Car Audio Output Control Device for Source Attribute Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current car audio output control systems fail to differentiate and optimally manage audio sources from various devices, leading to difficulties in recognizing important information such as notifications or emergency messages due to uniform processing of acoustic sources without considering their attributes.

Innovation Solution

A car audio output control device that identifies and adjusts output modes based on an identification code received from connected devices, allowing for distinct acoustic source paths and states for each mode, prioritizing the importance of the device's acoustic source, such as muting, volume reduction, or switching output to the peripheral device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If uniform processing method is applied to all acoustic sources, then device complexity is reduced, but information recognition accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidimportant information recognition
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments acoustic sources into different categories (navigation, media playback, notification, emergency/disaster information) and applies different output control strategies to each category. The control unit identifies the type of acoustic source and selectively applies corresponding output modes, thereby resolving the contradiction between simplified uniform processing and accurate important information recognition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Duration of action of stationary object

If mixed output mode is used for all acoustic sources, then audio continuity is maintained, but information distinguishability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio continuityVSAvoidinformation distinguishability
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different output control qualities to different acoustic source types. For notification and emergency/disaster information, the system uses priority output mode with muting other sources to ensure high distinguishability. For media playback, the system uses mixed output mode to maintain audio continuity. This localized quality adjustment resolves the contradiction between audio continuity and information distinguishability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3444821B1Car audio output control device and method therefor
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • EP3444821B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3444821B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A car audio output control device and a method therefor are disclosed. The control device stores, in advance, an identification code for each output mode with respect to a plurality of output modes and receives a device acoustic source and an identification code defining an attribute of the device acoustic source from a peripheral device. When an acoustic source is generated by the peripheral device, the control device controls a car audio output such that when a device acoustic source and an identification code are received while a source acoustic source self-generated by a car audio is outputted, the control device selects one output mode matched with the received identification code from among the plurality of output modes and controls the source acoustic source and the device acoustic source according to the selected output mode so as to change the car audio output. An acoustic source path and acoustic source state of a car audio output are controlled so as to be different with respect to each of the plurality of output modes. Therefore, a car audio output change can be optimally controlled so as to be suitable for an acoustic source attribute, and a user can clearly recognize important information provided as an acoustic source in any situation.