Apparatus and method for creating a virtual post-combustion effect in an electric vehicle

By collecting input variable information in electric vehicles in real time and using a virtual internal combustion engine model to generate a virtual afterburning effect, the problem of electric vehicles lacking the sound and vibration of an internal combustion engine is solved, thus improving the driving experience.

CN114194127BActive Publication Date: 2026-05-08HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD +1
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD
Filing Date
2020-12-28
Publication Date
2026-05-08

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Electric vehicles lack the afterburning sound and vibration effects of internal combustion engines, preventing drivers from experiencing the dynamic motion and excitement of high-performance internal combustion engine vehicles.

Method used

By collecting real-time input variable information in electric vehicles, a virtual afterburning effect is generated using a virtual internal combustion engine model, including simulating afterburning sounds, vibrations, and backfire effects, which are reproduced using speakers, vibrators, and lighting devices.

Benefits of technology

It provides a realistic virtual afterburning effect in electric vehicles, enhancing the driver's driving experience and increasing the sense of dynamic motion and excitement.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for generating a virtual afterburning effect in an electric vehicle, wherein a method for generating a virtual afterburning effect in an electric vehicle using a controller includes the steps of: receiving, by the controller, vehicle travel information while the electric vehicle is driven; determining, by the controller, virtual variable information of an engine based on the received vehicle travel information; determining, by the controller, a virtual afterburning effect characteristic based on the determined virtual variable information of the engine; outputting, by the controller, a control signal for generating a virtual afterburning effect based on the determined virtual afterburning effect characteristic; and controlling, by the controller, an effect generating apparatus configured to generate a virtual afterburning effect based on the control signal output from the controller.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing a virtual afterburn effect in a vehicle, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for generating a virtual afterburn effect in an electric vehicle without an internal combustion engine, depending on the vehicle's driving conditions. Background Technology

[0002] As is well known, electric vehicles (EVs) are vehicles that operate using electric motors.

[0003] The drive system of this electric vehicle includes: an electric motor, configured as the vehicle's drive source; a battery, connected to the electric motor in a rechargeable or dischargeable manner to supply power to drive the electric motor; an inverter, connected to the battery to drive and control the electric motor; and a reducer, which reduces the rotational force of the electric motor and transmits it to the drive wheels.

[0004] Here, the inverter is configured to convert direct current (DC) supplied from the battery into alternating current (AC), and apply AC to the motor via the power line during motor drive, and convert the AC generated by the motor into DC and supply DC to the battery to charge the battery.

[0005] As described above, the drive system of electric vehicles generates power by using battery electricity to drive an electric motor, rather than by burning fuel as in traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.

[0006] Therefore, unlike the torque generated by internal combustion engines through aerodynamic and thermodynamic reactions, the torque of electric vehicles is more precise, smoother, and more responsive compared to that of internal combustion engines.

[0007] While these characteristics play a positive role in electric vehicles, in the case of high-performance vehicles, the various effects generated by the noise, physical vibration, and thermodynamic effects of the internal combustion engine can sometimes be emotionally significant.

[0008] One of the factors that electric vehicles cannot provide due to their characteristics is the afterburning sound and the resulting backfire phenomenon that can usually be felt in high-performance internal combustion engine vehicles.

[0009] Afterburning noise is generated by pressure changes in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. In high-performance vehicles, when rich fuel is discharged through the exhaust manifold for various reasons without being ignited in the engine cylinders, it expands in the hot exhaust pipe, generating afterburning noise.

[0010] This afterburning sound gives vehicle passengers, such as the driver, a dynamic driving experience and excitement. Therefore, there is a need for a technology configured to virtually provide an afterburning effect similar to that of an internal combustion engine in electric vehicles.

[0011] The information included in the background section of this invention is intended only to enhance the understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be construed as an admission of prior art known to those skilled in the art or any form of implication. Summary of the Invention

[0012] Various aspects of the present invention relate to providing an apparatus and method for generating a virtual afterburning effect in an electric vehicle without an internal combustion engine, based on the vehicle's driving conditions.

[0013] In various aspects of the present invention, an apparatus and method for generating a virtual afterburning effect in an electric vehicle are provided.

[0014] According to the apparatus and method for providing virtual afterburning effects for electric vehicles, even in electric vehicles, afterburning effects including afterburning sounds, backfires and vibrations found in internal combustion engine vehicles can be virtually provided, giving drivers a dynamic driving feel and stimulation that can only be experienced in high-performance cars, which improves and differentiates the product quality of electric vehicles.

[0015] According to the device and method for providing a virtual afterburning effect in electric vehicles, when the driver expects only the driving pleasure of driving an electric vehicle with quiet driving characteristics, the virtual afterburning effect is provided so that the driver can feel vibration and driving stimulation even in his electric vehicle.

[0016] The methods and apparatus of the present invention have other features and advantages that will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and detailed description below, or will be set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings and detailed description below, which are incorporated herein by reference and together serve to explain certain principles of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating a method for providing virtual afterburning effects according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a virtual afterburning effect providing device according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of providing a virtual afterburning effect according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 This is a graph illustrating, according to various exemplary embodiments of the invention, the values ​​of dummy variables depending on the input variables; and

[0021] Figure 8 It is a graph showing the virtual afterburning effect characteristics depending on the input variables according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0022] It is understood that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and present slightly simplified representations of various features illustrating the basic principles of the invention. Specific design features of the invention as included herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes, will be determined in part by the particular intended application and environment of use.

[0023] In the accompanying drawings, throughout several figures, reference numerals refer to the same or equivalent parts of the invention. Detailed Implementation

[0024] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. Although the invention will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood that this specification is not intended to limit the invention to those exemplary embodiments. On the other hand, the invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments thereof, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments that may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

[0025] In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, enabling those skilled in the art to readily implement the invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein and may be implemented in other forms.

[0026] When a part of the instruction manual "includes" a component, it means, unless otherwise specified, that it may include other components rather than exclude them.

[0027] Various aspects of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for generating and implementing a virtual afterburning effect in an electric vehicle without an internal combustion engine, based on the vehicle's driving conditions.

[0028] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the generation of the virtual afterburning effect includes an auditory presentation of the sound effect reproducing simulated afterburning sounds, and a visual presentation of the light effect simulating backfire. In addition, it may also include the presentation of vibrations generated by afterburning.

