# US 9,438,991 B2 · Sound feedback system for vehicles

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 9,438,991 B2
- Document ID: US9438991B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/971,125
- Filed: 2013-08-20
- Published: 2015-02-26
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-08-20
- Assignees: Deere & Company
- Applicants: Deere & Company
- Inventors: Julian Sanchez; Kristin J Sullivan; Karl B Washburn; Noel W Anderson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438991B2

## CPC

- H04R 3/00: Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F)
- G08G 1/161: {Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication}
- A01B 69/00: Steering of agricultural machines or implements; Guiding agricultural machines or implements on a desired track
- B60R 16/0231: {Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle (monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P)}
- B60R 2300/00: Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle
- B60W 50/08: Interaction between the driver and the control system
- B60W 2554/00: Input parameters relating to objects
- H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
- 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)
- G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93})
- A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT

## Abstract

A feedback system is configured for providing a feedback sound representative of a first vehicle sound of a first vehicle and a second vehicle sound of a second vehicle. The feedback system comprises a first vehicle data bus of the first vehicle and a second vehicle data bus of the second vehicle. A first wireless communication device communicates with the first vehicle data bus and is configured to communicate first vehicle sound. A second wireless communication device communicates with the second vehicle data bus and is configured to communicate second vehicle sound. An electronic data processing system comprises a third wireless communication device configured to receive the first and second vehicle sound. A sound integration module is configured to form or determine the feedback sound from the first and second vehicle sound. A sound generator module is configured to communicate the feedback sound to a user.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A feedback system configured for providing a feedback sound representative of a first vehicle sound of a first vehicle and a second vehicle sound of a second vehicle, the feedback system comprising:
the first vehicle sound being at least one of an ambient sound, an engine sound or a combine separator sound;
the second vehicle sound being at least one of an ambient sound, an engine sound or a combine separator sound
a first vehicle data bus of the first vehicle;
a second vehicle data bus of the second vehicle;
a first wireless communication device in communication with the first vehicle data bus, the first wireless communication device configured to communicate the first vehicle sound;
a second wireless communication device in communication with the second vehicle data bus, the second wireless communication device configured to communicate the second vehicle sound;
an electronic data processing system comprising a third wireless communication device configured to receive the first vehicle sound and the second vehicle sound;
a sound integration module configured to form or determine the feedback sound from the first vehicle sound and the second vehicle sound;
a user interface located one of: in the first vehicle, in the second vehicle or outside the first and second vehicles; and
a sound generator module configured to communicate the feedback sound to the user interface and thus to a user located with the user interface;
wherein the user interface comprises a first speaker and a second speaker and is configured to communicate the first vehicle sound primarily through the first speaker and the second vehicle sound primarily through the second speaker.

### Claim 2

A feedback system configured for providing a feedback sound representative of a first vehicle sound of a first vehicle and a second vehicle sound of a second vehicle, the feedback system comprising:
a first vehicle data bus of the first vehicle;
a second vehicle data bus of the second vehicle;
a first wireless communication device in communication with the first vehicle data bus, the first wireless communication device configured to communicate the first vehicle sound;
a second wireless communication device in communication with the second vehicle data bus, the second wireless communication device configured to communicate the second vehicle sound;
an electronic data processing system comprising a third wireless communication device configured to receive the first vehicle sound and the second vehicle sound;
a sound integration module configured to form or determine the feedback sound from the first vehicle sound and the second vehicle sound;
a user interface located one of: in a first vehicle, in a second vehicle or outside the first and second vehicles;
a sound generator module configured to communicate the feedback sound to the user interface and thus to a user located with the user interface; and
wherein the feedback sound comprises the first vehicle sound and the second vehicle sound weighted equally in amplitude and wherein the first vehicle sound or the second vehicle sound is shifted in frequency such that the user can hear both sounds simultaneously.

