Adjustable Acoustic Headrest With Position-Based Audio Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing headrest systems in vehicles and other seating systems with integrated audio components fail to effectively adjust audio signals based on the position of the occupant's head, leading to suboptimal audio delivery due to varying acoustic properties and shadow regions caused by the adjustable surface.
Innovation Solution
A headrest system with an adjustable surface that detects its position using sensors and adjusts the driver signal provided to the acoustic transducer to compensate for changing acoustic properties and shadow regions, ensuring optimal audio delivery by adjusting in both horizontal and vertical dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the headrest surface is made adjustable to accommodate different head positions, then the adaptability to different users is improved, but the acoustic properties become unpredictable due to shadow regions
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to detect the position of the headrest surface and feeds this information back to a processor, which then adjusts the driver signal to the acoustic transducer. This closed-loop feedback mechanism compensates for the acoustic shadow regions created by different surface positions, maintaining reliable audio output across all adjustable configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The headrest surface is designed to be dynamically adjustable in multiple dimensions (up-down, forward-back, side-to-side), allowing it to adapt to various head positions. The acoustic system dynamically adjusts the driver signal based on the detected surface position, ensuring consistent acoustic performance despite the changing geometry and shadow regions.
2Ease of operation
If the adjustable surface moves to different positions, then the comfort for different users is improved, but the audio signal quality deteriorates due to varying shadow regions
Solution Approach 1:
Position sensors continuously monitor the headrest surface location and provide feedback to the audio processing system. The processor uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the driver signal characteristics (amplitude, frequency, phase) to compensate for shadow regions, maintaining consistent audio signal quality regardless of the surface position for user comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of the driver signal (such as gain, frequency response, and phase) based on the detected headrest position. By dynamically adjusting these acoustic parameters, the system compensates for the varying shadow regions created by different comfortable positions, preserving audio signal consistency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If acoustic energy is emitted in multiple directions to reach the occupant's ear, then the audio coverage is improved, but the interference from the adjustable surface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects the headrest surface position and uses this feedback to adjust the driver signal in real-time. This compensation mechanism reduces the harmful interference patterns created by the adjustable surface, allowing acoustic energy to be emitted in multiple directions with improved coverage while minimizing surface-induced distortions and standing waves.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides improved audio output by dynamically adjusting the audio signal to account for the position of the occupant's head, minimizing the impact of shadow regions and varying acoustic properties, resulting in enhanced audio quality and consistency.
Implementation Method 1
an acoustic opening configured to emit acoustic energy from an acoustic transducer in a range of directions in which an ear of the occupant is expected to occupy
Implementation Method 2
Some examples include a sensor configured to detect the position of the adjustable surface
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of providing audio through or near a headrest are provided. A headrest includes an adjustable surface positioned to be proximate an occupants head when in use and an acoustic opening is configured to emit acoustic energy from an acoustic transducer in a range of directions in which an ear of the occupant is expected to occupy. The position of the adjustable surface gives some indication of the location of the occupants ear, and various audio signal (driver signal) properties may be adjusted based upon the position of the adjustable surface.