WO2021014199A1

WO2021014199A1 - Vehicle instrument cluster for providing an inter-vehicle audio call system

Info

Publication number: WO2021014199A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/056414
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ricardo FERNANDES; Ricardo NUNES
Original assignee: Bosch Car Multimedia Portugal, S.A.
Priority date: 2019-07-24
Filing date: 2019-07-26
Publication date: 2021-01-28

Abstract

It is disclosed an instrument cluster for mounting on a vehicle, for providing an inter-vehicle audio call system for audio sharing among a group of travellers in a plurality of vehicles, comprising: a multipoint interface for establishing a multipoint wireless communication with other instrument clusters for transporting audio between said instrument clusters; a point-to-point interface for establishing a point-to-point Bluetooth audio channel communication to a headset of a traveller in the vehicle; wherein the instrument cluster is arranged to be powered by the vehicle battery; wherein the instrument cluster is arranged to share the audio of the headset with the other instrument clusters through the point-to-point Bluetooth audio channel and the multipoint wireless communication. It is also disclosed an inter-vehicle audio call system for audio sharing comprising a plurality of said instrument clusters.

Description

D E S C R I P T I O N

VEHICLE I N STRU M E NT C LUSTER FOR PROVI D I N G AN INTERVEHICLE AUDIO CALL SYSTEM

TECH NICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an inter-vehicle audio call system for audio sharing among a group of vehicle travellers, in particular motorcyclists, using transceivers embedded in instrument clusters of said vehicles, in particular said vehicles being motorcycles.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Document US10192447B2 discloses an information sharing system among vehicles where vehicles, especially motorcycles in a group action share group information, and further, share information with a four-wheeled vehicle nearby the group. Motorcycles in a group share information to which each of motorcycles belongs and the motorcycles share information with a surrounding four-wheeled vehicle via a vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Information from the motorcycle to the four- wheeled vehicle is transmitted when the four-wheeled vehicle is detected by an imaging unit included in the motorcycle or transmitted when a detection unit irradiated from the four-wheeled vehicle is detected.

[0003] An information sharing system is described in document US10192447B2. Motorcycles in a group can share group information among themselves. Group information is also shared with an external four wheeled vehicle when the four- wheeled vehicle is detected by an imaging unit or an irradiation detection unit included in the motorcycle. The group information includes speed, location, relative distances and relative speeds of all the motorcycles in the group. The four-wheeled vehicle is an autonomous vehicle. The group information shared with the fourwheeled vehicles is used to complement the information gathered by the millimeter-wave radar and imaging units. For example, a large vehicle traveling in the middle of a group of motorcycles can create a blind spot, where the millimeter-wave radar and imaging units cannot gather information. In this case, the blind spot would be covered by the group information shared with the four-wheeled vehicle. However, this information does not include audio.

[0004] Document US20120077438A1 discloses a bluetooth headset for a helmet having an inter-communication is provided. The bluetooth headset includes a headset body configured to be mounted on a helmet, a microphone and a speaker that are configured to be installed on the headset body, a jog dial configured to be installed to perform a rotation operation and be subject to a push operation, a Bluetooth module configured to be accommodated in the headset body and to perform wireless communication while paired with an external Bluetooth device, and a control unit configured to be accommodated in the headset body to process a signal input from the microphone, a signal input according to the rotation operation and the push operation of the jog dial and a signal received from the Bluetooth module and output the processed signal to the speaker and the Bluetooth module.

[0005] Document US7830298B2 discloses a communication system for use with a motorcycle that includes a main unit that has a detector and a transmitter that transmits an alert signal upon the detection of a radar or laser by the detector. The system further includes either a visual indicator or an audio indicator. The visual indicator has a receiver that receives the alert signal from the transmitter, and a display which provides a visual display of the alert signal. The audio indicator has a receiver that receives the alert signal from the transmitter, and a speaker which emits an auditory response of the alert signal.

