IP Library Granted Patent US 11,812,245
Granted Patent B2
US 11,812,245 · App. 17/066,250 · Granted Nov 7, 2023

Method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium for providing three-dimensional stereo sound

Inventor: Brandon Hook (Troy, MI)
Assignee: Valeo Telematik und Akustik GmbH
H04R5/04B60R11/0217B60W30/08B60W50/14H04R5/02B60W2050/143B60W2420/54H04R2499/13
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,812,245
App. No.
17/066,250
Granted
Nov 7, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium for providing three-dimensional stereo sound to a vehicle to promote active safety and awareness to hazards. For instance, the present disclosure describes a method for providing three-dimensional stereo sound comprising receiving data signals from sensors positioned around an exterior of a vehicle, detecting a hazard based on the received data signals, determining characteristics of the detected hazard, generating an alert based on the determined characteristics of the detected hazard, and outputting the generated alert as the three-dimensional stereo sound via speakers arranged around an interior of the vehicle, the outputted alert communicating to a driver of the vehicle the determined characteristics of the detected hazard.

Claims (29)

1. A method for providing three-dimensional stereo sound, comprising:

receiving data signals from sensors positioned around an exterior of a vehicle;

detecting a hazard based on the received data signals;

determining characteristics of the detected hazard;

generating, by processing circuitry, an alert based on the determined characteristics of the detected hazard; and

outputting the generated alert as the three-dimensional stereo sound via speakers arranged around an interior of the vehicle, the outputted alert communicating to a driver of the vehicle the determined characteristics of the detected hazard, wherein the determined characteristics of the detected hazard include a hazard type, a relative position of the detected hazard, a reaction time necessary to avoid the detected hazard, a travel vector of the detected hazard, and a threat level of the detected hazard.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating generates the alert based on an audio file acquired from an audio file database, the audio file corresponding to the detected hazard.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the audio file corresponding to the detected hazard is an audio file mimicking a natural sound of the detected hazard.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting detects the hazard by classifying the received data signals as hazards based on a reference database of labeled data signals.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sensors is a microphone and the generating generates the alert as a reproduction of an original acoustic signal received at the at least one microphone.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating generates the alert based on a severity of the determined threat level of the detected hazard.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein an amplitude of the generated alert is enhanced or dampened according to the severity of the determined threat level of the detected hazard.

8. An apparatus for providing three-dimensional stereo sound, comprising:

processing circuitry configured to

receive data signals from sensors positioned around an exterior of a vehicle,

detect a hazard based on the received data signals,

determine characteristics of the detected hazard,

generate an alert based on the determined characteristics of the detected hazard, and

output the generated alert as the three-dimensional stereo sound via speakers arranged around an interior of the vehicle, the outputted alert communicating to a driver of the vehicle the determined characteristics of the detected hazard wherein:

the processing circuitry is configured to detect the hazard by classifying the received data signals as hazards based on a reference database of labeled data signals, and

the determined characteristics of the detected hazard include a hazard type, a relative position of the deleted hazard, a reaction time necessary to avoid the detected hazard, a travel vector of the detected hazard and a threat level of the detected hazard.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to generate the alert based on a severity of the determined threat level of the detected hazard.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for providing three-dimensional stereo sound, the method comprising:

receiving data signals from sensors positioned around an exterior of a vehicle;

detecting a hazard based on the received data signals;

determining characteristics of the detected hazard;

generating, by processing circuitry, an alert based on the determined characteristics of the detected hazard; and

outputting the generated alert as the three-dimensional stereo sound via speakers arranged around an interior of the vehicle, the outputted alert communicating to a driver of the vehicle the determined characteristics of the detected hazard, wherein the determined characteristics of the detected hazard include a hazard type, a relative position of the detected hazard, a reaction time necessary to avoid the detected hazard, a travel vector of the detected hazard, and a threat level of the detected hazard.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the generating generates the alert based on a severity of the determined threat level of the detected hazard.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 15, 2023
From: PEIKER ACUSTIC GMBH & CO. KG
To: VALEO TELEMATIK UND AKUSTIK GMBH
Reel/Frame 064918/0654 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2021
From: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: PEIKER ACUSTIC GMBH
Reel/Frame 055941/0328 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2020
From: HOOK, BRANDON
To: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 054014/0887 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220116709A1 · Apr 14, 2022