Patent ID: 12262185

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the exemplary drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals will be used throughout to designate the same or equivalent elements. In addition, a detailed description of well-known features or functions will be omitted in order not to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure.

In describing the components of the embodiments according to the present disclosure, terms such as first, second, “A”, “B”, (a), (b), and the like may be used. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element, but do not limit the corresponding elements irrespective of the order or priority of the corresponding elements. Furthermore, unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art to which this invention belongs. Such terms as those defined in a generally used dictionary are to be interpreted as having meanings equal to the contextual meanings in the relevant field of art, and are not to be interpreted as having ideal or excessively formal meanings unless clearly defined as having such in the present application.

FIG.1is a perspective view illustrating a smart speaker according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG.1, a smart speaker100may include a lower case110, a motor120, a rotary shaft130, a speaker housing140, a first speaker150, a second speaker160, a cover170, a wrinkle part180, and a buffer pad190.

The lower case110may be in the form of a pillar, and a receiving space may be provided in the lower case110. A controller, a battery, a microphone, a light controller, a charge and discharge circuit, a communication circuit, and the like may be provided in the receiving space of the lower case110.

Control buttons, such as a power button111, a play and stop button112, a volume button113, and a mode selection button114, may be arranged on a portion of an outer side of the lower case110. Furthermore, a connection port (not shown) capable of connecting a charging cable may be provided in an outer side or a lower surface of the lower case110.

The motor120may be mounted on the center of an upper surface of the lower case110. The motor120may be driven by power supplied from a battery (not shown). The motor120may be implemented as a small direct current (DC) motor.

The rotary shaft130may be connected with the motor120to rotate in one direction depending on the driving of the motor120. In other words, a rotational direction and a rotational speed of the rotary shaft130may be determined by a rotational direction and a rotational speed of the motor120.

The speaker housing140may be formed by being connected with the rotary shaft130and may be rotated by rotational motion of the rotary shaft130. An inclined surface (or a tapered surface) may be formed at an upper surface of the speaker housing140. Furthermore, a vertical surface may be formed by being connected with the inclined surface of the speaker housing140.

The first speaker150may be mounted on the inclined surface formed on the upper end of the speaker housing140. The first speaker150may be implemented as a tweeter for high frequency. For example, the first speaker150may be implemented as a ring radiator tweeter. The first speaker150may implement a radial sound field by the rotary shaft130. The first speaker150may be used to set a sound image position.

The second speaker160may be mounted on the vertical surface of the speaker housing140. The second speaker160may be implemented as a hybrid woofer in which a mid-range speaker161and a subwoofer162are combined with each other. The second speaker160may be made of Kevlar to have a natural sound color with excellent transparency, sense of space, and resolution. The second speaker160may implement a horizontal stereophonic sound by the rotary shaft130. The second speaker160may be movably installed along the vertical surface of the speaker housing140. Thus, the height of the second speaker160may be set to implement a mid-to-low stereophonic sound.

The cover170may serve to protect the first speaker150and the second speaker160from the outside. The cover170may be made of a material such as polypropylene.

The wrinkle part180may be formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cover170. A light such as a light emitting diode (LED) may be disposed on the wrinkle part180.

The buffer pad190may be disposed on a rear surface of the lower case110. The buffer pad190may absorb an impact applied from a lower part to reduce the impact delivered to the first speaker150and the second speaker160.

FIG.2illustrates a frequency response and impedance characteristic graph of a first speaker shown inFIG.1.FIG.3illustrates a frequency response and impedance characteristic graph of a second speaker shown inFIG.1.

Referring toFIG.2, when a first speaker150ofFIG.1, that is, a tweeter is mounted on an inclined surface of 30 degrees and on an inclined surface of 60 degrees, it may be seen that the first speaker150quantitatively well plays a sound pressure level (SPL) [dB] for each frequency in a region of target frequencies (2 KHz˜20 KHz). An impedance of the first speaker150may be an electrical resistance of the speaker. The lower the impedance, the better the current flows.

According to a frequency response characteristic graph of a second speaker160ofFIG.1, that is, a hybrid woofer, which is shown inFIG.3, it may be seen that the second speaker160quantitatively well plays a sound pressure level (SPL) [dB] for each frequency in the region of the target frequencies (2 KHz˜20 KHz).