[0006] These facts are disclosed in order to illustrate the technical problem addressed by the present disclosure.

GENERAL DESCRI PTION

[0007] The present disclosure relates to an inter-vehicle audio call system for audio sharing among a group of vehicle travelers, in particular motorcyclists, using transceivers embedded in instrument clusters of said vehicles, in particular said vehicles being motorcycles. Said instrument clusters comprise connectivity interfaces, namely wireless connectivity interfaces, so said instrument clusters may also be referred as to Integrated Connectivity Clusters, ICCs.

[0008] According to the disclosure, the instrument clusters automatically establish and maintain connectivity through a multipoint or mesh network. The network is local to a group of vehicles, so there is no dependency of internet access or cellular network coverage.

[0009] It is disclosed a communication system that enables audio sharing among a group of travelers in vehicles, in particular motorcyclists, using transceivers embedded in the instrument cluster. The instrument clusters are arranged to automatically establish and maintain connectivity through a multipoint or mesh network. The network is local, being based in vehicle to vehicle wireless communications, so there is no dependency of internet access or cellular network coverage. Additionally, there is also no dependency of batteries as the instrument clusters are powered by the vehicle, in particular the motorcycle.

[0010] Each vehicle's instrument cluster establishes a wireless point-to-point channel to the headset of the traveller or travellers in the respective vehicle, in particular using Bluetooth. The instrument cluster may include a Bluetooth module to support this wireless communication.

[0011] The present disclosure comprises Bluetooth connectivity and seamingless allows audio communication between the rider and passenger headsets and the cluster. In general, the transmission of the audio between the clusters would be enabled by integrating an additional wireless transceiver. However, it is also possible that the functionality is implemented in the Bluetooth module. In this case an additional transceiver is not required.

[0012] The disclosure allows riders to be able to communicate among themselves when travelling in group without the need of an expensive high range headset with group communication feature. Instead, a regular low cost Bluetooth headset can be

B used. Furthermore, the rider is also able to answer phone calls, since the headset is connected to the cluster.

[0013] The disclosed communication system enables audio sharing among a group of vehicle travellers, in particular motorcyclists. The audio sharing among the vehicle travellers, in particular motorcyclists, is handled by the instrument clusters. The audio acquisition and playback to each traveller is handled by a regular Bluetooth headset connected to the instrument cluster.

[0014] It is disclosed an instrument cluster for mounting on a vehicle, for providing an inter-vehicle audio call system for a udio sha ri ng a mo ng a gro u p of trave l le rs i n a p l u ra lity of ve hicles, co m prisi ng:

a multipoint interface for establishing a multipoint wireless communication with other instrument clusters for transporting audio between said instrument clusters; a point-to-point interface for establishing a point-to-point Bluetooth audio channel communication to a headset of a traveller in the vehicle;

wherein the instrument cluster is arranged to be powered by the vehicle battery; wherein the instrument cluster is arranged to share the audio of the headset with the other instrument clusters through the point-to-point Bluetooth audio channel and the multipoint wireless communication.

[0015] In an embodiment, the multipoint wireless communication is a multipoint Bluetooth connection which is not power limited, and the point-to-point audio channel is a power limited Bluetooth connection.

[0016] In an embodiment, wherein the multipoint wireless communication is BDR- based or EDR-based Bluetooth.

[0017] In an embodiment, the point-to-point audio channel is BLE-based audio Bluetooth.

[0018] In multipoint communication, the communication is between a sender and multiple receivers. A multipoint wireless communication may be implemented as a mesh wireless communication. A mesh connection allows multi-hop communications, still being a multipoint communication, a communication between a sender and multiple receivers that are in range of said sender.

[0019] Conventional or classic Bluetooth may be used for the disclosed connections. Conventional Bluetooth includes Bluetooth as normally used for connecting audio devices headsets, e.g. as commonly used for Hands-Free Profile and Headset Profile, for example as supported by Bluetooth BDR/EDR - Basic Rate/Enhanced Data Rate.

