Steering apparatus and sound output system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11904940-B2
Application number	US-202017016225-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2020
Priority date	Mar 13, 2018
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

A steering apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a rim member, a center member connected to a steering shaft at a rotation center of the rim member, a first sound output apparatus provided on a front surface of the rim member or the center member, and a first rim chamber unit provided in the rim member and in communication with a space behind the first sound output apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A steering apparatus comprising:
a rim member;
a center member connected to a steering shaft at a rotation center of the rim member;
a first sound output apparatus provided on a front surface of the center member;
a second sound output apparatus provided on the front surface of the center member;
a first center chamber unit provided in the center member and arranged behind the first sound output apparatus; and
a second center chamber unit provided in the center member and arranged behind the second sound output apparatus; wherein
the first center chamber unit is independent of the second center chamber unit.

2. The steering apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first rim chamber unit provided in the rim member and in communication with the first center chamber unit; and
a second rim chamber unit provided in the rim member and in communication with the second center chamber unit.

3. The steering apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first sound output apparatus and the second sound output apparatus are arranged, on the front surface of the center member, at line-symmetry positions with respect a center line passing through the rotation center.

4. The steering apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a first port arranged in proximity to the first sound output apparatus in a same orientation as the first sound output apparatus; and
a second port arranged in proximity to the second sound output apparatus in a same orientation as the second sound output apparatus.

5. The steering apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the first port outputs a sound that is output from behind the first sound output apparatus and that propagates through a first propagation path including the first center chamber unit and the first rim chamber unit,
wherein the second port outputs a sound that is output from behind the second sound output apparatus and that propagates through a second propagation path including the second center chamber unit and the second rim chamber unit, and
wherein sizes of areas of cross sections of the first and second propagation paths are configured to increase according to an order of propagation of the sound.

6. The steering apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a first passive radiator arranged in proximity to the first sound output apparatus in a same orientation as the first sound output apparatus; and
a second passive radiator arranged in proximity to the second sound output apparatus in a same orientation as the second sound output apparatus.

7. A sound output system comprising:
the steering apparatus according to claim 4 ; and
a sound signal processing apparatus configured to generate a first sound output signal and a second sound output signal transmitted to the first sound output apparatus and the second sound output apparatus.

8. The sound output system according to claim 7 , wherein the sound signal processing apparatus generates the first sound output signal and the second sound output signal by performing processing to localize sound to a predetermined or given portion of the driver who operates the steering apparatus.

9. The steering apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a separation wall being provided between the first rim chamber unit and the second rim chamber unit.

Assignees

• Socionext Inc

Inventors

• Kobayashi Katsumi

Classifications

• B62D15/029 Primary

  Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system · CPC title

• G10H3/24

  incorporating feedback means, e.g. acoustic · CPC title

• H04R1/028 Primary

  associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles · CPC title

• B62D1/04

  Hand wheels · CPC title

• B60R11/02

  for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof · CPC title