Vehicle sound combustion control and method

Abstract

The present disclosure provides "Vehicle Sound Regulation Control and Method". A vehicle with sound monitoring, having: a cabin interior configured to transport one or more occupants; an internal microphone located in the interior of the vehicle cabin for detecting an internal sound; the navigation device is used for detecting the geographic position of the vehicle; and a controller for determining a sound regulation rule with a sound limit based on the detected position, the controller further determining an external sound level based on the internal sound detected with the internal microphone, wherein the controller further generates an output indicative of the detected external sound level relative to the sound limit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to vehicle-related sound monitoring, and more particularly to monitoring sounds on a vehicle and providing audible notifications or control sounds based on sound requirements. Background Art

[0002] Motor vehicles typically emit a variety of sounds, such as sounds that may be produced by the engine in various operating modes, exhaust, tire friction, audio music / radio systems, horns, commercial unit sounds, and other sound sources. Vehicles may travel in geographic areas that have local sound ordinances or other regulations or recommendations. It is desirable to provide monitoring and notification or control of sounds that complies with sound regulations when traveling in a local geographic area. Summary of the invention

[0003] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a sound monitoring system for a vehicle includes: a vehicle cabin interior configured to transport one or more occupants; an interior microphone located in the vehicle cabin interior for detecting interior sounds; a navigation device for detecting a geographic location of the vehicle; and a controller configured to determine a sound level limit based on the detected location, the controller further determining an exterior sound level based on the detected interior sounds, wherein the controller further generates an output indicating the determined exterior sound level relative to the sound level limit.

[0004] Embodiments of the first aspect of the present disclosure may include any one or a combination of the following features:

[0005] - the controller generates a notification when the determined external sound level is not within the sound level limit;

[0006] - the controller controls one or more devices to control the external sound level based on the comparison;

[0007] - the controller controls the one or more devices to modify the external sound level when the determined external sound is not within the sound level limit;

[0008] - the one or more devices include at least one of a vehicle window and a roof window;

[0009] - the one or more devices include at least one of an audio device and a speaker;

[0010] - the one or more devices include a motor of the vehicle or a sound generator for an electric vehicle;

[0011] - the sound level limits are determined by the sound regulations;

[0012] - the interior microphone is configured to receive voice commands from a driver of the vehicle or to be used in an active noise cancellation system;

[0013] - the sound transfer function estimates the external sound; and

[0014] The sound transfer function determines the exterior sound level based on the detected interior sound and the state of one or more vehicle windows or a roof window.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a method for monitoring the sound of a motor vehicle includes: detecting an interior sound level using an interior microphone located in a cabin interior of the motor vehicle; determining an exterior sound outside the cabin interior based on the detected interior sound; determining a geographic location of the motor vehicle; determining one or more sound limits for the determined geographic location; comparing the determined exterior sound with the one or more sound limits; and generating an output indicating the comparison of the exterior sound with the one or more sound limits.

[0016] Embodiments of the second aspect of the present disclosure may include any one or a combination of the following features:

[0017] - a step of notifying an occupant of the vehicle when the exterior sound level does not comply with the one or more sound limits;

[0018] - a step of controlling one or more devices on the vehicle to adjust the external sound when the external sound level does not meet the one or more sound limits;

[0019] - the one or more devices include at least one of a vehicle window and a roof window;

[0020] - said at least one device comprises a horn or an audio device on said vehicle;

[0021] - the one or more devices include a motor of the vehicle or an artificial sound generator for an electric vehicle;

[0022] - the one or more sound restrictions are based on sound regulations;

[0023] - a sound transfer function estimates said external sound; and

[0024] The sound transfer function determines the exterior sound level based on the detected interior sound and the state of one or more vehicle windows or a roof window.

[0025] These and other features, advantages and objectives of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by referring to the following description, claims and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In the attached picture:

[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a motor vehicle equipped with a sound monitoring and control system according to one embodiment;

[0028] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 a side perspective view of a portion of the interior of a cabin of a motor vehicle shown;

[0029] Figure 3 is a three-dimensional perspective view of a geographic area having roads and buildings subject to a sound ordinance according to an example;

[0030] Figure 4 is a block diagram of a sound monitoring and control system according to one example; and

[0031] Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating a process for detecting sounds and notifying a driver of excessive sounds in accordance with local sound regulations according to one example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the various drawings to refer to the same or similar parts. In the drawings, the depicted structural elements are not drawn to scale, and certain parts are enlarged relative to other parts for the purpose of emphasis and understanding.