[0029] In the case of electric vehicles, there is no internal combustion engine (ICE) with an intake and exhaust system. However, the present invention is characterized by determining the virtual variable value of the internal combustion engine based on the actual input variables of the electric vehicle, using the determined virtual variable value to determine the afterburning effect index (which is the afterburning effect characteristic), and generating a virtual afterburning effect through a speaker, an electric motor and a vibration device, a light-emitting device, etc., based on the determined afterburning effect index (afterburning effect characteristic).

[0030] When an afterburning effect is generated based on virtual variables of an internal combustion engine according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a more realistic virtual afterburning effect with multiple characteristics can be provided compared to simply generating an afterburning effect in an electric vehicle using actual input variables such as accelerator pedal input value (APS value), motor speed, motor torque, etc.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating a method for providing a virtual afterburning effect according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0032] According to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, actual input variable information of an electric vehicle for generating a virtual afterburning effect is collected in real time during vehicle operation; virtual variable information of an internal combustion engine is obtained based on the collected actual input variable information; the characteristics of the virtual afterburning effect are determined in real time according to the obtained virtual variable information of the internal combustion engine; virtual afterburning sound is output through a speaker (generating sound effect); and vehicle vibration and backfire caused by afterburning are generated through a vibrator and a light-emitting device (generating vibration effect and light-emitting effect) according to the determined virtual afterburning effect characteristic information.

[0033] According to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as described above, when obtaining virtual variable values ​​of the internal combustion engine from actual input variable values ​​of the electric vehicle, a virtual internal combustion engine model preset in the controller can be used.

[0034] According to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the actual input variable information input to the controller to generate and produce the virtual afterburning effect may be vehicle driving information, which is used as input information related to the virtual internal combustion engine model to obtain virtual variable information.

[0035] Vehicle driving information may be sensor information detected by sensors and input through an in-vehicle network, or information determined by the controller of the virtual afterburner effect generating device according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, or information input to the controller from another controller in the electric vehicle through the in-vehicle network.

[0036] Vehicle driving information used as actual input variables to generate afterburner effects may include at least one of the following: accelerator pedal input value as driver input, its rate of change (slope), integral value of accelerator pedal input, electric motor torque (electric motor torque command) as driving status information, its rate of change (slope), integral value of electric motor torque, electric motor power, battery discharge power, drive system speed information, and temperature of power electronic components.

[0037] This type of input variable information is information related to the actual system of the electric vehicle, and the aforementioned actual vehicle driving information can be used as input variables to generate afterburning effects.

[0038] Here, the accelerator pedal input value (APS value) is based on the driver's operation of the accelerator pedal and can be information detected by the accelerator pedal detection unit (APS), as described later.

[0039] The rate of change of the accelerator pedal input value refers to the slope of the change in the accelerator pedal input value (APS value), which can be obtained by acquiring the slope of the accelerator position sensor (APS) signal.

[0040] An electric motor refers to a drive motor connected to the drive wheels to drive a vehicle, and the motor torque can be a motor torque command determined by the controller based on vehicle driving information collected from the vehicle. Furthermore, the rate of change of motor torque can refer to the slope of the change in the motor torque command.

[0041] The method and process for determining and generating motor torque commands for controlling the torque output of a drive motor in an electric vehicle are known technical problems in the art, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0042] The speed information of the drive system can be one or both of speed and acceleration, where speed is the rotational speed of the vehicle drive system components, which can be the speed of the electric motor, wheel speed or drive shaft speed.

[0043] In addition, acceleration can be obtained by differentiating the motor speed signal, wheel speed signal, or drive shaft speed signal, or it can be obtained by measuring the actual value through an acceleration sensor.

[0044] The temperature of power electronic (PE) components is detected by temperature sensors. Power electronic components typically refer to power electronic components that include drive system components.

[0045] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the temperature of the power electronic component may be the temperature of the electric motor, the temperature of the battery, or the temperature of other power electronic components besides the electric motor and the battery, such as the temperature of the inverter or other vehicle drive system components.

[0046] In electric vehicles, water cooling systems are used to circulate coolant between these components and radiators to cool power electronic (PE) components such as motors, batteries, and inverters, where the temperature of the components can be the coolant temperature detected by temperature sensors.

[0047] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the controller obtains virtual variable information in the internal combustion engine based on vehicle driving information (which is the actual input variable information of the electric vehicle), and determines the characteristics of the virtual afterburning effect based on the obtained virtual variable information of the internal combustion engine.

[0048] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the virtual variable information of the internal combustion engine may be predetermined information indicating the operating state of the virtual internal combustion engine corresponding to the actual input variable information of the electric vehicle. The virtual variable information of the internal combustion engine may include at least one of the following: virtual air-fuel mixture quantity, virtual air-fuel ratio, virtual exhaust manifold temperature, virtual engine speed (virtual engine rotation speed), and virtual shift event information and virtual shift intervention torque for realizing virtual shift effects.

[0049] Here, virtual shift event information may include the number of virtual shift stages.

[0050] Furthermore, when virtual variable information of the internal combustion engine is obtained from the actual input variable information of the electric vehicle through the controller as described above, a virtual internal combustion engine model that has been pre-built and stored in the controller can be used as described above.

[0051] Furthermore, in various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the characteristics of the virtual afterburning effect include: the time point at which the virtual afterburning effect is initially generated by the effect generating device; and at least one of the intensity of the afterburning effect, the duration and time interval of the afterburning effect, and the frequency band or pitch (sound level).

[0052] Subsequently, in various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when the virtual afterburning effect characteristics are determined as described above, the controller controls the operation of the virtual afterburning effect generating device placed in the vehicle for auditory, vibrational and visual presentation of the afterburning effect, namely, the audio system for outputting and reproducing sound, such as a loudspeaker, amplifier, etc., the vibration device for generating and outputting vibration, and the light emitting device for emitting light.

[0053] Figure 2 This is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a virtual afterburning effect providing device according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, while Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of providing a virtual afterburning effect according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0054] like Figure 2 As shown, the virtual afterburning effect generating device according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes: a driving information detection unit 12 for detecting vehicle driving information; a first controller 20 for generating and outputting torque commands based on the vehicle driving information; and a second controller 30 for controlling the operation of the drive device 41 according to the torque commands output from the first controller 20.

[0055] In addition, the virtual afterburning effect generating device may also include an interface unit 11, which is configured to allow the driver to selectively input an ON or OFF signal for the virtual afterburning effect generating function.