FIG.4is a drawing illustrating a structure in which a smart speaker is mounted on a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG.4, a smart speaker100may be mounted on a console box210of the vehicle. A receiving space may be provided in the console box210, and a holder220may be mounted on a vertical surface at an inner side of the receiving space. A vertical surface of the smart speaker100may be received on the holder220, and a lower end of the smart speaker100may be closely attached to the bottom surface of the receiving space of the console box210. A lid230may be located on an upper portion of the console box210and may be upwardly rotatably installed on the upper portion of the console box210. A cover240capable of transmitting a sound may be provided in a rear surface of the console box210. The present embodiment illustrates that the cover240capable of transmitting a sound is provided in only the rear surface of the console box210, but the embodiments are not limited thereto. A front surface of the console box210may be implemented to transmit a sound.

FIG.5is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a smart speaker according to embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG.6is a drawing illustrating a fourth-order network function associated with embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG.5, a smart speaker300may include a first speaker310, a second speaker320, a motor330, a manipulation device340, a microphone350, a light controller360, a communication circuit370, a charge and discharge circuit380, and a controller390. Herein, the first speaker310, the second speaker320, the motor330, and the manipulation device340may correspond to a first speaker150, a second speaker160, a motor120, and control buttons111to114, respectively.

The first speaker310may be a tweeter which radiates a high-frequency sound, which may implement a radial sound field. The first speaker310may be used to set a sound image position.

The second speaker320may be a hybrid woofer, which may implement a mid-to-low stereophonic sound. The second speaker320may rotate together with the first speaker310in one direction with respect to a rotary shaft.

The motor330may rotate the rotary shaft in one direction under an instruction of the controller390. The motor330may adjust a rotational speed, a rotational direction, and the like of the rotary shaft depending on a control command transmitted from the controller390.

The manipulation device340may generate data (or a signal) depending on manipulation of a user. The manipulation device340may include control buttons such as a power button111, a play and stop button112, a volume button113, and a mode selection button114ofFIG.1. The control buttons111to114may be implemented as buttons, switches, touch buttons, and/or the like.

The microphone350may receive and convert a sound wave into an electrical signal. The microphone350may separate and output at least one of a voice signal, a background sound, or music from the received audio signal using an artificial intelligence algorithm (or an emotional and environmental cognitive technology).

The light controller360may control a color, a brightness, turn-on, turn-off, and the like of a light depending on a control command of the controller390. The light controller360may convert power supplied from a battery (not shown) into power necessary to drive the light and may control the light such that power may be stably supplied to the light.

The communication circuit370may support communication between the smart speaker300and an external device. The external device may include a vehicle terminal, such as an audio video navigation (AVN) and an infotainment terminal, a mobile terminal, such as a smartphone, and/or the like. The communication circuit370may include a wireless communication circuit (e.g., a Wi-Fi communication circuit, a Bluetooth communication circuit, a near field communication (NFC) circuit, an international mobile telecommunication (IMT)-2020 communication circuit, and/or the like), a wired communication circuit (e.g., an Ethernet communication circuit, a controller area network (CAN) communication circuit, a local area network (LAN) communication circuit, and/or the like), and/or the like.

The charge and discharge circuit380may control charging or discharging of the battery mounted on the smart speaker300. When a charging cable is connected with a connection port provided in an outer side, a rear surface, or the like of a lower case110shown inFIG.1, the charge and discharge circuit380may charge the battery using power supplied through the charging cable. Furthermore, the charge and discharge circuit380may supply power necessary to operate components in the smart speaker300using electrical energy stored in the battery.

The controller390may control the overall operation of the smart speaker300. The controller390may include a processor391, a memory392, and the like. The processor391may perform a predetermined operation of the controller390. The processor391may include at least one of processing devices such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a programmable logic device (PLD), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller, or a microprocessor. The memory392may be a non-transitory storage medium which stores instructions executed by the processor391. The memory392may store a sound source, setting information, control logic, and/or the like. The memory392may be implemented as at least one of storage media such as a flash memory, a hard disk, a solid state disk (SSD), a secure digital (SD) card, a random access memory (RAM), a static RAM (SRAM), a read only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an electrically erasable and programmable ROM (EEPROM), or an erasable and programmable ROM (EPROM).

When a sound image position fixing mode or a sound image position rotation mode is selected by the mode selection button114, the controller390may control an operation of the motor330based on the selected mode. When the sound image position fixing mode is selected, the controller390may rotate the first speaker310and the second speaker320to fix a sound image position to a predetermined location (or in a target direction) by controlling the motor330. Furthermore, when the sound image position rotation mode is selected, because the controller390rotates the first speaker310and the second speaker320at a constant speed in one direction by means of the motor330, it may implement a stereophonic sound in all directions.

