Vehicle Sound Control for Dynamic Mood and Intensity Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Infotainment systems in vehicles provide static and inflexible sound experiences, limiting user engagement as they only allow adjustment of volume and fail to offer diverse mood-changing sounds, relying on pre-recorded or artificially generated sounds that become less interesting over time.

Innovation Solution

A sound system with a controller and speakers in the vehicle cabin that generates sounds based on user input, subdividing the control range into sound group regions, allowing for the combination, augmentation, and adjustment of sounds to enhance mood and experience through a single user control, increasing sound diversity and intensity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If static prerecorded sounds are used in the infotainment system, then the system is simple to operate, but the user engagement decreases over time as users become accustomed to the sounds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of controlVSAvoiduser engagement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by enabling real-time modification of sound parameters (volume, pitch, speed, frequency) based on user control inputs. The sound system transitions from static prerecorded playback to dynamic parameter adjustment, allowing users to continuously modify sound characteristics during playback to maintain engagement while keeping the interface simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by allowing users to adjust multiple sound attributes simultaneously (volume, pitch, speed, frequency) through a single control input. This enables diverse sound variations from a single control mechanism, enhancing user engagement without increasing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If only volume adjustment is allowed for sounds, then the control system remains simple, but the functionality of the infotainment system is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidsound functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a single user control that simultaneously adjusts multiple sound parameters (volume, pitch, speed, frequency). This multi-functional control mechanism enhances sound functionality without increasing the number of controls or system complexity, allowing one control to perform multiple adjustment functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple sound parameter adjustments into a unified control system. Instead of separate controls for volume, pitch, speed, and frequency, the system combines these adjustment functions into a single control input that modifies all parameters based on the control's position, reducing complexity while expanding functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If each prerecorded sound is designed for a specific mood, then the sound quality is optimized for that mood, but the system lacks flexibility to provide diverse mood-changing sounds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound quality for specific moodVSAvoidmood diversity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by enabling continuous real-time adjustment of sound parameters during playback. Users can dynamically modify pitch, speed, and frequency of prerecorded sounds to transform them into different mood-appropriate variations, allowing a single sound file to serve multiple mood purposes while maintaining optimized quality characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by allowing users to modify multiple sound attributes (volume, pitch, speed, frequency) of each prerecorded sound. This enables a single high-quality prerecorded sound to be transformed into multiple mood variations through parameter adjustment, providing mood diversity without sacrificing the reliability of the original sound quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3843422B1Systems and methods for adjusting activity control parameters
Publication Date: 2024.04.17 HARMAN INT IND INC
  • EP3843422B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3843422B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3843422B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods for generating sounds in a vehicle or other location are presented. In one example, a single user input may be a basis for adjusting a sound level and a frequency of occurrence of a sound that is stored in controller memory and that is output via one or more speakers.