[0056] Although the control unit is divided into a first controller 20 and a second controller 30 in the following description, in addition to multiple controllers, the afterburner effect generation control process and the vehicle driving control process can also be performed by a single integrated controller.

[0057] A single integrated controller and multiple individual controllers can be collectively referred to as controllers, and the afterburning effect generation control process described below can be executed by the controller of the present invention.

[0058] For example, the first controller 20, the second controller 30, the sound controller 51, and the light controller 53 in the exemplary embodiments described later can be collectively referred to as controllers.

[0059] Interface unit 11 can be any type of interface unit configured for the driver to control the ON and OFF of the virtual afterburner effect in the vehicle. For example, the interface unit can be an operating device such as a button or switch located in the vehicle, or an input device for an audio, video, navigation (AVN) system, or a touch screen.

[0060] The interface unit 11 can be connected to the first controller 20, specifically the virtual afterburning effect generation control unit 22 in the first controller 20, which will be described later.

[0061] Therefore, when the driver operates the ON or OFF function through the interface unit 11, the ON or OFF signal from the interface unit 11 can be input to the virtual afterburning effect generation control unit 22 of the first controller 20.

[0062] Therefore, the virtual afterburning effect generation control unit 22 of the first controller 20 can identify the ON or OFF operation state of the driver's virtual afterburning effect generation function (see...). Figure 3 Step S1 in the process.

[0063] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the function of generating virtual afterburning effects (such as afterburning sounds and the resulting vibrations, and backfire visualization) during vehicle operation is executed only when the driver inputs an ON operation through the interface unit 11.

[0064] In addition, the interface unit 11 can be an in-vehicle input device placed in the vehicle, or it can be a mobile device through which the driver can input the ON / OFF operation of the virtual afterburner effect generation function.

[0065] The mobile device needs to be communicatively connected to an onboard device, such as a first controller 20, and for the purposes of this invention, an input / output communication interface is used for communication between the mobile device and the first controller 20.

[0066] The driving information detection unit 12 is a unit that detects the vehicle driving information (driving variable information) required to execute the virtual afterburner effect generation function and the vehicle driving information (driving variable information) required to generate the electric motor torque command of the vehicle.

[0067] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the driving information detection unit 12 includes: an accelerator pedal detection unit that detects accelerator pedal input information (accelerator pedal input value) based on the driver's accelerator pedal operation; a speed detection unit that detects the speed of the vehicle drive system; and a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the power electronic components.

[0068] Here, the accelerator pedal detection unit can be a conventional accelerator position sensor (APS), which is mounted on the accelerator pedal to output an electrical signal based on the driver's accelerator pedal operation status.

[0069] A speed detection unit is set up to obtain speed information related to the vehicle drive system, wherein the speed information related to the vehicle drive system may include one or both of the vehicle drive system's speed and acceleration.

[0070] Here, speed can be the speed of the electric motor 41 configured to drive the vehicle, the rotational speed of the vehicle wheels, or the rotational speed of the drive shaft (drive shaft speed).

[0071] Here, the speed detection unit may be a rotary transformer mounted on the drive motor 41, a wheel speed sensor mounted on the vehicle wheel, or a sensor configured to detect the rotational speed of the drive shaft.

[0072] Acceleration can be obtained by differentiating the velocity signal from the velocity detection unit, or by measuring the actual acceleration value detected by the acceleration sensor that acts as the velocity detection unit.

[0073] The temperature detection unit is used to detect the temperature of power electronic components, and can be a temperature sensor for detecting the component temperature, or a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the coolant used to cool the component (coolant temperature sensor).

[0074] Here, the power electronic components include an electric motor 41 that drives the vehicle; an inverter for driving and controlling the electric motor; a battery connected to the electric motor 41 for charging and discharging via the inverter; and other power electronic components or drive system components related to the driving of the electric motor.

[0075] Furthermore, in various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle driving information may also include vehicle speed, which is used to generate a basic torque command in the basic torque command generation unit 21, as will be described later.

[0076] In the current situation, the driving information detection unit 12 may also include a vehicle speed detection unit for detecting the current driving speed, but in Figure 2 Not shown, the vehicle speed detection unit may include wheel speed sensors mounted on the drive wheels of the vehicle.

[0077] In addition, the first controller 20 may include: a basic torque command generation unit 21, which determines and generates a basic torque command based on vehicle driving information; a virtual afterburner effect generation control unit 22, which determines and generates a corrected torque command (torque command for virtual afterburner generation intervention) based on vehicle driving information as input variable information, the command being used to generate motor vibration for generating virtual afterburner effect; and a final torque command generation unit 23, which generates a final torque command corrected by correcting the basic torque command with the corrected torque command.

[0078] The basic torque command can be a motor torque command determined and generated based on vehicle driving information collected during the operation of a conventional electric vehicle, and the basic torque command generation unit 21 can be a vehicle control unit (VCU) or a part thereof, which generates the motor torque command based on vehicle driving information related to the conventional electric vehicle.

[0079] Furthermore, the virtual afterburner generation control unit 22 is a novel component that determines, generates, and outputs intervention torque commands for generating a virtual afterburner effect. These commands, in addition to the basic torque commands according to various exemplary embodiments of the invention, are solely torque commands used to correct for the virtual afterburner effect. The virtual vibration control unit can be added as part of the vehicle controller or configured as a control element separate from the vehicle controller.

[0080] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the first controller 20 collects input variables for generating a virtual afterburning effect (in... Figure 3 In step S2), vehicle driving information (which is the actual input variable information of the electric vehicle) is input to the controller 20 and used as input to the virtual internal combustion engine model in the virtual afterburner generation control unit 22.

[0081] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the virtual afterburner generation control unit 22 is a control element that acquires virtual variable information of the internal combustion engine based on vehicle driving information (which is the actual input variable information of the electric vehicle), and determines the virtual afterburner effect characteristics based on the acquired virtual variable information to perform overall control for generating the virtual afterburner effect.

[0082] Furthermore, the virtual afterburner generation control unit 22 generates a corrected torque command based on the determined virtual afterburner effect characteristic information, and allows the operation of the virtual afterburner effect generating devices 52 and 54 to be controlled based on the determined virtual afterburner effect characteristic information.

[0083] In the final torque command generation unit 23, the basic torque command input from the basic torque command generation unit 21 is corrected by the correction torque command input from the virtual afterburner generation control unit 22, and the final torque command can be determined by adding the correction intervention torque command used to generate the virtual afterburner effect and the basic torque command.

