US6401028B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Position guiding method and system using sound changes
Assignee: Yamaha Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 2001-04-02
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Granted: 2002-06-04
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Expires: 2021-04-02
Abstract
Abstract A system guides a user (or a vehicle 100 ) in reference to a target position via sound changes. The system (i) virtually disposes a sound source at the target position defined in a geographical data field covering the positional arrangement of the user and the target object, and (ii) actually outputs simulated sounds to the user as if the target position emitted sounds and the sounds were propagated from the target position to the user at the current position. The sounds change as the user moves in the geographical data field. For example, sound propagation paths, through which sound waves from the sound source are propagated to the user while being influenced by other objects or obstacles, are calculated based on positional data from a position detection system 10 . Simulated sounds expressed by combining directly transmitted waves, diffraction waves, and reflection waves, which arrive at the user through the sound propagation paths, are generated, and the generated sounds are outputted from multiple speakers 34 a to 34 d in such a way that the three-dimensional position of the sound source can be identified.
Inventors
- 👤 Tsuyoshi Kamiya
- 👤 Takashi Mizokawa
- 👤 Hirofumi Mochizuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:56
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G01C21/34; G01C21/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A position guiding method for guiding a user in reference to a target object via sound changes as the user's observation point moves, comprising the steps of: virtually disposing a sound source at the target object in a geographical data field covering the positional arrangement of the user and the target object; calculating propagation paths in real time through which sound waves from the target object are propagated to the observation point in the geographical data field, based on geographical conditions defined in the geographical data field; and synthesizing and outputting a simulation of sounds as if the target object actually emitted sounds and the sounds were propagated to the user's current observation point, using the calculated propagation paths.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A position guiding method for guiding a user in reference to a target object via sound changes as the user's observation point moves, comprising the steps of: virtually disposing a sound source at the target object in a geographical data field covering the positional arrangement of the user and the target object; calculating propagation paths in real time through which sound waves from the target object are propagated to the observation point in the geographical data field, based on geographical conditions defined in the geographical data field; and synthesizing and outputting a simulation of sounds as if the target object actually emitted sounds and the sounds were propagated to the user's current observation point, using the calculated propagation paths.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the geographical data field is configured based on positional information obtained from a positional information detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the simulation of sounds are outputted from multiple sound output devices which are disposed in different positions with respect to the positions of the user's ears.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the geographical data field corresponds to the real world geographical arrangements, and the target object is the user's destination.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein multiple target objects are selected, and different sounds are designated to different target objects.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 1 , which is a simulation method wherein the target object and the user are disposed in virtual space defined by the geographical data field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 1 , which is a navigation method wherein the user uses a vehicle, and the observation point is the current position of the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the simulation of sounds is calculated using indirectly transmitted waves which arrive at the observation points through the propagation paths, or using a combination of the indirectly transmitted waves and directly transmitted waves which are directly propagated to the observation point through the propagated paths.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein the indirectly transmitted waves are at least either one of (i) diffraction waves which are sound waves from the target object propagated to the observation point while being diffracting by objects or obstacles defined in the geographical data field, or (ii) reflection waves which are sound waves from the target object propagated to the observation point while being reflected by objects or obstacles defined in the geographical data field.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein the simulation of sounds is formulated further using the Doppler effect.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 10 , wherein the moving velocity of the user for determining the Doppler effect is measured using a velocity detector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 10 , wherein when the distance between the observation point and the target object becomes less than a given range, the Doppler effect is added to formulate the simulation of sounds.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for guiding a user with reference to a target object via sound changes, comprising the steps of: configuring a geographical data field in a computer system; designating a target object in the geographical data field as a sound source; designating an observation point in the geographical data field; defining the propagation of sound waves from the sound source to the observation point as a sound signal which is calculated using as a parameter at least a distance from the sound source to the current observation point and further using as a parameter at least one selected from the group consisting of constructions, geographical features, the moving direction of the observation point, and the moving velocity of the observation point defined in the geographical data field; separating a sound signal arriving at the observation point into multiple audio element signals according to the direction of the sound source observed from the observation point; and reproducing and outputting to the user the multiple audio element signals as a simulation of sounds whereby the user sensorially recognize the position of the target object from the current observation point.