Abstract:
An in-vehicle entertainment system comprising an entertainment device configured to broadcast an audio signal, at least one set of headphones configured to receive the audio signal; and at least one microphone coupled to said entertainment device, wherein the entertainment device is configured to selectively attenuate the audio signal and to broadcast a mixed audio signal to the headphones when the microphone is activated.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for communicating, and in particular, to an apparatus for communicating amongst individual passengers within a vehicle.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The automotive industry is increasingly focusing on improvements within the interior of the vehicle. Innovations in technology and design have increased passenger comfort and satisfaction. One recent innovation, particularly in larger vehicles such as minivans and sports utility vehicles, is the in-vehicle entertainment system. Such systems may include one or more electronic components. A few examples of in-vehicle entertainment systems include televisions, stereos, digital versatile disc players, video game consoles, and computers.  
         [0003]     In-vehicle entertainment systems provide a variety of entertainment options. For example, passengers may use the in-vehicle entertainment system to watch television or recorded videos, listen to music or play video games. The in-vehicle entertainment system is particularly useful in providing children with activities during long trips.  
         [0004]     However, the in-vehicle entertainment systems may interfere with communication amongst passengers. For instance, if the in-vehicle system is playing loudly, it may cause difficulty in communication between passengers sitting in the front and passengers sitting in the back. The communication problem is compounded by the fact that the passengers in the front seats are facing forward with their backs to the passengers in the rear seats, and thus their voices project towards the windshield. Communication is even more difficult for the driver, who cannot safely turn around to communicate with passengers in the rear seats.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     An in-vehicle entertainment system comprising an entertainment device configured to broadcast an audio signal, at least one set of headphones configured to receive the audio signal; and at least one microphone coupled to said entertainment device, wherein the entertainment device is configured to selectively attenuate the audio signal and to broadcast a mixed audio signal to the headphones when the microphone is activated. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle, including an in-vehicle entertainment system, according to an exemplary embodiment.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of the in-vehicle entertainment system according to an exemplary embodiment.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the in-vehicle entertainment system according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle V, including an in-vehicle entertainment system  10 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle V includes a front, or driver compartment  12  and a rear, or passenger compartment  14 . As illustrated, vehicle V is a sports utility vehicle. However, it can be appreciated that vehicle V may be a car, a truck, a van or any other type of vehicle.  
         [0010]     The in-vehicle entertainment system  10  is configured for providing entertainment to passengers in the vehicle V. The in-vehicle entertainment system  10  includes an entertainment device  16 , such as, for example, a digital versatile disc (DVD) player, a television, or a video game console. It can be appreciated that the in-vehicle entertainment system  10  may include any entertainment device  16  that may be adapted for use in the vehicle V. The various entertainment devices  16  may operate simultaneously to allow different passengers to use the different entertainment devices  16 . For instance, front passengers may listen to a compact disc, while the back passengers may play a video game.  
         [0011]     The in-vehicle entertainment system  10  may be operated using any number of control interfaces  18  known in the art. The control interface  18  is configured to activate a number of functions, such as, for example, playing, rewinding, forwarding, pausing and stopping the in-vehicle entertainment system  10 . The vehicle V may include one control interface  18  located in the front compartment  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, the vehicle V may include a plurality of control interfaces  18  located within the vehicle V. For instance, the vehicle V may include one control interface  18  in the front compartment for use by passengers in the front and a control interface  18  in the rear compartment  14  for passengers in the back. In larger vehicles, such as full size vans with two or three rows of rear seats, a third control interface  18  may be located in the third row for passengers.  
         [0012]     The in-vehicle entertainment system  10  includes at least one speaker  20  mounted within the passenger compartment  14  of the vehicle V. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a plurality of speakers  20  are distributed throughout the front and passenger compartments  12 ,  14  of the vehicle V. The speakers  20  are configured for receiving electrical signals carrying audio information and converting the electrical signals to audible sounds. The speakers  20  may deliver identical audible sounds, or alternatively deliver different audible sounds. Different audible sounds may be delivered over the speakers  20  if different entertainment devices  16  are being used in the vehicle V.  
         [0013]     The in-vehicle entertainment system  10  further includes at least one set of headphones  22  configured for receiving the electrical signals carrying audio information delivered from the entertainment device  16  and converting the electrical signals to audible sound. The headphones  22  may be either wired or wireless. As illustrated, the headphones  22  include two speaker pads designed to fit over the ears of a passenger. Alternatively, the headphones  22  may include two speakers designed to fit within the ears of the passengers. As with speakers  20 , the headphones  22  may deliver identical audible sounds, or alternatively deliver different audible sounds. Different audible sounds may be delivered over the headphones  22  if different entertainment devices  16  are being used in the vehicle V. The headphones  22  allow passengers to listen to audible sounds without disturbing other passengers.  
