CN111954119A

CN111954119A - Sound converter, module and tone generation system

Info

Publication number: CN111954119A
Application number: CN202010414917.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 勒内·泽姆里奇; 奥斯曼·法伊克
Original assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbH
Current assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbH
Priority date: 2019-05-16
Filing date: 2020-05-15
Publication date: 2020-11-17
Also published as: DE102019207198A1

Abstract

The present application relates to a sound transducer 2 comprising an exciter 5 arranged to generate vibrations; and a panel 6 provided for converting the vibration generated by the exciter 5 and transmitted to the panel 6 into sound. The pane 6 is movable relative to the exciter 5 between a first position, in which the exciter 5 is connected to the pane 6 such that vibrations generated by the exciter can be transmitted to the pane 6, and a second position, in which the exciter 5 is separated from the pane 6. The application further relates to a module 1 for a vehicle having such a sound converter 2 and a tone color generation system for a vehicle having such a sound converter.

Description

Sound converter, module and tone generation system

Technical Field

The present application relates to a sound converter, in particular for a vehicle, and also to a module for a vehicle having such a sound converter and a corresponding tone color generation system for a vehicle.

Background

Many devices and systems for playing sound in vehicles are known. The requirements for such playback are becoming more and more complex. It is advantageous for a high quality timbre experience: as large an area and/or mass as possible participates in the sound conversion. At the same time, more and more operating elements and interior space components are installed in modern vehicles, so that only a limited space is available for the sound converter. It would therefore be desirable to be able to achieve large area radiation of sound by utilizing the limited space in the vehicle interior space for sound reproduction.

Disclosure of Invention

The present patent application is therefore based on the following objectives: sound converters for vehicles are proposed, with which such sound reproduction can be achieved; as well as a corresponding module for a vehicle and a corresponding playback system for a vehicle.

Accordingly, a sound converter having the features of claim 1, a module for a vehicle having the features of claim 9 and a tone color generation system for a vehicle having the features of claim 10 are proposed. Preferred embodiments and further developments are obtained by the features of the dependent claims.

A sound converter of the proposed type comprises: an actuator arranged to generate vibrations; and a panel arranged to convert vibrations generated by the exciter and transmitted to the panel into sound. The panel is movable relative to the exciter between a first position in which the exciter is connected to the panel such that vibrations generated by the exciter may be transmitted to the panel, and a second position in which the exciter is disconnected from the panel. The separation of the exciter and the panel results in: the exciter cannot transmit or only transmits very weak vibrations to the panel.

In this case, a panel is a flat-shaped elongated element whose thickness is usually significantly smaller than the typical length of the side of the panel, for example a sheet or plate. Thus, the panel may for example comprise or may be a sheet of glass or plastic.

The panels can be, for example, side panes, sliding roofs, movable elements of interior partition walls or other movable panels of the vehicle interior. The first position can be realized, for example, in a closed position of the movable panel, and the second position can be realized, for example, in an open and/or partially open position of the panel.

It is to be noted here that the driver of the sound converter requires space, not only due to its dimensions but also due to possible cable inserts (kabelzu fur lungen), shields and the like. In the case of movable panels, this space requirement is further increased if the exciter remains connected to the panel during operation, since the exciter and all components connected thereto also move together when the panel moves. The advantages of the sound converter proposed here are: the space requirement is significantly reduced, which advantage is particularly relevant when the available space is limited, as is the case in particular in doors, roofs, partition walls and other vehicle interior space elements which often occur. Wear caused by frequent movements of the exciter and the components connected thereto and the corresponding maintenance costs are therefore also reduced.

Another advantage may be: compared to other types of sound converters, the proposed type of sound converter can utilize a larger area for transferring sound into the vehicle interior space without creating additional space requirements. The fact that the exciter can be decoupled from the pane in the second position, so that the vibrations generated by the exciter are not significantly transmitted to the pane, is also advantageous: for example, the panel is a side window or a sliding roof of a vehicle, so that sound transmission is automatically interrupted when the window or sliding roof is open (which reduces sound dispersion around the vehicle) and sound transmission is re-established when the window or sliding roof is closed.