The controller390may apply a network function to control sound outputs of the first speaker310and the second speaker320. Herein, the network function refers to dividing a sound region which divides and outputs a crossover frequency for each speaker in a multi-unit scheme. As shown inFIG.6, a sound pressure difference and an impedance difference may be desired through a fourth-order network to present the best sound system.

The controller390may provide an echo cancelling function. The controller390may interwork with a mobile terminal (e.g., a smartphone or the like) to provide the echo cancelling function. The controller390may play music transmitted from a mobile terminal, a vehicle terminal, or the like or a voice signal according to a phone call and may output the music or the voice signal to the first speaker310and the second speaker320. At this time, the controller390may output music or a voice with clear sound quality using the echo cancelling function.

The controller390may receive riding information in the vehicle, for example, the number of passengers, seating positions of the passengers, and the like, which is transmitted from the vehicle terminal through the communication circuit370. The controller390may determine a control mode based on the number of passengers included in the riding information in the vehicle. When the number of the passengers is less than or equal to two, the controller390may determine the control mode as the sound image position fixing mode. When the number of the passengers is greater than two, the controller390may determine the control mode as the sound image position rotation mode.

The controller390may determine a sound image position based on the control mode and the seating position. When the control mode is determined as the sound image position fixing mode, the controller390may determine a sound image position (or a target direction) with regard to the seating position. When the sound image position is determined, the controller390may control the motor330to rotate and fix the first speaker310and the second speaker320such that the first speaker310and the second speaker320face the determined sound image position. In other words, the controller390may set the determined sound image position to the target direction and may control the motor330to radiate (or output) a sound in the target direction, thus adjusting a sound radiation direction of the first speaker310and the second speaker320.

When the control mode is determined as the sound image position rotation mode, the controller390may rotate the motor330at a predetermined speed in one direction, such that the first speaker310and the second speaker320rotate and radiate (or emit) a sound to all seats in the vehicle.

FIG.7is a drawing for describing criteria for setting a mounting height of a smart speaker associated with embodiments of the present disclosure.

The criteria for setting the mounting height of a smart speaker100or300ofFIG.1or5are as follows. A first criterion may be to determine the mounting height of the smart speaker100or300with reference to the Fletcher-Munson graph shown inFIG.7. The Fletcher-Munson graph is intended to compensate for that responses of frequencies are aurally differently heard as the sound increases. The interior environment of the vehicle is closed in all directions, and it is aurally designed and tuned to fit the interior considering the seat and structure. Furthermore, vehicle evaluation provides auditory compensation at the driver's right ear position. A second criterion may be to determine the mounting height of the smart speaker100or300such that a sound response is produced at a volume of 83 dB to 85 dB under the condition of a constant speed of 60 kph while driving. Herein, the reference volume (83 dB to 85 dB) may be a level where a sound is able to be determined in low and high bands well in the entire horizontal sound range. Logic which is performed in a start OFF and ON (constant speed/acceleration) state and compensates for volume with regard to a driving sound according to a speed is applied in actual car evaluation. Volume compensation logic considering a previous well-known driving sound may be applied as the compensation logic.

FIG.8is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a vehicle terminal according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

A vehicle terminal600may be an AVN, an infotainment terminal, or the like. Referring toFIG.8, the vehicle terminal600may include a detector610, a user interface620, a communication module630, and a vehicle terminal controller640.

The detector610may detect the number of passengers in the vehicle and seating positions of the passengers using weight sensors mounted on vehicle seats or the like. The detector610may detect the number of passengers in the vehicle and seating positions of the passengers using an image sensor or the like except for the weight sensor.

The user interface620may generate data according to manipulation of a user. The user interface620may include at least one of devices such as a keyboard, a keypad, a touch pad, and/or a touch screen. The user interface620may output audible information, visual information, tactile information, and/or the like. The user interface620may include a display, an audio output device, a tactile signal output device, and/or the like.

The communication module630may assist the vehicle terminal600to perform communication between a smart speaker100or300ofFIG.1or5and the vehicle terminal600. The communication module630may be implemented as a communication circuit, a communication processor, a transceiver, and/or the like which support(s) Ethernet, Bluetooth, and the like.

