Patent Publication Number: US-2015086035-A1

Title: Sound control system and method for vehicle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0113594, filed on Sep. 25, 2013 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a sound control system and method for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a sound control system and method for a vehicle, wherein a sound output from a speaker is automatically adjusted according to a position in which a passenger enters the vehicle, including a driver (depending on whether a passenger enters) to provide optimum sound. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Nowadays development of multimedia technology induces evolution of a comfortable vehicle or a convenience vehicle that provide information to a driver, and this evolution of vehicles is connected to the development of information transmission technology that targets a driver. In addition, as the complexity of a vehicle increases and running and usage patterns remain diverse, more information is required from an inner side/outer side of the vehicle while driving, and the shape of information that can be provided to the driver or a passenger becomes more diverse, such as characters, sound, images, or graphics. An audio, video, and navigation (AVN) system mounted on the vehicle interlocks with a driver&#39;s information system (DIS), a navigation system, and a telematics system and provides various information and multimedia contents that are requested by the driver. 
     Recently, in addition to the usage of the system mounted on the vehicle, the usage of contents of music or movies by connecting a smartphone, a tablet computer, an MP3 player, or a universal serial bus (USB) memory to the vehicle is increasing. Accordingly, the usage of a speaker that outputs sound within the vehicle is configured to provide sound information and multimedia contents to the driver and the passenger of the vehicle. A main configuration for reproducing a sound source in an audio system or an AVN system consists of a sound source input terminal, a digital signal processor (DSP), an amplifier, and a speaker. In particular, the sound source input terminal is an input terminal to which a sound source is input from an exterior, and the DSP performs signal processing on the sound source input through the sound source input terminal, and the amplifier amplifies the signal-processed sound source and outputs the amplified sound source to the speaker. 
     Generally, the performance of the audio system that provides improved sound including the performance of the speaker is one of main purchasing factors of the vehicle since, in the related art, vehicle stability is a significant criterion for selecting a vehicle. However, recently, convenience of the vehicle to be provided to the driver or the passenger in addition to vehicle stability is also a significant criterion for selecting the vehicle. 
     Generally, sound output characteristics through the speaker and a sound image position in the audio system or the AVN system of the vehicle are set based on spatial characteristics of the interior when the vehicle is developed, and in particular, optimum sound output characteristics and a sound image position are set based on a position of a driver&#39;s seat. In other words, an indoor sound image position according to the vehicle is tuned to be optimized for the driver, and a tuning value is applied by giving more weight to the driver&#39;s seat than a passenger&#39;s seat (for example, driver&#39;s seat:passenger&#39;s seat=7:3).  FIG. 1  illustrates an example of sound tuning within a vehicle. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in the related art, a sound image position of sound output from speakers  30  of the vehicle is set to be optimized for the driver based on a position of a driver&#39;s seat (e.g., a front left seat of  FIG. 1 ), and correction of this tuning value cannot be made after the vehicle is manufactured. 
     However, utilization of the vehicle is increasing for a leisure purpose for a family in addition to a purpose only for the driver, for a commuting purpose. As described above, a tuning value that is fixed based on the driver is applied and thus, optimum sound cannot be provided to the remaining passengers except for the driver. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a sound control system and method for a vehicle, wherein a sound output of a speaker is automatically adjusted based on a position in which a passenger enters the vehicle, and based on a position in which a driver enters the vehicle (depending on whether a passenger enters the vehicle) to provide an optimum sound state. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, a sound control system for a vehicle that performs sound control within the vehicle may include: a passenger detecting unit installed at each vehicle seat and configured to detect a passenger in each seat including a driver; and a controller configured to detect a passenger riding position within the vehicle from a passenger detecting signal output by the passenger detecting unit and adjust sound through each speaker within the vehicle based on the passenger riding position. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a sound control method for a vehicle, wherein sound control is performed within the vehicle, may include: detecting a passenger in each seat including a driver using a passenger detecting unit installed at each seat of the vehicle; and detecting a passenger riding position within the vehicle from a passenger detecting signal output by the passenger detecting unit and adjusting sound through each speaker within the vehicle based on the passenger riding position using a controller. The passenger detecting unit may be a seat belt switch configured to detect whether a seat belt of each seat is fastened and output a corresponding signal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary sound tuning according to the related art; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary configuration of a sound control system for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary function turned on in a setup menu to perform sound control according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary configuration of a sound control system for a vehicle according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  schematically illustrate an exemplary phase control unit of each speaker according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It is understood that the term “vehicle” or “vehicular” or other similar term as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in general such as passenger automobiles including sports utility vehicles (SUV), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, combustion, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). 
     Although exemplary embodiment is described as using a plurality of units to perform the exemplary process, it is understood that the exemplary processes may also be performed by one or plurality of modules. Additionally, it is understood that the term controller/control unit refers to a hardware device that includes a memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store the modules and the processor is specifically configured to execute said modules to perform one or more processes which are described further below. 
     Furthermore, control logic of the present invention may be embodied as non-transitory computer readable media on a computer readable medium containing executable program instructions executed by a processor, controller/control unit or the like. Examples of the computer readable mediums include, but are not limited to, ROM, RAM, compact disc (CD)-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, flash drives, smart cards and optical data storage devices. The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed in network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable media is stored and executed in a distributed fashion, e.g., by a telematics server or a Controller Area Network (CAN). 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown, so that one of ordinary skill in the art can easily embody the invention. 
     The present invention relates to a sound control system and method for a vehicle, configured to detect whether a passenger enters each seat within the vehicle and a sound output of a speaker may be automatically adjusted using a control value defined based on a position in which the passenger enters the seat within the vehicle to provide an optimum sound state to the passenger. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary configuration of a sound control system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the sound control system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a passenger detecting unit  10  installed at each seat of a vehicle to adjust sound based on a position of a passenger while the vehicle is being driven and configured to detect a passenger that enters each seat including a driver, and a controller  20  configured to detect the position of the driver within the vehicle from a passenger detecting signal output by the passenger detecting unit  10  and configured to adjust sound of each of speakers  30  using a predetermined control value based on the passenger position. 
     In particular, the passenger detecting unit  10  may be a sensor unit configured to detect whether a passenger enter each seat within the vehicle. In other words, the sensor unit may be configured to detect when a seat within the vehicle is occupied by a person or an object. The passenger detecting signal output by the passenger detecting unit  10  of each seat may be used by the controller  20  to detect a position in which the passenger enters a seat within the vehicle including the driver (e.g., any person or object entering any seat within the vehicle), and the passenger detecting unit  10  may be a seat belt switch. 
     Further, a seat belt switch (e.g., buckle switch) may be a unit configured to detect whether a passenger fastens a seat belt and may be installed at each seat of a general vehicle. The seat belt switch may be a switch turned on and off based on whether a buckle is combined with a tongue of a seat belt switch. When the seat belt is fastened, a seat belt signal (e.g., seat belt-fastened signal) may be transmitted to a body control module (BCM)  12 . Accordingly, the controller  20  may be configured to transmit the seat belt signal from the seat belt switch  10 , transmit the seat belt signal of each seat via the BCM  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , or transmit a predetermined signal indicative of the passenger riding position (e.g., whether the passenger sits on a seat) detected by the seat belt switch from the BCM  12 . As a result, sound adjusting performed by the controller  20 , in particular, sound control based on a seat belt-fastened position may be performed. 
     In  FIG. 2 , an SJB  11  represents a smart junction box. A signal output by the seat belt switch (e.g., a signal based on whether the passenger fastens the seat belt) may be transmitted to the BCM  12  via the SJB  11  using controller area network (CAN) communication. A vehicle network system may be configured within the vehicle to have a plurality of CAN domains, such as the SJB  11  and the BCM  12 , transmit and receive various information via CAN communication. In the present exemplary embodiment, the controller  20  may be connected to the vehicle network system to receive a signal from the BCM  12  via CAN communication. 
     Thus, the signal of the seat belt switch (e.g., passenger detecting unit)  10  may be configured to be transmitted to the controller  20  on a path of the SJB  11  and the BCM  12 . Further, the SJB  11  may be used based on a vehicle type, as described above. However, this is merely an example, and the signal of the seat belt switch (e.g., passenger detecting unit)  10  may be transmitted directly to the BCM  12  without the usage of the SJB  11  in a CAN communication and may also be configured to be transmitted to the controller  20  from the BCM  12 . In particular, for a vehicle type to which the SJB  11  is not applied, the BCM  12  may be configured to transmit the signal of the seat belt switch  10  directly to the controller  20 . 
     In addition, the passenger detecting unit  10  may be a well-known sensor unit that may be configured to detect whether the driver and the passenger are on the vehicle seats, and as another example of the passenger detecting unit  10  except for the seat belt switch, a piezoelectric sensor may be used as the passenger detecting unit  10 . The piezoelectric sensor may be configured to output an electrical signal when the driver or passenger is in a corresponding seat. The controller  20  may be configured to receive the electrical signal to detect whether the passenger is in each seat and to recognize the passenger position within the vehicle while the vehicle is being driven (e.g., the passenger riding position). The controller  20  may be configured to adjust sound output within the vehicle using the speakers  30  based on the passenger riding position within the vehicle detected by the passenger detecting unit  10 . The controller  20  may be a head unit H/U that includes a digital signal processor (DSP)  21  in an audio system or an audio, video and navigation (AVN) system. 
     Furthermore, the sound control system and method for the vehicle according to the present invention may operate and be performed when a user turns on a corresponding function in a setup menu of the audio system or the AVN system.  FIG. 3  illustrates an example in which a function is turned on in the setup menu to perform sound control according to the present invention. When the user selects ‘sound control ON based on a passenger riding position’ in the setup menu, a sound control function according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be performed. In addition, when the controller  20  is a head unit of the audio system or the AVN system, the passenger detecting signal transmitted via the BCM  12  may be transmitted to the head unit H/U via a cluster in a MM-CAN (multimedia CAN) manner. In a general vehicle network system, a gateway may be interposed between the plurality of CAN domains, such as the BCM  12 , the cluster and the head unit  20 , to transmit and receive a CAN message via the gateway. However, illustration of the gateway in  FIG. 2  is omitted. 
     Moreover, to perform sound control according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a sound control value for adjusting sound within the vehicle may be preset as a value according to the passenger riding position (e.g., seat belt-fastened position) and may be stored in the DSP  21  of the head unit H/U which may be the controller  20 . When the passenger in each seat is detected by the passenger detecting unit  10  and a final passenger riding position is detected, the controller  20  may be configured to adjust sound within the vehicle using a corresponding control value. In particular, speaker tuning data based on the passenger riding position may be tabled and stored in the DSP  21 . A predetermined sound image position within the vehicle based on the passenger riding position within the vehicle (e.g., seat belt-fastened position) and an optimum speaker output value (e.g., speaker tuning value) based on each sound image position may be stored as data for speaker tuning. 
     Table 1 shows an example of a speaker tuning table based on a passenger riding position within the vehicle. Table 1 shows an example in which tuning data based on a seat belt-fastened position and a sound image position are designated as ‘Data 1 to Data 24’ and may be stored. In particular, the seat belt-fastened position may be the passenger riding position within the vehicle, and the sound image position determined based on the passenger riding position within the vehicle may be stored. Furthermore, an output value of each speaker  30  (#1 to #4 of Table 4) that may provide optimum sound to an interior space of the vehicle may be designated in each sound image position. 
     An optimum output value of each speaker (#1 to #4) based on each sound image position may be a value determined by a test in a process of developing the vehicle. In addition, an optimum output value based on speaker with respect to each sound image position based on the vehicle type may be determined by a test and may be stored as data (e.g., tuning may be performed based on the vehicle type). 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Tuning  
                 Seat belt-fastened 
                 Sound image 
                 Speakers (#1 to #4) 
               
               
                 data 
                 position 
                 position 
                 Output value (W) 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Data 1 
                 Driver&#39;s seat 
                 Driver&#39;s seat 
                 #1 = A1, #2 = B1, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 #3 = C1, #4 = D1 
               
               
                 Data 2 
                 Front passenger seat 
                 Front passenger 
                 #1 = A2, #2 = B2, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 seat 
                 #3 = C2, #4 = D2 
               
               
                 Data 3 
                 Left rear seat 
                 Left rear seat 
                 #1 = A3, #2 = B3, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 #3 = C3, #4 = D3 
               
               
                 Data 4 
                 Right rear seat 
                 Right rear seat 
                 #1 = A4, #2 = B4, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 #3 = C4, #4 = D4 
               
               
                 Data 5 
                 Driver&#39;s seat + front 
                 In the middle of 
                 #1 = A5, #2 = B5, 
               
               
                   
                 passenger seat 
                 driver&#39;s seat and 
                 #3 = C5, #4 = D5 
               
               
                   
                   
                 front passenger 
               
               
                   
                   
                 seat 
               
               
                 Data . . .  
                 . . .  
                 . . .  
                 . . .  
               
               
                 Data 24 
                 Driver&#39;s seat + front 
                 In center of 
                 #1 = A24, 
               
               
                   
                 passenger seat + left 
                 vehicle 
                 #2 = B24, 
               
               
                   
                 rear seat + right 
                   
                 #3 = C24, #4 = D24 
               
               
                   
                 rear seat 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 * A, B, C, and D are output values that are determined according to the speakers. 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Table 1 shows an example of a tuning table that may be applied to the exemplary embodiment. Since the fixed number of passengers (e.g., the number of seats) may vary according to a vehicle type, an appropriate tuning table should be applied based on the vehicle type and the fixed number of passengers. For example, since there is a difference in the fixed number of passengers, such as a five-seater (e.g., five passenger vehicle) vehicle or a seven-seater (e.g., seven passenger vehicle) vehicle, based on the vehicle type, a tuning table in which sound image adjustment for five persons may be performed for a five-seater vehicle, should be preset, and a tuning table in which sound image adjustment for seven persons may be performed for a seven-seater vehicle, should be preset. 
     Since various combinations of seat belt-fastened positions may be manufactured based on the vehicle type and the fixed number of passengers, the number of tuning data may vary from Table 1, and exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the example of Table 1. Referring to Table 1, outputs of the speakers  30  (#1 to #4) may be controlled and when the driver is detected in the seat, a sound image position may be selected as a driver&#39;s seat, A, B, C, and D may be selected as target output values for adjusting the speakers #1 to #4 in which the driver&#39;s seat may be set as the sound image position and sound output in each speaker may be performed using a corresponding output value. 
     In particular, an optimum output value of each speaker  30  (#1 to #4) based on a seat belt-fastened position and a sound image position may be previously designated as tuning data, and the controller  20  may be configured to adjust outputs of the speakers  30  (#1 to #4) using the optimum value based on the seat belt-fastened position and the sound image position detected by the passenger detecting unit  10 . Further, in the configuration of  FIG. 2 , the central processing unit (CPU  21   a ) may be configured to determine a passenger&#39;s riding position based on the seat belt-fastened position by receiving the signal of the seat belt switch  10  and transmit control data that matches the passenger&#39;s riding position of the tuning table of the DSP  21  to the DSP  21 . Thus, the DSP  21  may be configured to transmit an output value of each speaker  30  tuned based on each speaker  30  by referring to the tuning table stored in the DSP  21  according to a control signal of the CPU  21   a , to an amplifier  22  and output the output value from each speaker  30 . As a result, when an output of each speaker within the vehicle is adjusted based on the sound image position selected based on a position in which the passenger enters the seat, optimum sound in which a single passenger or a plurality of passengers may satisfy equally, may be provided. 
     When a change occurs in the passenger entering in the vehicle, i.e., when a new passenger enters the vehicle or when an existing passenger exits the vehicle, the controller  20  may be configured to select new tuning data (e.g., each speaker output control value) based on the changed passenger riding position detected by the passenger detecting unit  10  and adjust an output of each speaker  30  using an output value set according to the tuning data. As a result, optimum sound control within the vehicle may be performed based on the passenger riding position. 
     In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a control value for adjusting a phase of each speaker  30  based on the passenger riding position, i.e., optimum speaker phase value data may be tabled and stored in a memory of the controller  20 , for example, in the CPU  21   a  of the head unit H/U. A predetermined sound image position within the vehicle based on the passenger riding position (e.g., seat belt-fastened position) and an optimum speaker phase value based on each sound image position may be stored as data to be stored.  FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary configuration of a sound control system for a vehicle according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and Table 2 shows an example of a speaker phase value table based on a passenger riding position within the vehicle. Table 2 shows an example in which optimum phase value data of each speaker  30  (#1 to #4) based on a seat belt-fastened position and a sound image position are designated as ‘Data 1 to Data 24’ and may be stored. 
     In particular, the seat belt-fastened position may be the passenger riding position within the vehicle, and the sound image position determined based on the passenger riding position within the vehicle may be stored. Furthermore, phase value data of each speaker  30  (#1 to #4 of Table 4) that may provide optimum sound to an interior space of the vehicle may be designated in each sound image position. Optimum phase value data of each speaker (#1 to #4) based on each sound image position may be a value determined by a test while manufacturing the vehicle, and an optimum phase value based on speaker with respect to each sound image position according to the vehicle type may be determined by a test and may be stored as data (e.g., tuning may be performed according to the vehicle type). 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Speaker 
                   
                 Sound image 
                 Speakers (#1 to #4) 
               
               
                 phase data 
                 Seat belt-fastened position 
                 position 
                 Phase value (°) 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Data 1 
                 Driver&#39;s seat 
                 Driver&#39;s seat 
                 #1 = A, #2 = B, #3 = C, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 #4 = D 
               
               
                 Data 2 
                 Front passenger seat 
                 Front passenger seat 
                 #1 = A1, #2 = B1, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 #3 = C1, #4 = D1 
               
               
                 Data 3 
                 Left rear seat 
                 Left rear seat 
                 #1 = A2, #2 = B2, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 #3 = C2, #4 = D2 
               
               
                 Data 4 
                 Right rear seat 
                 Right rear seat 
                 #1 = A3, #2 = B3, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 #3 = C3, #4 = D3 
               
               
                 Data 5 
                 Driver&#39;s seat + front passenger 
                 In the middle of 
                 #1 = A4, #2 = B4, 
               
               
                   
                 seat 
                 driver&#39;s seat and front 
                 #3 = C4, #4 = D4 
               
               
                   
                   
                 passenger seat 
               
               
                 Data . . .  
                 . . .  
                 . . .  
               
               
                 Data 24 
                 Driver&#39;s seat + front passenger 
                 In center of vehicle 
                 #1 = A24, #2 = B24, 
               
               
                   
                 seat + left rear seat + right rear 
                   
                 #3 = C24, #4 = D24 
               
               
                   