[0033] For the purpose of description herein, the terms "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "rear", "front", "vertical", "horizontal" and their derivatives shall refer to the following: Figure 1 The concepts of orientation in the drawings are presented in detail. However, it should be understood that the concepts can assume various alternative orientations unless expressly indicated to the contrary. It should also be understood that the specific devices and processes shown in the drawings and described in the following specification are merely exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Therefore, unless the claims expressly state otherwise, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein should not be considered limiting.

[0034] The presently illustrated embodiments reside primarily in the combination of method steps and apparatus components associated with a motor vehicle sound monitoring and control system and method. Accordingly, apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, and only those specific details relevant to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure are shown so as not to obscure the present disclosure with details that would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. In addition, like reference numerals in the specification and drawings represent like elements.

[0035] As used herein, the term "and / or" when used with a list of two or more items means that any one of the listed items may be employed alone, or any combination of two or more of the listed items may be employed. For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B, and / or C, the composition may contain: A alone; B alone; C alone; a combination of A and B; a combination of A and C; a combination of B and C; or a combination of A, B, and C.

[0036] In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, etc. are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action, without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes a list of elements includes not only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by "comprises ..." does not, in the absence of more constraints, exclude the presence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the element.

[0037] As used herein, the term "about" means that the amount, size, formula, parameter and other quantity and characteristics are not exact, nor need to be exact, but may be approximate and / or larger or smaller as needed to reflect tolerances, conversion factors, rounding, measurement errors, etc. and other factors known to those skilled in the art. When the term "about" is used to describe the endpoints of a value or range, the disclosure should be understood to include the specific value or endpoint mentioned. Whether or not the endpoints of a numerical value or range in this specification are described as "about", the endpoints of the numerical value or range are intended to include two embodiments: one modified by "about" and one not modified by "about". It should also be understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant in relation to the other endpoint and independently of the other endpoint.

[0038] As used herein, the terms "substantially," "substantially," and variations thereof are intended to indicate that the described feature is equal to or approximately equal to a value or description. For example, a "substantially planar" surface is intended to indicate a planar or approximately planar surface. In addition, "substantially" is intended to mean that two values ​​are equal or approximately equal. In some embodiments, "substantially" can indicate that values ​​are within about 10% of each other, such as within about 5% of each other, or within about 2% of each other.

[0039] Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, as used herein, the terms "the," "a," or "an" mean "at least one" and should not be limited to "only one." Thus, for example, reference to "a component" includes embodiments having two or more such components unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0040] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 According to one embodiment, an automobile or motor vehicle 10 is generally shown in the form of a passenger vehicle having a sound monitoring and control system and method. The motor vehicle 10 has a body 12 that defines a cabin interior 20 and is generally supported on a plurality of wheel and tire assemblies 14 connected to axles of the motor vehicle 10. The body 12 includes a plurality of passenger doors 16, which are shown as front doors and rear doors located on each of the opposite lateral sides of the motor vehicle 10. Each of the passenger doors 16 may include a power window 18 that may be powered to move between an upper closed position and a lower open position and an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position. The body 12 may also include a roof-mounted window, referred to as a power sunroof 19, which is shown as being located overhead in the roof 15 of the body 12.

[0041] The vehicle interior 20 defines a passenger compartment that includes a plurality of seat assemblies 22, which in the illustrated example include a pair of front seat assemblies 22 separated by a space containing a center console and a rear row of seats that may include a plurality of seat assemblies. It should be appreciated that according to other examples, the motor vehicle 10 may include more or fewer seat assemblies as well as various other accommodations and accessories.

