Harman Becker Automotive Systems Patente

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

In at least one embodiment, an audio system (100) including an audio arrangement (110), a power management circuit (106), and at least one controller (104) is provided. The audio arrangement (110) is programmed to transmit an audio output signal via at least one loudspeaker (130) in response to an audio input signal. The power management circuit (106) includes at least one first switch (107) being operably coupled to at least one battery (112). The power management circuit (106) is configured to transmit a voltage from the at least one battery (112) to the audio arrangement (110) to power the audio arrangement (110) to transmit the audio output signal. The at least one controller (104) is programmed to selectively activate the at least one first switch (107) to charge a capacitor (108) to a predetermined charge level to prevent an in-rush of current from being delivered to the electronics of the audio arrangement (110) while the at least one battery (112) experiences a fault condition.

A method of modifying an audio signal, a system comprising a processor operable to carry out the method, and a vehicle comprising a processor operable to carry out the method. The method comprising receiving an audio signal and extracting reverberation characteristics from the audio signal, the reverberation characteristics comprising a plurality of parameters. The method further comprising generating an artificial reverberation, the artificial reverberation comprising at least one of the parameters and applying the artificial reverberation to the audio signal. The method further comprising sending a modified audio signal to a plurality of speakers, the modified audio signal comprising the artificial reverberation applied to the audio signal.

A method for a vehicle includes outputting, via a loudspeaker, an audio content; providing a lighting effect output via a lighting device based on the audio content; determining an amplitude gradient using a minimum amplitude and a maximum amplitude of the audio content in a past time period, wherein the amplitude gradient includes a plurality of levels; determining a future amplitude of the audio content to be played at a future time; determining a corresponding level of the amplitude gradient that the future amplitude corresponds to; and adjusting the output of the lighting effect using the corresponding level, such that a speed of the output and the corresponding level of the lighting effect are positively correlated.

A microphone hub and a method of operating one or more microphone hubs, The microphone hub including an input operable to receive one or more analog audio signals from one or more microphones, an audio network interface (ANIF), at least one analogue to digital converter (ADC) coupled to the input and to the ANIF, and a power system operable to provide power to the microphone hub. The ADC is operable to convert each of the one or more analog audio signals to one or more digital audio signals. The ADC is further operable to send the one or more digital audio signals to the ANIF.

Systems and methods are herein provided for generation of video data based on previously recorded video data. In one example, a method for generating in-vehicle sensor data comprises obtaining recorded data from one or more in-vehicle sensors positioned in a first vehicle, wherein the recorded data is annotated to indicate one or more landmarks of a subject; determining a current sensor position of the one or more in-vehicle sensors when the recorded data was obtained; obtaining a three-dimensional (3D) model of a second vehicle; determining a target sensor position for newly generated sensor data; generating, based on the recorded data, the current sensor position, the 3D model, and the target sensor position, new sensor data; and outputting the new sensor data to a display device.

In various embodiments, a method includes receiving an audio signal from a microphone system associated with a vehicle, receiving a video signal from a camera system associated with the vehicle, identify a facial classification model for classifying one or more facial makers in the video signal, determining that an occupant of the vehicle is speaking using the facial classification model, and generating an isolated audio signal corresponding to a speech signal in the audio signal using the facial classification model.

In at least one embodiment, an audio system is provided. The audio system includes one or more microphones and at least one controller. The one or more microphones are positioned within a listening space to provide a captured audio input signal. The at least one controller is programmed to receive the captured audio input signal and to receive a first signal indicative of an audio level in the listening space. The at least one controller determines a gain amount based on the audio level and to adjusts the captured audio input signal.

A method including obtaining sensor data from one or more sensors of a sensor suite associated with a vehicle, the display of a visual overlay associated with an environment corresponding to a location of the vehicle, the determination of one or more potential hazards present within the environment, and highlighting the one or more potential hazards in the displayed visual overlay of the environment.

A method and system for analyzing over-the-air (OTA) client logs from vehicles includes receiving OTA client log files comprising error logs generated during OTA software updates, preprocessing the log files to generate cleaned log files by removing duplicated log lines and standardizing formats, segmenting the cleaned log files into log chunks, and analyzing the chunks using both rule-based and artificial intelligence (AI) approaches. The AI analysis includes generating vector embeddings for error-related log lines, comparing embeddings with an insignificant error database to filter out insignificant errors, retrieving error context information from a vector database, and generating error summaries using a large language model. The system displays analysis results via a failure analysis engineer (FAE) review interface and updates databases based on FAE feedback. This hybrid approach enables efficient processing of OTA client logs while maintaining accuracy through rule-based filtering and contextual AI analysis.

Techniques for techniques for audio processing using auditory analysis are described. In some embodiments, the techniques include generating auditory bands based on an audio input, performing frequency domain processing on the auditory bands to generate processed auditory bands, and producing an audio output by reconstructing the processed auditory bands, where the where the auditory bands and the processed audio bands include exponentially spaced center frequencies.

In at least one embodiment, an emulator system including at least one first audio controller is provided. The at least one first audio controller includes a primary field programmable gate array (FPGA), a universal audio network interface sub-board and a secondary FPGA. The primary FPGA is programmed to one of transmit and receive at least one audio signal in a vehicle. The universal audio network interface sub-board is operably coupled to the primary FPGA and is programmed to one or more of transmit or receive the at least one audio signal in accordance with one or more audio network interfaces. The secondary FPGA includes a first communication block that is programmed to enable the primary FPGA to one of transmit or receive the at least one audio signal in accordance with the one or more audio network interfaces to or from the universal audio network interface.

In various embodiments, a computer-implemented method comprises determining, by a voice recognition system included in a vehicle, a mask type of a mask worn by an occupant of the vehicle, acquiring a compensation curve corresponding to the mask type, acquiring an audio signal of the occupant speaking, and applying the compensation curve to the audio signal to generate a compensated audio signal.

A method including the display of an external environment of a vehicle, the detection of one or more hazards within a distance-related threshold from the vehicle, and the display of a hazard visualization corresponding to a location of the one or more hazards.

A method is disclosed for a controller of a vehicle, for continuously acquiring images from a forward-facing camera (117, 118) of portions of a front environment of the vehicle that are obstructed by the hood of the vehicle, and continuously projecting the generated images onto screens (204a-204d) integrated within a windshield of the vehicle. The forward-facing camera (117, 118) may be positioned behind the windshield and above a line of sight of the operator, granting the camera increased visibility over the front environment of the vehicle. Each image of a video feed of the camera is processed to perform three-dimensional (3D) scene reconstruction, using depth estimation combined with mesh generation. At each of the screens (204a, 204d), a view of an image acquired by the camera is generated in a respective driver's eye point of view with appropriate model view and projection matrices.

Embodiments are disclosed for an example telematics system for a vehicle. The telematics system includes a reconfigurable antenna including an antenna portion, a coupling portion, a radiation switch, and a frequency switch. The telematics system further includes a plurality of antennas, and a processor with instructions stored in non-volatile memory to link one antenna of the plurality of antennas to the satellite based on a predicted overlap between a stored radiation pattern of the one antenna and a calculated azimuth and elevation angle of the satellite.

A system is described that comprises a computing device having one or more processors and a memory. The computing device is configured to receive a first stream of first data. The computing device is further configured to perform an analysis on the first stream of first data at a first time and at a second time that is different from the first time and determine whether there is a change in the first stream of first data between the first time and the second time. In addition, the computing device is configured to, if there is a change in the first stream of first data between the first time and the second time, adjust at least one tuning parameter of an audio tuning algorithm of an audio processing system. The audio processing system is configured to process audio input by means of the audio tuning algorithm to generate audio output.

A system is described that comprises a housing, a flexible printed board circuit, PCB, and a sensor. The flexible PCB has a first surface that is exposed to an environment and a second surface that is opposite the first surface. The flexible PCB is mounted to the housing by means of a mounting element. At least a portion of the flexible PCB is configured to vibrate when an acoustic wave reaches the first surface. The sensor is arranged on the second surface of the flexible PCB and is configured to measure vibrations of the flexible PCB and to output a corresponding electrical signal.

A system for audio transmission comprises one or more loudspeakers, each of the one or more loudspeakers being configured to radiate sound that corresponds to a sound signal towards at least one of two listening positions related to a user of the respective system, each of the two listening positions being located at an entrance of an ear canal of the respective user, and a microphone configured to capture speech originating from a user related to the respective system, wherein the system is configured to capture a first speech signal originating from the user related to the system by means of the microphone, compress the first speech signal by means of a codec of a first type to obtain a first compressed speech signal, receive a first audio signal from a signal source, wherein the signal source differs from the microphone, transmit the first compressed speech signal via a first communication channel, and transmit the first audio signal or a compressed version of the first audio signal via the first communication channel or via a second communication channel.

A system is described that comprises a computing device comprising one or more processors and a memory. The computing device is configured to receive user input and to analyze the user input to generate control data. The computing device is further configured to analyze the audio input to generate signal data that are characteristic of the audio input and to analyze previous tuning data to generate reference data. The computing device is also configured to process at least the control data, the signal data, and reference data to generate tuning data. In addition, the computing device is configured to process audio input to generate audio output based on at least one audio model and the tuning data.

A system, such as a driver monitoring system (DMS) for a vehicle, includes a first infrared (IR) camera, a second IR camera, a sensor, and a controller. The first camera is configured to output a first IR light, such as to illuminate a driver of the vehicle with the first IR light for use of the first camera in monitoring the driver. The second camera is configured to output a second IR light, such as to illuminate the driver with a second IR light for use of the second camera in monitoring the driver. The sensor is configured to detect the first IR light being outputted by the first camera. The controller is configured to control the second camera to not output the second IR light while the sensor detects the first IR light being outputted by the first camera.

A sound reproduction method comprises receiving an input audio signal representative of audio content to be reproduced; generating at least two sound zones using multiple loudspeakers, the multiple loudspeakers being configured, positioned and operated to spatially limit audibility of audio content to be reproduced to one of the at least two sound zones, and reproducing in the one of the at least two sound zones the audio content to be reproduced using at least some of the multiple loudspeakers, wherein the at least some of the multiple loudspeakers are configured, positioned and operated to generate from the input audio signal sound that creates three-dimensional audio effects, the three-dimensional audio effects including placement of virtual sound sources anywhere in a three-dimensional space, and the three-dimensional space being the one of the at least two sound zones.

In various embodiments, the disclosed techniques automatically change the audio equalization levels of audio content. When an audio content is requested for playback, the equalization manager of an audio system extracts the frequency components of a segment of the audio content. The equalization manager analyzes the frequency components of the segment and separates the frequency components into predefined frequency bands based on the analysis. The equalization manager determines sound pressure level (SPL) metrics of each frequency component. The equalization manager generates a custom equalization setting using gains calculated for each frequency band based on the SPL metrics. The equalization manager then adjusts the audio segment by applying the custom equalization setting to generate a modified segment (e.g., applying the calculated gains to each of the frequency bands). The modified segment is then output as audio to a user. The process then repeats for additional segments of the audio.

Systems and methods are herein provided for in-vehicle respiratory characteristic estimation. In one example, a vehicle computing system of a vehicle comprises one or more processors; memory storing instructions that when executed cause the one or more processors to: obtain video data comprising a plurality of frames from one or more visual sensing devices within the vehicle; extract motion data from the video data; determine, from the motion data, a breathing wave and one or more respiratory characteristics of a subject within the vehicle; and output the breathing wave and one or more respiratory characteristics to one or more of an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) and a health and wellbeing system.