                 seat 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 * A, B, C, and D are phase values that are determined according to the speakers. 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Table 2 shows an example of a tuning table that may be applied to another exemplary embodiment. Since the fixed number of passengers (e.g., the number of seats) may vary based on a vehicle type, an appropriate tuning table should be applied based on the vehicle type and the fixed number of passengers. For example, since there may be a difference in the fixed number of passengers, such as a five-seater (five passenger vehicle) vehicle or a seven-seater (e.g., seven passenger vehicle) vehicle, based on the vehicle type, a tuning table in which sound image adjustment for five persons may be performed for a five-seater vehicle, should be preset, and a tuning table in which sound image adjustment for seven persons may be performed for a seven-seater vehicle, should be preset. Since various combinations of seat belt-fastened positions may be used based on the vehicle type and the fixed number of passengers, the number of tuning data may vary from Table 2, and exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the example of Table 2. 
     Referring to Table 2, outputs of the speakers  30  (#1 to #4) may be adjusted and when the driver is in the seat, a sound image position may be selected as a driver&#39;s seat, A, B, C, and D may be selected as target phase values for adjusting the speakers #1 to #4 in which the driver&#39;s seat is set as the sound image position and sound output in each speaker may be performed using a corresponding phase value. Therefore, an optimum phase value of each speaker  30  (#1 to #4) based on a seat belt-fastened position and a sound image position may be previously designated as tuning data, and the controller  20  may be configured to adjust speaker phase control in which a phase value may be selected based on the seat belt-fastened position and the sound image position detected by the passenger detecting unit  10  and the phase value may be used as a control value. As a result, when a phase of each speaker within the vehicle is adjusted based on the sound image position selected based on a position in which the passenger enters the seat within the vehicle, optimum sound in which a single passenger or a plurality of passengers may satisfy equally, may be provided. 
     When a change in the passenger who enters the vehicle occurs, that is, when a new passenger enters the vehicle or when an existing passenger exits the vehicle, the controller  20  may be configured to select a new phase value (e.g., speaker phase control value) of each speaker  30  based on the changed passenger riding position detected by the passenger detecting unit  10  and adjust a phase of each speaker  30  using a phase value set according to the phase value. As a result, optimum sound control within the vehicle may be performed based on the passenger riding position. 
     In the above-described exemplary embodiment, speaker phase control may be performed and when each speaker  30  includes a phase control unit (e.g., a phase controller) and the controller  20  outputs a control signal to adjust the phase of each speaker using an optimum control value to each speaker  30 , a phase control unit of each speaker  30  may be operated based on the control signal and the phase of a corresponding speaker  30  may be adjusted. Further, speaker phase control may be adjusting a sound output direction of the speaker  30 . In particular, the sound output direction of the speaker  30  may be adjusted using a method of adjusting an angle of each speaker  30  within the vehicle or a method of adjusting an angle of a reflector  37  through which sound may be reflected, by installing the reflector  37  at a front side of the speaker  30 . 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  schematically illustrate an exemplary phase control unit  31  of each speaker  30  according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5A  illustrates an exemplary configuration of the phase control unit  31  configured to adjust an angle of the speaker  30 , and  FIG. 5B  illustrates an exemplary configuration of the phase control unit  31  configured to adjust a sound output direction using the reflector  37 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5A , as an example of the phase control unit  31 , a configuration in which the speaker  30  that may be rotated about a rotation shaft  30   a  to adjust an angle of the speaker  30 , may be mounted on the vehicle and rotation of the speaker  30  may be performed by a driving force of an electric motor  32 , may be used. In particular, a gear device  33  may be interposed between a driving shaft of the electric motor  32  driven and operated based on a control signal of the controller (see  20  of  FIG. 4 ) and the rotation shaft  30 . Thus, the driving force of the electric motor  32  may be transmitted to the rotation shaft  30   a  of the speaker  30  by the gear device  33 . In this configuration, an angle of the speaker  30  rotated by a rotational force generated when driving of the electric motor  32  is adjusted based on the control signal of the controller  20 , may be adjusted. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate an exemplary configuration in which a worm  34  of an electric motor driving shaft and a worm wheel  35  of a speaker rotation shaft may be combined with the gear device  33 . However, a configuration in which the rotational force of the electric motor  32  driven and operated based on the control signal of the controller  20  may be decelerated and may be transmitted to the rotation shaft  30   a  of the speaker  30 , may be used. 
     Alternatively, as illustrated in  FIG. 5B , as another example of the phase control unit  31 , a configuration in which a reflector  37  through which sound may be reflected in a certain direction may be rotatably installed at a front side of each speaker  30  and an angle of the reflector  37  may be adjusted by a driving force of an electric motor  38  adjusted based a control signal of the controller  20 , may be used. In particular, a gear device  33  may be interposed between a driving shaft of the electric motor  38  driven and operated based on the control signal of the controller (see  20  of  FIG. 4 ) and a rotation shaft  37   a  of the reflector  37 . Thus, the driving force of the electric motor  38  may be transmitted to the rotation shaft  37   a  of the reflector  37  through the gear device  33 . In this configuration, an angle of the reflector  37  rotated by a rotational force generated when driving of the electric motor  38  is adjusted based on the control signal of the controller  20 , may be adjusted. Accordingly, the angle of the reflector  37  may be adjusted to adjust a transmission direction of sound output to the front side of the speaker  30 , and when this configuration is installed at each speaker  30 , similar to the phase control method of  FIG. 5A  wherein an angle of the speaker  30  may be directly changed and adjusted, the effect of adjusting the phase of the speaker  30  based on the control signal (e.g., electrical signal) of the controller  20  may be achieved. 
     As described above, in a sound control system and method for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a sound output of a speaker may be automatically adjusted based on a position in which a passenger enters a seat within the vehicle, including a driver (e.g., depending on whether a passenger is in a seat) to provide optimum (e.g., improved) sound to the driver and the passenger. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.