DE102020114124A1 - System for providing sound zones with an emergency function in a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (10) for providing sound zones (SZ) with an emergency function in a vehicle (F), the system (10) having: at least one microphone (14) which is assigned to a first passenger position (Pos1) in the vehicle ( F) and which is set up to pick up sound (S) at the first position (Pos1) and convert it into a first signal (S1); a processing unit (16) which is set up to convert it into the first signal (S1 ) to process contained audio signals (AS) and to generate a second signal (S2) therefrom; andat least one loudspeaker (18) which is assigned to a second position (Pos2) in the vehicle (F) and which is set up to convert the second signal (S2) so that a sound zone assigned to the second passenger position (Pos2) (SZ) is formed in such a way that the second passenger position (Pos2) can be acoustically isolated or isolated from the first passenger position (Pos1), characterized in that the system (10) is also set up to output a signal contained in the first signal (S1) Identify audio signal (AS) as an emergency signal (NS).

Description

The invention relates to a system for providing sound zones with an emergency function in a vehicle, the system having: at least one microphone which is assigned to a first passenger position in the vehicle and which is set up to record sound at the first position and into a first Convert signal; a processing unit which is configured to process audio signals contained in the first signal and to generate a second signal therefrom; and at least one loudspeaker which is assigned to a second position in the vehicle and which is configured to convert the second signal so that a sound zone assigned to the second passenger position is formed, such that the second passenger position can be acoustically isolated or isolated from the first passenger position is.

From the pamphlet EP 1 882 387 B1 a system for creating personalized sound zones is known which uses noise suppression in audio systems and mechanisms for suppressing ambient noise.

From the pamphlet DE 11 2016 006 133 T5 a system for providing environmental perception is known.

From the pamphlet US 2016/0163303 A1 there is known an active noise control system for headphones which includes an adaptive filter.

In vehicles in which passengers or passenger positions can be acoustically isolated from one another, the passengers cannot disturb and / or distract one another. This increases the concentration of a driver of the vehicle, for example, and enables other passengers to use entertainment offers, such as playing music, DVDs, and / or the like. However, due to the acoustic isolation, emergency situations, such as baby cries, an exclamation from a passenger, a call to a parent, are no longer perceived.

The object on which the invention is based is seen to be the detection of emergency situations in a vehicle.

This object is achieved by a system for providing sound zones with an emergency function in a vehicle with the features of claim 1 and by a vehicle with the features of claim 15. Advantageous configurations with useful developments are specified in the dependent claims.

A system is therefore proposed for providing sound zones with an emergency function in a vehicle, the system having: at least one microphone which is assigned to a first passenger position in the vehicle and which is configured to record sound at the first position and into a first Convert signal; a processing unit which is configured to process audio signals contained in the first signal and to generate a second signal therefrom; and at least one loudspeaker which is assigned to a second position in the vehicle and which is configured to convert the second signal so that a sound zone assigned to the second passenger position is formed, such that the second passenger position can be acoustically isolated or isolated from the first passenger position is. It is provided that the system is also set up to identify an audio signal contained in the first signal as an emergency signal.

By identifying an audio signal as an emergency signal, an emergency situation in the first passenger position is recognized.

The emergency signal can be identified on the basis of frequencies that are assigned to the audio signals.

A frequency assigned to the emergency signal can be that of baby cries. The assigned frequency can also include a frequency range or a plurality of frequencies, from which it is typically possible to infer baby cries or an exclamation from a passenger.

The processing unit can have an emergency identification unit which identifies the emergency signal and identifies the audio signal identified as an emergency signal.

Furthermore, the processing unit can have a signal modification unit which is set up to filter all audio signals contained in the first signal except for the audio signal identified as an emergency signal from the first signal in order to generate the second signal therefrom. The identification can ensure that the emergency signal is retained in the second signal. By filtering the audio signals not identified as an emergency signal, the additional sound emitted in the first passenger position, for example a telephone conversation, music, or the like, can be removed.

In this context, by converting the second signal by the loudspeaker assigned to the second passenger position, anti-noise can be generated which transmits the sound emitted by the first passenger position to the second Passenger position at least partially compensated, the sound associated with the emergency signal not being compensated. In spite of the acoustic isolation of the second passenger position, an emergency situation in the first passenger position can be recognized by the sound zone assigned to the second passenger position. For example, a driver can hear the screaming of a baby from the rear seat bench without further noises from the rear seat bench such as music and / or the like disturbing or distracting the driver. On the one hand, this enables the driver to concentrate, but at the same time ensures that emergency situations can still be perceived.

The system can furthermore have a camera which is arranged on a ceiling of the vehicle and which is configured to detect movements of passengers in the vehicle.

The camera can detect the head position of the passengers in the vehicle. For example, the orientation of a head and thus the position of the ears of a passenger can be determined.