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for guiding a user with reference to a target object via sound changes, comprising the steps of: configuring a geographical data field in a computer system; designating a target object in the geographical data field as a sound source; designating an observation point in the geographical data field; defining the propagation of sound waves from the sound source to the observation point as a sound signal which is calculated using as a parameter at least a distance from the sound source to the current observation point and further using as a parameter at least one selected from the group consisting of constructions, geographical features, the moving direction of the observation point, and the moving velocity of the observation point defined in the geographical data field; separating a sound signal arriving at the observation point into multiple audio element signals according to the direction of the sound source observed from the observation point; and reproducing and outputting to the user the multiple audio element signals as a simulation of sounds whereby the user sensorially recognize the position of the target object from the current observation point.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method according to claim 13 , wherein the geographical data field is displayed to the user on a display monitor, the user designates the target object on the monitor, the user's position is displayed as the observation point, and the simulation of sounds is outputted from multiple sound output devices installed at positions by which the user can understand the direction of sounds.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 13 , wherein the position of the user is identified by a Global Positioning System (GPS), and the geographical data field is configured based on real geographical data containing the position of the user and the target object.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 13 , which is a navigation method wherein the user uses a vehicle, and the observation point is the current position of the vehicle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
174 words
A position guiding system for guiding a user with reference to a target object via sound changes, comprising: (a) a positional information detector which obtains positional information for locating the position of the user's observation point in a geographical data field; (b) a geographical data field-user interface which virtually disposes a sound source at the target object in a geographical data field; (c) a propagation path calculation unit which identifies propagation paths, through which sound waves from the target object are propagated to the observation point, based on the positional information obtained by the positional information detector, (d) a sound synthesizer which synthesizes a simulation of sounds as if the target object actually emitted sounds and the sounds were propagated to the user's current observation point via the propagation paths, and (e) multiple sound output devices which outputs the synthesized sounds, said multiple sound output devices being arranged in different positions with respect to the positions of the user's ears to enable the user to sensorially recognize the positional arrangement of the target object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
174 words
A position guiding system for guiding a user with reference to a target object via sound changes, comprising: (a) a positional information detector which obtains positional information for locating the position of the user's observation point in a geographical data field; (b) a geographical data field-user interface which virtually disposes a sound source at the target object in a geographical data field; (c) a propagation path calculation unit which identifies propagation paths, through which sound waves from the target object are propagated to the observation point, based on the positional information obtained by the positional information detector, (d) a sound synthesizer which synthesizes a simulation of sounds as if the target object actually emitted sounds and the sounds were propagated to the user's current observation point via the propagation paths, and (e) multiple sound output devices which outputs the synthesized sounds, said multiple sound output devices being arranged in different positions with respect to the positions of the user's ears to enable the user to sensorially recognize the positional arrangement of the target object.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system according to claim 17 , wherein the interface is configured to designate multiple target objects and designate different sounds to different target objects.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system according to claim 17 , wherein the positional information detector identifies the position of the user using a Global Positioning System (GPS).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
A position guiding simulation system comprising the system of claim 17 , wherein the positional arrangements of the user and the target object are disposed in virtual space.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system according to claim 17 , wherein the sound synthesizer calculates the simulation of sounds using indirectly transmitted waves which arrive at the observation points through the propagation paths, or using a combination of the indirectly transmitted waves and directly transmitted waves which are directly propagated to the observation point through the propagated paths.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
77 words
The system according to claim 21 , wherein the indirectly transmitted waves are at least either one of (i) diffraction waves which are sound waves from the target object propagated to the observation point while being diffracting by objects or obstacles defined in the geographical data field, or (ii) reflection waves which are sound waves from the target object propagated to the observation point while being reflected by objects or obstacles defined in the geographical data field.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 17 , further comprising a velocity detector for measuring the moving velocity of the user.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system according to claim 23 , wherein the sound synthesizer further determines the Doppler effect based on the moving velocity of the user measured.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
A sonic navigation system comprising the system of claim 17 , which is adapted to be installed in a vehicle operated by the user, wherein the positional information detector detects the position of the vehicle as the user's observation point.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The sonic navigation system according to claim 25 , wherein the positional information detector configures the geographical data field in a three-dimensional map.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-06-03 | 2005-12-03 | 2006-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-03 | 2009-12-03 | 2010-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-03 | 2013-12-03 | 2014-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |