data. Memory containing instructions to perform the action and A communication system equipped with these features. [Item 26] The communication system according to item 25, wherein the predictable noise includes engine noise generated by the state of the engine of the recreational vehicle in which the user is riding. [Item 27] The unpredictable noise includes traffic noise, wind noise, and / or any other environmental noise, as described in item 25 of the communication system. [Item 28] The communication system according to item 25, wherein the microphone is mounted on the recreation vehicle. [Item 29] The communication system according to item 25, wherein the microphone is attached to the user's wearable device. [Item 30] The communication system according to item 25, wherein processing the audio data includes removing a first set of noise from the audio data based on the current vehicle information, the current vehicle information includes the type, model, and / or manufacturer of the recreational vehicle, a vehicle noise profile associated with the recreational vehicle, and / or the current state of the engine of the recreational vehicle. [Item 31] The communication system according to item 30, wherein the current state of the engine of the recreational vehicle includes any current state of the engine parameters, and the vehicle noise profile is generated based on the parameters of the engine of the recreational vehicle. [Item 32] The communication system described in item 31, wherein the engine parameters include engine phase, engine speed, transmission gear, clutch position, throttle position, and wheel speed. [Item 33] The communication system according to item 25, wherein processing the audio data includes removing a second set of noise from the audio data using a moving average filter. [Item 34] A method for processing noise, The steps include receiving audio data, including the user's voice, via a microphone, processing the audio data to remove unwanted ambient noise based on the current vehicle information of the user's recreational vehicle; outputting the processed audio data; A method comprising the above steps. [Item 35] The method according to item 34, wherein the predictable noise includes engine noise generated by the state of the engine of the recreational vehicle on which the user is riding. [Item 36] The method according to item 34, wherein the unpredictable noise includes traffic noise, wind noise, and / or any other environmental noise. [Item 37] The method according to item 34, wherein the microphone is mounted on the recreational vehicle. [Item 38] The method according to item 34, wherein the microphone is mounted on the user's wearable device. [Item 39] The step of processing the audio data includes removing a first set of noise from the audio data based on the current vehicle information, and the current vehicle information includes the type, model, and / or manufacturer of the recreational vehicle, a vehicle noise profile related to the recreational vehicle, and / or the current state of the engine of the recreational vehicle. The method according to item 34. [Item 40] The current state of the engine of the recreational vehicle includes any current state of the engine parameters, and the vehicle noise profile is generated based on the engine parameters of the recreational vehicle. The method according to item 34. [Item 41] The method according to item 40, wherein the engine parameters include engine phase, engine speed, transmission gear, clutch position, throttle position, and wheel speed. [Item 42] The step of processing the audio data includes removing a second set of noise from the audio data using a moving average filter. The method according to item 34.

Claims

[Claim 1] A recreational vehicle (100), Frame (104) and, The front ground engagement member and rear ground engagement member (102) supporting the frame, A powertrain (114) is coupled to one of the front ground engagement member and the rear ground engagement member to transmit power, A steering assembly (120) coupled to the front ground engagement member for operating the recreation vehicle, A seat (106) supported by the aforementioned frame, A communication system (130) having a microphone (118) positioned between the seat (106) and the steering assembly (120) in the direction from the front ground engagement member to the rear ground engagement member, An airbox supported by the frame and positioned between the seat (106) and the steering assembly (120), the airbox having the microphone (118) mounted on top of the airbox, Equipped with, The aforementioned communication system (130) Processor (132), A memory (134) containing instructions, and when the instructions are executed by the processor, the processor The microphone (118) receives audio data including the user's voice. The audio data is processed to remove unwanted ambient noise based on the current vehicle information of the user's recreational vehicle (100). Output processed audio data To make it happen, memory and Recreational vehicles, including those mentioned above. [Claim 2] A second microphone, separate from the aforementioned microphone (118), Supported by the frame, the fuel tank (116) is positioned between the seat (106) and the steering assembly (120). The recreational vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising the second microphone mounted on top of the fuel tank. [Claim 3] The recreation vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the communication system (130) is configured to receive the voice of the user of the recreation vehicle via the microphone (118). [Claim 4] The recreational vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the steering assembly (120) further includes a front fairing (122) and a user grip (110), and the microphone (118) is positioned behind the front fairing (122) and below the user grip (110) to reduce the amount of airflow hitting the microphone. [Claim 5] The recreation vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the microphone (118) is mounted diagonally and upward toward the user of the recreation vehicle (100) in order to reduce exhaust noise and / or engine noise.

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