Dynamic Audio Routing for Rotated Vehicle Seats
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles, when the driver and front seat passenger rotate their seats, they often mislocate sound sources due to the altered acoustic environment, leading to a confusing and disturbing surround sound experience.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for dynamically adapting the routing of multichannel audio signal channels to loudspeakers based on the rotation of the front seat position, ensuring equivalent surround sound reproduction by adjusting the routing matrix in response to seat position changes, allowing for correct stereophonic acoustic impressions in both nonautonomous and autonomous driving scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the driver and front seat passenger rotate their seats to the interior for improved communication, then seat comfort and communication quality are improved, but sound source localization becomes incorrect and the surround sound experience becomes confusing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the audio routing configuration changeable based on seat position. The system dynamically adapts the surround sound channel routing matrix according to whether seats are in the forward-facing or rotated configuration, allowing the audio system to respond to changing spatial conditions and maintain accurate sound localization regardless of seat orientation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the routing parameters of the audio signal based on detected seat position. When seats are rotated, the system modifies which loudspeakers receive which surround sound channels (Ls, Rs, L, R), effectively reconfiguring the audio parameter distribution to match the new spatial arrangement and preserve correct sound source localization
2Ease of manufacture
If a fixed routing matrix is used for surround sound reproduction, then the system is simple to implement, but it cannot adapt to different seat configurations and produces incorrect acoustic impressions
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static routing matrix to a dynamic one that can switch between different configurations. The control unit stores multiple routing matrices and selects the appropriate one based on seat position detection, providing adaptability to different seat configurations while maintaining implementation simplicity through pre-defined routing patterns
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the audio system universal by designing it to handle multiple seat configurations (both forward-facing and rotated). The same hardware infrastructure supports different operational modes through software-controlled routing matrix selection, allowing the system to function correctly in various spatial arrangements without requiring separate hardware systems
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle is provided having a passenger compartment with at least a front seat position in a front audio zone and at least a rear seat position in a rear audio zone. The vehicle includes at least left and right front speakers respectively in relation to the forward direction of the vehicle, which are arranged in front of the front seat position; left and right center speakers respectively, which are arranged in front of the rear seat position; a central front speaker which is arranged centrally in front of the front seat position; and a control unit which is designed to route signal portions of individual channels of a multi-channel audio signal to the speakers such that the multi-channel audio signal is spatially played back in the front and the rear audio zone based on the seat positions; wherein the front seat position is rotatable by 180 degrees.