# US 10,313,795 B1 · Vehicle audio system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,313,795 B1 - Document ID: US10313795B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/214,425 - Filed: 2018-12-10 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-14 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Edgar Arturo Escobar; Christopher L. Steinmeyer; David T. Christian, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10313795B1 ## CPC - H04R 7/045: {using the distributed mode principle, i.e. whereby the acoustic radiation is emanated from uniformly distributed free bending wave vibration induced in a stiff panel and not from pistonic motion} - H04R 1/025: {Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture} - H04R 1/26: Spatial arrangements of separate transducers responsive to two or more frequency ranges - H04R 3/04: for correcting frequency response - H04R 2201/028: Structural combinations of loudspeakers with built-in power amplifiers, e.g. in the same acoustic enclosure (H04R2499/10 takes precedence; Single (sub)woofer with two or more satellite loudspeakers for mid- and high-frequency band reproduction driven via the (sub)woofer H04R2205/026) - H04R 2499/13: Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract A method for generating sound by one or more sound panels in a vehicle, and a sound system are provided. The method includes receiving, by an acoustic exciter coupled to one of the one or more sound panels, a first audio signal. The first audio signal includes a first frequency range. Each of the sound panels is formed of a material having a respective flexural modulus. The method further includes generating, by each of the sound panels, a sound signal comprising a respective range of sound pressure vibrations dependent on the flexural modulus of the sound panel, variations of dimensions of the sound panel, and the first audio signal received by the acoustic exciter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for generating sound by one or more sound panels in a vehicle, the method comprising: receiving, by an acoustic exciter coupled to one of the one or more sound panels, a first audio signal comprising a first frequency range, wherein each of the sound panels is formed of a material having a respective flexural modulus; and generating, by each of the sound panels, a sound signal comprising a respective range of sound pressure vibrations dependent on the flexural modulus of the sound panel, variations of dimensions of the sound panel, and the first audio signal received by the acoustic exciter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first audio signal comprises a plurality of sub-ranges of frequencies including a low frequency sub-range, a mid frequency sub-range, and a high frequency sub-range. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a first sound panel of the one or more sound panels comprises a first material having a first flexural modulus value, and a second sound panel of the one or more sound panels comprises a second material having a second flexural modulus value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising generating, by the first sound panel, a first sound signal comprising a first range of sound pressure vibrations using the first material having the first flexural modulus value and the first audio signal; and generating, by the second sound panel, a second sound signal comprising a second range of sound pressure vibrations using the second material having the second flexural modulus value and the first audio signal, the second range of sound pressure vibrations different from the first range of sound pressure vibrations. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a first sound panel of the one or more sound panels comprises a first set of dimensions including at least a first thickness, and a second sound panel of the one or more sound panels comprises a second set of dimensions including at least a second thickness, wherein at least one of the first thickness and the second thickness comprises a gradient along at least one of a length and a width of the sound panel, the flexural modulus in any area of the sound panel being dependent on the thickness of the sound panel in that area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising generating, by the first sound panel, a first sound signal comprising a first range of sound pressure vibrations using the first set of dimensions and the first audio signal; and generating, by the second sound panel, a second sound signal comprising a second range of sound pressure vibrations using the second set of dimensions and the first audio signal, the second range of sound pressure vibrations different than the first range of sound pressure vibrations. ### Claim 7 A sound system comprising: a plurality of acoustic exciters configured to receive a single audio signal comprising a plurality of frequency ranges; and a plurality of sound panels, each sound panel formed of a material having a predetermined flexural modulus, and each acoustic exciter coupled to one of the plurality of sound panels, wherein the plurality of sound panels are configured to generate a range of sound pressure vibrations respective of the flexural modulus of the sound panel and the single audio signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sound system of claim 7, wherein the single audio signal comprises a low frequency range, a mid frequency range, and a high frequency range. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The sound system of claim 7, wherein the flexural modulus of each sound panel is defined by at least one of a material composition of the sound panel, a set of physical dimensions of the sound panel, a mounting configuration of the sound panel, and a combination thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The sound system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of sound panels define an interior portion of a vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The sound system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of sound panels define a roll over protection system portion of a vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The sound system of claim 7, further comprising an audio amplifier comprising a channel operatively coupled to each acoustic exciter, the channel configured to provide the single audio signal. ### Claim 13 A method for a speakerless sound system comprising: providing a first audio signal having a first frequency range on a first channel of an audio amplifier, wherein the first channel is operatively coupled to a first acoustic exciter, and the first acoustic exciter is coupled to a first sound panel formed of a material having a first flexural modulus; providing a second audio signal having a second frequency range on a second channel of the audio amplifier, the second frequency range different than the first frequency range, wherein the second channel is operatively coupled a second acoustic exciter, and the second acoustic exciter is coupled to a second sound panel formed of a material having a second flexural modulus, the second flexural modulus different than the first flexural modulus; generating a first range of sound pressure vibrations by the first sound panel dependent on the first flexural modulus, a first set of dimensions of the first sound panel, and the first audio signal; and generating a second range of sound pressure vibrations by the second sound panel dependent on the second flexural modulus, a second set of dimensions of the second sound panel, and the second audio signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second audio signals are unequalized. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and the second sound panels define a portion of a passenger compartment of a vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and the second sound panels define a roll over protection system portion of a vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising generating a first sound signal by the first sound panel comprising the first range of sound pressure vibrations using the first audio signal and the first set of dimensions including at least a thickness of the first sound panel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the thickness of the first sound panel comprises a gradient along at least one of a length and a width of the first sound panel, the first flexural modulus in any area of the first sound panel being dependent on the thickness of the first sound panel in that area. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising generating a second sound signal by the second sound panel comprising the second range of sound pressure vibrations using the second audio signal and the second set of dimensions including at least a thickness of the second sound panel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the thickness of the second sound panel comprises a gradient along at least one of a length and a width of the second sound panel, the second flexural modulus in any area of the second sound panel being dependent on the thickness of the second sound panel in that area.