[0042] The cabin interior 20 is configured to accommodate a driver and one or more passengers as occupants in the motor vehicle 10. A steering wheel 24 is disposed in front of a driver's seat configured to receive the driver, and the steering wheel may include an audible horn switch 26. The horn switch 26 may allow for the generation of an ascending level of sound from a horn set at a high decibel level when the horn switch 26 is activated by the driver of the motor vehicle 10. The motor vehicle 10 is also configured to include one or more microphones, including an interior microphone 30 located within the cabin interior 20. The interior microphone 30 may be located on the instrument panel, in a rearview mirror assembly or mounting thereof, in the roof 15, or elsewhere in the cabin interior 20 of the motor vehicle 10 in a location suitable for detecting sounds within the cabin interior 20 of the motor vehicle 10. According to one example, the interior microphone 30 may be a microphone positioned and configured to receive an audible spoken voice command of a driver or one of the passengers of the motor vehicle 10. For microphones intended to receive audible sounds from the driver, the interior microphone 30 may detect commands spoken by the driver (such as input commands with instructions to perform one or more functions), or may be used in an active noise cancellation system. The interior microphone 30 is configured to detect sounds and determine the sound level of the sounds detected within the cabin interior 20. The motor vehicle 10 is further configured to estimate external sounds in the immediate environment outside the motor vehicle 10 based on the detected interior sounds. External sounds close to the exterior of the motor vehicle 10 are estimated by using a transfer function. The transfer function may estimate external sounds based on known sound transmission properties of the vehicle, which may vary depending on sound insulation and the state of the windows and sunroof. Thus, the interior microphone 30 may be used to detect external sound levels. It should be appreciated that more than one interior microphone may be used, and one or more exterior microphones may be used.

[0043] The motor vehicle 10 is also equipped with a human machine interface (HMI) in the form of a display 34, which is generally shown as being located in front of and between the two front seat assemblies 22. The display 34 may include a touch screen display for receiving user input and providing display output. The display 34 may be operably connected to or integrated into a module including an audio control 36, which may be used to control audio sounds output by an audio sound system having one or more audio speakers 28. For example, other HMIs may be employed, such as switches on a steering wheel. It should be appreciated that the cabin interior 20 may be equipped with a plurality of audio speakers for outputting audio sounds generated by one or more audio devices.

[0044] The motor vehicle 10 is equipped with a navigation position determining device in the form of a global positioning system (GPS) receiver 32. For example, the GPS receiver 32 may be located in or on the body 12 of the motor vehicle 10, such as on the roof 15. The GPS receiver 32 receives GPS signals from a plurality of satellites and may determine the geographic location of the motor vehicle 10. In addition, the GPS signal may provide time of day and date (i.e., time of year) data. The determined geographic location and time and date information may be used to determine appropriate sound level limits in accordance with local rules or regulations.

[0045] refer to Figure 3 , an example of a geographic area 40 is shown having a road 42 on which a motor vehicle 10 can travel. The geographic area 40 also includes a plurality of buildings 44. The buildings 44 may include professional buildings, such as hospitals, schools, housing facilities, professional clinics, and other types of buildings where it may be desirable to maintain sound levels below a certain level. For example, the geographic area 40 may be subject to sound level rules or regulations issued in accordance with local ordinances. Local ordinances may enforce maximum sound levels for a local city, county, state, or other geographic area, and may require restrictions on the maximum allowable sound levels, which may vary depending on the time of year and the time of day. For example, sound level rules or regulations may be enforced in the immediate vicinity of a hospital or school or professional clinic. Local ordinances or other rules may also enforce minimum sound levels, such as, for example, electric vehicles that may not otherwise produce engine noise.

[0046] To take into account sound regulations or ordinances, the motor vehicle 10 is equipped with a vehicle sound monitoring and control system 50 and method. The sound monitoring system 50 of the motor vehicle 10 detects the sound level in the interior of the cabin in the motor vehicle 10 and determines the estimated sound level in the external environment close to the motor vehicle 10. The motor vehicle 10 also obtains and stores or determines any applicable sound regulations or rules in effect at the time in the geographic area where the motor vehicle 10 is located. The sound monitoring control system and method can determine the location of the motor vehicle 10, and therefore determine the geographical area of ​​interest, and find and determine the sound regulations and rules in effect at the time in the corresponding geographical area. It should be understood that the sound regulations and rules can be stored in a memory, or can be downloaded when the vehicle travels from one geographical area to another. In response to detecting an excessive sound level that is higher than an acceptable sound regulation or other regulations or rules, the motor vehicle 10 can generate an output to notify the driver and other occupants of the motor vehicle 10 that the sound level is insufficient or excessive. Then, the driver of the motor vehicle 10 can control one or more functions or features on the motor vehicle 10 to control the sound level and change the sound level to an acceptable level that meets the sound limit. For example, the motor vehicle 10 may automatically take action to control one or more devices or functions on the motor vehicle 10 to reduce the sound level to a level below the sound limit in the applicable rules or regulations. For example, the motor vehicle 10 may automatically reduce the sound generated by the audio system or reduce the engine sound output or close one or more power windows or a power sunroof on the motor vehicle 10 to reduce the audio system sound level heard outside the vehicle.