The system can have a control unit which is set up to control the processing unit in such a way that it generates the second signal and transmits the second signal to the loudspeaker assigned to the second passenger position as a function of a head position of the passenger at the second passenger position detected by the camera . Controlling the loudspeaker as a function of the head position, such as the ears, can enable an adapted reproduction of anti-noise.

A first loudspeaker in a headrest of the vehicle can be assigned to the second passenger position, and a second or further loudspeaker in a vehicle pillar and / or on a ceiling of the vehicle can be assigned to the second passenger position. Due to the different arrangements of the loudspeakers, improved acoustic isolation can be achieved when converting the second signal.

The first loudspeaker can have a first filter and the second loudspeaker can have a second filter, the first filter being different from the second filter. The different filters can be used, for example, for frequency division and / or for equalization and / or for time-of-flight correction of the second signal.

The system can also transmit the second signal to the first loudspeaker and / or to the second loudspeaker as a function of the movement of the passenger detected by the camera at the second passenger position. A separate control of the loudspeakers depending on the head position of the passenger, for example whether the passenger is bent forward or lays his head back on the headrest, enables the loudspeaker to be controlled which is closest to the head or ears of the passenger is.

The control unit can furthermore have at least one interface which is set up to interact with a passenger of the vehicle.

The first passenger position can be in a rear part of the vehicle and the second passenger position can be in a front part of the vehicle.

The above object is also achieved by a vehicle with a system for providing sound zones with an emergency function as described above.

• 1a eine vereinfachte und schematische Prinzipdarstellung einer Ausführungsform eines Systems zur Bereitstellung von Schallzonen mit Notfallfunktion in einem Fahrzeug;
• 1b eine vereinfachte und schematische Prinzipdarstellung einer Ausführungsform des Systems;
• 2 eine vereinfachte und schematische Prinzipdarstellung einer Ausführungsform einer Verarbeitungseinheit und einer Steuereinheit des Systems.

Further advantages and details of the invention emerge from the following description of embodiments with reference to the figures. It shows:

• 1a a simplified and schematic diagram of an embodiment of a system for providing sound zones with an emergency function in a vehicle;
• 1b a simplified and schematic diagram of an embodiment of the system;
• 2 a simplified and schematic diagram of an embodiment of a processing unit and a control unit of the system.

In 1a and 1b are simplified and schematic schematic representations of an embodiment of a system 10 for the provision of sound zones SZ with an emergency function in a vehicle F shown. The sound zones SZ are in 1b illustrated simplified as circles. The system 10 has at least one microphone 14th which is assigned to a first passenger position Pos1 in the vehicle F. The system 10 further comprises a processing unit 16 and at least one speaker 18th , which is assigned to a second passenger position Pos2 in the vehicle F. The first passenger position Pos1 and the second passenger position Pos2 represent two (any) positions considered in the vehicle F in each case. The system 10 can for three, four or more possible passenger positions Pos3, Pos4 in the vehicle F, as in 1b illustrated, implemented. The system can also 10 more speakers 18th and microphones 14th exhibit. For example, the system can a loudspeaker 18th have, which is assigned to the first passenger position Pos1.

The microphone 14th the first passenger position Pos1 can be arranged on a ceiling of the vehicle F. Further arrangements are possible, for example on a vehicle door and / or the like. The loudspeaker assigned to the second passenger position Pos2 18th can for example be arranged in a headrest, as in 1a shown. In the in 1a The example shown are additional loudspeakers 18th shown, which can be arranged in a vehicle pillar and / or on the vehicle ceiling. The processing unit 16 can be included in the dashboard, but this is not limiting.

The microphone 14th the first passenger position Pos1 takes the sound emitted at the first passenger position Pos1 S. and converts this into a first signal S1 around. This is in 2 shown, which will be described in detail later. The sound S. which in 1a is illustrated in a simplified manner by the three circularly arranged lines at the first passenger position Pos1, for example a telephone conversation, music, ambient noise, and / or the like.

The processing unit 16 processes those in the first signal S1 contained audio signals AS and generates a second signal therefrom S2 , as in 2 shown. The second signal S2 is then through the speaker 18th converted into anti-noise ATS at the second passenger position Pos2 and delivered to the second passenger position Pos2. This is also indicated by the three circular lines in 1a illustrated at the second passenger position Pos2. A sound zone SZ assigned to the second passenger position Pos2, as shown in FIG 1b is shown, formed in such a way that the second passenger position Pos2 can be acoustically isolated or isolated from the first passenger position Pos1.

Furthermore, a is in the first signal S1 contained audio signal AS identified as an emergency signal NS, which is also with reference to 2 will be described later. This makes it possible to identify an emergency situation in the first passenger position Pos1.

