Systems and methods for controlling transducers to provide a vibracoustic experience

#The present disclosure relates generally to the field of bathroom fixtures. More specifically, various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to bathroom fixture systems configured to provide aural and/or vibratory stimulation and systems and methods for controlling such bathroom fixture systems.

#Shower and bath fixtures vary widely in the features they provide. Many basic bath fixtures, for example, provide a bath tub or basin, a faucet for adding water to the tub and a drain for removing water, and few, if any, other features. Some consumers wish to purchase fixtures that have more advanced features that make taking a bath or shower more enjoyable and/or relaxing in addition to being merely functional. One such feature, for example, may include water jets in a bath tub configured to provide a tactile (e.g., massaging) stimulus for the user. Another feature may include devices (e.g., transducers) configured to generate sound to allow a user to listen to music, relaxing nature sounds, or some other manner of aural stimulus while showering or bathing.

#One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a water system that includes a reservoir configured to contain water and comprising a wall. The water system further includes four transducers mounted against the wall of the reservoir. The four transducers are configured to receive an input signal and to generate vibrations within water contained in the reservoir by vibrating the wall of the reservoir. The four transducers are mounted in a configuration such that, when the wall is partitioned into four sections, only a single transducer is mounted against each section of the wall and no other transducers are mounted against the wall.

#FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view of a bath tub illustrating a position of a plurality of transducers according to an exemplary embodiment;

#FIG. 2 is a simplified plan view of another bath tub illustrating a position of a plurality of transducers according to an exemplary embodiment;

#FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a user experience system for a vibroacoustic bath according to an exemplary embodiment;

#Before turning to the figures, which illustrate the exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the application is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology is for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting.

#Referring generally to the figures, systems and methods for providing an enhanced user experience in connection with a bathroom fixture (e.g., a shower or bath tub) using tactile, aural, and/or visual stimuli are described according to various exemplary embodiments. In some embodiments, a bath tub or other plumbing fixture may be equipped with transducers that generate particular types of output based on input signals. Some of the transducers may be positioned below a top water level of the bath tub and configured to generate vibrations in the water by vibrating the reservoir of the tub at particular frequencies. Some transducers may be positioned above the top water level and configured to generate aural output, such as music or relaxing sounds (e.g., nature sounds).

#In some embodiments, a user experience system for a vibratory bath tub may be designed to produce vibratory patterns within the reservoir of the tub that make it difficult for a user to easily discern the positions from which the vibrations are originating (i.e., the positions of the transducers). One way to produce such a vibration pattern is to use a substantial number of transducers (e.g., eight transducers) distributed across different positions on the reservoir so that the vibratory stimuli originate from many different positions. In a bath tub having a rectangular reservoir, for example, two transducers may be mounted on each of the four sides of the reservoir. Using a large number of transducers to effect the vibratory stimulus can substantially increase the cost of the vibroacoustic bathing system.