Management of audio performance in a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12238486-B2
Application number	US-202217884618-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2022
Priority date	Aug 10, 2022
Publication date	Feb 25, 2025
Grant date	Feb 25, 2025

Abstract

A system for managing audio performance in a vehicle includes an audio unit having one or more speakers and one or more microphones respectively positioned in and/or around the vehicle. The speakers transmit an audio signal within the vehicle. A command unit is in communication with the audio unit. The command unit has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The command unit is adapted to receive the audio signal through the one or more microphones and determine whether at least one audio quality parameter of the audio signal meets a predefined threshold. The command unit may be adapted to take at least one remedial action when the audio quality parameter is below the predefined threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for managing audio performance in a vehicle, the system comprising:
an audio unit having one or more speakers and one or more microphones respectively positioned in or around the vehicle, the one or more speakers transmitting an audio signal within the vehicle;
a command unit in communication with the audio unit, the command unit having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded;
wherein the audio signal is expected at a specific time with a specific sound and the command unit is adapted to confirm that the audio signal is played within the vehicle as expected based in part on microphone data from the one or more microphones;
wherein the command unit is adapted to:
receive the audio signal through the one or more microphones and determine whether at least one audio quality parameter of the audio signal meets a predefined threshold;
when the at least one audio quality parameter is below the predefined threshold, divide the audio signal into a relatively higher priority group and a relatively lower priority group;
reset and/or reboot the audio unit when the audio signal is in the relatively lower priority group;
disable the audio signal from the relatively lower priority group when the audio signal is in the relatively higher priority group and the microphone data is available; and
switch to a back-up speaker and a back-up microphone when the audio signal is in the relatively higher priority group and the microphone data is not available.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the audio signal includes pulses and the at least one audio quality parameter includes at least one of: frequency of the pulses in the audio signal, pattern of the pulses, respective length time of the pulses and respective separation time between the pulses.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the command unit is adapted to increase sensitivity of the one or more speakers and/or the one or more microphones nearest to one or more occupants in the vehicle when the at least one audio quality parameter is below the predefined threshold.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising:
one or more occupants sensors adapted to respectively detect presence of an occupied vehicle seat in the vehicle;
wherein the command unit is adapted to obtain locations of the one or more occupants based in part on the one or more occupant sensors.

5. The system of claim 3 , further comprising:
one or more seatbelt sensors adapted to respectively detect seatbelt buckling status of respective vehicle seats; and
wherein the command unit is adapted to obtain locations of the one or more occupants based in part on the one or more seatbelt sensors.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the command unit is adapted to:
identify at least one audio improvement zone within the vehicle where the at least one audio quality parameter is below the predefined threshold; and
identify one or more passenger listening zones within a respective predefined distance of one or more occupants in the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the command unit is adapted to:
determine an overlap zone of the at least one audio improvement zone and the one or more passenger listening zones; and
selectively increase sensitivity of the one or more speakers in the overlap zone and selectively disable and/or reduce volume of the one or more speakers outside the overlap zone.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the audio unit includes a respective speaker and a respective microphone embedded in a mobile device of an occupant of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the command unit is adapted to, present a visual alert to an occupant of the vehicle that the microphone data is not available when the audio signal is in the relatively higher priority group and the microphone data is not available.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the relatively higher priority group includes a vehicle warning from a lane departure warning module and/or a seatbelt reminder.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the relatively higher priority group includes incoming calls from a remote assistance unit.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the relatively lower priority group includes respective transmissions from radio and/or compact discs.

13. A method for managing audio performance in a vehicle in communication with a command unit having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded, the method comprising:
installing one or more speakers and one or more microphones respectively in or around the vehicle as part of an audio unit;
transmitting an audio signal through the one or more speakers in the vehicle;
receiving the audio signal through the one or more microphones;
confirming that the audio signal is played within the vehicle as expected based in part on microphone data from the one or more microphones, wherein the audio signal is expected at a specific time with a specific sound;
determining whether at least one audio quality parameter of the audio signal meets a predefined threshold, via the command unit;
dividing the audio signal into a relatively higher priority group and a relatively lower priority group when the at least one audio quality parameter is below the predefined threshold;
resetting and/or rebooting the audio unit when the audio signal is in the relatively lower priority group;
disabling the audio signal from the relatively lower priority group when the audio signal is in the relatively higher priority group and the microphone data is available; and
switching to a back-up speaker and a back-up microphone when the audio signal is in the relatively higher priority group and the microphone data is not available.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
increasing sensitivity of the one or more speakers and/or one or more microphones nearest to one or more occupants in the vehicle when the at least one audio quality parameter is below the predefined threshold.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
obtaining respective locations of the one or more occupants based in part on one or more occupant sensors adapted to detect presence of an occupied seat in the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
obtaining respective locations of the one or more occupants based in part on one or more seatbelt sensors adapted to detect seatbelt buckling status of seats in the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
presenting a visual alert to an occupant of the vehicle that the microphone data is not available when the audio signal is in the relatively higher priority group and the microphone data is not available.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Edwards Ryan M
• Patenaude Russell A
• Hosey Eric T
• Neely Matthew

Classifications

• B60R21/01544 Primary

  detecting seat belt parameters, e.g. length, tension or height-adjustment · CPC title

• H04R2499/13

  Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles · CPC title

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title

• H04R5/04

  Circuit arrangements, {e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments (combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S)} · CPC title

• H04R29/001 Primary

  for loudspeakers (H04R29/007 takes precedence) · CPC title