# US 12,225,337 B2 · Near to the ear subwoofer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,225,337 B2 - Document ID: US12225337B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/540,110 - Filed: 2023-12-14 - Published: 2024-04-04 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-21 - Assignees: Panasonic Automotive Systems America, LLC. - Applicants: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America - Inventors: Mark William Ziemba - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12225337B2 ## CPC - H04R 1/025: {Arrangements for fixing loudspeaker transducers, e.g. in a box, furniture} - H04R 5/023: {in a chair, pillow} - H04R 1/26: Spatial arrangements of separate transducers responsive to two or more frequency ranges - H04R 1/2819: {for loudspeaker transducers} - H04R 1/2842: {for loudspeaker transducers} - H04R 1/2857: {for loudspeaker transducers} - H04R 3/12: for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} - H04R 2499/13: Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles - H04S 7/302: {Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation (H04S7/301 takes precedence)} - 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) - H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS ## Abstract A loudspeaker arrangement for a seat within a motor vehicle utilizes one or more localized sound output ports for low frequency sound reproduction. A housing, such as an enclosure, substantially surrounds a loudspeaker. One or more audio transmission line channels acoustically interconnect the interior of the enclosure to one or more sound output ports. The enclosure is situated below, behind, or in some fixed location around or within a vehicle seat. The sound outputs ports are situated at or near a headrest such that the output ports are located substantially less than a wavelength of sound at the highest operating frequency from either ear of the seat's occupant. The acoustic response and resonances of a 1) rear enclosure, 2) a front vented enclosure, 3) a loudspeaker, and 4) an audio transmission path from the enclosure to one or more output ports are used to provide localized low frequency sound reproduction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A loudspeaker comprising: a seat including one or more sound output ports for sound reproduction; one or more loudspeakers at least six inches away from the one or more sound output ports; an enclosure substantially surrounding the loudspeaker(s) such that sound from the loudspeaker(s) is emitted into an interior of the enclosure; and one or more audio transmission channels each extending out of the enclosure and through the seat, and acoustically interconnecting the interior of the enclosure to the one or more sound output ports. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement utilizes multiple loudspeakers in a discrete stereo or mono configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement utilizes multiple loudspeakers in coherent or non-coherent summation alignments such as isobaric or push-pull configurations. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the audio transmission channels comprise substantially hollow conduits. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the audio transmission channels comprise partially occluded conduits with damping material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is substantially soundproof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method for providing cross-seat audio cancellation, utilizing the arrangement of claim 1, including cancelling discrete audio playing in adjacent seats, the cancelling including digital signal processing (DSP). ### Claim 8 A loudspeaker arrangement for a motor vehicle having a frame, the arrangement comprising: a seat including at least one sound output, the seat being configured to support a human passenger of the motor vehicle; a loudspeaker component; a housing substantially surrounding the loudspeaker component in conjunction with the frame of the motor vehicle such that sound from the loudspeaker component is emitted into the frame; and at least one audio transmission line vent disposed in the seat, each said audio transmission line vent being configured to carry sound emitted by the loudspeaker component to a respective said sound output. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the seat includes a top end and a headrest attached to the top end, the sound output being disposed on the top end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the sound output is positioned to be less than six inches from an ear of the passenger. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the at least one audio transmission line vent comprises a substantially hollow conduit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the audio transmission line vent is substantially soundproof except at the sound output. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the at least one sound output comprises two sound outputs, the sound outputs being at least twelve inches apart. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The arrangement of claim 8, wherein at least one of the housing and the loudspeaker is configured to be attached to the frame of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 15 A loudspeaker arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising: a seat including at least one sound output port; a loudspeaker component disposed at least six inches away from the at least one sound output port; a housing substantially surrounding the loudspeaker component such that sound from the loudspeaker component is emitted into an interior of the housing, the housing including a transmission line vent providing an air pathway between an interior of the housing and ambient air; and at least one audio transmission channel extending out of the housing and through the seat, and acoustically interconnecting the interior of the housing to a respective said sound output port. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The arrangement of claim 15, wherein the arrangement includes multiple loudspeakers in a discrete stereo or mono configuration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The arrangement of claim 15, wherein the arrangement includes multiple loudspeakers in coherent or non-coherent summation alignments such as isobaric or push-pull configurations. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The arrangement of claim 15, wherein the audio transmission channel comprises a substantially hollow conduit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The arrangement of claim 15, wherein the audio transmission channel comprises a partially occluded conduit with damping material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The arrangement of claim 15, wherein the housing includes two enclosures and a transmission line vent providing an air pathway fluidly interconnecting the two enclosures to achieve double tuning.