### Claim 3

A feedback system configured for providing a feedback sound representative of a first vehicle sound of a first vehicle and a second vehicle sound of a second vehicle, the feedback system comprising:
a first vehicle data bus of the first vehicle;
a second vehicle data bus of the second vehicle;
a first wireless communication device in communication with the first vehicle data bus, the first wireless communication device configured to communicate the first vehicle sound;
a second wireless communication device in communication with the second vehicle data bus, the second wireless communication device configured to communicate the second vehicle sound;
an electronic data processing system comprising a third wireless communication device configured to receive the first vehicle sound and the second vehicle sound;
a sound integration module configured to form or determine the feedback sound from the first vehicle sound and the second vehicle sound;
a user interface located at one of: in the first vehicle, in the second vehicle or outside the first and second vehicles;
a sound generator module configured to communicate the feedback sound to the user interface and thus to a user located with the user interface, and
wherein a first diagnostic module, coupled to the first vehicle data bus, is configured to determine whether the first vehicle is operating properly and a second diagnostic module, coupled to the second vehicle data bus, is configured to determine whether the second vehicle is operating properly and if the first vehicle is not operating properly, the sound generator is adapted to form the feedback sound to more closely approximate the first vehicle sound, and if the second vehicle is not operating properly, the feedback sound is formed to more closely approximate the second vehicle sound.

### Claim 4

A feedback system configured for providing a feedback sound representative of a first vehicle sound of a first vehicle and a second vehicle sound of a second vehicle, the feedback system comprising:
a first vehicle data bus of the first vehicle;
a second vehicle data bus of the second vehicle;
a first wireless communication device in communication with the first vehicle data bus, the first wireless communication device configured to communicate the first vehicle sound;
a second wireless communication device in communication with the second vehicle data bus, the second wireless communication device configured to communicate the second vehicle sound;
an electronic data processing system comprising a third wireless communication device configured to receive the first vehicle sound and the second vehicle sound;
a sound integration module configured to form or determine the feedback sound from the first vehicle sound and the second vehicle sound;
a user interface located one of: in the first vehicle, in the second vehicle or outside the first and second vehicles;
a sound generator module configured to communicate the feedback sound to the user interface and to a user located with the user interface; and
wherein the sound generator module is configured to determine whether the first vehicle and the second vehicle are operating properly and the feedback sound is amplified if at least one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle is not operating properly and the feedback sound is not amplified if the first vehicle and the second vehicle are operating properly.

### Claim 5

A feedback system configured for providing a feedback sound representative of a first vehicle sound of a first vehicle and a second vehicle sound of a second vehicle, the feedback system comprising:
a first vehicle data bus of the first vehicle;
a second vehicle data bus of the second vehicle;
a first wireless communication device in communication with the first vehicle data bus, the first wireless communication device configured to communicate the first vehicle sound;
a second wireless communication device in communication with the second vehicle data bus, the second wireless communication device configured to communicate the second vehicle sound;
an electronic data processing system comprising a third wireless communication device configured to receive the first vehicle sound and the second vehicle sound;
a sound integration module configured to form or determine the feedback sound from the first vehicle sound and the second vehicle sound;
a user interface located one of: in the first vehicle, in the second vehicle or outside the first and second vehicles; and
a sound generator module configured to communicate the feedback sound to the user interface and to a user located with the user interface and
wherein the sound generator module is configured to determine whether the first vehicle and the second vehicle are operating properly and if the first vehicle is not operating properly, the feedback sound comprises the first vehicle sound modified by an alteration factor and the second vehicle sound, and if the second vehicle is not operating properly, the feedback sound comprises the second vehicle sound modified by the alteration factor and the first vehicle sound.

### Claim 6

A feedback system configured for providing a feedback sound representative of a first vehicle sound of a first vehicle and a second vehicle sound of a second vehicle operating together in a work area, the feedback system comprising:
a first vehicle data bus of the first vehicle;
a first wireless communication device of the first vehicle being in communication with the first vehicle data bus, the first wireless communication device configured to receive the second vehicle sound from a second wireless communication device of the second vehicle;
an electronic data processing system being in the first vehicle and configured to receive the first vehicle sound and the second vehicle sound;
a sound integration module capable of forming or determining the feedback sound from the first vehicle sound and the second vehicle sound;
a user interface located one of: in the first vehicle, in the second vehicle or outside the first and second vehicles;
a sound generator module configured to communicate the feedback sound to the user interface and thus to a user located with the user interface; and,
wherein a first diagnostic module, coupled to the first vehicle data bus, is configured to determine whether the first vehicle is operating properly and a second diagnostic module, coupled to a second vehicle data bus, is configured to determine whether the second vehicle is operating properly and if the first vehicle is not operating properly, the sound generator is adapted to form the feedback sound to more closely approximate the first vehicle sound, and if the second vehicle is not operating properly, the feedback sound is formed to more closely approximate the second vehicle sound.

