Virtual engine signal system for vehicle and control method thereof

Abstract

A virtual engine signal system for a vehicle includes: a first speaker disposed on a front rear beam of the vehicle, arranged to point to a front side of the vehicle and configured to output a virtual engine signal to the outside; and a second speaker disposed behind the first speaker, disposed to point to a rear side of the vehicle and configured to output a virtual engine signal to the outside; and a controller configured to transmit a control signal to the first speaker and the second speaker such that the first speaker and the second speaker output a virtual engine signal in response to the control signal, the controller is configured to control the first speaker and the second speaker to adjust a sound pressure of a composite signal of virtual engine signals of the first speaker and the second speaker at a front side and a rear side of the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a virtual engine signal system for a vehicle and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a virtual engine signal system for a vehicle and a control method thereof, which is capable of solving the problem of humming sound while adjusting the sound pressure of a composite signal synthesized at the front and rear sides of the vehicle. Background Art

[0002] A virtual engine sound system (VESS) for a vehicle refers to a system equipped with a speaker mounted on the front back beam of a vehicle to output an artificial engine sound as an external sound. VESS can be applied to environmentally friendly vehicles such as electric vehicles, and reduces the possibility of accidents that may occur when pedestrians cannot recognize the vehicle because the amount of noise is extremely small when the motor is operating at a low speed.

[0003] The VESS for vehicles uses speakers installed in order to meet regulations and address constraints on the engine room space. In this case, when the VESS is located at the front side of the vehicle, there is a sound pressure difference between the composite signals measured at the front and rear sides of the vehicle.

[0004] Therefore, when the vehicle is traveling forward, only the virtual engine signal is output, and when the vehicle is traveling backward, both the virtual engine signal and the chime sound are output, so that the sound pressure difference between the synthesized signals can be resolved. In this case, some people may not like the chime sound output when the vehicle is traveling backward.

[0005] When a VESS is added to the rear side of a vehicle in order to solve the problem of the chime sound output when the vehicle travels backward, the hardware and controller are added, which increases the cost and creates space constraints.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a solution to configure a system for solving the problem of the ringing sound while adjusting the sound pressure of a composite signal composited at the front and rear sides of a vehicle.

[0007] The above-mentioned background description is only intended to help understanding the background of the present disclosure, but is not intended to mean that the present disclosure falls within the scope of the prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the invention

[0008] The present disclosure describes a virtual engine signal system for a vehicle and a control method thereof, which can solve the problem of humming sound while adjusting the sound pressure of a composite signal composited at the front and rear sides of the vehicle.

[0009] In order to achieve the technical goal, the present disclosure provides a virtual engine signal system for a vehicle, which includes: a first speaker arranged on a front rear beam of the vehicle, arranged to point to the front side of the vehicle and configured to output a virtual engine signal to the outside; a second speaker arranged behind the first speaker, arranged to point to the rear side of the vehicle and configured to output the virtual engine signal to the outside; and a controller, configured to send a control signal to the first speaker and the second speaker, so that the first speaker and the second speaker output the virtual engine signal in response to the control signal, and the controller is configured to control the first speaker and the second speaker to adjust the sound pressure of the composite signal of the virtual engine signals of the first speaker and the second speaker at the front and rear sides of the vehicle.

[0010] For example, the first speaker may be a directional speaker configured to output the virtual engine signal toward one side, and the second speaker may be an omnidirectional speaker configured to output the virtual engine signal toward two opposite sides.

[0011] For example, the second speaker may be disposed behind the first speaker and arranged adjacent to the first speaker.

[0012] For example, the controller may set a reference level corresponding to an engine signal that can be recognized by pedestrians at the front and rear sides of the vehicle, and the controller may transmit a control signal to the first speaker and the second speaker according to the set reference level.

[0013] For example, the controller may determine a control signal to be sent to the first speaker so that the virtual engine signal output by the first speaker is smaller in value than a set reference level and the phase of the virtual engine signal is inverted.