[0084] The second controller 30 receives the torque command transmitted from the first controller 20, namely the final torque command determined by the final torque command generation unit 23 of the first controller 20, in order to control the operation of the drive device 41.

[0085] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the drive device 41 is an electric motor, i.e., a drive motor 41, which is connected to the drive wheel 43 to drive the vehicle. In this case, the second controller 30 may be a known motor control unit (MCU), which drives the motor 41 via an inverter and controls the drive of the motor 41 in a conventional electric vehicle.

[0086] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the intervention torque command for generating a virtual afterburning effect is used to apply the virtual afterburning effect to the motor torque to generate a slight tremor of the motor torque that matches the characteristics of the virtual afterburning effect.

[0087] The intervention torque command used to generate a virtual afterburning effect can have a command value that fluctuates with a waveform of predetermined period and amplitude.

[0088] Optionally, the intervention torque command used to generate the virtual afterburning effect may have command values ​​associated with the characteristics of the virtual afterburning effect, such as command values ​​in the form of pulses corresponding to the intensity and frequency, duration and time interval of the virtual afterburning effect in the virtual vibration characteristics.

[0089] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the torque and rotational force output by the electric motor (which is the drive unit 41) are reduced by the reducer 42 and then transmitted to the drive wheel 43, such as... Figure 2 As shown. When the drive of the motor 41 is controlled according to the final torque command corrected by the intervention torque command for generating the virtual afterburning effect, the motor torque is output together with a slight tremor of the motor torque configured to generate the virtual afterburning effect.

[0090] Therefore, the virtual afterburner generation control unit 22 of the first controller 20 determines the virtual variables of the internal combustion engine (in) by using vehicle driving information as the actual input variables of the virtual internal combustion engine model. Figure 3 Step S3 in the process.

[0091] That is, virtual variables of the internal combustion engine are determined by a virtual internal combustion engine model based on vehicle driving information including at least one of the following: accelerator pedal input value, rate of change of accelerator pedal input value (slope of APS value), integral value of accelerator pedal input value, electric motor torque, rate of change of electric motor torque (slope of electric motor torque), integral value of electric motor torque, drive system speed, and temperature of power electronic components.

[0092] The virtual variable information of the internal combustion engine may include at least one of the following: virtual air-fuel mixture quantity, virtual air-fuel ratio, virtual exhaust manifold temperature, virtual engine speed (virtual engine RPM), and virtual shift event information and virtual shift intervention torque used to achieve the virtual shift effect.

[0093] Therefore, based on the virtual variables determined through the virtual internal combustion engine model, the characteristics of the virtual afterburning effect are determined (in... Figure 3 Step S4 in the process.

[0094] Here, the virtual afterburning effect may include sound effects that simulate the afterburning sound of an internal combustion engine vehicle, generated and output by the audio system 52.

[0095] In addition, the virtual afterburning effect may also include a vibration effect that generates vibration, which is simulated by vibrator 52 to simulate vehicle vibration caused by afterburning of an internal combustion engine vehicle.

[0096] In addition, the virtual afterburning effect may also include a light-emitting effect, which is represented by the light-emitting device 54 to simulate the backfire caused by the afterburning of the internal combustion engine.

[0097] Here, the virtual afterburning effect characteristics may include the time point at which the virtual afterburning effect is initially generated by the effect generating device.

[0098] In addition, virtual afterburning effect characteristics may include at least one of the following: intensity of afterburning effect, duration and time interval of afterburning effect, and frequency band or pitch (sound level).

[0099] In addition, when the virtual afterburning effect is a vibration effect that simulates vehicle vibration caused by afterburning, the virtual afterburning effect characteristics may include at least one of the following, in addition to the time point at which the virtual afterburning effect is initially generated: vibration intensity and frequency, duration and time interval.

[0100] In addition, when the virtual afterburning effect simulates the luminous effect of backfire caused by afterburning, the virtual afterburning effect characteristics may include at least one of the following, in addition to the time point at which the virtual afterburning effect is initially generated: the intensity and frequency of luminescence, duration and time interval.

[0101] The virtual afterburner generation control unit 22 of the first controller 20 transmits the determined characteristic information related to the virtual afterburner effect to the sound controller 51 and the light controller 53, so that the sound controller 51 and the light controller 53 check whether the sound system, vibrator 52 and light-emitting device 54 are in normal condition through predetermined diagnostic logic. Figure 3 In step S5), if they are in a normal state, a control signal for controlling the operation of the control device is output.

[0102] In other words, the sound controller 51 generates and outputs an acoustic control signal for reproducing and outputting the virtual afterburning sound in the vehicle based on characteristic information related to the virtual afterburning effect received from the virtual afterburning generation control unit 22.

[0103] In addition, the sound controller 51 (or a separate vibration controller not shown) generates and outputs a vibration control signal for producing vibrations in the vehicle that match the characteristics of the virtual afterburning effect.

[0104] When the operation of the audio system 52 is controlled according to the sound control signal output from the sound controller 51, the audio system 52 reproduces and outputs a virtual afterburning sound. Simultaneously, when the operation of the vibrator 52 is controlled according to the vibration control signal output from the sound controller 51, the vibrator 52 generates vibrations to produce a virtual afterburning effect that matches the characteristics of the virtual afterburning effect. Figure 3 Step S6 in the process.

[0105] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the audio system 52 may include a loudspeaker and a subwoofer disposed in at least one of the interior and exterior of the vehicle, and the vibrator 52 may be a vibration actuator disposed on or around the driver's seat to apply vibration thereto.

[0106] The light-emitting controller 53 is used to realize the visual presentation of backfire. It generates and outputs a light-emitting control signal for realizing the visual presentation of backfire based on the virtual afterburn effect characteristic information received from the virtual afterburn generation control unit 22.

[0107] Currently, the light-emitting controller 53 outputs a light-emitting control signal to visually generate a backfire effect associated with the characteristics of virtual afterburning, and when the operation of the light-emitting device 54 is controlled according to the light-emitting control signal output from the light-emitting controller 53, the light-emitting device 54 can generate a visual effect simulating the backfire of an internal combustion engine vehicle.

[0108] When the light-emitting device 54 is located outside the vehicle, it can be located at the rear end of the vehicle body or at both the rear and front ends of the vehicle body. The light-emitting device can be a lamp assembly configured to simulate the visual effect of backfire. Alternatively, any other light-emitting device 54 configured to visually express a backfire effect can be applied.