[0047] The motor vehicle sound monitoring and control system 50 is shown having Figure 4 . The controller 52 may include a microprocessor 54 and a memory 56. It should be understood that the controller 52 may employ a shared or dedicated controller and may include other analog and / or digital circuit systems. A control program 100 for executing the method and one or more sound ordinance rules 200 and a sound transfer function 300 is stored in the memory 56 and executed by the microprocessor 54. The sound ordinance rules 200 may be initially stored in the memory in advance, or may be periodically or continuously downloaded to the motor vehicle 10 and may be received from communication towers and satellites (such as cellular towers) and from other vehicles via vehicle-to-vehicle communications. The sound transfer function 300 may include an algorithm that estimates external sounds in an environment close to the exterior of the motor vehicle 10 based on detected interior sounds and other parameters (such as whether one or more windows or roof windows in the motor vehicle 10 are open). The algorithm may include known sound insulation characteristics of the vehicle collected during testing.

[0048] The controller 52 receives and processes inputs including audio input signals detected by the interior microphone 30 and navigation data including location, date and time data from the GPS receiver 32. The controller 52 processes the detected interior sound using a transfer function to estimate the exterior sound in the exterior environment close to the motor vehicle 10. The controller 52 processes the interior sound detected by the interior microphone 30 and the navigation data and generates one or more outputs, which may include a notification to the display 34 indicating that the sound level complies with local regulations or rules for the geographic area. In addition, the controller 52 may output the notification and other data to the display 34 and / or a portable device such as the phone 21. The controller 52 may control devices such as the audio control 36 to control the audio output via the audio speaker 28. The controller 52 may further control a sound generating device such as the horn 27, which is activated by the horn switch 26 to reduce the sound emitted from the horn 27 when activated to prevent the horn 27 from exceeding the audible sound limit. The controller 52 may further control the power windows 18 to control the sound level in the exterior environment. The controller 52 can further control the top window 19 to further control the sound level in the external environment. In addition, the controller 52 can control the vehicle engine 58 to prevent the engine from generating excessive sound or causing the tires to squeal to the extent that the sound would exceed the sound limit. The controller 52 can also control the external sound generator on the electric vehicle to increase the external sound, especially when the ambient sound is excessive.

[0049] refer to Figure 5 , according to one example, a control routine 100 or method is shown. The control routine 100 starts at step 102 and proceeds to step 104 to detect the vehicle location, date, and time of day. This data may be provided from one or more devices such as a radio, cell phone, or navigation device such as a GPS receiver. The routine 100 then proceeds to step 106 where the routine 100 downloads or reads local ordinance sound data for sound limits if data is available. Next, at step 108, if data is not available, the routine 100 uses historical information and evaluates against strict sound rules. Next, at step 110, the routine 100 measures exterior sound using the vehicle interior microphone and transfer function to generally estimate exterior sound, taking into account vehicle attenuation and filtering. The control routine 100 then proceeds to decision step 112 to determine if the vehicle estimates exterior sound is louder than the ordinance sound limit, and if not, returns to step 104. If the vehicle estimates that the exterior sounds are louder than permitted by regulatory limits, control routine 100 then proceeds to step 114 to notify the driver (such as providing an alphanumeric message, voice message, or symbol, etc.), and may further provide control to control one or more devices or vehicle functions to reduce the sounds emitted by motor vehicle 10.

[0050] Thus, the motor vehicle sound monitoring and control system 50 and method advantageously utilizes the interior microphone 30 in the cabin interior 20 of the motor vehicle 10 to determine and estimate the exterior sound in order to monitor the sound level and determine whether the sound complies with local ordinance rules or regulations. Further advantageously, the control system 50 and method can notify the driver of the non-compliant sound and can control one or more devices on the motor vehicle 10 to adjust the sound to a certain level to meet the prescribed sound level.

[0051] It should be understood that changes and modifications may be made to the foregoing constructions without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and it should be further understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the appended claims unless the claims expressly state otherwise by their language.