[0014] For example, the controller may determine the control signal to be sent to the second speaker so that the value of the virtual engine signal output by the second speaker is greater than a set reference level.

[0015] For example, the controller may determine control signals for the first speaker and the second speaker based on a distance between a front rear beam of the vehicle and a front side of the vehicle or a front rear beam of the vehicle and a rear side of the vehicle.

[0016] For example, the controller may determine control signals for the first speaker and the second speaker so that sound pressures of synthesized signals at the front and rear sides of the vehicle are equal to each other.

[0017] In order to achieve the technical goal, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling a virtual engine signal of a vehicle, comprising: a first speaker arranged on a front rear beam of the vehicle, arranged to point to the front rear beam of the vehicle and configured to output the virtual engine signal to the outside; a second speaker arranged behind the first speaker, arranged to face the front side of the vehicle and configured to output the virtual engine signal to the outside, the method comprising: sending a control signal to the first speaker and the second speaker; the first speaker and the second speaker outputting the virtual engine signal in response to the control signal; and adjusting the sound pressure of a composite signal of the virtual engine signals of the first speaker and the second speaker located at the front and rear sides of the vehicle.

[0018] For example, sending the control signal to the first speaker and the second speaker may include: setting a reference level corresponding to an engine signal that can be recognized by pedestrians on the front and rear sides of the vehicle; and sending the control signal to the first speaker and the second speaker according to the set reference level.

[0019] For example, the method may further include: determining a control signal to be sent to the first speaker so that a value of the virtual engine signal output by the first speaker is less than a preset reference level and a phase of the virtual engine signal is inverted.

[0020] For example, the method may further include: determining a control signal to be sent to the second speaker so that the value of the virtual engine signal output by the second speaker is greater than a set reference level.

[0021] For example, the method may further include determining control signals for the first speaker and the second speaker based on a distance between the front rear beam of the vehicle and the front side of the vehicle or the front rear beam of the vehicle and the rear side of the vehicle.

[0022] According to the virtual engine signal system for a vehicle and the control method thereof disclosed in the present invention, even when the first speaker and the second speaker are arranged on one side of the vehicle, the sound pressure of the synthesized signal formed by synthesizing the virtual engine signals output by the first speaker and the second speaker can be adjusted.

[0023] Effects that can be obtained by the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a virtual engine signal system for a vehicle.

[0025] Figure 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the sound pressure of a virtual engine signal output through a first speaker and a second speaker.

[0026] Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of a sound pressure of a synthesized signal of a virtual engine signal of a first speaker and a second speaker.

[0027] Figure 4 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method for controlling a virtual engine signal of a vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Hereinafter, one or more embodiments disclosed in the present specification will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Regardless of the reference numerals, the same or similar constituent elements are assigned the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0029] In the present disclosure, the term "control unit" or "unit" included in the name "motor control unit (MCU)" or "hybrid control unit (HCU)" is merely a term widely used to name a control device (controller or control unit) used to control specific vehicle functions, and does not mean a general functional unit.

[0030] The controller may include: a communication device configured to communicate with another control unit or sensor to control the corresponding function; a memory configured to store an operating system, logic instructions and input / output information; and one or more processors configured to perform determinations, calculations, decisions, etc. required to control the corresponding function.

[0031] In some embodiments, even when the first speaker and the second speaker are provided on one side of the vehicle, the sound pressure of a synthesized signal generated by synthesizing virtual engine signals output by the speakers may be adjusted.

[0032] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a virtual engine signal system for a vehicle. Figure 1 The focus is mainly on the components related to the present implementation. However, in some embodiments, the actual configuration of the virtual engine signal system for a vehicle may include more or fewer components.

[0033] In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 , a virtual engine signal system 100 for a vehicle may include a first speaker 110 , a second speaker 120 , and a controller 130 .

[0034] Both the first speaker 110 and the second speaker 120 may be disposed on the front rear beam 190 of the vehicle. The first speaker 110 and the second speaker 120 may be arranged to face the front and rear sides of the vehicle, respectively, and output the virtual engine signal to the outside. In addition, the second speaker 120 may be disposed behind the first speaker 110 and arranged adjacent to the first speaker 110. This is to prevent a phase difference from occurring between the virtual engine signals output by the speakers. The ideal distance between the speakers may be 0 mm. In this case, all of the first speakers 110, the second speakers 120, and the controller 130 may be inserted into the housing.

[0035] In addition, the controller 130 can be operated by receiving power from the vehicle power supply 220. The controller 130 can be connected to the electrical components (e.g., the speaker head unit "H / U") 210 of the vehicle and controlled when the user manipulates the electrical components. The controller 130 can send corresponding control signals to the first speaker 110 and the second speaker 120, so that the first speaker 110 and the second speaker 120 output virtual engine signals in response to the control signals. In this case, a synthetic signal is generated by synthesizing the virtual engine signals output by the first speaker 110 and the second speaker 120, and the controller 130 can adjust the sound pressure of the synthetic signal at the front and rear sides of the vehicle.

[0036] More specifically, the controller 130 may set a reference level corresponding to an engine signal that can be recognized by pedestrians at the front and rear sides of the vehicle. The pedestrians may recognize the output engine signal corresponding to the reference level, which may improve the safety of the pedestrians. The controller 130 may send a control signal to the first speaker 110 and the second speaker 120 according to the set reference level.

[0037] The control signal to be sent to the first speaker 110 and the second speaker 120 is determined as follows. The control signal to be sent by the controller 130 to the first speaker 110 may be determined so that the value of the virtual engine signal output by the first speaker 110 is less than the set reference level, and the phase of the virtual engine signal is inverted. The control signal to be sent to the second speaker 120 may be determined so that the virtual engine signal output by the second speaker 120 is greater than the set reference level in value, and the phase of the virtual engine signal is not inverted.

[0038] This is to adjust the sound pressure of the synthesized signal of the virtual engine signal output by the first speaker 110 and the second speaker 120, and the control signal may be determined based on the distance between the front rear beam 190 of the vehicle and the front side of the vehicle or the rear side of the vehicle.

[0039] In this case, the sound pressure of the synthetic signal of the virtual engine signal at the front side of the vehicle can be calculated based on the following expression.

[0040] A (sound pressure of the composite signal at the front side of the vehicle): 10log((75+Y)) / 10-(75-X) / 10))

[0041] In this case, assuming that the reference level is 75 dB, X represents a level difference that allows the value of the virtual engine signal output by the first speaker 110 to be less than the level of 75 dB (i.e., the reference level), and Y represents a level difference that allows the value of the virtual engine signal output by the second speaker 120 to be greater than the level of 75 dB (i.e., the reference level). In addition, the controller 130 may determine Y to be a value greater than X so that the sound pressures of the synthesized signals at the front and rear sides of the vehicle are equal to each other.

[0042] Furthermore, the sound pressure of the synthetic signal of the virtual engine signal at the rear side of the vehicle can be calculated based on the following expression.

[0043] B (sound pressure of the composite signal at the rear side of the vehicle): A (sound pressure of the composite signal at the front side of the vehicle) - 20log (L1 / L2)

[0044] In this case, L1 represents a distance from the virtual engine signal system 100 of the vehicle positioned on the front rear beam 190 to the front side of the vehicle, and L2 represents a distance from the virtual engine signal system 100 of the vehicle positioned on the front rear beam 190 to the rear side of the vehicle.

[0045] In this case, the first speaker 110 may be configured as a directional speaker, and the second speaker 120 may be configured as an omnidirectional speaker. Figure 2 Describe the configuration.

[0046] Figure 2 is a diagram showing the sound pressure of the virtual engine signal output through the first speaker 110 and the second speaker 120 .

[0047] As in Figure 2 As shown on the left side of FIG, the directional speaker can output a virtual engine signal toward one side, and as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown on the right side of , the omnidirectional speaker can output a virtual engine signal toward two opposite sides. A directional speaker is characterized in that the signal output by the directional speaker has a high sound pressure at a specific angle and a low sound pressure at another specific angle. An omnidirectional speaker is characterized in that it can output a signal of the same sound pressure at any angle.

[0048] Figure 3is a diagram showing the sound pressure of a synthesized signal of the virtual engine signal of the first speaker 110 and the second speaker 120 .

[0049] Figure 3 1 is a view showing a state in which the first and second speakers output a virtual engine signal in a structure in which the first speaker 110 is arranged to be directed toward the front side of the vehicle and the second speaker 120 is arranged to be directed toward the rear side of the vehicle.

[0050] from Figure 3 The top side of Figure 3 The waveform of the signal output by the second speaker 120, the waveform of the signal output by the first speaker 110, and the waveform of the synthesized signal generated by synthesizing the signals output by the speakers are shown. When the signal has an anti-phase phase, the signal is eliminated, and when the signal has an in-phase phase, the signal is enhanced. When the amplitude of the virtual engine signal output by the second speaker 120 is h1 (negative value) and the amplitude of the virtual engine signal output by the first speaker 110 is h2 (positive value), the signal amplitude of the synthesized signal of the virtual engine signals of the first speaker 110 and the second speaker 120 is h3=h1+h2.

[0051] As described above, the directional speaker that outputs a signal at a specific angle is arranged to point toward the front side of the vehicle, and the omnidirectional speaker that outputs the same signal at any angle is arranged to point toward the rear side of the vehicle, so that the sound pressure of the synthetic signal of the virtual engine signal at the rear side of the vehicle can be set to be equal to the sound pressure at the front side of the vehicle.

[0052] Will refer to Figure 4 A control method of a virtual engine signal for a vehicle is described based on the configuration of the virtual engine signal system 100 for a vehicle.

[0053] Figure 4 is a flow chart 400 illustrating a method of controlling a virtual engine signal for a vehicle.

[0054] Reference Figure 4 First, the method of controlling the virtual engine signal of the vehicle can be divided into a digital area S410 and a sound area S420. The digital area will be described first. The controller 130 can set a reference level corresponding to an engine signal that can be recognized by pedestrians at the front and rear sides of the vehicle for the VESS to play back the sound (S411).

[0055] The controller 130 may send a control signal to the first speaker 110 and the second speaker 120 according to the set reference level. The control signal to be sent to the first speaker 110 and the second speaker 120 is determined as follows. The control signal to be sent by the controller 130 to the first speaker 110 may be determined so that the value of the virtual engine signal output by the first speaker 110 is less than the set reference level and the phase of the virtual engine signal is inverted (S413A and S415).

[0056] In addition, the control signal to be sent to the second speaker 120 may be determined so that the virtual engine signal output by the second speaker 120 is greater than the set reference level in value and the phase of the virtual engine signal is not reversed (S413B). Therefore, the first speaker 110 and the second speaker 120 may output the virtual engine signal in response to the control signal (S417A and S417B).

[0057] Thereafter, in the sound area S420, the virtual engine signal output by the first speaker 110 and having an inverse phase and the virtual engine signal output by the second speaker 120 are eliminated at the front side (front surface) of the vehicle, and the virtual engine signal output by the second speaker 120 gradually attenuates along the distance at the rear side (rear surface) of the vehicle.

[0058] In some embodiments, even when the first speaker and the second speaker are disposed at one side of the vehicle, the sound pressure of a synthesized signal generated by synthesizing virtual engine signals output by the first speaker and the second speaker may be adjusted.

