innovation paper

HarmanInnovation.com© 2015 Harman International, Inc.

Individual Sound Zones My Seat. My Sound.

The convenience of today’s portable electronics and in-car technologies like navigation, hands-free calling and Bluetooth connections have dramatically altered how we drive and what we hear in a car. Navigation prompts and phone calls interrupt our music. Audible entertainment and vehicle alerts all add to the in-car sonic clutter created today.

The Problem:

innovation paper

Individual Sound Zones allow each passenger to enjoy his or her own personalized in-car audio experience.

ISZ (Individual Sound Zones) is intended to create individual listening zones for each passenger, enabling passengers to personalize their own audio experiences with limited disruption or interference from other vehicle occupants. HARMAN’s ISZ is the ultimate car audio upgrade – the introduction of virtual, simultaneous, in-car entertainment systems. It is liberating and empowering, as it gives each passenger control over their listening preferences.

The Solution:

Individual Sounds Zones (ISZ)

innovation paper

How It Works:

The ISZ system provides highly satisfactory Cross Talk Cancellation covering the entire audio frequency band.

Standard car audio speakers are able to achieve good control of the wave field, but only at low frequencies due to the modal characteristics of the car interior. To achieve personal listening zones over a broader audio bandwidth, it is necessary to introduce additional speakers positioned in closer proximity to the occupants’ heads. This has been achieved by positioning two small but powerful speakers with micro-speaker technology at each headrest. The active system comprises the headrest speakers and standard car audio speakers to enable modification of the wave field as desired via a specially designed ISZ filter matrix. In addition, our patent-pending directional EDPL headliner speakers, which form a passive system, can cover the majority of the spectral audio range. The conclusion is that a complete system with system, headrest and directional speakers is preferable, as it provides highly satisfactory CTC (Cross Talk Cancellation) covering the entire audio frequency band.

innovation paper

• Driver-specific features: Some sounds are intended only for the driver. Navigation prompts and vehicle alerts can now be heard by the driver, with little impact on the other passengers’ listening experience.

• Hear it your way: Even if all occupants are enjoying the same audio program, each passenger can adjust their listening volume independently.

• Pass it on: Not in the mood for a lengthy debate with your mother-in-law? Just pass the call to her granddaughter sitting in the back.

• Declaration of independence: The children in the back seat can listen to an audio book or watch a video while their parents in the front enjoy their favorite music.

The Benefits

Each passenger can adjust their listening volume and music experience independently.

Keywords: ISZ, Individual Sound Zone, sound quality, audio, automotive, Harman Innovation, audio quality, safety, technology, connected car, audio performance, driving experience, passenger comfort.

Get more automotive audio insights at the Harman Innovation Hub.

© 2015 HARMAN International Industries Incorporated. All rights reserved.

HARMAN (NYSE:HAR) (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson® and Revel®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems.

For more information on leading audio and automotive technologies, visit harmaninnovation.com

innovation paper