[0020] Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) appeared for the first time in the Bluetooth 4.0 standard, making a clear difference between Classic Bluetooth and the Low Energy variant. Low-power wireless communications may use BLE for saving power while still achieving functional wireless communications. In the present disclosure, low-power wireless communications may be used with BLE provided with an audio channel.

[0021] A power limited connection may be defined as a connection that is not operating at full power, for example using reduced transmission power, in particular not using a 100% duty cycle transmission or using lower power modulations. A power limited connection is may thus be defined as a connection that is adjusted by energy constraints. A non power-limited connection may then be defined as a connection that is not adjusted by energy constraints.

[0022] A power limited connection will have one or more power related protocol parameters different from a non-power limited connection. Power related protocol parameters may comprise a lower transmission power, a lower data rate, or a looser acknowledgment strategy (for example, a lazy acknowledgement strategy), among others.

[0023] The disclosed instrument cluster may comprise a Bluetooth transceiver, and respective antenna, for providing the multipoint interface and the point-to-point interface.

[0024] An embodiment comprises a first Bluetooth transceiver for providing the multipoint interface and a second Bluetooth transceiver for providing the point-to- point interface. An embodiment may comprise a common antenna for the first and second transceivers. [0025] In an embodiment, the audio comprises input and output audio.

[0026] In an embodiment, the headset comprises a microphone for input audio and a headphone for output audio.

[0027] In an embodiment, the instrument cluster is configured to broadcast, to the other instrument clusters, input audio from the headset and is configured to transmit, from the other instrument clusters, output audio to the headset.

[0028] In an embodiment, the instrument cluster is a motorcycle instrument cluster.

[0029] In an embodiment, the instrument cluster comprises a power connection to a motorcycle battery.

[0030] It is also disclosed an inter-vehicle audio call system for audio sharing among a group of travellers in a plurality of vehicles, comprising two or more instrument clusters according to the disclosed embodiments, wherein the instrument clusters are connected by said multipoint wireless communication for transporting audio between said instrument clusters.

[0031] In an embodiment, the inter-vehicle audio call system comprises a plurality of headsets, each one connected to one, and only one, instrument cluster by a point-to- point Bluetooth audio channel; wherein each headset comprises an independent battery.

[0032] In an embodiment, the multipoint wireless communication is a mesh multipoint wireless communication.

BRI EF DESCRI PTION OF THE DRAWI NGS

[0033] The following figures provide preferred embodiments for illustrating the disclosure and should not be seen as limiting the scope of invention.

[0034] Figure 1 shows a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the audio communication system of the present disclosure comprising two clusters as an example. [0035] Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of the general view of the audio communication system.

DETAI LED DESCRI PTI ON

[0036] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the audio communication system of the present disclosure. Two clusters and two headsets are used as an example. The first cluster 1 contains, among other components and modules, a processor 2, a transceiver 3 responsible for communication with other clusters, using a multipoint interface for establishing a multipoint wireless communication with other instrument clusters for transporting audio between said instrument clusters, and a Bluetooth module 4 used to connect a headset 5 to the cluster for establishing a point-to-point Bluetooth audio channel communication. The second cluster 6 is identical to the first cluster, containing a processor 8, a transceiver 7 and a Bluetooth module 9 used to connect a headset 10 to the cluster.

[0037] The headset 5 may be a regular Bluetooth headset, widely available in the market, which is paired with the Bluetooth module 4 of the first cluster 1. The headset 5 is preferably constantly transferring acquired audio by its microphone to the Bluetooth module 4. The Bluetooth module 4 then forwards the audio data to the processor 2. The processor 2 uses the transceiver 3 to transmit the data to the entire group of clusters, which in, this example, is the second cluster 6. The transceiver 7 of the second cluster 6 receives the audio data and forwards it to the processor 8. The processor uses the Bluetooth module 9 to transmit the data to the headset 10. Finally, the headset 10 plays the sound. The acquired audio from the microphone of the headset 10 connected to the second cluster 6 is also transmitted to the group of clusters, following the inverse of the path described above.

