Ultrasonic Audio Beam Steering for Vehicle Passenger Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicular audio systems fail to provide privacy and personalized 3D audio experiences for passengers, as they produce audible output for all occupants and are prone to interference from Bluetooth devices and volume inconsistencies.
Innovation Solution
A private audio system combining acoustic speakers placed near passengers with ultrasonic speakers that direct audio beams to their ears, using a passenger monitoring unit to track head movement and orient the audio beams for a personalized, 3D-like experience, ensuring sound is only audible to the intended passenger.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If acoustic speakers are placed near passengers to create private sound zones, then audio privacy and personalization are improved, but the sound appears to emanate from behind the passenger's head rather than providing an immersive 3D experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines acoustic speakers (for privacy) with ultrasonic speakers (for directional 3D audio) into a hybrid system. The acoustic speakers create private sound zones near passengers while ultrasonic speakers project audio beams from the front to simulate realistic sound staging, merging both technologies to resolve the contradiction between privacy and immersive experience
Solution Approach 2:
Ultrasonic speakers act as intermediaries that bridge the gap between acoustic speakers and passenger ears. They receive audio signals and redirect them as focused beams to specific ear locations, mediating the sound path to achieve both privacy (through directional control) and immersive 3D experience (through realistic sound staging from the front)
2Reliability
If ultrasonic speakers are used to direct audio beams narrowly at a single passenger, then audio privacy is improved, but the system complexity increases due to the need for passenger monitoring and beam orientation control
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses passenger monitoring units (cameras/sensors) to automatically detect head position and ear location, and the signal processor automatically adjusts beam orientation accordingly. This self-service approach reduces manual intervention and simplifies operation, offsetting the increased device complexity through automation
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where passenger monitoring units continuously track head position, signal processors analyze this data to determine ear location, and ultrasonic speakers adjust beam orientation in real-time based on this feedback. This closed-loop control manages system complexity by making the system adaptive and self-regulating
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple passengers want to listen to different audio sources privately, then audio personalization is improved, but interference from other devices such as Bluetooth and cell-phones increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the audio signal directly from the vehicle's audio source and delivers it privately to individual passengers through directed ultrasonic beams and localized acoustic zones, bypassing the need for passengers to use personal Bluetooth devices or cell-phones. This extraction approach eliminates interference from these devices while maintaining audio personalization
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
This solution provides a private and immersive 3D audio experience for vehicle passengers by ensuring sound is directed only to the individual, minimizing interference and allowing multiple passengers to listen to different audio sources without disturbing others.
Implementation Method 1
at least one ultrasonic speaker configured to transmit an audio beam from an audio source, wherein the audio beam is orientable relative to the passenger. The benefit of using an ultrasonic speaker is that it can direct sound in a narrow beam and aim it only at a single passenger
Implementation Method 2
at least one acoustic sound emitter for transmitting sound from an audio source in an audio frequency range
Data Source
AI summary
A private audio system for a 3d like sound experience for a vehicle passenger comprising: at least one acoustic sound emitter configured to transmit sound from an audio source in an audio frequency; at least one ultrasonic speaker configured to transmit an audio beam from an audio source, wherein the audio beam is orientable relative to the passenger; a passenger monitoring unit configured to track a location of a passenger's head; a signal processor configured to detect the location of the passenger's ears and to control the orientation of the ultrasound audio beam based on information provided by the passenger monitoring unit.