It is to be noted that: the first and second positions of the panel may be configured such that both positions may be repeated from time to time in normal use of the acoustic transducer, and the panel may be reversibly moved between the first and second positions repeatedly. It is also possible to set: in the second position, the panel is at a distance from the exciter which is no greater than a certain maximum distance corresponding to the conventional use of the sound transducer, for example less than 150cm, less than 100cm or less than 50 cm. The exciter and the panel can be arranged in a common component, for example a door module or a sliding roof module of a vehicle, the dimensions of which are predetermined to the greatest possible distance between the panel and the exciter in the second position.

The movability of the panels can be constructed in different ways. The panel may be movable between a first position and a second position in a direction parallel or almost parallel to a first side of the panel. Alternatively, however, the panels can also be designed to be pivotable, rotatable, tiltable, foldable or otherwise movable. The panels may also be moved in a number of ways, either simultaneously or alternatively, for example, movable and foldable.

In the second position, the pane may be arranged wholly or partially in the encapsulation area. Such an arrangement is possible, for example, when a vehicle side glass or a vehicle sliding roof is used as a panel, and the encapsulated area can then be the interior of a door module or the interior of a sliding roof module. The sound transducer can then be arranged in a positionally fixed manner relative to the encapsulation region, wherein in the first position a part of the pane also projects into the encapsulation region, and the exciter can be connected to the part of the pane projecting into the encapsulation region in the first position. An advantageous arrangement of the exciter is thus possible, in which the exciter is not visible and is protected from external influences.

The panel may also have a coupler disposed at least partially on the first side of the panel, the coupler being connected to the exciter in the first position and disconnected from the exciter in the second position. The coupling may have the advantage that a stable but repeatable reversible coupling between the exciter and the panel can thereby be achieved in the first position, which coupling may be robust against vibrations, for example, and/or may provide good vibration transmission.

If the panel has a coupling, the coupling can be connected to the exciter in the first position by a force fit and/or a form fit. The connection between the coupling and the exciter can also be produced without contact, for example by the action of an electromagnetic field. This achieves an advantageous coupling of the type described above.

Furthermore, the actuator can have at least one insertion element and the coupling can have at least one receiving element, or the coupling can have at least one insertion element and the actuator can have at least one receiving element, wherein the at least one insertion element and the at least one receiving element are provided for producing a force-fitting and/or form-fitting and/or contactless connection by inserting the insertion element into the receiving element. The insertion element and the receiving element then advantageously contribute to a stable but repeatable reversible coupling.

Such a coupling can then also be designed such that the at least one insert element has at least one flange and the at least one receiving element has at least one recess, provided: in order to establish a force-locking and/or form-locking, the flange is introduced into the recess by a translational movement of the panel and/or a rotational movement of the actuator. For example, the connection can be designed as a plug-in connection or as a lead-in rail connection.

Additionally or alternatively to this connection, in the first position a magnetic connection, a clamping connection, a connection established by pressing the exciter onto the coupling or a connection established by a negative pressure between the exciter or a component of the exciter and the coupling or a component of the coupling may be comprised between the coupling and the exciter. In this case, a plurality of the above-described connection types can also be advantageously combined with one another, for example in such a way that: the first connection is produced by a form-fit with a relatively large clearance (for example by designing the insertion element as a conical plug) and is then stabilized by a force-fit (for example by clamping).

For generating the vibrations, the exciter can have a vibrating coil, a magnetostatic or electrostatic actuator or a piezoelectric element. The advantages of using such an exciter are known to the person skilled in the art and can also be used with such an exciter for the described acoustic converter.

The sound transducer may have more than one actuator, for example two or more actuators. Accordingly, the sound converter can also have a plurality of couplings, which can then each be connected to one of the actuators in the first position. This may lead to the advantage of a better transmission of vibrations to the panel.

It is also conceivable that the panel can also be moved into a third position in which the coupling or one of the couplings is connected with a different exciter than in the second position, or in which the exciter or one of the exciters is connected with a different coupling than in the first position. The advantage is thereby obtained that a further position can be provided in which the vibrations generated by the exciter or one of the exciters can likewise be transmitted to the pane.

