IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,262,185
Granted Patent B2
US 12,262,185 · App. 17/884,858 · Granted Mar 25, 2025

Smart speaker and method for providing sound using the same

Inventors: Ki Chang Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Dong Chul Park (Anyang-si, KR)
Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
H04R3/12H04R1/023H04R1/025H04R1/24H04R1/323H04R2201/025H04R2499/13
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,262,185
App. No.
17/884,858
Granted
Mar 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An embodiment smart speaker includes a motor configured to rotate a rotary shaft, a speaker housing connected with the rotary shaft, a first speaker mounted on an inclined surface disposed on an upper end of the speaker housing, a second speaker mounted on a vertical surface of the speaker housing, a cover configured to protect the first speaker and the second speaker, and a controller configured to control a rotation of the first speaker and the second speaker using the motor to radiate a sound in at least one target direction.

Claims (54)

1. A smart speaker comprising:

a motor configured to rotate a rotary shaft;

a speaker housing connected with the rotary shaft;

a first speaker mounted on an inclined surface disposed on an upper end of the speaker housing;

a second speaker mounted on a vertical surface of the speaker housing;

a cover configured to protect the first speaker and the second speaker; and

a controller configured to:

control a rotation of the first speaker and the second speaker using the motor to radiate a sound in at least one target direction;

determine a control mode comprising a sound image position fixing mode or a sound image position rotation mode;

determine the control mode as the sound image position fixing mode, when a number of passengers included in riding information in a vehicle is less than or equal to two; and

determine the control mode as the sound image position rotation mode, when the number of the passengers is greater than two.

2. The smart speaker of claim 1 , wherein the first speaker comprises a ring radiator tweeter.

3. The smart speaker of claim 1 , wherein the second speaker comprises a hybrid woofer in which a subwoofer and a mid-range speaker are combined with each other.

4. The smart speaker of claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises polypropylene.

5. The smart speaker of claim 1 , further comprising:

a wrinkle part disposed on the cover; and

a light disposed on the wrinkle part.

6. The smart speaker of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the control mode and a sound image position based on the riding information in the vehicle.

7. The smart speaker of claim 1 , wherein, when the control mode comprises the sound image position fixing mode, the controller is configured to set a sound image position to a target direction and control the first speaker and the second speaker to radiate the sound in the target direction.

8. The smart speaker of claim 1 , wherein, when the control mode comprises the sound image position rotation mode, the controller is configured to set at least two sound image positions to target directions and control the first speaker and the second speaker to radiate the sound in the target directions.

9. The smart speaker of claim 1 , wherein the smart speaker is mounted on a holder provided in a console box of the vehicle.

10. A method for providing a sound using a smart speaker comprising a first speaker and a second speaker rotatably installed with respect to a rotary shaft, the method comprising:

obtaining riding information in a vehicle;

determining a control mode based on the riding information in the vehicle;

determining a sound image position based on the control mode and a seating position; and

controlling a sound output of the smart speaker based on the determined sound image position;

wherein determining the control mode comprises:

determining the control mode as a sound image position fixing mode, when a number of passengers included in the riding information in the vehicle is less than or equal to two; and

determining the control mode as a sound image position rotation mode, when the number of the passengers is greater than two.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein obtaining the riding information in the vehicle comprises receiving the riding information in the vehicle, the riding information being transmitted from a vehicle terminal.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining the sound image position comprises:

in response to determining the sound image position fixing mode, determining one sound image position based on the seating position included in the riding information in the vehicle; and

in response to determining the sound image position rotation mode, determining at least two sound image positions based on the seating position.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein, in response to determining the one sound image position, controlling the sound output of the smart speaker comprises rotating and moving the first speaker and the second speaker such that the first speaker and the second speaker face the one sound image position.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein controlling the sound output of the smart speaker comprises, in response to determining the at least two sound image positions, rotating the first speaker and the second speaker such that the first speaker and the second speaker face the at least two sound image positions.

15. A smart speaker comprising:

a speaker housing;

a rotary shaft within the speaker housing;

a motor configured to rotate the rotary shaft and the speaker housing;

a first speaker mounted on an inclined surface disposed on an upper end of the speaker housing, the first speaker comprising a ring radiator tweeter;

a second speaker mounted on a vertical surface of the speaker housing, the second speaker comprising a hybrid woofer in which a subwoofer and a mid-range speaker are combined with each other;

a cover configured to protect the speaker housing, the first speaker, and the second speaker; and

a controller configured to:

control a rotation of the first speaker and the second speaker using the motor to radiate a sound in at least one target direction;

determine a control mode, wherein the control mode comprises a sound image position fixing mode or a sound image position rotation mode;

determine the control mode as the sound image position fixing mode, when a number of passengers included in riding information in a vehicle is less than or equal to two; and

determine the control mode as the sound image position rotation mode, when the number of the passengers is greater than two.

16. The smart speaker of claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the control mode and a sound image position based on the riding information in the vehicle.

17. The smart speaker of claim 15 , wherein the smart speaker is mounted on a holder provided in a console box of the vehicle.

18. The smart speaker of claim 1 , wherein the rotary shaft is disposed within the speaker housing and extends away from the motor toward the upper end of the speaker housing.

19. The smart speaker of claim 15 ,

wherein the first speaker is configured to implement a radial sound field using the rotary shaft, and

wherein the second speaker is configured to implement a horizontal stereophonic sound using the rotary shaft.

20. The smart speaker of claim 15 , wherein the first speaker is a high frequency tweeter.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2022
From: KIM, KI CHANG; PARK, DONG CHUL
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 060769/0551 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0019145 · Feb 14, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230262392A1 · Aug 17, 2023
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