[0109] Meanwhile, the method for determining the virtual variable values ​​of the internal combustion engine through the virtual afterburner generation control unit 22 of the first controller 20 will be described in detail below.

[0110] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the virtual variable information of the internal combustion engine may include at least one of the following: virtual air-fuel mixture quantity, virtual air-fuel ratio, virtual exhaust manifold temperature, virtual engine speed (virtual engine rotational speed), and virtual shift event information and virtual shift intervention torque for achieving virtual shift effects. In addition, information indicating the operating state of the internal combustion engine may be used, including input variable information such as accelerator pedal input value, torque command, rotational speed, etc., and information indicating the operating state of the internal combustion engine related to afterburning effects.

[0111] The following will describe the dummy variable information mentioned above one by one.

[0112] Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 This is a diagram illustrating, according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the values ​​of dummy variables depending on the input variables.

[0113] Virtual air-fuel mixture quantity

[0114] The virtual mixture quantity is obtained by using information that is pre-set and input to be stored in the controller, namely the information of the virtual afterburner generation control unit 22 of the first controller 20, such as setting data such as formulas or mapping tables, tables or charts of virtual internal combustion engine models, etc., using at least one or two or more of the above-mentioned input variables or the product of two or more selected values ​​as variables.

[0115] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the virtual mixture quantity may be determined as a value proportional to the accelerator pedal input value (APS value) or the motor torque (motor torque command) among the input variables described above.

[0116] Alternatively, the virtual mixture quantity can be obtained from the motor speed, motor power, or battery discharge power among the input variables mentioned above, as corresponding values.

[0117] Alternatively, the virtual mixture quantity can be obtained from the virtual engine speed, which is one of the virtual variables described later, as its corresponding value.

[0118] Alternatively, the virtual mixture quantity can be obtained as a value corresponding to the product of the motor torque and the motor speed, or the product of the motor torque and the virtual engine speed.

[0119] In the current context, the virtual mixture quantity can be obtained as a variable by setting data using methods such as mapping tables, tables, or charts, or by using the values ​​of at least one or two of the aforementioned variables, or by formulas for the product of two or more variables.

[0120] The data can be set using data obtained through the aforementioned testing and evaluation process, or it can be a predefined dummy variable among the above input variables, or a formula, mapping, table, or graph relating these variables to the product of the dummy mixture quantities.

[0121] The preset data is input and stored in the virtual afterburner generation control unit 22, and is used to determine the virtual mixture quantity through predetermined variable values.

[0122] refer to Figure 4 The diagram illustrates the correlation between input variables and virtual mixture quantity, where the virtual mixture quantity in the setting data of the virtual afterburner generation control unit 22 can be set to a larger value when factors such as accelerator pedal input value (APS value), motor torque, motor power, and battery discharge power increase.

[0123] Furthermore, in order to represent the virtual mixture quantity, a value obtained by applying delay, rate limiting, filter hysteresis, etc. to the mixture quantity determined by the set data can be determined and used as the final virtual mixture quantity.

[0124] refer to Figure 4 The value indicates the amount of the mixture after filtration.

[0125] Virtual air-fuel ratio

[0126] In the controller, specifically in the virtual afterburner generation control unit 22 of the first controller 20, the virtual air-fuel ratio can be determined using set data such as multidimensional mapping or formulas using variables such as accelerator pedal input value (APS value), rate of change of accelerator pedal input value (rate of change of APS value), electric motor torque, rate of change of electric motor torque, electric motor speed, virtual engine speed, or combinations thereof.

[0127] Under the current conditions, the virtual air-fuel ratio can be set to decrease further as the accelerator pedal input value (APS value) or the electric motor torque in the setting data of the virtual afterburner generation control unit 22 increases.

[0128] Here, a decrease in the air-fuel ratio means that the value becomes richer in terms of density.

[0129] Optionally, the air-fuel ratio can be set to decrease further as the rate of change of the accelerator pedal input or the instantaneous rate of decrease of the electric motor torque (which is the rate of change of the electric motor torque) increases.

[0130] Optionally, the air-fuel ratio can be set to change with the speed of the drive system, such as the speed of the electric motor or the speed of the virtual engine (e.g., Figure 5 (As shown) increases and decreases.

[0131] Furthermore, in order to represent a non-flammable residual air-fuel mixture, a value obtained by applying delay, rate limit, filter hysteresis, etc. to the air-fuel ratio determined by the set data can be determined and used as the final virtual air-fuel ratio.

[0132] refer to Figure 5 This shows the filtered virtual air-fuel ratio.

[0133] Virtual exhaust manifold temperature

[0134] Virtual exhaust manifold temperature can refer to virtual exhaust temperature, that is, virtual exhaust gas temperature.

[0135] In the controller, namely the virtual afterburner generation control unit 22 of the first controller 20, the virtual exhaust manifold temperature can be determined by setting data such as multidimensional mapping or formulas based on accelerator pedal input value (APS value), electric motor torque, electric motor power, battery discharge power, electric motor speed or virtual engine speed.

[0136] Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating an example of setting a virtual exhaust manifold temperature based on the motor torque and motor speed.

[0137] In the settings, the virtual exhaust manifold temperature can be set to a higher value when the accelerator pedal input value, motor torque, motor power, battery discharge power, motor speed, or virtual engine speed increases.

[0138] In addition, when the virtual exhaust manifold temperature reaches a predetermined limit temperature, the virtual exhaust manifold temperature can be set to stop rising.

[0139] Optionally, when the virtual exhaust manifold temperature approaches a predetermined limit temperature, the rate of increase of the virtual exhaust manifold temperature can be set to decrease.

[0140] In addition, a base cooling rate for the virtual exhaust manifold temperature can be set, where the virtual exhaust manifold temperature can be set based on the actual temperature measured by the drive cooling system or the actual ambient temperature.

[0141] Here, both the measured temperature of the drive cooling system and the measured ambient temperature are values ​​measured by temperature sensors. The measured temperature of the drive cooling system can be the exhaust system temperature measured by a temperature sensor at a predetermined location in the exhaust system, while the measured ambient temperature can be the temperature measured by a conventional ambient temperature sensor.

[0142] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the cooling rate of the virtual exhaust manifold temperature may be set to a value corresponding to the ambient temperature and vehicle speed (related to driving wind), or the virtual exhaust manifold temperature may be set based on a temperature model.

