Method for outputting an audio signal into an interior via an output device comprising a left and a right output channel

Abstract

Method for outputting an audio signal (S) into an interior (4) forming part of a passenger compartment (2) of a motor vehicle (3) via an acoustic output device (7) comprising a left and a right acoustic output channel (5, 6), comprising the steps: supplying an audio signal (S), splitting of the supplied audio signal (S) into a plurality of acoustic audio signal components (S.1-S.3) dependent on the direction of perception, mixing of each acoustic audio signal component (S.1-S.3) dependent on the direction of perception to a right and/or a left output channel (5, 6) of an acoustic output device (7) comprising a right and a left acoustic output channel (5, 6), output of the acoustic audio signal components (S.1-S.3) dependent on the direction of perception via the right and/or the left acoustic output channel (5, 6) of the acoustic output device (7).

Claims

1. Method for outputting an audio signal into an interior forming part of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle via an acoustic output device comprising a left and a right acoustic output channel, comprising the steps: supplying an audio signal to be split into a plurality of acoustic audio signal components, each corresponding to a listener's aural direction of perception, splitting, via a splitting device comprising a source separation device, of the supplied audio signal into a plurality of acoustic audio signal components each corresponding to a listener's aural direction of perception, mixing, via the mixing device, of each of the plurality of acoustic audio signal components dependent on the listener's aural direction of perception to a right or left output channel of an acoustic output device comprising a right and a left acoustic output channel into a plurality of mixed acoustic audio signal components comprising a center audio signal component whereby a virtual center output channel for the center audio signal is generated, and outputting each of the plurality of mixed acoustic audio signal components, via the right and the left acoustic output channel of the acoustic output device, whereby the center audio signal component is output via the right and/or the left acoustic output channel of the acoustic output device; wherein the splitting device and the mixing device are separate devices, and before splitting, the audio signal is analyzed via analyzing algorithms associated with the splitting device to determine individual audio signal components, which in an output of the audio signal via an output device comprising a left and a right output channel would correspond to an output direction or position perceived by a listener in a defined listening position relative to such an output device comprising a left and a right output channel.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the supplied audio signal is split into a center audio signal component, a left audio signal component perceived to the left of the center audio signal component and a right audio signal component perceived to the right of the center audio signal component.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the left audio signal component is output via the left acoustic output channel of the acoustic output device, the right audio signal component is output via the right acoustic output channel of the acoustic output device, and the center audio signal component is output via the left and/or via the right output channel of the output device.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the center audio signal component is output both via the right and via the left acoustic output channel of the acoustic output device.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein a first portion of the center audio signal component determined by a weighting factor is output via the left acoustic output channel of the acoustic output device and a second portion of the center audio signal component determined by a weighting factor is output via the right acoustic output channel of the acoustic output device.

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein the weighting factor is varied as a function of definable or defined boundary conditions.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the weighting factor is varied as a function of certain boundary conditions relating to the occupation of a passenger compartment by vehicle occupants.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein the audio signal is a stereo signal.

9. Device for outputting an audio signal into an interior forming part of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle via an acoustic output device comprising a left and a right acoustic output channel, comprising: a splitting device, comprising a source separation device, which is adapted to split a supplied audio signal into a plurality of acoustic audio signal components each corresponding to a listener's aural direction of perception, a mixing device, which is adapted to mix each acoustic audio signal component each corresponding to a listener's aural direction of perception to a right or a left output channel of an acoustic output device comprising a right and a left acoustic output channel and to generate a virtual center output channel for one or more center audio signal components obtained through splitting of the supplied audio signal, and an acoustic output device comprising two acoustic output channels that is adapted to output the acoustic audio signal components each corresponding to a listener's aural direction of perception via the right and left acoustic output channel of the acoustic output device, wherein the splitting device is configured to analyze the supplied audio signal for individual signal components before splitting the audio signal, wherein the audio signal is analyzed via analyzing algorithms associated with the splitting device to determine individual audio signal components, which in an output of the audio signal via an output device comprising a left and a right output channel would correspond to an output direction or position perceived by a listener in a defined listening.

10. A motor vehicle, comprising the device of claim 9.

Description

(1) The sole FIGURE shows a schematic diagram of a device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment. The device 1 is adapted to output an audio signal into an interior 4 forming part of a passenger compartment 2 of a motor vehicle 3 via an acoustic output device 7 comprising a left and a right acoustic output channel 5, 6.

(2) The device 1 comprises as functional components a splitting device 8 implemented in a hardware and/or software manner, a mixing device 9 implemented in a hardware and/or software manner and the output device 7 comprising a left and a right output channel 5, 6 (loudspeaker). The splitting device 8 is adapted to split a supplied audio signal S, i.e. a piece of music, for example, into several audio signal components S.1-S.3. The mixing device 9 is adapted to mix an audio signal component S.1-S.3 to an output channel 5, 6 of the output device 7. The functional interaction of said functional components of the device 1 is described in greater detail in connection with the following explanation of the method that can be implemented using the device 1 for outputting an audio signal into the interior 4 of the motor vehicle 3 forming part of the passenger compartment 2.