         [0014]     The in-vehicle entertainment system also includes at least one microphone  24 . The microphone  24  may be integrated into the vehicle V, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , may be integrated into a headset, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , or may be a handheld microphone (not shown). In an exemplary embodiment, the microphone  24  may be an Onstar™ microphone currently available in most General Motors Corporation vehicles. It can be appreciated that multiple microphones  24  may be included in the vehicle V for use by the passengers in the front and rear compartments  12 ,  14 .  
         [0015]     The microphone  24  may be wired, or wirelessly connected, to speakers  20  and headphones  22 . In an exemplary embodiment, microphone  24  is wired to speakers  20  and wirelessly connected to headphones  22 . The microphone  24  may be wired to speakers  20  by integrating the microphone  24  in the vehicle V, such as in the steering wheel or control interface, and including wires for transmitting electrical signals to the speakers  20 . The microphone  24  and speakers  20  form a traditional intercom system.  
         [0016]     The microphone may be wirelessly connected to the headphones  22  by an antenna, or any other type of transmitter known in the art. It should be noted that the speaker  20 , headphones  22  and microphone  24  may wirelessly deliver audible sounds using wireless communication technology known in the art, such as, for example, using radio frequency, microwave, infrared, or any other type of signal used in wireless communication.  
         [0017]     The microphone  24  allows for communication amongst passengers in the vehicle V. The microphone  24  may be activated by manually depressing a button (not shown) or triggering a switch (not shown). Alternatively, microphone  24  may be activated by use of a voice recognition interface (not shown), such that the passenger may activate the microphone  24  by simply speaking, or otherwise inputting sound, into the microphone  24 . It can be appreciated that headphones  22  may also include a microphone  24 , so that passengers wearing the headphones  22  may also deliver messages to other passengers, including passengers in the front compartment  12 .  
         [0018]     Activating the microphone  24  in turn activates an attenuation circuit  30 , to automatically attenuate, or lower the level of audible sounds, currently being delivered over speakers  20  and headphones  22  by the entertainment device  16 . In an alternate embodiment, the attenuation circuit  30  may interrupt, or stop, the audible sounds being delivered over speakers  20  and headphones  22  by the entertainment device  16 . Additionally, activating microphone  24  may concurrently suspend the performance of entertainment device  16 . For example, in the case of a passenger playing a video game, the audible sound from the video game may be suspended, as well as the video signal from the video game. Following deactivation of the microphone  24 , the audible sound from the entertainment device  16  will return to the original level of volume.  
         [0019]     Once the microphone  24  is activated, the message is transmitted from the microphone  24  to either the speakers  20 , headphones  22  or both. If the message is delivered over the speakers  20 , the message may be delivered with sufficient volume to be audible to passengers still wearing headphones  22  and over other extraneous noises in the vehicle V. Delivering the message over the speakers  20  allows the passenger using the microphone  24  to deliver the message to all passengers.  
         [0020]     In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the microphone  24  may deliver the message to only the headphones  22 . The message from the microphone  24  may be transmitted to the headphones  22  at the same volume level of the attenuated audible sound from the entertainment device  16 . Alternatively, the volume level of the message from the microphone  24  may be adjusted to be either higher or lower than the attenuated audible sound from the entertainment device  16 .  
         [0021]     Delivering the message from the microphone  24  to those passengers using the headphones  22  advantageously allows for intimate communication between some of the passengers. For example, if some passengers in the vehicle are sleeping and other passengers are using the entertainment device  16  and headphones  22 , delivering message through the headphones  22  will allow passengers to communicate without disturbing those who are sleeping.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the attenuate circuit  30  according to an exemplary embodiment. The attenuate circuit  30  detects the input of a signal. The signal may be either a manual signal, such as triggering a switch or detecting an audible sound, such as the beginning of a message. If the attenuate circuit  30  is detected, the audible sound from the entertainment device  16  may be reduced, or alternatively, muted. Then the message from the microphone  24  is mixed with the audible sound from the entertainment device  16  and delivered through the headphones  22 . It can be appreciated that the volume in which the message is deliver to the headphones  22  from the microphone  24  may be increased, decreased or delivered at the same volume in which the audible sound from the entertainment device  16  was delivered.  
         [0023]     The embodiments disclosed herein have been discussed for the purpose of familiarizing the reader with novel aspects of the invention. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, many changes, modifications and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.