[0143] Virtual engine speed (virtual engine RPM)

[0144] In the controller, namely the virtual afterburner generation control unit 22 of the first controller 20, the virtual engine speed can be determined as a variable multiple of the electric motor speed, wherein the coefficient value multiplied by the electric motor speed is a value determined based on the virtual transmission and gear ratio model or the virtual current transmission level.

[0145] In this regard, the inventors of the present invention have filed a patent application for a control method for generating a virtual gear shifting effect in an electric vehicle, so that a multi-speed shifting effect can be generated and realized in an electric vehicle without multi-speed shifting by means of motor torque control, wherein a virtual engine speed is disclosed as a virtual variable required to generate and produce the multi-speed shifting effect during the control process.

[0146] In accordance with the present invention, the virtual engine speed (which is a virtual variable used to generate and produce multi-stage speed change effects) can be used as a virtual variable to generate virtual afterburning effects according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0147] To describe the virtual engine speed in more detail, in various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the virtual afterburner generation control unit 22 can determine the virtual engine speed by using the virtual vehicle speed and virtual gear ratio information associated with the virtual current gear.

[0148] Here, the virtual vehicle speed can be determined as a value directly proportional to the actual motor speed by using the actual motor speed (which is one of the input variables) and the virtual final reduction gear ratio, wherein the virtual final reduction gear ratio is preset by the virtual afterburner generation control unit 22.

[0149] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the virtual vehicle speed is determined using the electric motor speed and the virtual final reduction gear ratio measured during vehicle operation, and the virtual engine speed can be determined in real time using the virtual vehicle speed.

[0150] In the current situation, the virtual engine speed can be obtained by multiplying the virtual vehicle speed by the virtual gear ratio of the current virtual transmission level, or by multiplying the drive system speed (e.g., electric motor speed) by the virtual gear ratio of the current virtual transmission level.

[0151] In addition, the virtual current gear level can be determined from the gear schedule preset in the virtual afterburner generation control unit 22 based on the virtual vehicle speed and accelerator pedal input value (APS value).

[0152] When the virtual current gear level is determined as described above, the virtual engine speed can be determined in real time using the virtual vehicle speed and virtual gear ratio corresponding to the determined gear level.

[0153] In the current manner, the virtual engine speed determined in real time as described above can itself be used to determine the aforementioned virtual variables, namely, virtual air-fuel volume, virtual air-fuel ratio, virtual exhaust manifold temperature, etc.

[0154] Virtual shifting event information and virtual shifting intervention torque used to achieve virtual shifting effects.

[0155] When a shifting event occurs in the virtual transmission model, a virtual shifting torque intervention can be performed, which can be generated in the form of an electric motor torque command.

[0156] In this regard, the inventors of the present invention have filed a patent application for a control method for generating virtual gear shifting effects in electric vehicles, so that multi-stage gear shifting effects can be generated and realized in electric vehicles without multi-stage transmissions through motor torque control.

[0157] In the control process used to generate a virtual shifting effect in an electric vehicle, the controller (which may be a virtual afterburner generation control unit) can use a preset shifting schedule to determine the occurrence of a shifting event based on the virtual vehicle speed and the accelerator pedal input value (APS value), and can determine the virtual target shifting level.

[0158] Furthermore, when a speed change event occurs, a virtual speed change effect is generated and implemented through motor torque control, wherein the motor torque command is corrected to generate and implement the virtual speed change effect, and the correction torque used to correct the motor torque command is the virtual speed change intervention torque.

[0159] Here, the control process used to generate virtual shifting effects in electric vehicles will be described in more detail step by step. The controller is configured to determine the virtual target shifting level using a preset shifting schedule derived from the virtual vehicle speed and accelerator pedal input values ​​(or vehicle load).

[0160] Furthermore, in the controller, the transmission class is determined based on the virtual current transmission class and the determined virtual target transmission class, and for each transmission class, a virtual transmission intervention torque curve corresponding to the determined current transmission class is selected from a predetermined virtual transmission intervention torque curve.

[0161] Here, the virtual shift intervention torque curve is a torque curve containing a virtual shift intervention torque value preset according to the shift progress rate, which can be determined, for example, as a percentage (%) of the counted time relative to a preset total shift time. The current shift progress rate can be increased to 100%.

[0162] The gear shift levels can be divided into powered upshifts, unpowered upshifts (foot lift), powered downshifts (forced downshifts), unpowered downshifts, and near-stop downshifts.

[0163] To determine the virtual shift intervention torque, the controller is configured to determine the current shift level, and as a method for determining the current shift level, when the virtual target shift level is higher than the virtual current shift level (i.e., virtual target shift level > virtual current shift level), it determines to upshift, and when the virtual target shift level is lower than the virtual current shift level (i.e., virtual target shift level < virtual current shift level), it determines to downshift.

[0164] Furthermore, when the base torque command (motor torque command) is greater than the predetermined reference torque value, power-on is determined; and when the base torque command is less than the predetermined reference torque value, power-off is determined.

[0165] Next, in the controller, the virtual shifting intervention torque used to generate the virtual shifting effect is determined in real time based on the selected virtual shifting intervention torque curve, and the final motor torque command is determined by using the virtual shifting intervention torque to correct the motor torque command (base torque command).

[0166] Currently, torque correction can be performed by adding the virtual transmission intervention torque and the motor torque command.

[0167] When the final motor torque command is generated as described above, the controller controls the operation of the motor configured to drive the vehicle based on the generated final motor torque command, so as to generate a virtual gear shifting effect through the motor.

[0168] The control process for generating and producing the virtual shifting effect has been described above. In various exemplary embodiments of the invention, virtual shifting event information, such as the number of virtual shifting stages and the virtual shifting intervention torque value determined as described above, is used as virtual variables to determine the virtual afterburning effect characteristics.

[0169] Figure 7 The display shows the accelerator pedal input value (APS value), virtual shift stage, virtual shift intervention torque, virtual engine speed, and electric motor speed, with the virtual shift intervention torque determined whenever a shift event occurs.

[0170] When the virtual shift intervention torque is determined for each shift event as described above, the determined virtual shift intervention torque is used to correct the motor torque command, and the operation of the motor is controlled according to the corrected motor torque command to generate the virtual shift effect.

