Vehicle headrest with speakers and control for adaptive spatial performance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11052801-B2
Application number	US-201816153227-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2018
Priority date	Oct 6, 2017
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to vehicle speaker systems and configurations. In one embodiment, a vehicle headrest is provided including a head support, loudspeakers, and loudspeaker supports. The loudspeaker supports can position and direct the loudspeakers in at least one of a retracted and extended position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle headrest comprising:
a head support;
a first loudspeaker;
a second loudspeaker;
a first loudspeaker support configured to position and direct the first loudspeaker; and
a second loudspeaker support configured to position and direct the second loudspeaker, wherein the first loudspeaker support and second loudspeaker support are coupled to the head support and wherein the first loudspeaker support and second loudspeaker support are configured to position the first and second loudspeakers each in a first arrangement and a second arrangement,
wherein controlling the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker includes automatically arranging the positions of the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker based on one or more detected vehicle parameters, and
wherein the vehicle parameters include at least one of: vehicle shutdown, vehicle speed, and sound parameters within the vehicle.

2. The vehicle headrest of claim 1 , wherein the head support includes a headrest cushion, and the first loudspeaker and second loudspeaker are arranged on lateral portions of the head support.

3. The vehicle headrest of claim 1 , wherein the head support is configured to receive the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker when arranged in a first position.

4. The vehicle headrest of claim 1 , wherein the first loudspeaker support and the second loudspeaker support are lateral headrest support elements configured to extend and retract relative to the head support.

5. The vehicle headrest of claim 1 , wherein the first loudspeaker support and the second loudspeaker support are support arms configured to extend relative to the head support to position the first and second loudspeakers in the second arrangement.

6. The vehicle headrest of claim 1 , wherein the first loudspeaker support and the second loudspeaker support mechanically adjust the position and direction of first and second loudspeakers.

7. The vehicle headrest of claim 1 , wherein the first loudspeaker support and the second loudspeaker support are positioned by at least one of a motorized, actuator driven, spring driven and manual positioning.

8. The vehicle headrest of claim 1 , wherein the first and second loudspeakers are each configured to be positioned in a first arrangement to direct sound in a first direction and configured to be positioned in a second arrangement to position and direct the first and second loudspeakers in a second direction, the second direction different from the first direction.

9. The vehicle headrest of claim 1 , wherein the first arrangement includes orientation of the first and second loudspeakers to provide a spacious audio configuration and the second arrangement includes orientation of the first and second loudspeakers to provide an isolation audio configuration for a passenger-independent sound experience.

10. The vehicle headrest of claim 1 , wherein the first loudspeaker support and the second loudspeaker support are configured to arrange speakers in one or more of an extended position, retracted position, and intermediary position.

11. The vehicle headrest of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle parameters include occupancy among a plurality of vehicle seats.

12. A method for controlling a vehicle headrest, the method comprising:
receiving a headrest control signal to position and direct a first loudspeaker and a second loudspeaker, the first loudspeaker coupled to a first loudspeaker support and the second loudspeaker coupled to a second loudspeaker support; and
controlling the first loudspeaker support and the second loudspeaker support to position the first and second loudspeakers,
wherein controlling includes automatically arranging the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker in one of a plurality of configurations based on one or more detected vehicle parameters, and
wherein the vehicle parameters include at least one of: vehicle shutdown, vehicle speed, sound parameters within the vehicle, and occupancy among a plurality of vehicle seats.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first loudspeaker support and the second loudspeaker support are support arms configured to support and position the first and second loudspeakers, and wherein controlling includes positioning the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker from a first position to an extended position.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein controlling includes arranging the first and second loudspeakers in one or more of an extended position, retracted position, and intermediary position.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein controlling includes arranging the first and second loudspeakers in one or more of an isolation mode or spacious mode.

16. A vehicle headrest comprising:
a head support;
at least one loudspeaker; and
at least one loudspeaker support element configured to position and direct the at least one loudspeaker, wherein the at least one loudspeaker element is coupled to the head support element and the at least one loudspeaker, wherein the at least one loudspeaker support element is configured to position the at least one loudspeaker in a first position to direct sound in a first direction and configured to position the at least one loudspeaker in a second position to direction sound in a second direction, wherein controlling includes automatically arranging the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker in one of a plurality of configurations based on a detected vehicle parameter, the plurality of configurations including a spacious audio configuration and an isolation audio configuration, and wherein the vehicle parameter is selected from: vehicle shutdown, vehicle speed, a sound parameter within the vehicle, and occupancy among a plurality of vehicle seats.

Assignees

• Harman Int Ind

Inventors

• Winton Riley
• Ludwig Chris
• Iakovidis Riley
• Mossington David
• Goller Lars
• Olsen Martin

Classifications

• H04R1/026 Primary

  Supports for loudspeaker casings · CPC title

• H04R5/023

  in a chair, pillow · CPC title

• H04R2201/025

  Transducer mountings or cabinet supports enabling variable orientation of transducer of cabinet · CPC title

• H04R2499/13

  Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles · CPC title

• H04R1/323

  for loudspeakers (H04R1/34 and H04R1/40 take precedence) · CPC title