JPH07154890A - Car audio system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To distribute acoustic information only to a specified crew member without troublesome operation and management of a system and without a complicated expensive identification circuit. CONSTITUTION:This system is provided with a first audio device of such as a navigation device A1 or the like for generating the first electric signals of an audible frequency band required for driving, a second audio device such as a car stereo A2 or the like for generating the second electric signals of the audible frequency band unrequired for driving, a third audio device such as an alarm generator A3 or the like for generating an alarm to the respective crew members, electroacoustic transducers EA1-EA4 installed on the head rests HR1-HR4 or on the upper part of the back of seats and a signal distribution circuit SD for supplying the first electric signals only to the electroacoustic transducer EA1 for a driver, selectively distributing the second electric signals to the corresponding electroacoustic transducers EA1-EA4 through switches SW1-SW4 operated by the respective crew members or an amplifier and distributing the alarm generated by the third audio device A3 to all the electroacoustic transducers EA1-EA4 without through the switches SW1-SW4 or the amplifier.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an in-vehicle acoustic device used in passenger cars and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An audio device such as a car stereo is installed in a vehicle such as a passenger car. A speaker (loudspeaker) of such an audio device is installed in a rear portion of a vehicle or the like so as to form a substantially uniform sound field inside the vehicle. For this reason,
When there are multiple passengers, a troublesome situation often occurs for passengers who do not want to listen to music. Especially recently
Voice output type car navigation systems are becoming widespread, but in this case, there is a problem that it is difficult for the driver to hear the voice for navigation because of the car stereo that the passenger is listening to.

According to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 56-157642, a plurality of speakers are installed according to the riding position of each passenger, various warnings regarding forgetting to put on the seat belt, a half door state, car navigation, etc. The technical idea of selectively distributing the above information to each speaker is disclosed.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention The above patent document discloses a technical idea of distributing acoustic information only to a specific passenger by installing a plurality of speakers according to the riding position of each passenger. ing. However, since the speaker has a structure that expands the sound field by utilizing a space as another name of the loudspeaker, even if the speaker installation position is limited to the inside of the door of each seat or the front of each seat, etc. There is a limit to sharpening the directivity. For this reason, there is a problem in that the annoyance felt by an adjacent passenger cannot be sufficiently reduced. If an earphone of a type that can be inserted into the ear is used as an electric / acoustic transducer, such as in an airplane, it is possible to effectively reduce the annoyance felt by an adjacent passenger. However, a new problem arises such that the earphones are attached and detached, and the management of the appliances such as cleaning and loss prevention becomes troublesome. Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle acoustic system capable of distributing acoustic information only to a specific passenger without complicating the operation and management of the equipment.

Further, in the sound system described in the patent document, in order to distribute various kinds of information such as information for alarm and car navigation to the corresponding speakers, it is necessary to accurately identify the contents of such information. There is a problem that a different identification circuit is required. Particularly, when information such as car stereo is further added, there is a problem that it becomes more difficult to realize the above-described identification circuit. Further, when only the driver is in the vehicle, there is a problem in that it is meaningless to distribute an alarm that the rear right door is a half door only to the speakers of the corresponding seats. Therefore, another object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle acoustic system that does not require a complicated and expensive identification circuit by distributing each information to each passenger while giving priority to each information according to its property. Especially.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an in-vehicle acoustic system including an audio device such as a car stereo for generating an electric signal in an audible frequency band and a driver. An electric / acoustic transducer installed on a headrest or a back of an occupant and an electric signal output from the acoustic device are selectively supplied to the corresponding electric / acoustic transducer through a switch or an amplifier operated by each occupant. And a signal distribution circuit that distributes the signal to the.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle acoustic system in which the acoustic device generates a first electric signal in an audible frequency band necessary for driving navigation information or the like. The device and a second acoustic device such as a car stereo that generates a second electric signal in an audible frequency band unnecessary for driving music information and the like. The signal distribution circuit supplies navigation information or the like generated by the first audio device only to the electric / acoustic transducer installed on the driver's headrest or upper part of the backrest, and the music information generated by the second audio device. Are selectively distributed to the corresponding electro-acoustic transducers through switches or amplifiers operated by each passenger.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an in-vehicle acoustic system is provided with a third acoustic device for issuing a warning to a passenger in addition to the first and second acoustic devices. There is. Further, the signal distribution circuit supplies the navigation information and the like generated by the first acoustic device only to the electric / acoustic transducer installed on the driver's headrest or the upper part of the backrest, and the second acoustic device generates the navigation information. Music information or the like is selectively distributed to the corresponding electro-acoustic transducer through a switch or amplifier operated by each passenger, and further, an alarm generated by the third acoustic device is passed through each switch without the switch or amplifier. / Configured to distribute to all of the acoustic transducers.

[0009]

According to the above inventions, by installing the electric / acoustic transducer on the headrest or the upper portion of the backrest of each passenger, acoustic information can be generated at a position extremely close to the passenger's ear. As a result, the generated sound volume is reduced as in the case of using the earphone, and the passenger does not feel bothered.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an in-vehicle acoustic system according to an embodiment of the third invention. EA1-E
A4 is an electro-acoustic converter installed in the headrests HR1 to HR4 of the driver's seat, the passenger's seat, and the left and right rear seats in the same order, and A1 is a navigation device that generates navigation information necessary for driving as an electric signal in an audio frequency band. , A
Reference numeral 2 is a car stereo for generating music information unnecessary for driving as an electric signal in the audible frequency band, A3 is an alarm generating device for generating an alarm for a passenger as an electric signal in the audible frequency band, and SD is a signal distribution circuit. . Signal distribution circuit SD
Is the electric signal output from the car stereo A2
~ SW4 operated by the passenger of the corresponding seat to select whether to supply to EA4,
Signal detection circuits SD1 and SD2, variable attenuators AT1 and AT
2 and a signal line group connecting each of these elements.

The electric signal generated by the navigation device A1 which operates according to the command from the operation panel P1 is supplied only to the electric / acoustic converter EA1 installed in the headrest HR1 of the driver's seat without passing through a switch. An electric signal generated by the car stereo A2 that operates according to a command from the operation panel P2 is transmitted through the switches SW1 to SW4 operated by the passengers of each seat to the electricity / electric devices installed in the corresponding headrests HR1 to HR4.
It is selectively distributed to the acoustic transducers EA1 to EA4. The electric signal generated by the alarm generator A3 is distributed to all of the electric / acoustic converters EA1 to EA4 installed in the headrests HR1 to HR4 without passing through the switches SW1 to SW4 operated by the passengers in each seat. It

Each passenger, including the driver, can optionally select whether to listen to the car stereo or not by operating SW1 to SW4 installed at appropriate places on his / her seat. Since the electro-acoustic transducers are placed very close to the ears of each occupant, the occupants who choose to listen to the car stereo can reach their goal at very low volume. For this reason, there is no risk of annoying passengers in adjacent seats and front and rear seats who choose not to listen to the car stereo.

The driver can select to listen to the music generated by the car stereo A2 together with the guidance information for the navigation generated intermittently by the navigation device A1 even while the navigation device is in operation. Signal detection circuit S
When the navigation device A1 detects that the navigation device A1 has generated an electrical signal for navigation, the D1 automatically increases the attenuation amount of the variable attenuator AT1 to reduce the volume of the car stereo. Therefore, the driver does not have to worry about missing the navigation information while enjoying the car stereo.

The electric signal generated by the alarm generating device A3 for warning a half-door or the like is given the highest priority to all the electric / acoustic converters EA1 to EA4 without passing through the switches SW1 to SW4 operated by the passengers in each seat. Distributed in. When the signal detection circuit SD2 detects that the alarm generation device A2 has generated an electric signal, the signal detection circuit SD2 automatically increases the attenuation amount of the variable attenuator AT2 to reduce the volume of the car stereo. For this reason, each passenger including the driver does not have to worry about missing an important warning in terms of accident prevention while enjoying the car stereo.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are views showing an example of a method of installing the electric / acoustic converter on the headrest of each seat, representatively in the case of the driver's seat. Headrest H
Recesses 11 are formed on the left and right of R1, and a shaft 12 is held in the recesses 11 so as to be slidable in the left and right directions. Left and right ears 13 are held on the shaft 12 so as to be vertically slidable along the shaft 12 and rotatable about the shaft 12. In the center of the left and right ears 13
The acoustic transducer EA1 is held and one ear 13 is held.
A slide switch SW1 is held in the lower part of.
2 (A) shows a state in which the ear 13 is housed in the recess 11, and FIG. 2 (B) shows that the ear 13 protrudes from the recess 11 by rotating the ear 13 about the shaft 12 by 90 °. After this, the shaft 12 is slid outward.

When there is no need to worry about the passenger,
As shown in FIG. 2A, the stereo can be enjoyed with the ears 13 housed in the recess 11 and the volume slightly increased. If you need to worry about your passengers,
As shown in FIG. 2 (B), the ear 13 is projected from the recess 11 and the volume can be reduced, so that the user can enjoy a stereo or the like. In this case, the ear portion 13 exerts a sound insulation effect on the surroundings.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ears 13 are held slidably along the shaft 12 in the vertical direction, and the shaft 12 is slidably held in the recess 11 in the left and right directions. The position of the electro-acoustic transducer can be adjusted according to the position and size of the person's head.

As described above, one example of the method of installing the electric / acoustic converter on the headrest is shown in FIG. 2, but it is of course possible to adopt an installation method different from this. For example, electricity /
The acoustic transducer is fixed to the tip of the rod-shaped holder, and when not in use it is stored by inserting the holder almost at a right angle to the headrest. When used, the electric / acoustic transducer at the tip is positioned at the ear. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which it is pulled out forward so as to coincide with.

Further, the configuration in which the electric / acoustic transducer is installed on the headrest has been illustrated. However, for a seat that does not have a headrest separated from the backrest, this may be installed above the backrest corresponding to the headrest. Further, instead of the switches SW1 to SW4, an amplifier selectively operated by the operation of the passenger can be used.

A third switch equipped with a car stereo, a car navigation system and an alarm generator.
The in-vehicle acoustic system of the invention has been described. However, the in-vehicle acoustic system of the first invention in which the car navigation system and the alarm system are separate systems, and the second system in which only the alarm system is a separate system
With regard to the in-vehicle acoustic system of the present invention, the configuration and operation of each can be easily understood only by removing the components of these other systems. Therefore, duplicate description of these inventions will be omitted.

[0021]

As described in detail above, according to the in-vehicle acoustic system of the present invention, the electro-acoustic transducer is installed on the headrests and the upper portions of the backrests of the respective occupants, so that the ears of the occupants can be optimally protected. As in the case of the earphone, it is possible to generate acoustic information of extremely low volume at a close position. Therefore, there is an effect that the acoustic information can be distributed only to a specific occupant without complicated operation and management of the device as in the case of using the earphone.

Further, since the in-vehicle sound system of the present invention is configured to distribute various information to each passenger while giving priority to each information according to its nature, a complicated and expensive identification circuit should be used. You can build a rational system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an in-vehicle acoustic system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of a method of installing the electroacoustic transducer EA1 of FIG. 1 on a headrest HR1.

[Explanation of symbols]

EA1 to EA4 Electricity installed on the headrest (HR1 to HR4) /
Acoustic transducer A1 Car navigation device A2 Car stereo A3 Alarm generator SD signal distribution circuit SW1 to SW4 Switches operated by passengers

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An audio device for generating an electric signal in an audible frequency band, an electric / acoustic converter installed on a headrest or a backrest of each passenger including a driver, and an electric signal output by the audio device. And a signal distribution circuit that selectively distributes the signal to corresponding electro-acoustic transducers through a switch or an amplifier operated by each passenger. 2. The in-vehicle acoustic system according to claim 1, wherein the electro-acoustic transducer is installed so as to be accommodated in and projectable from an upper portion of a corresponding headrest or backrest. 3. A first acoustic device for generating a first electric signal in an audible frequency band necessary for driving, and a second acoustic device for generating a second electric signal in an audible frequency band unnecessary for driving. And an electric / acoustic converter installed on the headrest or the back of each passenger including the driver, and an electric / acoustic converter installed on the headrest or the back of the driver with the first electric signal. And a signal distribution circuit for selectively distributing the second electric signal to corresponding electric / acoustic transducers through a switch or an amplifier operated by each occupant. Internal sound system. 4. The in-vehicle acoustic system according to claim 3, wherein the electro-acoustic transducer is installed so as to be accommodated in and projectable from an upper portion of a corresponding headrest or backrest. 5. The signal distribution circuit according to claim 3, wherein during the generation of the first electric signal,
An in-vehicle acoustic system comprising means for selectively lowering the level of the second electric signal being distributed to an electric / acoustic transducer installed corresponding to the driver. 6. A first acoustic device for generating a first electric signal in an audible frequency band necessary for driving, and a second acoustic device for generating a second electric signal in an audible frequency band unnecessary for driving. A third acoustic device for issuing an alarm to each occupant including a driver, an electric / acoustic transducer installed on a headrest or a backrest of each occupant, and the first electric signal. The second electric signal is supplied only to the electric / acoustic converter installed corresponding to the driver, and the second electric signal is selectively distributed to the corresponding electric / acoustic converter through a switch or an amplifier operated by each passenger. And the third
And a signal distribution circuit that distributes an alarm generated by the audio device to all of the electric / acoustic converters without passing through the switch or the amplifier. 7. The in-vehicle acoustic system according to claim 6, wherein the electro-acoustic transducer is installed so as to be accommodated in and projectable from an upper portion of a corresponding headrest or backrest. 8. The signal distribution circuit according to claim 6, wherein during the generation of the first electric signal,
An in-vehicle acoustic system comprising means for selectively lowering the level of the second electric signal being distributed to an electric / acoustic transducer installed corresponding to the driver. 9. The signal distribution circuit according to claim 6, wherein the signal distribution circuit lowers the level of the second electric signal being selectively distributed to each of the electric / acoustic transducers while the alarm is generated. An in-vehicle acoustic system comprising means.