[0171] In the present invention, virtual variables for determining virtual afterburning effect characteristics have been described in detail according to various exemplary embodiments of the invention. As exemplary embodiments of the invention, a virtual internal combustion engine model (which is a virtual physical model for the entire internal combustion engine or some systems of the internal combustion engine) can be set up and established in the controller, and driver inputs and measurement variables can be input into the model, such that the virtual variables determined by the model can be used to determine virtual afterburning effect characteristics.

[0172] For example, the virtual air-fuel mixture discharge can be set to be proportional to the rate of decrease in motor torque, the difference between motor power or motor torque and a preset cooling rate can be set to be proportional to the amount of heat dissipation, and the virtual exhaust manifold temperature index can be set to vary as a function of the amount of heat dissipation.

[0173] Under the current circumstances, a physical model can be set up in which the product of the virtual air-fuel mixture emission and the virtual exhaust manifold temperature index is proportional to the afterburning effect index.

[0174] It can be expressed as the following formula:

[0175] Y = a × X1 × X3 (1)

[0176] X2 = W p –b×X3×W c (2)

[0177] dX3 / dt=c×X2

[0178] Here, Y is the afterburning effect index, a, b, and c are predetermined constants, X1 is the virtual mixture emission amount, X2 is the heat dissipation amount, X3 is the exhaust manifold temperature index, and W... p It is the power of the electric motor, and W c It refers to cooling power.

[0179] As various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the virtual mixture discharge amount is set to be proportional to the motor torque reduction rate, and the exhaust manifold temperature index is set to be proportional to the integral value of the motor power or motor torque, wherein a forgetting factor as a function of the cooling rate can be applied to the integrator.

[0180] Under the current circumstances, a physical model can be set up so that the product of the virtual mixture discharge and the exhaust manifold temperature index is proportional to the afterburning effect index.

[0181] It can be expressed as the following formula:

[0182] Y = a × X1 × X3

[0183] dX2 / dt=W p –b×X2

[0184] Here, Y is the afterburning effect index, a is a predetermined constant, b is the forgetting coefficient determined by a value between 0 and 1, X1 is the virtual mixture emission amount, X2 is the exhaust manifold temperature index, and W p It refers to the power of the electric motor.

[0185] Furthermore, the method for determining the virtual afterburn effect characteristics based on the dummy variables determined as described above will be described below.

[0186] Figure 8 It is a graph showing the virtual afterburning effect characteristics depending on the input variables according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0187] As a factor in determining the intensity of the virtual afterburning effect, if the virtual afterburning effect is in the form of sound, then the intensity can be the volume; if the virtual afterburning effect is in the form of light, then the intensity can be the illuminance.

[0188] Furthermore, if the virtual afterburning effect is in the form of vibration, then the intensity can be the vibration amplitude. For example, if the virtual afterburning effect is in the form of a pulse, then the intensity can be the pulse amplitude.

[0189] To ensure the realism of the virtual afterburning effect, it is necessary to adjust the intensity to suit the situation.

[0190] Furthermore, when representing the virtual afterburn effect in the form of sound, the frequency, i.e. the sound level, can be adjusted, and the virtual afterburn effect can be generated by determining the frequency band or pitch based on the virtual variables.

[0191] First, in the controller, namely the virtual afterburner generation control unit 22 of the first controller 20, the volume level and pitch of the afterburner sound can be determined as values ​​proportional to the amount of virtual mixture, or the volume or pitch of the afterburner sound can be determined by setting data such as mapping or formula using the amount of virtual mixture as an independent variable.

[0192] Here, the volume level of the afterburning sound becomes one of the strengths of the afterburning effect. As mentioned above, when the afterburning effect is represented as a sound (afterburning sound), the strength of the afterburning effect is the volume level of the sound.

[0193] Optionally, the volume and pitch of the afterburning sound can be defined as the degree to which the virtual air-fuel ratio is rich compared to λ=1, or as a value proportional to the rate of decrease in the virtual air-fuel ratio. Otherwise, the volume and pitch of the afterburning sound can be determined by setting data such as mappings or formulas, using the degree to which the virtual air-fuel ratio is rich compared to λ=1 or by using the virtual air-fuel reduction rate as the independent variable.

[0194] Alternatively, the volume level and pitch of the afterburning sound can be determined as values ​​inversely proportional to the number of virtual shift stages or proportional to the rate of change of virtual shift intervention torque during shifting. The volume level and pitch of the afterburning sound can also be determined by setting data such as a mapping graph or formula, using the number of virtual shift stages or the rate of change of virtual shift intervention torque during shifting as independent variables.

[0195] Alternatively, the presence of an afterburning effect and the volume and pitch of the afterburning sound can be determined by adding or multiplying at least two of the aforementioned dummy variables. Here, a red area representing the afterburning effect (such as the afterburning sound) can also be applied.

[0196] In addition, the period (time interval) of the afterburning sound can be determined as a value proportional to the speed of the virtual engine, or the speed of the virtual engine can be used as an independent variable to determine the period of the afterburning sound according to a mapping diagram or formula.

[0197] The afterburning sound is not a steady sound but an impactful thumping sound, and the afterburning effect is pulsating and lasts for a certain duration.

[0198] Therefore, it is necessary to determine and use the cycle, which is the time interval between the afterburning effect and the pulse signal.

[0199] refer to Figure 8 This illustrates an example of the time interval and intensity (pulse amplitude, which is the afterburning effect index) of the afterburning effect determined based on dummy variables. When the afterburning effect index, which indicates the characteristics of the afterburning effect, is determined based on dummy variables, the afterburning effect is generated with intensity and time interval corresponding to the afterburning effect index.

[0200] exist Figure 8 In the text, "A" indicates an example of generating a low-volume afterburner sound with a long time interval and a low occurrence frequency when the virtual engine speed is relatively low, while "B" indicates an example of generating a high-volume afterburner sound with a short time interval and a high occurrence frequency when the virtual engine speed is relatively high.

[0201] Furthermore, terms related to control devices such as "controller," "control unit," "control device," or "control module" refer to hardware devices including a memory and a processor configured to execute one or more steps interpreted as an algorithmic structure. The memory stores the algorithmic steps, and the processor executes the algorithmic steps to perform one or more steps of the method according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. A controller according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be implemented via a non-volatile memory configured to store operating algorithms for controlling various components of a vehicle or data regarding software commands for executing the algorithms, and a processor configured to perform the aforementioned operations using the data stored in the memory. The memory and processor may be separate chips. Alternatively, the memory and processor may be integrated into a single chip. The processor may be implemented as one or more processors.

