Harman develops in-car personal sound zones

Harman, which designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and enterprise automation solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets, has developed Individual Sound Zones (ISZ) which is an in-cabin technology that enables drivers and passengers to create sonic zones, ensuring that all occupants only hear what matters to them.

While there are many different sounds generated in-vehicle, not all of these sounds are relevant to all passengers. Today's explosion of portable electronics and in-vehicle technologies like navigation, hands-free calling and Bluetooth connections have dramatically altered driving habits and the in-cabin experience. Navigation prompts and phone calls are important for drivers, but interrupt the music for passengers. Games, audio books and digital videos for one passenger result in a cabin filled with sonic clutter for all. Harman says its new ISZ technology can help reduce that clutter, ensuring that all occupants in the vehicle get personalised sound.

“Individual Sound Zones and the HALOsonic technology suite enable automakers to offer enhanced experiences to passengers, as well as imagine new possibilities as the car itself continues to evolve in use beyond the traditional ‘people mover,’” said Michael Mauser, president, Lifestyle Division, Harman. “With Harman’s science-based architecture and acoustic precision, we’re pushing the barriers of sound and creating the ultimate personalized experience throughout the vehicle cabin.”

ISZ is an innovative acoustic design and complementary digital signal processing that maximizes speaker directivity and minimizes crosstalk in and between the zones in a vehicle for a more personalized in-cabin experience. ISZ does not eliminate all sound signals, but tunes the vehicle to ensure passengers audio experience is optimized for their location in the vehicle and current mode of listening.

ISZ utilizes a vehicle’s existing audio system speakers with the addition of headrest speakers equipped with micro speaker technology, along with thin and flat Electro Dynamic Planar Loudspeakers in the vehicle ceiling. The digital signal processing has been specifically adjusted to the vehicle cabin and speakers such that it will temper the signals from other zones, regardless of whether they are music, voice or other noises. Each passenger can activate and control their ‘zone’. Passengers can still hear other sounds in the cabin, but those sounds are controlled in a way that limits the interruptions and distractions to each passenger’s own sound experience. The configuration can be customized based on the cabin design and layout of vehicles, as well as type of vehicle (i.e. sedan vs minivan).

Individual Sound Zones can be integrated into any Harman in-car audio system via the amplifier, providing automakers limitless possibilities to further enhance in-car listening experiences. It is available now to all automakers.