A loudspeaker arrangement comprises a loudspeaker (110) including a diaphragm to transmit an audio output, at least one light source (130), and an acoustic lens (120) coupled to the loudspeaker (110) and defining a first opening to enable the first audio output to pass from the first opening at a first predetermined angle, wherein the acoustic lens (120) comprises at least one first light guide (122) extending through the first opening, each light source (130) of the at least one light source (130) is coupled to at least one of the at least one first light guide (122) such that light emitted by a light source (130) is internally reflected along the respective at least one first light guide (122), and each light guide (122) of the at least one first light guide (122) comprises a plurality of extraction elements arranged successively along a length of the light guide (122), each of the plurality of extraction elements configured to direct light emitted by a respective one of the at least one light source (130) and internally reflected along the respective at least one first light guide (122) in a direction away from the loudspeaker (110).

The application relates to speaker configured to emit sound in a main sound emission direction, the speaker comprising a movable diaphragm; a drive unit comprising a magnet generating a magnetic field, a first pole piece comprising a through hole arranged to contact the magnet on a first surface of the magnet, a second pole piece arranged to contact the magnet on a second surface of the magnet opposite the first surface, wherein the first and second pole pieces are configured to generate a magnetic field in an air gap between the first and second pole piece where the diaphragm is located. The speaker includes a light source configured to emit light and a light guide configured to guide the light emitted by the light source through the through hole in direction of the main sound emission direction to the movable diaphragm, the light guide comprising an elongated first section with a longitudinal axis parallel to the main sound emission direction and a second section extending substantially perpendicular to the elongated first section, the light guide being configured to guide the light through the elongated first section to the second section where the light is guided in direction of the movable diaphragm, wherein the elongated first section comprises a first connecting element and a second connecting element to provide an interference fit between the light guide and the first pole piece.

An acoustic system includes an acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS) and a vehicle cabin sound system. The AVAS has an external speaker arrangeable on an exterior portion of a vehicle to output audio alerts of the AVAS for persons in an external environment of the vehicle to hear to be alerted to the presence of the vehicle. An audio source device, such as a radio, audio streaming system, microphone, etc., of the vehicle cabin sound system is arranged as an audio source of the AVAS. The audio source device generates or receives an audio sound typically outputted by the vehicle cabin sound system for persons in an interior portion of the vehicle to hear. As the audio source device is arranged as an audio source of the AVAS, the external speaker may output the audio sound of the audio source device for persons in the external environment to hear.

Embodiments are disclosed for an example telematics system for a vehicle. The example telematics system comprises a plurality of antennas capable of sending and receiving wireless signals and a telematics unit configured to select an antenna from the plurality of antennas based on network information and dynamic vehicle information and connect the selected antenna to the telematics unit to send and/or receive wireless signals via the selected antenna.

Systems and methods are herein provided for V2X message forwarding. In one example, a method comprises a network receiving message data from one or more units via a long range interface; identifying, based on determined communication capabilities, a first subset of units capable of both long short range communication and a second subset of units capable of only long range communication; forwarding first message data from the second subset of units to one or more short range units via one or more first elected units of the first subset of units based on location; and forwarding second message data received from one or more second elected units of the first subset of units to the second subset of units, wherein the second message data comprises data of the one or more short range units received by the second elected units of the first subset of units based on location.

Various embodiments disclose a computer-implemented method comprising causing playback of a first audio input an audio source by at least one speaker within a vehicle, detecting a second a first audio input using a microphone that is movable within the vehicle, modifying at least one audio property of the second first audio input to generate a modified second first audio input, and causing playback of the modified second first audio input by the at least one speaker within the vehicle.

A audio system comprises an analysis unit, configured to receive and analyze a first number of audio signals, wherein analyzing the first number of audio signals comprises obtaining semantic information of the first number of audio signals, an ambient sound unit, configured to determine one or more ambient sounds related to the semantic information of the first number of audio signals obtained by the analysis unit, a sound placement unit, configured to determine a placement of the one or more ambient sounds determined by the ambient sound unit in one or more audio signals of the first number of audio signals, or in one or more processed audio signals of a second number of processed audio signals, and a combiner, configured to, based on the placement determined by the sound placement unit, combine the one or more ambient sounds determined by the ambient sound unit with one or more audio signals of the first number of audio signals or with one or more processed audio signals of the second number of processed audio signals, in order to generate a second number of audio output signals.