Method and system for providing an artificially generated driving noise of a motor vehicle

Abstract

Method for providing an artificially generated driving noise (F) of a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps: a) Generating digital audio data (D) using a signal generator (G), b) Checking the functionality of a hearing aid (H) of an occupant (I) of the motor vehicle, c) only if the test according to step b) shows that the hearing aid (H) is fully functional: - Pairing (S3) the hearing aid (H) with the signal generator (G), - Transfer (S4) the digital audio data (D) to the hearing aid (H), - Converting (S5) the digital audio data (D) into the artificially generated driving noise (F), and - Providing (S6) the artificially generated driving noise (F) via the hearing aid (H) to the occupant (I), wherein step c) is executed depending on an activation signal, comprising the following further steps: d) Detection of the motor vehicle's surroundings (U) using a camera system and / or a radar system, e) Generating environmental data from the captured environment (U), f) Evaluating the environmental data to detect at least one predetermined environmental criterion, and (g) only if at least one predetermined environmental criterion is detected: generating the activation signal based on the at least one predetermined environmental criterion, wherein the environmental criterion is an attention parameter of a road user and / or a condition or type of roadway or a type of traffic sign or a specific weather condition.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method and a system for providing an artificially generated driving sound of a motor vehicle. The system comprises a signal generator configured to produce digital audio data from which the artificially generated driving sound can be processed. In other words, by converting the digital audio data into a sound signal, a driving sound of the motor vehicle can be artificially generated or synthesized. The invention is particularly concerned with providing the driving sound to a person with impaired hearing or deafness.

[0002] A motor vehicle, especially when traveling slowly, is often difficult for other road users, such as pedestrians or cyclists, to hear. Particularly in urban traffic, the driving noise or operating noise of such a vehicle can be masked by other ambient noises, such as wind or rain, or traffic noise, such as tire noise or construction noise. The driving noise thus becomes lost in the surrounding noise, and another road user can easily miss an approaching vehicle. Typical driving noises of a motor vehicle include, for example, engine noise and tire noise. Vehicles with electric drives, in particular, can be especially quiet when traveling slowly below 50 km / h. Therefore, it is advantageous to warn other road users of an approaching vehicle as early as possible.This can prevent road users from overlooking or misjudging the motor vehicle, and can reduce the risk of accidents in road traffic.

[0003] One method for warning road users of an approaching electric vehicle is known, for example, from DE 10 2012 206 522 A1. In this method, a portable and mobile device, such as a smartphone, carried by a pedestrian, emits a warning signal when an electric vehicle approaches. This is achieved by a receiver and / or sensor unit integrated into the device to detect an electromagnetic signal or magnetic field emitted by the electric vehicle.

[0004] A similar system is known from US Patent 2011 / 0090093A1. In this system, a road user, such as a cyclist, is informed of an approaching vehicle via a headset (headphones). The vehicle sends its current position as a signal message to the headset. Conversely, the road user's headset can also transmit its current position.

[0005] Instead of an external device, such as the aforementioned smartphone or headset, an in-vehicle device can also be used to simulate the sounds of a motor vehicle. Modern vehicles, especially electric ones, often have a so-called acoustic signal generator or sound actuator for this purpose. This device can generate a synthetic driving sound and emit it into the vehicle's surroundings, thus warning other road users of the approaching vehicle.

[0006] To alert road users with impaired hearing or hearing loss to an approaching vehicle, US Patent 2016 / 0267925A1 discloses an audio processing device, such as a hearing aid, that outputs external sounds or sound signals to the hearing aid wearer according to their importance. For example, the sounds of a motor vehicle are considered important environmental sounds and are therefore delivered particularly loudly and as quickly as possible.

[0007] GB 2 557 178 A describes a system for a vehicle that provides enhanced sound for a hearing-impaired user. The system has an input configured to receive an electrical signal from at least one device located in the vehicle, the electrical signal depending on an operating state of the vehicle.

[0008] DE 10 2014 218 065 A1 describes a method and a device for adjusting acoustic parameters of a personalizable driver assistance system of a motor vehicle, wherein the personalization information contains details about the hearing impairment of the respective drivers.

[0009] DE 10 2005 024 227 A1 describes a method and a device for inductively charging hearing aids, in which a battery arranged in the hearing aid is charged with a device which includes a receiver circuit, a rectifier and a charging controller.

[0010] US 8 031 085 B1 describes a method for instructing a vehicle to cooperate in a noise generation mode depending on provided information.

[0011] German patent DE 10 2013 215 094 A1 describes the situation-specific configuration of artificial vehicle and engine sounds, particularly for electric vehicles. This involves a situation detector that receives numerous measurement data points from multiple sensors, weights these data points, and uses them to assess the situation. The situation detector then calculates control signals for both an external and an internal loudspeaker system.

