Sound augmentation system transfer function calibration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9288575-B2
Application number	US-201414288874-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2014
Priority date	May 28, 2014
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

A vehicle system is provided that includes a sound augmentation system with a sound augmentation generator that produces an augmented audio output to drive at least one audio output based on a transfer function. The vehicle system also includes a sound augmentation system health monitor that determines a current performance level of the sound augmentation system based on at least one audio input and a feedback of the augmented audio output, and triggers a transfer function update prompt based on a difference between the current performance level and an expected performance level being at a threshold level. A user interface outputs the transfer function update prompt and receives a transfer function calibration request in response to the transfer function update prompt. A transfer function calibration module drives a calibration sequence on at least one audio output and monitors at least one audio input to determine an updated transfer function.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle system, comprising:
a sound augmentation system comprising a sound augmentation generator coupled to at least one audio output, the sound augmentation generator produces an augmented audio output to drive the at least one audio output based on a transfer function;
a sound augmentation system health monitor coupled to at least one audio input and a feedback of the augmented audio output, the sound augmentation system health monitor determines a current performance level of the sound augmentation system based on the at least one audio input and the feedback of the augmented audio output, and triggers a transfer function update prompt based on a difference between the current performance level and an expected performance level being at a threshold level;
a user interface that outputs the transfer function update prompt and receives a transfer function calibration request in response to the transfer function update prompt; and
a transfer function calibration module coupled to the at least one audio output and the at least one audio input, the transfer function calibration module drives a calibration sequence on the at least one audio output and monitors the at least one audio input to determine an updated transfer function in response to the transfer function calibration request.

2. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the sound augmentation system is coupled to the at least one audio input, and the transfer function and the updated transfer function are defined based on a pairing of one of the at least one audio output with one of the at least one audio input.

3. The vehicle system of claim 2 , wherein the vehicle system comprises two or more instances of the pairing each having a separate instance of the transfer function.

4. The vehicle system of claim 3 , wherein the transfer function calibration module produces a separate instance of the updated transfer function corresponding to each instance of the transfer function.

5. The vehicle system of claim 4 , wherein the sound augmentation system health monitor identifies which pairing instance resulted in the transfer function update prompt.

6. The vehicle system of claim 4 , wherein each instance of the updated transfer function is transmitted with an identifier of the vehicle system to a data collection system.

7. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the sound augmentation system health monitor further determines the current performance level of the sound augmentation system based on a feedback of the at least one audio output.

8. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the transfer function is replaced by the updated transfer function, and an option to revert from the updated transfer function to a baseline transfer function is provided via the user interface.

9. A method of transfer function calibration for a sound augmentation system in a vehicle, the method comprising:
producing, by a sound augmentation generator of the sound augmentation system, an augmented audio output to drive at least one audio output in the vehicle based on a transfer function;
determining a current performance level of the sound augmentation system based on a feedback of the augmented audio output and at least one audio input;
triggering a transfer function update prompt based on a difference between the current performance level and an expected performance level being at a threshold level;
monitoring for a transfer function calibration request in response to the transfer function update prompt; and
in response to receiving the transfer function calibration request, driving a calibration sequence on the at least one audio output while monitoring the at least one audio input to determine an updated transfer function.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sound augmentation system is coupled to the at least one audio input, and the transfer function and the updated transfer function are defined based on a pairing of one of the at least one audio output with one of the at least one audio input.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sound augmentation system is coupled to two or more instances of the pairing each having a separate instance of the transfer function.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
producing a separate instance of the updated transfer function corresponding to each instance of the transfer function.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
identifying which pairing instance resulted in the transfer function update prompt.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
transmitting each instance of the updated transfer function with a system identifier to a data collection system.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the current performance level of the sound augmentation system is further determined based on a feedback of the at least one audio output.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
replacing the transfer function with the updated transfer function; and
providing an option via a user interface to revert from the updated transfer function to a baseline transfer function.

17. A vehicle, comprising:
at least one audio output to a speaker;
at least one audio input from a microphone;
a sound augmentation system comprising a sound augmentation generator coupled to the at least one audio output, the sound augmentation generator produces an augmented audio output to drive the at least one audio output based on a transfer function;
a sound augmentation system health monitor coupled to the at least one audio input and a feedback of the augmented audio output, the sound augmentation system health monitor determines a current performance level of the sound augmentation system based on the at least one audio input and the feedback of the augmented audio output, and triggers a transfer function update prompt based on a difference between the current performance level and an expected performance level being at a threshold level;
a user interface that outputs the transfer function update prompt and receives a transfer function calibration request in response to the transfer function update prompt;
a transfer function calibration module coupled to the at least one audio output and the at least one audio input, the transfer function calibration module drives a calibration sequence on the at least one audio output and monitors the at least one audio input to determine an updated transfer function in response to the transfer function calibration request; and
a wireless interface that transmits the updated transfer function to a data collection system.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the transfer function and the updated transfer function are defined based on a pairing of one of the at least one audio output with one of the at least one audio input, the vehicle comprises two or more instances of the pairing each having a separate instance of the transfer function, the transfer function calibration module produces a separate instance of the updated transfer function corresponding to each instance of the transfer function, the sound augmentation system health monitor identifies which pairing instance resulted in the transfer function update prompt, and each instance of the updated transfer function is transmitted with an identifier of the vehicle to the data collection system.

19. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the sound augmentation system health monitor further determines the current performance level of the sound augmentation system based on a feedback of the at least one audio output.

2

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc
• Bose Corp

Inventors

• Valeri Frank C
• Reilly Scott M
• May James

Classifications

• H04R29/00

  Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements {(for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308)} · CPC title

• H04R3/002 Primary

  Damping circuit arrangements for transducers, e.g. motional feedback circuits · CPC title

• H04R2499/13

  Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles · CPC title

• H04R2430/00

  Signal processing covered by H04R, not provided for in its groups · CPC title

• H04S7/301 Primary

  Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone · CPC title