# US 2021/0176545 A1 · Sound system

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- Number: US 2021/0176545 A1
- Document ID: US20210176545A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/109,769
- Filed: 2020-12-02
- Published: 2021-06-10
- Earliest claimed: 2019-12-04
- Assignees: Lear Corporation
- Applicants: Lear Corporation
- Inventors: Arjun Yetukuri; David A. Hein; Kim Krulek; Peter Festag; Stefan Willems; Mladen Humer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210176545A1

## 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
- G10K 11/178: by electro-acoustically regenerating the original acoustic waves in anti-phase
- G10K 2210/1282: Automobiles
- G10K 2210/3221: Headrests, seats or the like, for personal ANC systems
- H04R 1/227: {using transducers reproducing the same frequency band}
- H04R 1/403: {loud-speakers}
- 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)
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A sound system includes a seat including a seatback having a first dipole subwoofer, a second dipole subwoofer, a first speaker, and a second speaker; and a seat bottom having a third speaker. The first dipole subwoofer, the second dipole subwoofer, the first speaker, the second speaker, and/or the third speaker may be configured to receive audio signals from a receiver and provide sound corresponding to the audio signals toward an occupant position of the seat. The third speaker may be directed toward the seat back. The first dipole subwoofer, the second dipole subwoofer, the first speaker, the second speaker, and/or the third speaker may be configured to provide a sound zone for said occupant that facilitates (i) hearing of the sound by said occupant, and/or (ii) limiting transmission of the sound beyond the seat.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sound system, comprising:
a seat, including:
a seatback having:
a first dipole subwoofer;
a second dipole subwoofer;
a first speaker; and
a second speaker; and
a seat bottom having a third speaker;
wherein the first dipole subwoofer, the second dipole subwoofer, the first speaker, the second speaker, and the third speaker are configured to receive audio signals from a receiver and provide sound corresponding to the audio signals toward an occupant position of the seat.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sound system of claim 1, wherein the third speaker is directed toward the seat back.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sound system of claim 1, wherein the first dipole subwoofer, the second dipole subwoofer, the first speaker, the second speaker, and the third speaker are configured to provide a sound zone for an occupant in the occupant position that facilitates (i) hearing of the sound by said occupant, and (ii) limiting transmission of the sound beyond the seat.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sound system of claim 1, wherein the first speaker and the second speaker are configured to provide noise-canceling sound.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The sound system of claim 1, wherein the seatback includes a headrest; and at least two of the first dipole subwoofer, the second dipole subwoofer, the first speaker, and the second speaker are connected to the headrest.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The sound system of claim 1, wherein the seatback includes a headrest; the first dipole subwoofer and the first speaker are disposed at a first side of the headrest; and the second dipole subwoofer and the second speaker are disposed at a second side of the headrest.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The sound system of claim 1, wherein the first speaker and the second speaker have an end-fire array configuration.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The sound system of claim 1, wherein the first speaker and the second speaker have a single dipole configuration.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The sound system of claim 1, wherein the seatback includes a headrest; and the first speaker and the second speaker are disposed at least partially in the headrest.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The sound system of claim 9, wherein the first dipole subwoofer and the second dipole subwoofer are disposed at least partially in the headrest.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The sound system of claim 1, including:
a user input device configured to receive a touch input from a first occupant for activating a private intercom with a second occupant; and
an electronic controller configured to facilitate substantially simultaneous translation of audio in a first language from the first occupant to a second language for the second occupant and a third language for a third occupant.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The sound system of claim 1, including:
a user input device configured to receive a touch input from a first occupant for selectively muting a second occupant.

### Claim 13

A method of operating a sound system, the method comprising:
providing, from a receiver, a first audio signal to a plurality of seats;
providing sound corresponding to the first audio signal to respective occupants of the plurality of seats;
providing, from the receiver, a second audio signal to a first seat of the plurality of seats; and
providing sound corresponding to the second audio signal to the occupant of the first seat such that the sound corresponding to the second audio signal is substantially inaudible to other occupants.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein providing sound corresponding to the second audio signal includes providing sound via a first dipole subwoofer, a second dipole subwoofer, a first speaker, a second speaker, and a third speaker.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the first seat includes a seatback and a seat bottom; the seatback includes the first dipole subwoofer, the second dipole subwoofer, the first speaker, and the second speaker; and the seat bottom includes the third speaker.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the first speaker and the second speaker have a single dipole configuration or an end-fire array configuration.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein providing sound corresponding to the first audio signal includes providing sound corresponding to the first audio signal via a respective sound assembly associated with each seat of the plurality of seats.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein each respective sound assembly includes a plurality of speakers and a plurality of subwoofers.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein providing sound corresponding to the second audio signal includes providing sound corresponding to the second audio signal via the respective sound assembly associated with the first seat and not providing sound corresponding to the second audio signal via the respective sound assemblies associated with other seats of the plurality of seats.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, including:
receiving, via a user input device, a touch input from the occupant of the first seat to activate a private intercom with a second occupant; and
translating sound in a first language from the occupant of the first seat to a second language for the second occupant.