The panel may have at least one damping layer which is arranged such that vibrations generated by the exciter and transmitted to the first side of the panel are transmitted only with a damped amplitude to the second side of the panel, wherein the second side may be opposite to the first side. Panels with such a damping layer have the following advantages: sound is reflected from the panel primarily in one direction, for example into the vehicle interior space, while radiation of sound in other directions, such as into the surroundings of the vehicle, is prevented or reduced.

The sound transducer may be arranged in a module of the vehicle such that the exciter is fixed in position relative to the module and the panel is movable relative to the module between a first position and a second position. Such a module may be, for example, a door module, a sliding roof module or a partition wall module, as described above. This has the advantage of achieving the above-described provision of the sound converter in the encapsulated area in the vehicle.

The proposed module for a vehicle, which may in particular be a door module or a sliding roof module, comprises a sound converter as described above. An advantageous structural unit is thus provided in which the sound converter is ready for installation in a vehicle.

A sound converter of the type mentioned exhibits its advantages in the proposed tone color generation system for a vehicle, which comprises at least one sound converter of this kind and at least one tone color signal source, which is connected to the at least one sound converter by a wired or wireless connection, wherein the at least one tone color signal source is provided for supplying a tone color signal for loading an exciter of the at least one sound converter with the tone color signal or a part of the tone color signal. Any conventional source of a timbre signal for a vehicle, such as a car radio or a smartphone, may be considered as a source of the timbre signal. A plurality of sound converters can advantageously be incorporated in such a system, for example in order to make several or all side panes of the vehicle available for sound reproduction.

The tone generation system may comprise at least one frequency divider connected between the at least one tone signal source and the at least one sound transducer, the frequency divider being arranged for dividing the tone signal into a first part and at least one second part, wherein the driver of the at least one sound transducer is loaded with the first part of the tone signal. A particular advantage of such a system is that a defined range of sound frequencies can be allocated to the sound converter in this case, so that the sound converter can be combined in an advantageous manner with other sound sources allocated other frequency ranges.

Furthermore, the tone generation system may further have a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) connected between the tone signal source and the sound converter, the DSP being arranged for processing the tone signal provided by the tone signal source. The DSP may be arranged to process the timbre signal by using information about the acoustic properties of the sound transducer. The acoustic characteristic can be, for example, the frequency response of the sound converter. This has the advantage that the playback of the tone signal is achieved with the desired characteristics.

Drawings

The embodiment is explained below with reference to fig. 1A to 3. In schematic form respectively:

FIG. 1A shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of a module for a vehicle having an acoustic transducer with a panel of the acoustic transducer in a first position;

FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the same portion of the module of FIG. 1A with the panel of the acoustic transducer in a second position;

FIG. 2 shows a detail of a perspective cross-sectional view of the acoustic transducer of FIG. 1A;

fig. 3 shows a block diagram of a tone color generation system for a vehicle having a plurality of sound converters according to fig. 1A.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1A shows a part of a module 1 for a vehicle, which has a sound converter 2 of the type proposed here and a door housing 3, wherein the door housing 3 forms an encapsulation region 4. The module 1 may also be another module 1 of the vehicle, for example a sliding roof module.

The acoustic transducer 2 comprises an exciter 5, a panel 6 and a coupler 7. The panel 6 is a side window 6 of a vehicle. The panel can also be a movable panel 6 of the vehicle or of another movable panel of the module 1 of the vehicle, for example a sliding roof or a movable element of an interior partition wall. The panel can also be another movable panel, for example a door, a window or another type of movable panel of furniture, of a living space or of an office space.

The exciter 5 is arranged for generating vibrations. To generate the vibrations, the exciter 5 may comprise a movable component. In other embodiments, the exciter 5 is completely static. The signal for presetting the vibration to be generated is provided in the form of a tone signal from a tone signal source. The source of the timbre signal may be, for example, a car radio, a mobile player, a smart phone or other type of source of the timbre signal.

The exciter 5 is arranged in the encapsulation region 4 of the module 1 and is therefore not visible from the vehicle interior, since it is arranged behind the door panel 3. The exciter 5 is arranged in a stationary manner relative to the module 1, for example by a releasable connection of the exciter 5 to a component of the door housing 3 only with great effort (wherein great effort may be incurred by arranging the exciter 5 in the encapsulation region 3 of the module 1).

In addition to the encapsulation area 3, the module 1 may also have further encapsulation areas, and the exciter 5 of the sound converter 2 may also be arranged in one of these further encapsulation areas. For example, the side window 6 can be passed circumferentially through a component edge seal (einfassen) of the module 1, for example through a circumferential window seal, in which case different encapsulation regions can be produced behind the window seal, in which case the exciter 5 can be arranged. Likewise, the sound converter 2 can also have a plurality of drivers 5, which can then be arranged, for example, at a plurality of locations around the side window 6.

The pane 6 has a first side 8 which can face the interior space of the vehicle and a second side 9 which is opposite the first side 8. Panel 6 is movable with respect to module 1 between a first position and a second position. In the case shown, the pane 6 is movable between a first position and a second position in a direction 10 almost parallel to the first side 8 of the pane 6, for example by means of an electric or mechanical window lifter. However, the panels can also be moved in other ways, for example can be pivotable by means of hinges or can be foldable and movable at the same time.

Fig. 1A shows the acoustic transducer 2 of the module 1 with the pane 6 in the first position. Here, the first position may correspond to a position of the side window 6 in which the side window 6 is closed. In the first position, the exciter 5 is connected to the pane 6, so that vibrations generated by the exciter 5 can be transmitted to the pane 6.

The pane 6 is arranged for converting vibrations generated by the exciter and transmitted to the pane into sound. The pane 6 thus acts at least in the first position as a loudspeaker, which is provided to radiate sound into the vehicle interior by transmitting vibrations of the pane 6 into the air in the vehicle interior, i.e. a tone signal provided by a tone signal source is played in the vehicle interior.

Fig. 1B shows the acoustic transducer 2 of the module 1 with the panel 6 in the second position. The second position may for example correspond to any position of the side window 6 where the side window 6 is not closed, i.e. for example a fully open position or a partially open position of the side window. In the second position, the exciter 5 is separated from the pane 6. The pane 6 thus does not act as a loudspeaker in the second position, since the vibrations generated by the exciter 5 cannot be transmitted to the pane 6 or are transmitted only in a significantly damped manner.

If, in a third position, for example when the side window 6 is half-open, it is provided that the pane 6 is also used as a loudspeaker, the exciter 5 or a further exciter 5 can also be connected to the pane 6 in the third position, so that the vibrations generated by the exciter 5 can be transmitted to the pane 6.

In a preferred embodiment, the pane 6 is a glazing made of laminated acoustic glass, that is to say the pane 6 has at least two glass layers and at least one damping layer arranged between them, which damping layer is arranged such that vibrations generated by the exciter 5 and transmitted to the first side 8 of the pane 6 are transmitted to the second side 9 of the pane 5 only with damped amplitudes. The damping layer may for example be a polymer film. In other embodiments, panel 6 is a conventional sheet of glass or plastic.

The coupling 7 of the acoustic transducer 2 is arranged on a first side 8 of the panel. The coupling 7 is disconnected from the exciter 5 in the second position (fig. 1B) and connected to the exciter 5 in the first position (fig. 1A).

Fig. 2 shows a detail of a perspective cross-sectional view of the exciter 5 and the coupler 7 together with a part of the panel 6, which is indicated by the line a-a in fig. 1A, wherein the panel 6 is in the first position.

The exciter 5 is designed as a voice coil exciter 5 and has: a magnet 11, a hollow cylinder 12 extending into the air gap of the magnet 11, a coil 13 wound around the hollow cylinder 12, and a centering pin (zentirispinne) 14. The hollow cylinder 12 can be vibrated by applying an alternating voltage given by a tone signal to the coil 13. The vibrations thus generated can be transmitted to the panel 6 by means of the coupling 7. The actuator 5 may also be implemented in other ways, for example with a static or electrostatic actuator.

The part 15 of the hollow cylinder 12 which projects out of the recess of the magnet 11 serves as an insert element 15 which has a flange 16 in the form of a radially projecting flattened end 16. The coupling 7 has two insertion rails 17 made of metal as receiving elements, wherein each insertion rail 17 forms a recess 18 between the pane 6 and a projection 19 of the insertion rail 17. The insertion rail 17 can also be made of other materials, for example plastic.

The coupling 7 is mounted on the pane 6 by gluing, for example by means of an adhesive or epoxy. The coupling 7 may also be mounted on the panel 6 in other ways, for example by means of connecting elements passing through holes in the panel 6, by clamps surrounding the edge of the panel 6, by structural forms in which the coupling 7 itself surrounds the edge of the panel 6 or by pressing or melting layers of material applied to the panel 6.

When the panel 6 is moved from the second position into the first position, the flange 16 of the hollow cylinder 12 is introduced into the gap 18 between the projection 19 and the panel 6, whereby the exciter 5 and the coupling 7 form a form-locking connection. In addition, the projections 19 can be beveled toward the pane 6 in the direction of movement of the pane 6, so that the hollow cylinder 12 is pressed onto the pane 6 in a force-fitting manner when the pane 6 is moved into the first position.

Instead of two insertion rails 17, the coupling 7 can also have a single insertion element 17, which is designed in the form of a ring and can be connected to the components of the exciter 5 in a plug-and-turn manner. The recess 18 can then be designed such that it does not completely surround it, but is interrupted by a stop element. The projection 19 can then be designed such that it is likewise not circumferential but is interrupted by a slot (einfu hrschlitze). Finally, the collar 16 of the hollow cylinder 12 can also be designed such that it does not surround but is interrupted in such a way that a plurality of shorter collars 16 are produced. Thereby, the protruding parts 15 of the hollow cylinder can be coaxially introduced into the introduction element 17, wherein the flanges can be guided through the introduction slit. The rotational movement can then fix the flange 16 by form-locking in the interspace 18 between the projection 19 and the pane 6, wherein the stop element prevents over-rotation. The described plug-and-turn connection can also be produced with a force-locking by a stepped chamfer of the projection 19, wherein the hollow cylinder 12 is pressed onto the panel 6, in order to ensure effective transmission of vibrations. This connection method requires, in addition to the displacement of the pane 6, a combined translational and rotational movement of the exciter 5, for example by means of a stepping motor or other actuator. Fig. 2 may also be used as an illustration of such an embodiment of the coupling.

Of course, the coupling 7 can also be connected to the exciter 5 in other ways, for example by a magnetic connection, a clamping connection, a connection established by pressing the exciter 5 onto the coupling 7 or a connection established by a negative pressure between the exciter 5 or a component of the exciter and the coupling 7 or a component of the coupling 7.

As shown in fig. 2, the coupling can be designed such that the exciter 5 can be connected directly to the pane 6. However, the coupling 7 may also have further elements, for example a sheet mounted on the side 8 of the panel, which is provided to enable an indirect transmission of the vibrations generated by the exciter 5 to the panel 6.

Fig. 3 shows a tone color generation system 25 for a vehicle, which has four sound converters 2, wherein the pane 6 of each sound converter 2 is in each case one of the four side panes of the vehicle. The tone generation system further includes: a timbre signal source 20 arranged to provide a timbre signal, such as a car radio; a frequency divider 21; a first speaker system 22; a second speaker system 23; a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) 24; and a connection 26.

The connection 26 is provided for the transfer of the tone signals and can be designed as a wired connection or as a wireless connection.

The frequency divider 21 is arranged for dividing the tone signal into a first part, a second part and a third part, wherein the three parts of the tone signal have different frequency bandwidths, which are separated by two band edges. The first speaker system 22 is loaded with a first portion of the tone signal, the DSP24 is loaded with a second portion of the tone signal, and the second speaker system 23 is loaded with a third portion of the tone signal.

In this way, the sound converter 2 is combined with the first and second speaker systems such that the first and

second speaker systems

22 and 23 and the sound converter 2 are arranged for playing different ranges of the acoustic spectrum, respectively. For example, the first speaker system 22 may be a bass system, the second speaker system 23 may be a treble system, and the sound converter 2 may be correspondingly arranged for playing a frequency range between the frequency band of the bass system and the frequency band of the treble system. The first and/or second loudspeaker system 22/23 may also be a sound transducer 2 of the type mentioned here or a sound transducer corresponding thereto, except for the difference that the panel may be a panel arranged in a fixed position relative to the vehicle or a module of the vehicle, for example a rear window or a windshield.

The DSP24 is arranged to process the second part of the tone color signal by using the frequency response (frequenczgarg) of the sound transducer 2 such that predictable variations in the second part of the tone color signal due to the frequency response of the sound transducer 2 are cancelled out. Wherein each sound converter 2 is loaded with a second part of the tone color signal processed by the DSP 24. The DSP24 may also be arranged in other ways in order to process the second part of the timbre signal, for example in order to achieve a desired amplification or attenuation of a part of the frequency range.

List of reference numerals

1 Module

2 sound converter

3 door shell

4 encapsulation area

5 exciter

6 panel

7 coupler

8 first side of

9 second side surface

10 direction in which the panels are movable

11 magnet

12 hollow column

13 coil

14 centring pin

15 insert element

16 Flange

17 lead-in rail

18 spaces

19 projection

20 timbre signal source

21 frequency divider

22 first loudspeaker system

23 second loudspeaker system

24 DSP

25 tone generating system

26 connection

Claims

1. An acoustic transducer (2) comprising:

an exciter (5) arranged to generate vibrations, an

A panel (6) provided for converting vibrations generated by the exciter (5) and transmitted to the panel (6) into sound,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the panel (6) is movable relative to the exciter (5) between a first position, in which the exciter (5) is connected to the panel (6) such that vibrations generated by the exciter can be transmitted to the panel (6), and a second position, in which the exciter (5) is separated from the panel (6).

2. Acoustic transducer (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the panel (6) is movable between the first and second positions along a direction (10) parallel or almost parallel to a first side (8) of the panel (6).

3. Acoustic transducer (2) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the panel (6) further has a coupler (7) at least partially arranged on a first side (8) of the panel (6), the coupler (7) being connected with the exciter (5) in the first position and disconnected from the exciter (5) in the second position.

4. Sound converter (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that in the first position the coupling (7) is connected with the exciter (5) by force-locking and/or form-locking.

5. Acoustic transducer (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the panel (6) comprises a sheet of glass or plastic.

6. Acoustic transducer (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pane (6) has at least one damping layer arranged such that vibrations generated by the exciter (5) and transmitted to the first side (8) of the pane (6) are transmitted to the second side (9) of the pane (6) only with a damped amplitude.

7. Acoustic transducer (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the panel (6) is a side glass, a sliding roof, a movable element of an interior space separating wall or another movable panel of a vehicle interior space.

8. Sound converter (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is arranged in a module (1) of a vehicle in such a way that the exciter (5) is positionally fixed relative to the module (1) and the pane (6) is movable relative to the module (1) between the first position and the second position.

9. Acoustic transducer (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pane (6) is arranged in the second position completely or partially in an encapsulation area (4), in particular in the interior of a door module or sliding roof module, and the exciter (5) is arranged positionally fixed relative to the encapsulation area (4).

10. Module (1) for a vehicle, in particular a door module or a sliding roof module, comprising a sound converter (2) according to any of the preceding claims.

11. Tone generation system for a vehicle, comprising at least one sound converter (2) according to any of claims 1 to 9 and at least one tone signal source, which is connected to the at least one sound converter (2) by a wired or wireless connection, wherein the at least one tone signal source is arranged for providing a tone signal such that an exciter (5) of the at least one sound converter (2) is loaded with the tone signal or a part of the tone signal.