Systems and methods for providing augmented ultrasonic audio

At least one non-transitory storage medium storing program code, the program code, when executed by a processor, producing augmented ultrasonic audio in a vehicle, the program code comprising:

• driving a first ultrasonic transducer with a first upper range content of a first content signal such that a first ultrasonic acoustic signal, output by the first ultrasonic transducer, is modulated with the first upper range content, wherein the first ultrasonic transducer is arranged to direct the first ultrasonic acoustic signal to the first listening zone within a cabin of the vehicle, wherein the first listening zone is disposed at a first seating location;
• driving a second ultrasonic transducer with a second upper range content of a second content signal such that a second ultrasonic acoustic signal is modulated with the second upper range content, wherein the second ultrasonic transducer is arranged to direct the second ultrasonic acoustic signal to the second listening zone within the cabin, wherein the second listening zone is disposed at a second seating location,
• driving a plurality of speakers disposed in a perimeter of the cabin in accordance with a first array configuration such that a first bass content of the first content signal is produced in the first listening zone, and in accordance with a second array configuration such that a second bass content of the second content signal is produced in the second listening zone, wherein in the first listening zone a magnitude of the first bass content is greater than a magnitude of the second bass content and in the second listening zone the magnitude of the second bass content is greater than the magnitude of the first bass content;
• driving a first midrange speaker with a first midrange content of the first content signal such that a first midrange acoustic signal, output by the first midrange speaker, includes the first midrange content, the first midrange speaker arranged to direct the first midrange acoustic signal to the first listening zone, wherein the first midrange speaker is a near-field speaker, wherein the first midrange content is disposed, spectrally, between the first bass content and the first upper range content, and
• driving a second midrange speaker with a second midrange content of the second content signal such that a second midrange acoustic signal, output by the second midrange speaker, includes the second midrange content, the second midrange speaker arranged to direct the second midrange acoustic signal to the second listening zone, wherein the second midrange speaker is a near-field speaker, wherein the second midrange content is disposed, spectrally, between the second bass content and the second upper range content.

A system for providing augmented ultrasonic audio in a vehicle, comprising:

• a plurality of speakers disposed in a perimeter of a cabin of the vehicle;
• a first ultrasonic transducer arranged within the cabin to direct a first ultrasonic acoustic signal to a first listening zone with the cabin, wherein the first listening zone is disposed at a first seating location;
• a second ultrasonic transducer arranged within the cabin to direct a second ultrasonic acoustic signal to a second listening zone within the cabin, wherein the first listening zone is disposed at a second seating location;
• and
• a controller configured to drive the plurality of speakers in accordance with a first array configuration such that a first bass content of a first content signal is produced in the first listening zone, and to drive the plurality of speakers in accordance with a second array configuration such that a second bass content of a second content signal is produced in the second listening zone, wherein in the first listening zone a magnitude of the first bass content is greater than a magnitude of the second bass content and in the second listening zone the magnitude of the second bass content is greater than the magnitude of the first bass content,
• wherein the controller is further configured to drive the first ultrasonic transducer with a first upper range content of the first content signal such that the first ultrasonic acoustic signal is modulated with the first upper range content, and to drive the second ultrasonic transducer with a second upper range content of the second content signal such that the second ultrasonic acoustic signal is modulated with the second upper range content,
• wherein the first ultrasonic transducer is one of a first plurality of ultrasonic transducers together directing a first binaural ultrasonic acoustic signal to the first listening zone, wherein the controller is further configured to drive the first plurality of ultrasonic transducers with the first upper range content such that the first binaural ultrasonic acoustic signal is modulated with the first upper range content, the first binaural ultrasonic acoustic signal being perceived by a first user within the first listening zone as originating from a first virtual source location within the vehicle cabin,
• wherein the second ultrasonic transducer is one of a second plurality of ultrasonic transducers together directing a second binaural ultrasonic acoustic signal to the second listening zone, wherein the controller is further configured to drive the second plurality of ultrasonic transducers with the second upper range content such that the second binaural ultrasonic acoustic signal is modulated with the second upper range content and, the second binaural ultrasonic acoustic signal is perceived by a second user within the second listening zone as originating from a second virtual source location within the vehicle cabin.