IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,641,362
Granted Patent B2
US 12,641,362 · App. 18/618,237 · Granted May 26, 2026

Audio output device

Inventor: Ryo Ito (Fukushima, JP)
Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
H04R1/24B60N2/879H04R3/04H04R3/12H04R2499/13
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,641,362
App. No.
18/618,237
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An audio output device for outputting a sound corresponding to a first audio signal toward a first user in front of a second user and a sound corresponding to a second audio signal toward the second user in back of the first user is provided. The audio output device includes a first speaker configured to output a sound having a low-frequency component of the first audio signal toward the first user, and a sound having a high-frequency component of the second audio signal toward the second user; and a second speaker configured to output a sound having low-frequency and middle-frequency components of the second audio signal toward the second user. The first speaker is disposed in a vicinity of the first user, and the second speaker is disposed in a vicinity of the second user.

Claims (14)

1 . An audio output device for outputting a sound corresponding to a first audio signal toward a first user in front of a second user and a sound corresponding to a second audio signal toward the second user in back of the first user, the audio output device comprising:

a first speaker configured to output

a sound having a low-frequency component of the first audio signal toward the first user, and

a sound having a high-frequency component of the second audio signal toward the second user;

a second speaker configured to output a sound having low-frequency and middle-frequency components of the second audio signal toward the second user;

a low-frequency separator configured to separate the low-frequency component from the first audio signal;

a high-frequency separator configured to separate the high-frequency component from the second audio signal; and

an adder configured to add the low-frequency component of the first audio signal, separated by the low-frequency separator, and the high-frequency component of the second audio signal, separated by the high-frequency separator, and output the added frequency components to the first speaker,

wherein the first speaker is disposed in a vicinity of the first user, and the second speaker is disposed in a vicinity of the second user.

2 . The audio output device according to claim 1 , wherein the first speaker is disposed to face the second user.

3 . The audio output device according to claim 2 , wherein the first speaker is provided in a headrest of a seat on which the first user is to be seated.

4 . The audio output device according to claim 1 , wherein a size of the first speaker is larger than a high-pass cutoff frequency used by the high-frequency separator to separate the high-frequency component.

5 . The audio output device according to claim 1 , wherein the first speaker is provided in a headrest of a seat on which the first user is to be seated; and

a wavelength of a low-pass cutoff frequency used by the low-frequency separator to separate the low-frequency component is shorter than a length of the headrest in a short-side direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2024
From: ITO, RYO
To: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066920/0430 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-062612 · Apr 7, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240340573A1 · Oct 10, 2024
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