Vehicle Infotainment Sound Mode Control via Content Type

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle infotainment systems unnecessarily reduce sound space by switching to mono mode when the FM broadcast signal level falls below a certain threshold, regardless of the content type, leading to a degraded listening experience.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle infotainment apparatus and method that determines the content type (music or voice/radio commercial) and adjusts the sound mode to stereo or mono based on specific reference levels, using phase differences and Radio Data System (RDS) data, to maintain optimal sound quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the sound mode is switched to mono when the FM broadcast signal level is lower than a predetermined value, then background noise is removed, but the sense of space of the sound output is removed more than necessary

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackground noiseVSAvoidsense of space of sound

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by treating different content types differently in the sound mode switching decision. Music content maintains stereo mode to preserve spatial quality, while voice/radio commercial content switches to mono mode to remove background noise. This selective application of mono/stereo modes based on local content characteristics resolves the contradiction between noise removal and space preservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of sound mode (stereo/mono) based on content type and signal level conditions. By dynamically adjusting this parameter according to RDS information and signal strength, the system optimizes both noise removal and spatial quality preservation for different content scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the sound mode is switched to mono to remove background noise, then signal quality is improved, but listening experience is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidlistening experience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Illumination intensity

If the sound mode is always maintained in stereo, then sound space is preserved, but background noise cannot be removed when signal level is low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesense of space of soundVSAvoidbackground noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the sound mode (stereo/mono) dynamically adjustable based on content type and signal level conditions. The system transitions between stereo and mono modes according to RDS information and signal strength, rather than being fixed. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to preserve space for music while removing noise for voice content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Device complexity

If a fixed reference level is used for sound mode switching, then control is simplified, but optimal sound quality cannot be achieved for different content types

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol complexityVSAvoidsound quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses feedback from RDS (Radio Data System) information to determine content type and adjust sound mode accordingly. The system receives feedback about the broadcast content and uses this information to make intelligent decisions about stereo/mono switching, achieving optimal sound quality without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10855386B1Vehicle infotainment apparatus and method for controlling the same

Publication Date: 2020.12.01 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A vehicle infotainment apparatus may include an antenna configured to receive a FM broadcast signal; an RF front end configured to modulate and demodulate the FM broadcast signal; and a controller configured to determine a type of content being broadcast by processing the FM broadcast signal, determine a reference level for switching a sound mode based on the determined type of the content, determine the sound mode based on the reference level and the level of the FM broadcast signal, and control the RF front end to modulate and demodulate the FM broadcast signal based on the determined sound mode.