Vehicle Audio Interface for Occupant-Zone Sound Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automotive and vehicular audio systems lack intuitive user interfaces for managing diverse audio settings across different occupant locations, making it difficult for users to interact with and customize audio preferences naturally and effectively.
Innovation Solution
A user interface system that presents multiple sub-panels on a display, allowing users to control audio settings such as volume, content, and call routing independently for different occupant locations, with options adjustable based on time, lighting, vehicle, and environmental conditions, using input sensors for user selection and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If audio settings are customized for different occupant locations, then user interaction and satisfaction are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The audio system is segmented into multiple independent audio zones corresponding to different occupant locations (e.g., driver zone, front passenger zone, rear passenger zones). Each zone can have independent audio settings including volume, content selection, and audio routing. This segmentation allows customization per occupant without requiring a completely separate audio system for each location, as the underlying hardware remains shared while the control logic is divided into manageable zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension to audio control by mapping audio settings to physical occupant locations within the vehicle. Instead of a single global volume control, the system adds the dimension of location-specific control, allowing each occupant to have independent volume and content preferences based on their seating position. This dimensional approach transforms a complex multi-user problem into a structured spatial configuration problem.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple audio setting options are presented for different occupant locations, then audio customization is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to interface complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface presents audio setting options locally relevant to each occupant's current position or selected zone. When a user interacts with the system, the interface automatically displays and allows modification of settings appropriate to that occupant's location (e.g., driver sees driver-zone options, rear passenger sees rear-zone options). This local quality approach ensures that each user sees only the settings relevant to them, reducing interface complexity while maintaining comprehensive customization capabilities across all zones.
3Ease of operation
If audio settings are adjusted based on environmental conditions, then user comfort is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The audio system automatically adjusts zone-specific audio settings based on environmental conditions detected by vehicle sensors (e.g., ambient light sensors, temperature sensors, occupancy detectors). The system monitors environmental parameters and autonomously modifies audio characteristics such as volume levels, content selection, or audio routing without requiring explicit user input. This self-service capability improves user comfort by adapting to environmental conditions while avoiding the complexity of manual configuration interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, methods, and computer readable medium are provided for controlling an audio system in a vehicle. At least two sub-panels are presented via a display and at least one of the sub-panels provides one or more audio setting options for a first individual or group of occupant locations. The audio setting options are distinct relative to a second individual or group of occupant locations. User selections are received via an input sensor, such as a touchscreen incorporated into the display or separate buttons, knobs, touch-sensitive inputs, or the like. The audio system is controlled in accord with the user selections.