Method and apparatus for directional sound applicable to vehicles
Different embodiments of methods and apparatus to produce audio output signals are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic speaker outputting ultrasonic signals can be transformed into first audio output signals, which are directional. A non-ultrasonic speaker can output second audio output signals. The embodiment can be configured to output the first audio output signals or the second audio output signals in a vehicle. Another embodiment can be configured to output the first and the second audio output signals together. Yet another embodiment can be configured to be personalized to hearing characteristics of a user, or to depend on sound level of an environment of the user. One embodiment can include a directional speaker attached to a vehicle, with its output steerable towards a user in the vehicle.
1. An electronic system operable at least to generate sound for a vehicle comprising:
an ultrasonic speaker attached to the vehicle configured to generate ultrasonic signals, which are transformed into audio signals, wherein the audio signals are directional in at least a direction towards a user in the vehicle, and wherein the audio signals are first audio signals;
a non-ultrasonic speaker attached to the vehicle configured to generate audio signals, without the need to be transformed from ultrasonic signals, wherein the audio signals are second audio signals; and
a controller that is electrically coupled to the ultrasonic speaker and the non-ultrasonic speaker, wherein the controller is configured to control the electronic system to operate in at least a mode selected from a first mode and a second mode,
wherein in the first mode, the electronic system is configured to at least output the first audio signals, and
wherein in the second mode, the electronic system is configured to at least output the second audio signals.
2. An electronic system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the electronic system to at least output the first audio signals and the second audio signals together.
3. An electronic system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the frequencies of at least a part of the second audio signals are less than all the frequencies of the first audio signals.
4. An electronic system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the ultrasonic speaker is configured to be in the vicinity of the roof above a seat of the vehicle, with the seat for the user.
5. An electronic system as recited in claim 4 ,
wherein the electronic system includes another ultrasonic speaker configured to generate another directional audio signals, which are directional in at least a direction towards another user in the vehicle, and
wherein the another ultrasonic speaker is configured to be in the vicinity of the roof above another seat of the vehicle, with the another seat for the another user.
6. An electronic system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the ultrasonic speaker is configured to be in a headrest of a seat of the vehicle, with the seat for the user.
7. An electronic system as recited in claim 6 ,
wherein the electronic system includes another ultrasonic speaker configured to generate another directional audio signals, which are directional in at least a direction towards another user in the vehicle, and
wherein the another ultrasonic speaker is configured to be in a headrest of another seat of the vehicle, with the another seat for the another user.
8. An electronic system as recited in claim 2 ,
wherein the ultrasonic speaker is configured to generate the ultrasonic signals from at least a portion of audio input signals, and
wherein at least a portion of the audio input signals are configured to be wirelessly received from a cell-phone.
9. An electronic system as recited in claim 8 comprising at least a directional microphone configured to receive inputs from the user, wherein the directional microphone is configured to be directed towards the user.
10. An electronic system as recited in claim 2 ,
wherein the ultrasonic speaker is configured to generate the ultrasonic signals from at least a portion of audio input signals,
wherein at least a portion of the audio input signals are configured to be wirelessly received from a cell-phone, and
wherein the electronic system includes another ultrasonic speaker configured to generate another directional audio signals from at least a piece of music wirelessly received, the another directional audio signals being directional in at least a direction towards another user in the vehicle.
11. An electronic system operable at least to generate audio output signals from audio input signals for a vehicle comprising:
a directional speaker attached to the vehicle configured to generate directional audio signals from a first portion of the audio input signals, wherein the directional audio signals are directional in at least a direction towards a user in the vehicle; and
another speaker attached to the vehicle configured to generate another audio signals from a second portion of the audio input signals,
wherein the frequencies of at least a part of the another audio signals are less than all the frequencies of the directional audio signals, and
wherein at least the directional audio signals together with the another audio signals form the audio output signals.
12. An electronic system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the directional speaker is configured to be in the vicinity of the roof above a seat of the vehicle, with the seat for the user.
13. An electronic system as recited in claim 12 ,
wherein the electronic system includes another directional speaker configured to generate another directional audio signals, which are directional in at least a direction towards another user in the vehicle, and
wherein the another directional speaker is configured to be in the vicinity of the roof above another seat of the vehicle, with the another seat for the another user.
14. An electronic system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the directional speaker is configured to be in a headrest of a seat of the vehicle, with the seat for the user.
15. An electronic system as recited in claim 14 ,
wherein the electronic system includes another directional speaker configured to generate another directional audio signals, which are directional in at least a direction towards another user in the vehicle, and
wherein the another directional speaker is configured to be in a headrest of another seat of the vehicle, with the another seat for the another user.
16. An electronic system as recited in claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the audio input signals are configured to be wirelessly received from a cell-phone.
17. An electronic system as recited in claim 16 comprising at least a directional microphone configured to receive inputs from the user, wherein the directional microphone is configured to be directed towards the user.
18. An electronic system as recited in claim 11 ,
wherein the electronic system includes another directional speaker configured to generate another directional audio signals from at least a piece of music wirelessly received, the another directional audio signals being directional in at least a direction towards another user in the vehicle, and
wherein at least a portion of the audio input signals are configured to be wirelessly received from a cell-phone.
19. A computer-implemented method to at least generate first audio signals and second audio signals for a vehicle, based on at least an electronic system attached to the vehicle, the electronic system including at least an ultrasonic speaker and a non-ultrasonic speaker, both electrically coupled to a controller, the method comprising:
controlling, by the controller, the electronic system to operate in at least a mode selected form a first mode and a second mode;
generating, by the ultrasonic speaker, ultrasonic signals, to be outputted by the electronic system, with the ultrasonic signals being transformed into the first audio signals, if the electronic system is configured to operate in the first mode; and
generating, by the non-ultrasonic speaker, the second audio signals, to be outputted by the electronic system, with the generating without the need to be transformed from ultrasonic signals, if the electronic system is configured to operate in the second mode,
wherein the first audio signals are directional in at least a direction towards a user in the vehicle.
20. A computer-implemented method to at least generate audio output signals from audio input signals for a vehicle, based on at least an electronic system, the electronic system including at least a directional speaker attached to the vehicle and another speaker attached to the vehicle, the method comprising:
generating directional audio signals from a first portion of the audio input signals, wherein the directional audio signals are directional in at least a direction towards a user in the vehicle; and
generating another audio signals from a second portion of the audio input signals,
wherein the frequencies of at least a part of the another audio signals are less than all the frequencies of the directional audio signals, and
wherein at least the directional audio signals together with the another audio signals form the audio output signals.