Acoustic Output Device Orientation Control for Consistent Sound Perception

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current acoustic output devices in road-based vehicles do not effectively account for changes in orientation and location, leading to inconsistencies in sound perception, which can exacerbate motion sickness and disrupt the listening experience.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that determine the orientation and location of acoustic output devices relative to the vehicle, generating control signals to adjust the sound output accordingly, ensuring that the sound is perceived as coming from a consistent direction and location, regardless of the device's orientation or location, using sensors like accelerometers and gyroscopes, and processing units to manage these signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the acoustic output device is used without orientation-based control, then the device structure remains simple, but the sound perception consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound perception consistencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary determination of the acoustic output device's orientation and location relative to the vehicle before generating control signals. This advance preparation allows the control system to pre-calculate the appropriate sound output configuration, ensuring consistent sound perception without adding complex real-time processing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the orientation and location of the acoustic output device and uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust control signals. This closed-loop approach maintains sound perception consistency by compensating for changes in device orientation and position through real-time signal adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the acoustic output device orientation is not considered, then the control processing remains simple, but the listening experience quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelistening experience qualityVSAvoidcontrol processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically adapts the acoustic output based on the determined orientation of the device. By making the control signals variable rather than fixed, the system can adjust sound distribution to maintain optimal listening experience regardless of device orientation or position within the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes acoustic parameters such as sound distribution, volume, and directional output based on the orientation data. By modifying these acoustic parameters in response to device orientation changes, the system maintains high listening experience quality without requiring a completely complex control architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If orientation-based control is implemented, then sound perception consistency improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound source perception consistencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system processes orientation and location information in segmented steps: first determining orientation, then determining location, and finally generating appropriate control signals based on both parameters. This segmentation of the control process reduces overall system complexity by breaking down the problem into manageable discrete steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4307722A1Road-based vehicle and method and system for controlling an acoustic output device in a road-based vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.01.17 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP4307722A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4307722A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4307722A1 patent drawingFigure 4a~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method of controlling an acoustic output device (3-5) in a road-based vehicle (15) comprising: determining an orientation (18) of the acoustic output device (3-5) with respect to the road-based vehicle (15); and controlling an acoustic output function of the acoustic output device (3-5) as a function of the orientation (18) of the acoustic output device (3-5) with respect to the road-based vehicle (15).