EP-4737019-A1 - VEHICLE AUDIO SYSTEM

EP4737019A1EP 4737019 A1EP4737019 A1EP 4737019A1EP-4737019-A1

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to an audio system (210) comprising: at least one audio speaker (325) for converting a speaker audio signal (320) to sound waves; at least one haptic transducer (525) for generating a vibration according to a haptic signal (520); at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker (425) for converting a panel audio signal (420) to 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 to sound waves, to cause the at least one haptic transducer to vibrate according to the haptic signal and cause the at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker to convert the panel audio signal to sound waves.

Inventors

WILES, Paul
SOAR, Sam

Assignees

Jaguar Land Rover Limited

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20251103

Claims (15)

An audio system comprising: at least one audio speaker for converting a speaker audio signal to sound waves; at least one haptic transducer for generating a vibration according to a haptic signal; at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker for converting a panel audio signal to 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 to sound waves, to cause the at least one haptic transducer to vibrate according to the haptic signal and cause the at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker to convert the panel audio signal to sound waves.
An audio system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the at least one audio speaker comprises a woofer speaker or a sub-woofer speaker.
An audio system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the panel audio signal comprises a frequency range from 125Hz to 50kHz, the speaker audio signal comprises a frequency range up to 120Hz and the haptic signal comprises the frequency range 20 Hz to 300 Hz.
An audio system as claimed in any preceding claim, 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.
A vehicle audio system for outputting audio to an interior compartment of a vehicle comprising an audio system according to any preceding claim.
A vehicle audio system as claimed in Claim 5, comprising at least one vehicle seat comprising a headrest portion, wherein the at least one electrostatic loudspeaker comprises a headrest electrostatic loudspeaker unit disposed in the headrest portion.
A vehicle audio system according to Claim 6, comprising a plurality of vehicle seats, each vehicle seat comprising a headrest portion wherein each headrest portion comprises an electrostatic loudspeaker unit.
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 either side of the headrest portion, or the or each headrest electrostatic loudspeaker unit comprises a wraparound panel located within the headrest portion.
A vehicle audio system according to any one of Claims 5 to 8, wherein the at least one haptic transducer comprises a plurality of haptic transducers disposed in a footrest or floor portion of the vehicle and disposed in vehicle seats.
A vehicle audio system according to any one of Claims 5 to 9, comprising at least one vehicle seat comprising a backrest portion, wherein the at least one haptic transducer is disposed on the backrest portion.
A vehicle audio system according to 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 position laterally offset from the central, longitudinal, axis of the backrest portion.
A vehicle audio system as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 11, comprising a plurality of vehicle seats, each seat comprising at least one haptic transducer and wherein the control system is configured to individually drive a haptic signal to each vehicle seat.
A vehicle audio system as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the control system is configured to deactivate the at least one haptic transducer within a vehicle seat in the event the vehicle seat is unoccupied.
A vehicle audio system as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 13, wherein the at least one haptic transducer is coupled to a foam mount.
A vehicle comprising the audio system according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 or the vehicle audio system according to any one of Claims 5 to 14.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a vehicle audio system. Aspects of the invention relate to an audio system, to a vehicle audio system, and to a vehicle BACKGROUND It is known to provide audio systems comprising traditional loudspeakers and to provide audio systems using electrostatic panel loudspeakers. It is an aim of the present invention to provide an audio system comprising a mixture of audio speaker types that provides a cohesive and clean audio experience to the user. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide an audio system, a vehicle audio system, and a vehicle as claimed in the appended claims. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an audio system comprising: at least one audio speaker for converting a speaker audio signal to sound waves; at least one haptic transducer for generating a vibration according to a haptic signal; at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker for converting a panel audio signal to 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 to sound waves, to cause the at least one haptic transducer to vibrate according to the haptic signal and cause the at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker to convert the panel audio signal to sound waves. The present invention provides an audio system that combines at least one traditional audio speaker with at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker. Electrostatic panel loudspeakers are slimmer than traditional audio speakers and so the present audio system can realise a space saving compared to an audio system comprised solely of traditional audio speakers. The use of at least one haptic transducer provides an additional benefit in providing an audio system with a good bass performance. In one configuration the at least one audio speaker may be a speaker that is configured to provide bass frequencies whereas 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 supplement the performance of the audio system in the cross-over point between the at least one audio speaker and the at least one electrostatic panel loudspeaker. Optionally, the at least one audio speaker may comprise a woofer speaker or a sub-woofer speaker. Optionally, the panel audio signal may comprise a frequency range from 125Hz to 50kHz, the speaker audio signal may comprise a frequency range up to 120Hz and the haptic signal may comprise the frequency range 20 Hz to 300 Hz. For sub-woofer speakers the audio signal may have a frequency range of up to 80Hz. For woofer speakers the audio signal may be in the range 60-120 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 with the power/drive performance limits of the audio speakers and may be further configured to optimise the bass in an audio signal between the audio and haptic outputs 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 comprising an audio system according to the above aspect of the present invention. The vehicle audio system within the vehicle may at least one vehicle seat comprising a headrest portion, wherein the at least one electrostatic loudspeaker comprises a headrest electrostatic loudspeaker unit disposed in the headrest portion. Different configurations may be used to deploy the headrest electrostatic loudspeaker unit. For example, the unit may comprise a pair of panels in the headrest either side of the occupant's head or alternatively the unit may comprise a wraparound electrostatic panel loudspeaker. The vehicle audio system may comprise a plurality of vehicle seats, each vehicle seat comprising a headrest portion wherein each headrest portion comprises an electrostatic loudspeaker unit. The electrostatic loudspeaker units within the plurality of seats may all be of the same configuration (e.g. they may all be wraparound style panels) or there may be different configurations within the vehicle cabin (e.g. the front seats may be of the wraparound style and the rear seats may comprise a pair of panels). Optionally, the at least one haptic transducer may comprise a plurality of haptic transducers disposed in a footrest or floor portion of the vehicle and disposed in vehicle seats. At least one vehicle seat may comprise a backrest portion, wherein the at least one haptic transducer is