US 12,115,909 B2
Virtual sound generation apparatus, system including the same, and method thereof
Ki Chang Kim, Gyeonggi-do (KR); and Dong Chul Park, Gyeonggi-do (KR)
Assigned to Hyundai Motor Company, Seoul (KR); and Kia Corporation, Seoul (KR)
Filed by Hyundai Motor Company, Seoul (KR); and Kia Corporation, Seoul (KR)
Filed on Sep. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/947,897.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2022-0045847 (KR), filed on Apr. 13, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0331150 A1, Oct. 19, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60Q 9/00 (2006.01); B60Q 5/00 (2006.01); G06F 3/16 (2006.01); G10K 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC B60Q 9/00 (2013.01) [B60Q 5/008 (2013.01); G06F 3/165 (2013.01); G10K 15/02 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A virtual sound generation apparatus, comprising:
a first sensor configured to obtain biometric information about a passenger;
an output device configured to output a virtual sound; and
a processor electrically connected with the first sensor and the output device,
wherein the processor is configured to:
determine a driving sensibility for the passenger based on the biometric information obtained by the first sensor;
generate an effect signal for guiding the passenger to be stimulated depending on the driving sensibility;
control the output virtual sound based on the effect signal;
determine whether the passenger experiences a stimulus based on information collected by the first sensor while the output of the virtual sound is controlled; and
re-generate, when it is determined that the passenger does not experience the stimulus, the effect signal and control the output of the virtual sound based on the re-generated effect signal.