[0059] While specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made to the present disclosure without departing from the technical spirit of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A virtual engine signal system for a vehicle, the virtual engine signal system comprising: a first speaker disposed at a front rear beam of the vehicle, the first speaker being oriented toward a front side of the vehicle and configured to output a first virtual engine signal to an exterior of the vehicle; a second speaker disposed rearwardly relative to the first speaker, the second speaker being oriented toward a rear side of the vehicle and configured to output a second virtual engine signal to the exterior; as well as a controller configured to send a first control signal and a second control signal to the first speaker and the second speaker, respectively, so that the first speaker and the second speaker output the first virtual engine signal and the second virtual engine signal in response to the first control signal and the second control signal, respectively; The controller is configured to respectively control the first speaker and the second speaker to adjust the sound pressure of a composite signal of a first virtual engine signal of the first speaker at the front side of the vehicle and a second virtual engine signal of the second speaker at the rear side of the vehicle.

2. The virtual engine signal system according to claim 1, wherein: The first speaker includes a directional speaker configured to output the first virtual engine signal toward a side of the directional speaker, and The second speaker includes an omnidirectional speaker configured to output the second virtual engine signal toward two opposite sides of the omnidirectional speaker.

3. The virtual engine signal system according to claim 1, wherein: The second speaker is arranged adjacent to the first speaker.

4. The virtual engine signal system according to claim 1, wherein: The controller is configured to: setting a reference level corresponding to an engine signal that can be recognized by a pedestrian on the front side or the rear side of the vehicle; and The first control signal and the second control signal are respectively transmitted to the first speaker and the second speaker based on the reference level.

5. The virtual engine signal system according to claim 4, wherein: The controller is configured to determine the first control signal to be sent to the first speaker so that the first speaker outputs the first virtual engine signal, the first virtual engine signal having a value i less than the reference level and a phase ii inverted relative to the second virtual engine signal.

6. The virtual engine signal system according to claim 4, wherein: The controller is configured to determine the second control signal to be sent to the second speaker so that the second speaker outputs the second virtual engine signal having a value greater than the reference level.

7. The virtual engine signal system according to claim 1, wherein: The controller is configured to determine the first control signal for the first speaker and the second control signal for the second speaker based on a distance between a front rear beam of the vehicle and a front side of the vehicle or a front rear beam of the vehicle and a rear side of the vehicle, respectively.

8. The virtual engine signal system according to claim 7, wherein: The controller is configured to determine the first control signal and the second control signal so that sound pressures of the composite signal at the front side and the rear side of the vehicle are equal to each other.

9. A method for controlling a virtual engine signal of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising: i a first speaker arranged at a front rear beam of the vehicle, the first speaker being oriented toward the front side of the vehicle and configured to output a first virtual engine signal to the outside of the vehicle, and ii a second speaker arranged rearwardly relative to the first speaker, the second speaker being oriented toward the rear side of the vehicle and configured to output a second virtual engine signal to the outside, the method comprising: Sending a first control signal and a second control signal to the first speaker and the second speaker respectively; outputting the first virtual engine signal and the second virtual engine signal by the first speaker and the second speaker in response to the first control signal and the second control signal respectively; as well as The sound pressures of synthesized signals of a first virtual engine signal of the first speaker at the front side of the vehicle and a second virtual engine signal of the second speaker at the rear side of the vehicle are adjusted respectively.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein: Sending the first control signal and the second control signal to the first speaker and the second speaker respectively includes: setting a reference level corresponding to an engine signal that can be recognized by a pedestrian on the front side or rear side of the vehicle; and The first control signal and the second control signal are respectively transmitted to the first speaker and the second speaker based on the reference level.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: The first control signal to be sent to the first speaker is determined so that the first speaker outputs the first virtual engine signal, the first virtual engine signal having a value i less than the reference level and a phase ii inverted relative to the second virtual engine signal.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: The second control signal to be sent to the second speaker is determined so that the second speaker outputs the second virtual engine signal having a value greater than the reference level.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: The first control signal and the second control signal for the first speaker and the second speaker are determined based on a distance between a front rear beam of the vehicle and a front side or a rear side of the vehicle, respectively.

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