(3) The device 1 is thus adapted to carry out a method for outputting an audio signal S into an interior 4 forming part of a passenger compartment 2 of a motor vehicle 3 via an output device 7 comprising a left and a right output channel 5, 6. The aim of the method is to be able to output an audio signal S via an output device 7 comprising only two output channels 5, 6, i.e. a right and a left output channel and no center output channel, with the best possible stereo width.

(4) In a first method step, an audio signal S is supplied. The audio signal S is typically a stereo signal. The audio signal S can be supplied in different ways. For example, the audio signal S can be supplied via a sound carrier, i.e. a CD, for example, a data carrier, i.e. a hard drive memory, for example, or a data network, i.e. the Internet, for example. The audio signal S can be e.g. a recording of a piece of music, a piece of text, etc.

(5) In a second method step, the audio signal S supplied is split by means of the splitting device 8 into three audio signal components S.1-S.3 dependent on the direction of perception. To do this, the audio signal S is examined via suitable examination algorithms that can be or are associated by means of the splitting device 8 with regard to individual audio signal components S.1-S.3, which in the actual output of the audio signal S via an output device comprising two output channels, i.e. a left and a right output channel, correspond or would correspond to an output direction or position perceived by a listener. The actual splitting of the audio signal S into the audio signal components S.1-S.3 takes place via a source separation device 10 belonging to the splitting device 8 and comprising one or more source separation algorithms.

(6) According to the method, the audio signal S is split into a left audio signal component S.1, a center audio signal component S.2, and a right audio signal component S.3.

(7) The center audio signal component S.2 corresponds to an output direction or position perceived centrally by a listener on actual output of the audio signal S via an output device comprising two output channels. The left audio signal component S.1 corresponds to an output direction or position perceived to be (more) left (compared with a center audio signal component) by a listener on actual output of the audio signal S via an output device comprising two output channels. The right audio signal component S.3 corresponds to an output direction or position perceived to be (more) right (compared with a center audio signal component) by a listener on actual output of the audio signal S via an output device comprising two output channels.

(8) The splitting of the audio signal S accordingly delivers (precisely) three audio signal components according to the method, namely a left audio signal component S.1, which contains all or just portions of the audio signal S, which are perceived to the left of center of the output or which are located to the left of center of the output, a right audio signal component S.3, which contains all or just portions of the audio signal S, which are perceived to the right of center of the output or which are located to the right of center of the output, and a center audio signal component S.2, contains all or just portions of the audio signal S, which are perceived in the center of the output or which are located in the center of the output.

(9) In a third method step, the audio signal components S.1-S.3 are mixed by means of the mixing device 9 to the right and/or the left output channel 5, 6 of the output device 7. Each audio signal component S.1-S.3 is accordingly mixed to a certain output channel 5, 6 of the output device. For the center audio signal component S.2 it is the case that this can be mixed split proportionately also to both output channels 5, 6.

(10) In a fourth method step, the output of the audio signal components S.1-S.3 takes place via the two output channels 5, 6 of the output device 7. The left audio signal component S.1 is output via the left output channel 5 of the output device 7, the right audio signal component S.3 is output via the right output channel 6 of the output device 7 and the center audio signal component S.2 is output via the left and/or via the right output channel 5, 6 of the output device 7. The best possible stereo width is facilitated by this for a listener positioned on the driver's side or passenger's side without the necessity of a dedicated center output channel.

(11) As mentioned, the center audio signal component can be mixed split proportionately to both output channels 5, 6 and accordingly output split proportionately via both output channels 5, 6. In this case a first portion S.2.1 of the center audio signal component S.2 determined by a weighting factor G can be output via the left output channel 5 of the output device 7 and a second portion S.2.2 of the center audio signal component S.2 determined by a weighting factor G can be output via the right output channel 6 of the output device 7. The first portion S.2.1 of the center audio signal component S.2 can accordingly be output mixed with the left audio signal component S.1 via the left output channel 5 and the second portion S.2.2 of the center audio signal portion S.2 can be mixed with the right audio signal portion S.3 and output via the right output channel 6 of the output device 7. The weighting of the portions S.2.1, S.2.2 of the center audio signal component S.2 can take place equally or unequally; a first portion S.2.1 of the center audio signal component S.2 can thus be greater than a second portion S.2.2 of the center audio signal component S.2, or vice versa.

(12) A static or dynamic (variable) weighting factor G can be used according to the method. In the latter case, the weighting factor G can be varied e.g. as a function of definable or defined boundary conditions. For example, the weighting factor G can be varied as a function of certain boundary conditions relating to the occupation of the passenger compartment 2 by vehicle occupants. A weighting of the center audio signal component S.2 can accordingly take place as a function of the distribution of respective vehicle occupants located inside the passenger compartment 2. If the majority of vehicle occupants are located on the driver's side, the center audio signal component S.2 can be output e.g. with a higher weighting via the respective driver's side output channel 5, 6, if the majority of vehicle occupants are located on the passenger's side, the center audio signal component S.2 can be output e.g. with a higher weighting via the respective passenger's side output channel 5, 6.