Harman Becker Automotive Systems

A method of compensating for sound ingress in a vehicle cabin, an apparatus for a vehicle comprising memory and a processor, the processor operable to carry out the method, and a vehicle comprising the processor, at least one speaker and at least one microphone. The method comprising receiving an input from at least one sensor, associating the input with one of a plurality of pre-determined scenarios, receiving an audio signal, and applying a set of pre-determined parameters to the audio signal, the set of pre-determined parameters corresponding to the associated pre-determined scenario. The set of pre-determined parameters comprise altering a sound offset of the audio signal in the vehicle, applying an equaliser to the audio signal, applying a spatial perception processing to the audio signal, or any combination of the above. The method further comprising playing back the audio signal with the applied set of pre-determined parameters.

Various embodiments disclose techniques for powering one or more audio output devices in an audio system. The techniques include receiving, by a processing unit within an amplifier, an audio signal from a head unit, identifying an audio envelope associated with the audio signal, and determining a first peak voltage level for a given time period based on that audio envelope. The processing unit then generates a tracking power supply control signal based on the first peak voltage level, thereby instructing a tracking power supply to provide a dynamically adjustable rail voltage to the amplifier. By regulating the rail voltage according to the amplitude of the audio signal, the amplifier efficiently delivers sufficient power to the audio output devices while minimizing distortion and optimizing energy consumption.

Various embodiments disclose a computer-implemented method that can include determining a first audio focal point in a vehicle at a first instant in time, configuring at least one parameter of an audio output of a first speaker in the vehicle to produce a specific sound effect at the first audio focal point, determining a second audio focal point in the vehicle at a second instant in time, and modifying the at least one parameter of the audio output of the first speaker to produce the specific sound effect at the second audio focal point in the vehicle. The parameter of the audio output of the first speaker can be a volume, a delay, a phase characteristic, or a spectral characteristic. The specific sound effect can be a surround sound effect, an environmental sound effect, a directional sound effect, a tailored frequency effect, a reverb effect, or an echo effect.

In various embodiments, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving a multi-channel input signal corresponding to an audio source and determining that a first input signal for a first channel from the multi-channel input signal exceeds an input level threshold. The computer implemented method further comprises determining a first amount of time that the first channel exceeds the input level threshold, computing a first release time for a first gain limiter associated with the first channel based on the first amount of time and an analysis of a plurality of channels from the multi-channel input signal, generating a first output signal for the first channel based on the first gain limiter and the first input signal, and causing playback of the first output signal by a first speaker.

A bridge circuit for data transfer. The bridge circuit includes a first physical input/output (I/O) port for an automotive audio bus (A2B) of a first version, and a first I/O interface coupled to the first physical I/O port for the A2B of the first version. The bridge circuit includes a second physical I/O port for an A2B of a second version, wherein the second version has a different physical layer and a different bandwidth to the first version. The bridge circuit includes a second I/O interface coupled to the second physical I/O port for the A2B of the second version, and the second I/O interface coupled to the first I/O interface via one or more data channels. The first I/O interface is operable to receive data from a first device connected to the first I/O port, and to transmit the data via the one or more data channels to the second I/O interface. The second I/O interface is operable to send the data to a second device connected to the second I/O port.

Methods and system are herein provided for a camera system. In one example, a camera system comprises one or more cameras, one or more light sources, and a computing device comprising one or more processors and a memory, wherein the one or more light sources are configured to be activated for defined time periods at regular intervals to illuminate an environment within a field of view of the one or more cameras, the one or more cameras are configured to capture one or more images during each defined time period when the one or more light sources are activated, and the computing device is configured to receive one or more images captured during a defined time period by means of the one or more cameras, evaluate the one or more images, and if, based on evaluating the one or more images, it is determined that at least one of the one or more images is overexposed, execute a time shift application, wherein executing the time shift application comprises instructing the one or more light sources to delay a subsequent activation by a defined time interval.

A system and method are provided herein for dynamic haptic feedback in vehicles. Speakers are integrated into vehicle seats to provide tactile feedback in synchronization with internal sound and external sound synthesis perceptible to an occupant to enhance awareness of vehicle dynamics.

An audio system (100, 200) comprises an ambience analysis unit (102, 202) configured to identify and/or analyze early reflections and reverberation present in a first plurality of audio input signals (IN) or in processed versions of the first plurality of audio input signals (INx), a weighting unit (106, 206) configured to weigh the early reflections identified in the first plurality of audio input signals (IN) or in the processed versions of the first plurality of audio input signals (INx), and the reverberation identified in the first plurality of audio input signals (IN) or in the processed versions of the first plurality of audio input signals (INx), and a merging unit (108, 208) configured to assign the weighted early reflections identified in the first plurality of audio input signals (IN) or in the processed versions of the first plurality of audio input signals (INx) to a first subset of a second plurality of audio output signals (OUT), and to assign the weighted reverberation identified in the first plurality of audio input signals (IN) or in the processed versions of the first plurality of audio input signals (INx) to a second subset of the second plurality of audio output signals (OUT).

Various embodiments disclose computer-implemented method for excitor protection in a multimedia system including receiving an audio output signal associated with an audio input signal, determining an excitor specification associated with an excitor, wherein the excitor specification specifies one or more operating parameters, and generating an excitor output signal based on the excitor specification.

An apparatus and a method for audio applications. The apparatus comprising a memory and a processor, the processor is configured to receive a first audio signal, receive metadata associated with the first audio signal, create a first profile associated with the first audio signal, the first profile comprising a plurality of adjustable audio parameters, and process the first audio signal with the plurality of adjustable audio parameters of the first profile. The processor is further configured to send the processed first audio signal with the first profile to one or more playback devices. The processor is further configured to receive, from one or more sensors, one or more first user inputs, analyse the one or more first user inputs, and adjust one or more of the plurality of audio parameters of the first profile based on the analysis, the metadata, or a combination of the analysis and the metadata. The processor is further configured to process the first audio signal with the adjusted first profile, and send the processed first audio signal with the adjusted first profile to the one or more channels.