IP Library Granted Patent US 8,320,581
Granted Patent B2
US 8,320,581 · App. 12/716,887 · Granted Nov 27, 2012

Vehicle engine sound enhancement

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,320,581
App. No.
12/716,887
Granted
Nov 27, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle engine harmonic enhancement system. A method for operating the system includes providing a first engine harmonic enhancement audio signal and equalizing the first engine harmonic enhancement audio signal separately for each of the plurality of loudspeakers to provide individually equalized loudspeaker engine harmonic enhancement audio signals. A vehicle audio system includes a plurality of loudspeakers, an entertainment audio system, and an engine harmonic enhancement system. A method includes equalizing an entertainment audio signal to provide an equalized entertainment audio signal; providing an engine harmonic enhancement audio signal; equalizing the engine harmonic enhancement audio signal separately from the entertainment audio signal to provide an equalized engine harmonic enhancement audio signal; and combining the equalized entertainment audio signal with the equalized engine harmonic enhancement audio signal.

Claims (36)

1. A method comprising:

in a vehicle engine harmonic enhancement system, providing a first engine harmonic signal, comprising

providing harmonics of a fundamental harmonic frequency;

providing a first set of harmonics of the fundamental harmonic frequency;

separately equalizing each of the first set of harmonics of the fundamental harmonic frequency to provide equalized harmonics so that at least one of the equalized harmonics has a different equalization that at least one of the other equalized harmonics;

providing a second set of harmonics of the fundamental harmonic frequency; and

separately equalizing each of the second set of harmonics of the fundamental harmonic frequency,

wherein the equalizing the first engine harmonic enhancement audio signal comprises

equalizing the first engine harmonic enhancement audio signal to provide a first equalized engine harmonic enhancement signal and

transducing the first engine harmonic enhancement audio signal so that the apparent source of the transduced first sound enhancement audio signal is a first vehicle location; and

wherein the equalizing the second engine harmonic enhancement audio signal comprises equalizing the second engine harmonic enhancement audio signal to provide a second equalized engine harmonic enhancement signal so that the second equalized engine harmonic enhancement signal has a different equalization than the first equalized engine harmonic signal; and

transducing the second engine harmonic enhancement audio signal so that the second apparent source of the transduced second sound enhancement audio signal is a second vehicle location.

2. A method comprising:

in a vehicle engine harmonic enhancement system, providing a first engine harmonic signal, comprising

providing harmonics of a fundamental harmonic frequency;

providing a first set of harmonics of the fundamental harmonic frequency;

separately equalizing each of the first set of harmonics of the fundamental harmonic frequency to provide equalized harmonics so that at least one of the equalized harmonics has a different equalization that at least one of the other equalized harmonics, wherein the providing the first engine harmonic enhancement audio signal comprises

providing a stream of engine harmonic enhancement gains;

smoothing the stream of engine harmonic enhancement gains to provide a stream of smoothed engine harmonic enhancement gains; and

applying the stream of smoothing engine harmonic gains to the first engine harmonic enhancement audio signal.

3. A method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

determining if the engine load is increasing or decreasing; and

if the engine load is decreasing, changing a smoothing parameter.

4. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the smoothing comprises low pass filtering.

5. In an vehicle audio system comprising a plurality of loudspeakers, an entertainment audio system, and an engine harmonic enhancement system, a method comprising:

in the vehicle audio system, equalizing an entertainment audio signal to provide an equalized entertainment audio signal;

providing an engine harmonic enhancement audio signal;

equalizing the engine harmonic enhancement audio signal separately from the entertainment audio signal to provide an equalized engine harmonic enhancement audio signal so that the equalized harmonic enhancement signal has a different equalization than the equalized entertainment signal; and

combining the equalized entertainment audio signal with the equalized engine harmonic enhancement audio signal.

6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the providing the engine harmonic enhancement audio signal comprises

determining a fundamental harmonic frequency;

providing harmonics of the fundamental harmonic frequency;

separately equalizing each of the harmonics of the fundamental harmonic frequency.

7. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the equalizing the engine harmonic enhancement audio signal comprises

processing the engine enhancement audio signal to provide a plurality of engine enhancement audio signal each corresponding to one of the plurality of loudspeakers; and

separately equalizing each of the plurality of engine enhancement audio signals.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2025
From: BOSE CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 070438/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2010
From: HERA, CRISTIAN M.; PAN, DAVIS Y.
To: BOSE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024024/0611 →