Vehicle Sound Image Generator with Driver Orientation Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stereophonic sound image reproducing systems for vehicles can cause excessive driver behavior due to localized sound images, as drivers tend to direct their attention and line of sight towards the sound image, potentially diverting attention from the vehicle's traveling direction.
Innovation Solution
A stereophonic sound image reproducing system that includes speakers and a sound reproducing apparatus with a sound image generator. The system detects the driver's facial direction and line-of-sight direction, and sets a localization allowable angle range. It continues or suspends the generation of the sound image based on whether the driver's attention remains within this angle range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a sound image is localized at a specific position to provide spatial audio information, then the driver's attention is directed towards the sound source location, but this may cause the driver to divert attention from the vehicle's traveling direction
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the driver's facial direction and line-of-sight direction using detection means, and uses this feedback to dynamically control the sound image generation. When the driver's attention deviates from the traveling direction, the system suspends sound image generation, thus preventing excessive driver behavior while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The sound image generation is made dynamic rather than static. The system adjusts the sound image localization in real-time based on the driver's current state, switching between generation and suspension modes according to whether the driver's attention is within the allowable angle range relative to the traveling direction
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the sound image is continuously generated to maintain audio information, then the driver receives consistent spatial cues, but this may lead to excessive driver behavior when the driver's attention is already diverted
Solution Approach 1:
The control means uses real-time feedback from the detection means about the driver's facial and line-of-sight directions to determine whether to continue or suspend sound image generation. This feedback mechanism prevents continuous generation when the driver's attention is diverted, thereby avoiding excessive driver behavior
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary anti-action by suspending sound image generation before excessive driver behavior can occur. By monitoring the driver's attention state and preemptively stopping sound image localization when attention deviates beyond the allowable angle range, the system prevents harmful effects before they manifest
Data Source
AI summary
A stereophonic sound image reproducing system includes a sound reproducing apparatus including a sound image generator, and a vehicle sensor that detects a traveling direction of a vehicle or a direction of a driver who drives the vehicle. The sound reproducing apparatus sets a localization allowable angle range extending from a reference direction in a lateral direction of the vehicle. The reference direction is the traveling direction of the vehicle or the direction of the driver detected during or before generation of a sound image at an original localization position of a sound source. When the direction of the driver is maintained within the localization allowable angle range, the sound reproducing apparatus continues the generation of the sound image. When the direction of the driver is not maintained within the localization allowable angle range, the sound generating apparatus suspends the generation of the sound image.