The vehicle terminal controller640may include a processor and a memory. The vehicle terminal controller640may perform a pairing procedure with the smart speaker100or300through the communication module630. The vehicle terminal controller640may transmit a sound source stored in a memory (not shown) to the smart speaker100or300through the communication module630. Furthermore, the vehicle terminal controller640may play a sound source and may transmit the played sound source to the smart speaker100or300through the communication module630. The vehicle terminal controller640may transmit riding information in the vehicle (e.g., the number of the passengers, the seating positions of the passengers, and the like), which is detected by the detector610.

FIG.9is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing a sound using a smart speaker according to embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG.10is a drawing illustrating an example of providing a sound using a smart speaker according to embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG.11is a drawing illustrating another example of providing a sound using a smart speaker according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

A smart speaker100or300ofFIG.1or5may be mounted on a console box in a vehicle. At this time, a user may turn on or off a soundscape mode using a dedicated application installed in a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. A soundscape refers to an aurally sensing environment. Herein, the soundscape mode may refer to a mode for providing a sound suitable for an environment (e.g., an interior in the vehicle, home, a hospital, an office, or the like) and/or a situation (e.g., a user emotional state, noise, concentration, sleep, or the like). When receiving a command to instruct activation of the soundscape mode, a controller390ofFIG.5may perform the following procedure.

In S100, the controller390may obtain riding information in the vehicle. The controller390may receive riding information in the vehicle, for example, the number of passengers, seating positions of the passengers, and the like, which is transmitted from a vehicle terminal600ofFIG.8through a communication circuit370ofFIG.5.

In S110, the controller390may determine a control mode based on the riding information in the vehicle. The controller390may determine the control mode based on the number of the passengers included in the riding information in the vehicle. When the number of the passengers is less than or equal to two, the controller390may determine the control mode as a sound image position fixing mode. When the number of passengers is greater than two, the controller390may determine the control mode as a sound image position rotation mode.

In S120, the controller390may determine a sound image position based on the control mode and the seating position. When the control mode is determined as the sound image position fixing mode, the controller390may determine a sound image position with regard to the seating position. For example, referring toFIG.10, when a passenger sits on only the driver's seat (810), the controller390may determine the front of the driver's seat as a sound image position. Furthermore, when passengers sit on the driver's seat and the rear VIP seat (820), the controller390may determine a position between the passenger seat and the rear VIP seat as a sound image position. Furthermore, when passengers sit on the driver's seat and the passenger seat (830), the controller390may determine a front center between the driver's seat and the passenger seat as a sound image position. When the sound image position is determined, the controller390may control the motor330to rotate and fix the first speaker310and the second speaker320such that the first speaker310and the second speaker320face the determined sound image position. Meanwhile, when the control mode is determined as the sound image position rotation mode, the controller390may determine a sound image position in all directions. Referring toFIG.11, when passengers sit on all seats in the vehicle, the controller390may determine sound image positions as a front center between the driver's seat and the passenger seat, between the passenger seat and the rear VIP seat, and between the driver's seat and the rear seat. In this case, the controller390may rotate a motor330ofFIG.5at a predetermined speed in one direction such that the first speaker310and the second speaker320rotate.

In S130, the controller390may output a sound to the determined sound image position. When the sound image position is determined as one point, the controller390may set the image sound position to a target direction to rotate and move the first speaker310and the second speaker320in the target direction, thus radiating a sound in the target direction through the first speaker310and the second speaker320. When at least two sound image positions are determined, the controller390may set the at least two image sound positions to target directions to rotate and move the first speaker310and the second speaker320in the target directions and may output a sound in the target directions through the first speaker310and the second speaker320to provide a stereophonic sound to all seats in the vehicle.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may apply a smart speaker, which rotates a tweeter disposed at an incline and a hybrid woofer in which a mid-range speaker and a subwoofer are combined with each other, which is vertically disposed, with respect to a rotary shaft to radiate a sound in all directions, to a vehicle, thus reducing the number of speakers mounted on the vehicle.

Furthermore, embodiments of the present disclosure may adjust a sound image position (or a target direction) of the smart speaker based on the number of passengers which ride in the vehicle and seating positions of the passengers.

Hereinabove, although the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, but may be variously modified and altered by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure claimed in the following claims. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present invention, but are provided only for illustrative purposes. The scope of the present disclosure should be construed on the basis of the accompanying claims, and all the technical ideas within the scope equivalent to the claims should be included in the scope of the present disclosure.