[0202] The control device may be at least one microprocessor that operates via a predetermined program, which may include a series of commands for executing the methods included in the foregoing exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0203] The aforementioned invention can also be embodied as computer-readable code on a computer-readable recording medium. A computer-readable recording medium is any data storage device capable of storing data that can subsequently be read by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable recording media include hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), silicon disk drives (SDDs), read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, etc., and are implemented as carrier waves (e.g., transmitted via the Internet).

[0204] In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, each of the above operations may be performed by a controller, and the controller may be configured by multiple controllers or a single integrated controller.

[0205] For ease of interpretation and accurate definition of the appended claims, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “outer,” “up,” “lower,” “upward,” “downward,” “front,” “rear,” “back,” “inner side,” “outer side,” “inward,” “outer,” “internal,” “external,” “inside,” “outer,” “inner,” “outer,” “forward,” and “backward” are used to describe features of exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of features as shown in the accompanying drawings. It should also be understood that the term “connection” or its derivatives refer to both direct and indirect connections.

[0206] The foregoing description of specific exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and it will be apparent that many modifications and variations are possible in accordance with the foregoing teachings. Exemplary embodiments were chosen and described to explain certain principles of the invention and its practical application, enabling others skilled in the art to make and utilize the various exemplary embodiments of the invention, as well as their various alternatives and modifications. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for generating a virtual afterburning effect using a controller in an electric vehicle without an internal combustion engine, wherein the afterburning sound is generated by pressure changes in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising the following steps: The controller receives vehicle driving information when the electric vehicle is driven. The controller utilizes a virtual internal combustion engine model to determine virtual variable information of the engine based on the received vehicle driving information. The virtual internal combustion engine model is a preset model in the controller, used to determine the value of the virtual variable information by using the vehicle driving information as the input variable of the virtual internal combustion engine model. The controller determines the virtual afterburning effect characteristics based on the determined virtual variable information of the engine. The controller outputs a control signal for generating a virtual afterburning effect based on the determined virtual afterburning effect characteristics; and The controller controls the operation of the effect generating device configured to produce the virtual afterburning effect based on the control signal output from the controller. The virtual afterburning effect characteristics include the time point at which the virtual afterburning effect is initially generated by the effect generating device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The virtual afterburning effect characteristic is a sound effect that reproduces and outputs a sound simulating the afterburning sound of an internal combustion engine vehicle through an acoustic device. The virtual afterburning effect characteristic further includes at least one of the following: the intensity, duration, time interval, and frequency band or pitch indicating the sound level of the simulated afterburning sound.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The virtual afterburning effect characteristic is a vibration effect, which generates vibration by simulating vehicle vibration caused by afterburning in an internal combustion engine vehicle through a vibrator, and the virtual afterburning effect characteristic further includes at least one of the intensity, frequency, duration and time interval of the vibration simulating vehicle vibration caused by afterburning.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The virtual afterburning effect characteristic is a luminous effect, which reproduces the luminous state by simulating the backfire caused by afterburning in an internal combustion engine vehicle through a luminous device. The virtual afterburning effect characteristic further includes at least one of the following: intensity, frequency, duration, and time interval of the luminous emission simulating the backfire caused by afterburning.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The vehicle driving information includes at least one of the following: accelerator position sensor value indicating the driver's accelerator pedal input value, slope of the accelerator position sensor value, integral value of the accelerator position sensor value, motor torque command, slope of the motor torque command, integral value of the motor torque command, drive system speed information, and temperature of power electronic components.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the following step: The controller determines the base torque command based on vehicle driving information collected from the electric vehicle during vehicle operation. The controller determines a corrective torque command for generating and implementing the vibration of the electric motor configured to produce the virtual afterburning effect, based on vehicle driving information collected from the electric vehicle. The controller determines and generates a final motor torque command, wherein the determined base torque command is corrected by a determined correction torque command; and The controller controls the operation of the electric motor configured to drive the electric vehicle based on the generated final electric motor torque command.

7. An apparatus for generating a virtual afterburning effect in an electric vehicle without an internal combustion engine, wherein the afterburning sound is generated by pressure changes in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, the apparatus comprising: A driving information detection unit is configured to detect vehicle driving information when the electric vehicle is in motion; A controller is configured to determine virtual variable information of the engine based on vehicle driving information detected by the driving information detection unit using a virtual internal combustion engine model, to determine virtual afterburning effect characteristics based on the determined virtual engine virtual variable information, and to output a control signal for generating the virtual afterburning effect based on the determined virtual afterburning effect characteristics. The virtual internal combustion engine model is a preset model in the controller, used to determine the value of the virtual variable information using the vehicle driving information as input variables to the virtual internal combustion engine model. An effect generating device, mounted on the electric vehicle, is controlled to generate the virtual afterburning effect according to a control signal output from the controller. The virtual afterburning effect characteristics include the time point at which the virtual afterburning effect is initially generated by the effect generating device.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, The virtual afterburning effect characteristic is a sound effect that reproduces and outputs a sound simulating the afterburning sound of an internal combustion engine vehicle through an acoustic device. The virtual afterburning effect characteristic further includes at least one of the following: the intensity, duration, time interval, and frequency band or pitch indicating the sound level of the simulated afterburning sound.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, The virtual afterburning effect characteristic is a vibration effect, which generates vibration by simulating vehicle vibration caused by afterburning in an internal combustion engine vehicle through a vibrator, and the virtual afterburning effect characteristic further includes at least one of the intensity, frequency, duration and time interval of the vibration simulating vehicle vibration caused by afterburning.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, The virtual afterburning effect characteristic is a luminous effect, which reproduces the luminous state by simulating the backfire caused by afterburning in an internal combustion engine vehicle through a luminous device. The virtual afterburning effect characteristic further includes at least one of the following: intensity, frequency, duration, and time interval of the luminous emission simulating the backfire caused by afterburning.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, The controller includes: A basic torque command generation unit determines a basic torque command based on vehicle driving information collected from the electric vehicle during vehicle operation. A virtual afterburner generation control unit generates a corrective torque command for generating and implementing the vibration of an electric motor configured to generate the virtual afterburner effect, based on the determined virtual afterburner effect characteristics. The final torque command generation unit generates the final motor torque command, wherein the determined base torque command is corrected by the determined correction torque command. The operation of the electric motor configured to drive the electric vehicle is controlled according to the final electric motor torque command generated and output from the final torque command generation unit.

Citation Information

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