[0038] Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of the general view of the audio communication system wherein A is a point-to-point Bluetooth and B is a multipoint wireless network. [0039] The multipoint wireless communication is preferably a multipoint Bluetooth connection which is not power limited, and the point-to-point audio channel is preferably a power limited Bluetooth connection.

[0040] Conventional or classic Bluetooth may be used for the disclosed connections. Conventional Bluetooth includes Bluetooth as normally used for connecting audio devices headsets, e.g. as commonly used for Hands-Free Profile and Headset Profile, for example as supported by Bluetooth BDR/EDR - Basic Rate/Enhanced Data Rate.

[0041] The multipoint wireless communication may be BDR-based or EDR-based Bluetooth. The point-to-point audio channel may be BLE-based audio Bluetooth.

[0042] A power-limited connection will have, for example, a lower transmission power, a lower data rate, or a looser acknowledgment strategy (for example, a lazy acknowledgement strategy), among others.

[0043] The term "comprising" whenever used in this document is intended to indicate the presence of stated features, integers, steps, components, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

[0044] It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that unless otherwise indicated herein, the particular sequence of steps described is illustrative only and can be varied without departing from the disclosure. Thus, unless otherwise stated the steps described are so unordered meaning that, when possible, the steps can be performed in any convenient or desirable order.

[0045] The disclosure should not be seen in any way restricted to the embodiments described and a person with ordinary skill in the art will foresee many possibilities to modifications thereof. The above described embodiments are combinable. The following claims further set out particular embodiments of the disclosure.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Instrument cluster for mounting on a vehicle, for providing an inter-vehicle audio call system for audio sharing among a group of travellers in a plurality of vehicles, comprising:

2. Instrument cluster according to the previous claim wherein

the multipoint wireless communication is a multipoint Bluetooth connection which is not power limited, and

the point-to-point audio channel is a power limited Bluetooth connection.

3. Instrument cluster according to any of the previous claims wherein the multipoint wireless communication is BDR-based or EDR-based Bluetooth.

4. Instrument cluster according to any of the previous claims wherein the point-to- point audio channel is BLE-based audio Bluetooth.

5. Instrument cluster according to any of the previous claims comprising a Bluetooth transceiver, and respective antenna, for providing both the multipoint interface and the point-to-point interface.

6. Instrument cluster according to any of the claims 1-4 comprising a first Bluetooth transceiver for providing the multipoint interface and a second Bluetooth transceiver for providing the point-to-point interface.

7. Instrument cluster according to the previous claim comprising a common antenna for the first and second transceivers.

8. Instrument cluster according to any of the previous claims wherein the audio comprises input and output audio.

9. Instrument cluster according to the previous claim wherein the headset comprises a microphone for input audio and a headphone for output audio.

10. Instrument cluster according to any of the previous claims wherein the instrument cluster is configured to broadcast, to the other instrument clusters, input audio from the headset and is configured to transmit, from the other instrument clusters, output audio to the headset.

11. Instrument cluster according to any of the previous claims wherein the instrument cluster is a motorcycle instrument cluster.

12. Instrument cluster according to the previous claim comprising a power connection to a motorcycle battery.

13. Inter-vehicle audio call system for audio sharing among a group of travellers in a plurality of vehicles, comprising two or more instrument clusters according to any of the previous claims, wherein the instrument clusters are connected by said multipoint wireless communication for transporting audio between said instrument clusters.

14. Inter-vehicle audio call system according to the previous claim comprising a plurality of headsets, each one connected to one, and only one, instrument cluster by a point-to-point Bluetooth audio channel; wherein each headset comprises an independent battery.

15. Inter-vehicle audio call system according to claim 13 or 14 wherein the multipoint wireless communication is a mesh multipoint wireless communication.