CN-122002181-A - Vehicle audio system

Abstract

Aspects of the invention relate to an audio system (210), the audio system (210) comprising at least one audio speaker (325) for converting a speaker audio signal (320) into sound waves, at least one haptic transducer (525) for generating vibrations from a haptic signal (520), at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker (425) for converting a panel audio signal (420) into sound waves, a control system (220) in communication with the at least one audio speaker, the at least one haptic transducer and the at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker and configured to cause the at least one audio speaker to convert the speaker audio signal into sound waves, the at least one haptic transducer to vibrate according to the haptic signal, and the at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker to convert the panel audio signal into sound waves.

Inventors

• Paul Wiles
• Sam Thor

Assignees

• 捷豹路虎有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20251103

Priority Date

20241101

Claims (15)

1. 1. An audio system, comprising: at least one audio speaker for converting speaker audio signals into sound waves; At least one haptic transducer for generating vibrations from a haptic signal; At least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker for converting panel audio signals into sound waves; A control system in communication with the at least one audio speaker, the at least one haptic transducer, and the at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker and configured to cause the at least one audio speaker to convert the speaker audio signal into sound waves, to cause the at least one haptic transducer to vibrate according to the haptic signal, and to cause the at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker to convert the panel audio signal into sound waves.
2. 2. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the at least one audio speaker comprises a woofer or a subwoofer.
3. 3. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the panel audio signal comprises a frequency range from 125 Hz to 50 kHz, the speaker audio signal comprises a frequency range up to 120 Hz, and the haptic signal comprises a frequency range from 20 Hz to 300 Hz.
4. 4. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to reduce power to the at least one audio speaker and increase power to the at least one haptic transducer in order to mitigate the effects of distortion in the output from the at least one audio speaker.
5. 5. A vehicle audio system for outputting audio to an interior compartment of a vehicle, the vehicle audio system comprising an audio system according to any preceding claim.
6. 6. The vehicle audio system of claim 5, comprising at least one vehicle seat comprising a headrest portion, wherein the at least one electrostatic microphone comprises a headrest electrostatic microphone unit disposed in the headrest portion.
7. 7. The vehicle audio system of claim 6, comprising a plurality of vehicle seats, each vehicle seat comprising a headrest portion, wherein each headrest portion comprises an electrostatic loudspeaker unit.
8. 8. A vehicle audio system according to claim 7 wherein the or each headrest electrostatic loudspeaker unit comprises a pair of electrostatic loudspeaker panels, each panel of the pair being located on either side of the headrest portion, or the or each headrest electrostatic loudspeaker unit comprises a surrounding panel located within the headrest portion.
9. 9. The vehicle audio system of claim 5, wherein the at least one haptic transducer comprises a plurality of haptic transducers disposed in a foot pedal portion or floor portion of the vehicle and disposed in a vehicle seat.
10. 10. The vehicle audio system according to claim 5, comprising at least one vehicle seat comprising a backrest portion, wherein the at least one haptic transducer is disposed on the backrest portion.
11. 11. The vehicle audio system of claim 10 wherein the at least one haptic transducer comprises: A first set of at least one haptic transducer disposed along a central longitudinal axis of the backrest portion, and A second set of at least one haptic transducer disposed in a laterally offset position relative to the central longitudinal axis of the backrest portion.
12. 12. The vehicle audio system of claim 5, comprising a plurality of vehicle seats, each seat comprising at least one haptic transducer, and wherein the control system is configured to drive haptic signals individually to each vehicle seat.
13. 13. The vehicle audio system of claim 12 wherein the control system is configured to deactivate the at least one haptic transducer within a vehicle seat if the vehicle seat is unoccupied.
14. 14. The vehicle audio system of claim 5, wherein the at least one haptic transducer is coupled to a foam mount.
15. 15. A vehicle comprising an audio system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Description

Vehicle audio system Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a vehicle audio system. Aspects of the invention relate to an audio system, a vehicle audio system, and a vehicle. Background It is known to provide audio systems comprising conventional loudspeakers and to provide audio systems using electrostatic panel loudspeakers. It is an object of the invention to provide an audio system comprising a mix of audio speaker types, which audio system provides a coherent and clean audio experience to a user. Disclosure of Invention Aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide an audio system, a vehicle audio system, and a vehicle as described below. According to an aspect of the present invention, an audio system is provided that includes at least one audio speaker for converting a speaker audio signal into sound waves, at least one haptic transducer for generating vibrations from the haptic signal, at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker for converting a panel audio signal into sound waves, a control system in communication with the at least one audio speaker, the at least one haptic transducer, and the at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker and configured to cause the at least one audio speaker to convert a speaker audio signal into sound waves, to cause the at least one haptic transducer to vibrate from the haptic signal, and to cause the at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker to convert a panel audio signal into sound waves. The present invention provides an audio system that combines at least one conventional audio speaker with at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker. The electrostatic panel loudspeaker is thinner than conventional audio speakers and thus the present audio system may achieve space savings compared to an audio system comprising only conventional audio speakers. The use of at least one haptic transducer provides additional benefits in providing an audio system with good bass performance. In one configuration, the at least one audio speaker may be a speaker configured to provide bass frequencies, and the at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker may be configured to provide higher audio frequencies. The at least one haptic transducer may then be configured to complement the performance of the audio system in the intersection between the at least one audio speaker and the at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker. Alternatively, the at least one audio speaker may comprise a woofer or a subwoofer. Alternatively, the panel audio signal may comprise a frequency range from 125 Hz to 50 kHz, the speaker audio signal may comprise a frequency range up to 120 Hz, and the haptic signal may comprise a frequency range of 20 Hz to 300 Hz. For a subwoofer, the audio signal may have a frequency range of up to 80 Hz. For woofers, the audio signal may be in the range of 60 Hz to 120 Hz. The control system may be configured to reduce power to the at least one audio speaker and increase power to the at least one haptic transducer in order to mitigate the effects of distortion in the output from the at least one audio speaker. The control system may be configured to detect distortion in the audio speaker or may alternatively be configured to have power/drive performance limitations of the audio speaker and may be further configured to optimize bass in the audio signal between audio and haptic output accordingly. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle audio system for outputting audio to an interior compartment of a vehicle, the vehicle audio system comprising an audio system according to the above aspect of the present invention. A vehicle audio system within a vehicle may include at least one vehicle seat including a headrest portion, wherein the at least one electrostatic microphone includes a headrest electrostatic microphone unit disposed in the headrest portion. Different configurations may be used to deploy the headrest electrostatic speaker unit. For example, the unit may include a pair of panels in a headrest on either side of the occupant's head, or alternatively the unit may include a wrap-around electrostatic panel loudspeaker. The vehicle audio system may include a plurality of vehicle seats, each vehicle seat including a headrest portion, wherein each headrest portion includes an electrostatic microphone unit. The electrostatic microphone units within the plurality of seats may all have the same configuration (e.g., they may all be surround panels), or there may be different configurations within the vehicle cabin (e.g., the front row of seats may have surround panels, and the rear row of seats may include a pair of panels). Alternatively, the at least one haptic transducer may comprise a plurality of haptic transducers disposed in a foot pedal or floor portion of the vehicle and disposed in a vehicle seat. The at least one vehicle seat may comprise a backrest portion, wherein the at least one haptic transducer