Vehicle Spatial Audio with Head Tracking and Split Frequency Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle audio systems struggle to provide separate audio content to different passengers while maintaining an open path to the environment, particularly for the driver, and fail to adequately enhance bass response in moving vehicles due to road noise masking the frequency band.
Innovation Solution
A system that combines perimeter speakers with binaural devices to create separate listening zones for bass and upper range content, using a controller to time-align and phase-shift audio signals, ensuring accurate reproduction of bass and upper range frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If perimeter speakers are used to provide audio content to passengers, then audio coverage is achieved, but separate listening zones cannot be created for upper-range content due to leakage and road noise masking bass frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The audio system is segmented into two distinct pathways: perimeter speakers for bass content and binaural devices for upper-range content. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its frequency range, preventing the leakage and masking issues that occur when perimeter speakers attempt to handle all frequencies. The bass content from perimeter speakers and upper-range content from binaural devices are then combined to create complete audio experiences in distinct listening zones.
Solution Approach 2:
Binaural devices serve as intermediary elements between the audio source and the passenger's ears for upper-range content. These devices receive upper-range audio content and deliver it directly to the passengers, acting as a mediator that bypasses the limitations of perimeter speakers. The controller coordinates between the perimeter speakers and binaural devices to ensure synchronized delivery of bass and upper-range content.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If binaural devices are used for spatial audio, then environmental awareness is maintained, but bass response is insufficient without perimeter speaker augmentation
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the output of perimeter speakers and binaural devices to create a complete audio experience. The perimeter speakers provide bass content while binaural devices provide upper-range content, and these two audio streams are combined in the passenger's listening zone. This merging allows the system to maintain environmental awareness through open-ear binaural design while augmenting bass response through the combined low-frequency output from perimeter speakers.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller dynamically adjusts audio parameters including time alignment and frequency distribution between the perimeter speakers and binaural devices. By changing the temporal parameter (time alignment) and frequency parameters (spectral distribution), the system optimizes the combined output to ensure that bass and upper-range content are properly synchronized and balanced, thereby enhancing overall bass response while maintaining spatial audio capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If head orientation tracking is implemented, then spatial audio accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases with multiple sensors and controllers
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed as a multi-functional device that performs multiple tasks: it processes audio signals from both perimeter speakers and binaural devices, tracks head orientation using sensor inputs, calculates spatial positions, and coordinates the synchronized output. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single controller, the system achieves high spatial audio accuracy while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity that would result from having separate dedicated devices for each function.
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
Enhances bass response in vehicle cabins by augmenting upper range content with bass, allowing passengers to engage with their environment while maintaining independent audio experiences.
Implementation Method 1
A system includes a vehicle orientation sensor outputting a vehicle orientation signal and being disposed on the vehicle, and a controller configured to receive a user orientation signal output from a user orientation sensor being disposed on a wearable
Implementation Method 2
the controller is further configured to output to a first binaural device, according to the orientation of the user's head relative to the vehicle, a first spatial audio signal, such that the first binaural device produces a first spatial acoustic signal perceived by the user as originating from a first virtual source location within a cabin of the vehicle
Implementation Method 3
enhancing bass response by arraying perimeter speakers to create distinct listening zones with varying bass content magnitudes
Implementation Method 4
an error sensor configured to detect the orientation of the user's head relative to the vehicle and to output an error sensor signal, wherein the controller is further configured to correct a drift between the user orientation signal and the vehicle orientation signal according to the orientation of the user's head detected by the error sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A system for providing spatialized audio in a vehicle, including a vehicle orientation sensor outputting a vehicle orientation signal and being disposed on the vehicle and a controller configured to receive a user orientation signal output from a user orientation sensor being on a wearable that, during use, moves with a first user's head, wherein the controller is further configured to determine an orientation of the user's head relative to the vehicle based, at least, on a difference between the vehicle orientation signal and the user orientation signal, the controller being further configured to output to a first binaural device, according to the orientation of the user's head relative to the vehicle, a first spatial audio signal, such that the first binaural device produces a first spatial acoustic signal perceived by the user as originating from a first virtual source location within a cabin of the vehicle.