Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a vehicle audio enhancement system that could be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on January 5th, 2022, published on July 6th, 2023, and assigned serial number 0217167.
The Ford Authority Take
Ford has been toying around with the idea of using audio in vehicles in new ways for some time now, filing patents for a proximity alert system and a multi-vehicle audio system while also piloting an audio system that’s capable of alerting drivers to the presence and location of pedestrians as well. Now, this newly filed patent keeps that trend going by introducing an idea for a vehicle audio enhancement system that could be used in future Ford vehicles, too.
While automakers have worked to reduce in-cabin noise for years now, there are times when the occupant of a vehicle may want to hear what’s going on outside of that vehicle. This can include times when the driver needs to communicate with someone or simply wants to listen to background noise or nature while they’re tooling around, and oftentimes, merely rolling down the window may not be sufficient. Additionally, a mechanic may want to listen for noises that could indicate a potential problem while driving around, too.
That’s precisely where the system outlined in this newly filed patent comes into play – it’s capable of sending sound from the exterior of the vehicle to the interior while also modifying the signal to make it clearer. This means the system could compensate for hearing loss, unwanted exterior noise, and other things that may muffle a sound or make it difficult to discern.
There are certainly cases where such a system could prove useful, particularly for those test driving a vehicle they may want to purchase, or perhaps even owners that prefer a slightly less serene cabin, making this a feature that we may very well see in future Ford vehicles in some capacity.
We’ll have more on this and all Ford patents soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford patent news, Ford business news, and non-stop Ford news coverage.
Comments
Yeah, this is jut another F’ing useless thing that better NEVER apear on ANY build sheets or window sales records !!!!!!!!
Attention, attention, FORD ! Nobody wants this. Put your efforts into making affordable, RELIABLE vehicles
This is dumb. I get that it’s just IP trolling, but it’s dumb. The only way I could see this being valuable at all is to detect and alert drivers of incoming emergency vehicles.
Mechanics can buy a GoPro or whatever if they need to hear what’s going on, then you’d get video too.
What happens if something outside is already broken and now you got to hear it on “loud” and no way to shut it off?
A sound I would like to hear inside is from a CD player. Oh wait we took those away !
Maybe if it turned on when emergency vehicles were around; it would be useful. But then, the idiots behind the wheel would still need to get out of the way…
Usually…. When I want to hear something outside of my truck. I use this secret trick. It’s called, rolling down the window…. 🤯
Why would Ford want such an inane technology? Because in Ford’s future concept of transportation, all sensory inputs you receive will go through Ford so that you can be manipulated and steered in a certain direction. Think of your future vehicle as one big VR set. With this patent, Ford will be able to alert you to reality (i.e. sirens) during those rare times when you will have to interact with the world while being ported around in your mobile lounge.
Could be a way to get subliminal messages across like a form of brain washing.