In this case, the emergency signal NS can be identified on the basis of the frequencies that are assigned to the audio signals AS.

A frequency assigned to the emergency signal NS can have that of baby cries. However, this is not restrictive and further frequencies can be assigned to emergency signals NS. For example, frequencies of certain speech sequences (names, exclamations, or the like) can be defined as emergency signals NS.

In this context, the processing unit 16 an emergency identification unit 17th which identifies the emergency signal NS and identifies the audio signal AS identified as an emergency signal NS, as in FIG 2 shown. The audio signals AS correspond to the sound emitted at the first passenger position Pos1 S. such as speech, music, baby crying, or the like. The processing of the audio signals AS takes place here using procedures and methods of speech recognition, in particular hidden Markov models and artificial intelligence. The emergency signal NS can be identified and marked on the basis of the frequencies of the audio signals AS.

Furthermore, the processing unit 16 a signal modification unit 19th all in the first signal S1 contained audio signals AS except for the audio signal AS identified as an emergency signal NS from the first signal S1 filters to get the second signal S2 to generate, as in 2 shown. That from the first signal S1 generated second signal S2 can then be connected to the loudspeaker assigned to the second passenger position Pos2 18th be transmitted.

This can be done by converting the second signal S2 through the loudspeaker assigned to the second passenger position Pos2 18th Anti-noise ATS are generated, the sound emitted from the first passenger position Pos1 S. at the second passenger position Pos2 at least partially compensated, the sound S. , which is assigned to the emergency signal NS, is not compensated. This is also indicated by the three circular lines in 1a illustrated at the second passenger position Pos2. In this way, for example, a driver in the first passenger position Pos1 can perceive an emergency situation, such as a crying child, in the second passenger position Pos2 despite acoustic isolation.

The system 10 can also have a camera 12th which is arranged on a ceiling of the vehicle F, as in FIG 1a and 1b illustrated. The camera 12th can detect the movements of the passengers in the vehicle F. The system 10 however, is not on a camera 12th restricted and can have additional cameras 12th which can be assigned to the respective passenger positions in the vehicle F. In this way, for example, each of the passengers can be recorded individually.

In one embodiment, the camera 12th detect the head positions of the passengers in the vehicle F in order to determine, for example, the orientation of the ears of the passenger.

The system can be a control unit 20th have which the processing unit controls so that they the second signal S2 generated and dependent on one through the camera 12th detected head position of the passenger at the second passenger position Pos2 the second signal S2 to the loudspeaker assigned to the second passenger position Pos2 18th transmits. Here shows 2 a simplified and schematic representation of the principle of the processing unit 16 and the control unit 20th in the functional interaction with the camera 12th , the microphone 14th , and the speaker 18th of the system 10 . As described above, the microphone picks up 14th the sound S. at the first passenger position Pos1 and converts this into the first signal S1 to which of the processing unit 16 provided. The camera 12th the captured movement data BD, such as the head position of the passenger at the second passenger position Pos2, can be sent to the control unit 20th transfer. The control unit 20th can then the processing unit 16 cause those in the first signal S1 to process contained audio signals AS. As described above, the processing unit 16 associated emergency identification unit 17th an emergency signal NS contained in the audio signals AS is identified and identified on the basis of the frequency. The emergency signal NS and the audio signals AS that have not been identified as the emergency signal NS are then sent to the signal modification unit 19th provided, which is illustrated by the corresponding arrows with respect to NS and AS. The signal modification unit 19th filters the audio signals AS from the first signal except for the emergency signal NS S1 and generates the second signal from it S2 . The second signal S2 can then be sent to the loudspeaker depending on the detected head position 18th the first passenger position Pos1 are transmitted. In the in 2 example shown are two speakers 18th which illustrates the second signal S2 in anti-noise ATS and the sound assigned to the emergency signal S. convert, which in turn is illustrated by the three lines arranged in a circle.

In this context, the system can 10 furthermore a first loudspeaker 18th have, which is assigned to a headrest of the second passenger position Pos2 of the vehicle F, and a second or further loudspeaker 18th which are assigned to a vehicle pillar and / or on a ceiling of the vehicle F of the second passenger position Pos2, as above with reference to FIG 1a and 1b already briefly described.

The first speaker 18th may include a first filter, and the second speaker 18th may have a second filter, the first filter being different from the second filter. The different filters can be used, for example, to correct the time of flight of the second signal S2 be used.

In one embodiment, the system 10 , depending on the one through the camera 12th detected head position of the passenger at the second passenger position Pos2 the second signal S2 to the first loudspeaker 18th or / and to the second loudspeaker 18th transfer. For example, the speaker can 18th , which is assigned to the headrest, can be controlled when the passenger lays his head on the headrest.

The control unit 20th can also have at least one interface 22nd exhibit, as in 2 shown, with which a passenger of the vehicle F can interact. the interface 22nd can have a multimedia interface with which further functions can be carried out, such as playing music, video, MP3-CD / DVDs, telephone functions and navigation functions, such as position determination, route planner, or the like. The multimedia interface can have a “touchpad” with which the corresponding functions can be activated. In one embodiment, a multimedia interface can be assigned to each passenger position in vehicle F, for example.

In one embodiment, a sound zone SZ can also be formed over two or more passenger positions. For example, a sound zone SZ can be formed for the passenger positions Pos3, Pos4 if two passengers want to converse in these passenger positions, while individual sound zones SZ are formed at the other passenger positions. Various scenarios are possible here. The system 10 can realize a variable number of sound zones SZ for different passenger positions.

The first passenger position Pos1 can be located in a rear part of the vehicle F, and the second passenger position Pos2 can be located in a front part of the vehicle F.

The vehicle F with a system 10 for providing sound zones with an emergency function, acoustic isolation of individual passenger positions thus enables emergencies, for example baby cries or shouts from passengers, to be perceived despite the acoustic isolation.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• EP 1882387 B1 [0002]
• DE 112016006133 T5 [0003]
• US 2016/0163303 A1 [0004]

Claims (15)

System (10) for providing sound zones (SZ) with an emergency function in a vehicle (F), the system (10) comprising: at least one microphone (14) which is assigned to a first passenger position (Pos1) in the vehicle (F) , and which is set up to pick up sound (S) at the first position (Pos1) and to convert it into a first signal (S1); a processing unit (16) which is set up to process audio signals (AS) contained in the first signal (S1) and to generate a second signal (S2) therefrom; and at least one loudspeaker (18) which is assigned to a second position (Pos2) in the vehicle (F) and which is set up to convert the second signal (S2) so that a sound zone ( SZ) is formed in such a way that the second passenger position (Pos2) can be acoustically isolated or isolated from the first passenger position (Pos1), characterized in that the system (10) is also set up to output an audio signal contained in the first signal (S1) (AS) to be identified as an emergency signal (NS). System (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that it is set up to identify the emergency signal (NS) on the basis of frequencies which are assigned to the audio signals (AS). System (10) according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein a frequency assigned to the emergency signal (LF) has that of baby cries. System (10) according to Claim 2 until 3 , characterized in that the processing unit (16) has an emergency identification unit (17) which is set up to identify the emergency signal (NS) and to identify the audio signal (AS) identified as an emergency signal (NS). System (10) according to Claim 4 , characterized in that the processing unit (16) also has a signal modification unit (19) which is set up to output all audio signals (AS) contained in the first signal (S1) except for the audio signal (AS) identified as an emergency signal (NS) to filter the first signal (S1) in order to generate the second signal (S2) therefrom. System (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that by converting the second signal (S2) by the loudspeaker (18) assigned to the second passenger position (Pos2), anti-noise (ATS) is generated, which generates the sound from the first passenger position (Pos1 ) at least partially compensated for the emitted sound (S) at the second passenger position (Pos2), the sound (S) associated with the emergency signal (NS) not being compensated. The system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system (10) further comprises a camera (12) which is arranged on a ceiling of the vehicle (F) and which is set up to detect movements of passengers in the Detect vehicle (F). System (10) according to Claim 7 , characterized in that the camera (12) is set up to detect the head position of the passengers in the vehicle (F). System (10) according to Claim 8 characterized in that it has a control unit (20) which is set up to control the processing unit (16) in such a way that it generates the second signal (S2) and is dependent on a head position of the passenger detected by the camera (12) at the second passenger position (Pos2) transmits the second signal (S2) to the loudspeaker (18) assigned to the second passenger position (Pos2). System (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second passenger position (Pos2) is assigned a first loudspeaker (18) in a headrest of the vehicle (F), and a second or further loudspeaker (18) in a vehicle pillar or / and is assigned to the second passenger position (Pos2) on a ceiling of the vehicle (F). System (10) according to Claim 10 , characterized in that the first loudspeaker (18) has a first filter, and that the second loudspeaker (18) has a second filter, the first filter being different from the second filter. System (10) according to Claim 9 until 11th , characterized in that it is set up to send the second signal (S2) to the first loudspeaker (18) and / or to the second loudspeaker as a function of the movement of the passenger at the second passenger position (Pos2) detected by the camera (12) (18) to transfer. System (10) according to Claim 9 until 12th , characterized in that the control unit (20) furthermore has at least one interface (22) which is set up to interact with a passenger of the vehicle (F). System (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first passenger position (Pos1) is in a rear part of the vehicle (F), and the second Passenger position (Pos2) is located in a front part of the vehicle (F). Vehicle (F) with a system (10) for providing sound zones (SZ) with an emergency function according to the Claims 1 until 14th .

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