[0052] According to this aspect, a vehicle with sound monitoring is provided, having: a cabin interior, the cabin interior being configured to transport one or more occupants; an interior microphone, the interior microphone being located in the cabin interior for detecting interior sounds; a navigation device, the navigation device being used to detect a geographic location of the vehicle; and a controller, the controller being configured to determine a sound level limit based on the detected location, the controller further determining an exterior sound level based on the detected interior sounds, wherein the controller further generates an output indicating the determined exterior sound level relative to the sound level limit.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the controller further generates a notification when the determined external sound level is not within the sound level limit.

[0054] According to an embodiment, the controller further controls one or more devices to control the external sound level based on the comparison.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the controller controls the one or more devices to modify the external sound level when the determined external sound level is not within the sound level limit.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the one or more devices include at least one of a vehicle window and a roof window.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the one or more devices include at least one of an audio device and a speaker.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the one or more devices comprise a motor of the vehicle or a sound generator for an electric vehicle.

[0059] According to one embodiment, the sound level limit is determined by a sound regulation.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the interior microphone is configured to receive voice commands from a driver of the vehicle or to be used in an active noise cancellation system.

[0061] According to an embodiment, the sound transfer function estimates the external sound.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the sound transfer function determines the exterior sound level based on the detected interior sound and the state of one or more vehicle windows or a roof window.

[0063] According to the present invention, a method for monitoring the sound of a motor vehicle includes: detecting an interior sound level using an interior microphone located in a cabin interior of the motor vehicle; determining exterior sound outside the cabin interior based on the detected interior sound; determining a geographic location of the motor vehicle; determining one or more sound limits for the determined geographic location; comparing the determined exterior sound to the one or more sound limits; and generating an output indicative of the comparison of the exterior sound to the one or more sound limits.

[0064] In one aspect of the invention, the method comprises the step of notifying an occupant of the vehicle when the exterior sound level does not comply with the one or more sound limits.

[0065] In one aspect of the invention, the method comprises the step of controlling one or more devices on the vehicle to adjust the external sound when the external sound level does not comply with the one or more sound limits.

[0066] In one aspect of the invention, said one or more devices include at least one of said vehicle window and a roof window.

[0067] In one aspect of the invention, said at least one device comprises a speaker or audio device on said vehicle.

[0068] In one aspect of the invention, said one or more devices comprise a motor of said vehicle or an artificial sound generator for an electric vehicle.

[0069] In one aspect of the invention, the one or more sound restrictions are based on sound regulations.

[0070] In one aspect of the invention, a sound transfer function estimates the external sound.

[0071] In one aspect of the invention, the sound transfer function determines the exterior sound level based on the detected interior sound and the state of one or more vehicle windows or a sunroof.

Claims

1. A vehicle with sound monitoring, the vehicle comprising: a vehicle interior configured to transport one or more occupants; an interior microphone located within the interior of the vehicle compartment for detecting interior sounds; a navigation device, the navigation device being used to detect the geographic location of the vehicle; as well as A controller is configured to determine a sound level limit based on the detected position, the controller further determining an exterior sound level based on the detected interior sound, wherein the controller further generates an output indicative of the determined exterior sound level relative to the sound level limit. 2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller further generates a notification when the determined exterior sound level is not within the sound level limit. 3 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller further controls one or more devices to control the exterior sound level based on the comparison.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the controller controls the one or more devices to modify the exterior sound level when the determined exterior sound level is not within the sound level limit.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the one or more devices include at least one of a vehicle window and a roof window.

6. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the one or more devices include at least one of an audio device and a speaker.

7. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the one or more devices include a motor of the vehicle or a sound generator for an electric vehicle.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the sound level limit is determined by a sound ordinance.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the interior microphone is configured to receive voice commands from a driver of the vehicle or to be used in an active noise cancellation system.

10. The vehicle of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the sound transfer function estimates the external sound.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the sound transfer function determines the exterior sound level based on the detected interior sound and a state of one or more vehicle windows or a sunroof.

12. A method of monitoring the sound of a motor vehicle, the method comprising: detecting interior sound levels using an interior microphone located within a cabin interior of the motor vehicle; determining an external sound outside the vehicle cabin interior based on the detected internal sound; determining a geographic location of the motor vehicle; determining one or more sound restrictions for the determined geographic location; comparing the determined external sound to the one or more sound limits; as well as An output is generated indicative of the comparison of the external sound to the one or more sound limits.

Images