### Claim 7

A feedback system configured for providing a feedback sound representative of a first vehicle sound of a first vehicle and a second vehicle sound of a second vehicle operating together in a work area, the feedback system comprising:
the first vehicle sound being at least one of an ambient sound, an engine sound or a combine separator sound;
the second vehicle sound being at least one of an ambient sound, an engine sound or a combine separator sound
a first vehicle data bus of the first vehicle;
a first wireless communication device in communication with the first vehicle data bus, the first wireless communication device being configured to receive the second vehicle sound from a second wireless communication device of the second vehicle;
an electronic data processing system being located in the first vehicle and configured to receive the first vehicle operating sound and the second vehicle operating sound;
a sound integration module capable of forming or determining the feedback sound from the first vehicle sound and the second vehicle sound;
a user interface located one of: in the first vehicle, the second vehicle or outside the first and second vehicles; and
a sound generator module configured to communicate the feedback sound to the user interface and thus to a user located with the user interface;
wherein the sound generator module is configured to determine whether the first vehicle and the second vehicle are operating properly and the feedback sound is amplified if at least one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle is not operating properly and the feedback sound is not amplified if the first vehicle and the second vehicle are operating properly.

### Claim 8

A feedback system configured for providing a feedback sound representative of a first vehicle sound of a first vehicle and a second vehicle sound of a second vehicle operating together in a work area, the feedback system comprising:
a first vehicle data bus of the first vehicle;
a first wireless communication device in communication with the first vehicle data bus, the first wireless communication device being configured to receive the second vehicle sound from a second wireless communication device of the second vehicle;
an electronic data processing system being located in the first vehicle and configured to receive the first vehicle operating sound and the second vehicle operating sound;
a sound integration module capable of forming or determining the feedback sound from the first vehicle sound and the second vehicle sound;
a user interface located one of: in the first vehicle, the second vehicle or outside the first and second vehicles;
a sound generator module configured to communicate the feedback sound to the user interface and thus to a user located with the user interface; and
wherein the sound generator module is configured to determine whether the first vehicle and the second vehicle are operating properly and if the first vehicle is not operating properly, the feedback sound comprises the first vehicle sound modified by an alteration factor and the second vehicle sound, and if the second vehicle is not operating properly, the feedback sound comprises the second vehicle sound modified by the alteration factor and the first vehicle sound.

### Claim 9

A feedback system configured for providing a feedback sound representative of a first vehicle sound of a first vehicle and a second vehicle sound of a second vehicle operating together in a work area, the feedback system comprising:
a first vehicle data bus of the first vehicle;
a first wireless communication device in communication with the first vehicle data bus, the first wireless communication device being configured to receive the second vehicle sound from a second wireless communication device of the second vehicle;
an electronic data processing system being located in the first vehicle and configured to receive the first vehicle operating sound and the second vehicle operating sound;
a sound integration module capable of forming or determining the feedback sound from the first vehicle sound and the second vehicle sound;
a user interface located one of: in the first vehicle, the second vehicle or outside the first and second vehicles;
a sound generator module configured to communicate the feedback sound to the user interface and thus to a user located with the user interface; and further
wherein the user interface comprises a first speaker and a second speaker and is configured to communicate the feedback sound representative of the first vehicle sound primarily through the first speaker and the feedback sound representative of the second vehicle sound primarily through the second speaker.

### Claim 10

A method for providing a feedback sound representative of a first vehicle sound of a first vehicle and a second vehicle sound of a second vehicle, the method comprising:
communicating the first vehicle sound;
communicating the second vehicle sound;
receiving the first vehicle sound and the second vehicle sound;
forming or determining the feedback sound from the first vehicle sound and the second vehicle sound;
communicating the feedback sound to a user interface located together with a user at a location one of: in the first vehicle, in the second vehicle or outside the first and second vehicles; and
determining whether the first vehicle and the second vehicle are operating properly and if the first vehicle is not operating properly, amplifying the first vehicle sound, and if the second vehicle is not operating properly, amplifying the second vehicle sound.