[0012] Reference is also made to a publication by PARAVAN GmbH: The Paravan Gateway - Operating Instructions for Secondary Functions. December 1, 2017. Pfronstetten-Aichelau. - Company publication URL: https: / / www.paravan.de / fileadmin / user_upload / Content_Homepage_PRVN / Downloadservices / Benutzerhandbuecher_und_Servicehefte / Gateway_Benutzerienungsanleitung_Sekundaerfunktionen_V2.1_DE_SCREEN_.pdf

[0013] The object of the invention is to further develop a motor vehicle with a signal generator for warning other road users in such a way as to further increase road safety.

[0014] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Advantageous developments are disclosed by the dependent patent claims, the following description, and the figures.

[0015] The invention is based on the understanding that, to increase the road safety of a motor vehicle, not only the external perception of driving noise, but also the perception of driving noise by an occupant or driver of the vehicle plays a crucial role. Only if the driver can realistically assess the driving noise of their own vehicle can they correctly assess the behavior of people or other road users surrounding the vehicle and, if necessary, react quickly and appropriately, for example, by braking or swerving in time. This can prevent a traffic accident. However, this contrasts with the trend of making a driver's cabin or the interior of a vehicle as quiet as possible through soundproofing, or with the increasing use of low-noise asphalt, i.e., open-pore asphalt with good sound-absorbing properties, in road construction.As a result, external noises, such as the vehicle's own driving noise, usually only reach the driver's cabin in a muffled form. Furthermore, increasing traffic density and other environmental noises that mask the vehicle's own driving noise make it even more difficult to perceive. The occupant is, in effect, enveloped in a cloud of noise and therefore cannot reliably assess or evaluate the noise emissions of their own vehicle.

[0016] Especially when the occupant or driver has impaired hearing or is hard of hearing, they often have difficulty assessing traffic situations, such as pedestrians, and correctly judging their vehicle's position while driving. Although these individuals usually wear a hearing aid, they typically cannot perceive their own driving sounds accurately. To save processing power and time, hearing aids often only partially process a sound signal. The sound signal is therefore not fully sampled, resulting in signal loss. Consequently, drivers with hearing aids are often unsure how their vehicle is perceived by other road users.Due to the familiar perception pattern of hearing impairment, which creates uncertainty, they often cannot rely on the fact that a road user's behavior or movement pattern is related to the approaching motor vehicle.

[0017] The object of the invention is therefore to increase the safety of a motor vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, operated by a person with impaired hearing, who in particular wears a hearing aid. To enable the occupant or hearing aid wearer to receive feedback, i.e., knowledge of the noise emission of their vehicle, the invention provides that a signal generator, which synthesizes the artificially generated driving noise for the vehicle, is coupled or connected to the occupant's hearing aid. However, instead of transmitting the artificially generated driving noise to the occupant in the form of an analog sound signal, the signal generator provides the artificially generated driving noise to the hearing aid in the form of digital audio data. The digital audio data represents acoustic parameters, such as frequency and level, of an analog sound signal in digital form.The inmate's hearing aid thus functions as a headset or headphones, transmitting digital audio data directly to a sound transmission unit or speaker system within the hearing aid. This eliminates the need for the hearing aid to use a microphone system to pick up ambient sound.

[0018] The individual steps of a process by which the artificially generated driving noise of a motor vehicle can be made available to the occupant wearing a hearing aid are described below. In step a), the signal generator first produces digital audio data. This digital audio data can be generated based on operating parameters such as speed or accelerator pedal position. In step b), the functionality of the occupant's hearing aid is then checked. It generally only makes sense to transmit the digital audio data from the signal generator to the hearing aid if the occupant's hearing aid is functioning. This check can be performed, for example, by querying the hearing aid's battery level or by sending a request signal and waiting for a response from the hearing aid.Subsequently, in step c), only if the testing according to step b) confirms that the hearing aid is fully functional, is the hearing aid paired or connected to the signal generator. "Fully functional" in this context means that the hearing aid is fully operational. In this case, a communication connection for data transmission between the hearing aid and the signal generator can be established in a generally known manner. This could be, for example, a Bluetooth connection, an NFC connection, or a Wi-Fi connection, so that the data can preferably be transmitted wirelessly. The digital audio data is then transmitted from the signal generator to the hearing aid via this communication connection. Both the signal generator and the hearing aid can have their own communication interfaces for data transmission.Thus, the signal generator can provide the digital audio data at its associated communication interface, and the hearing aid can receive the provided digital audio data via its corresponding communication interface. The hearing aid then converts the digital audio data into the artificially generated driving sound. In other words, the hearing aid can convert the digital signals into analog signals. For this purpose, the hearing aid can, for example, include a sound transmission unit or a loudspeaker system. Therefore, assuming the hearing aid is fully functional, the artificially generated driving sound is delivered to the vehicle occupant, i.e., the hearing aid user, via the hearing aid.

[0019] This offers the advantage that the hearing aid wearer receives direct feedback on the noise emissions of their vehicle. The wearer can thus perceive their vehicle optimally, unfiltered, and without attenuation. This allows them to better assess how their vehicle is perceived by other road users in the vicinity. The driver or passenger with a hearing aid is therefore sensitized to the noise of their own vehicle. Furthermore, this awareness of the noise emissions of their own vehicle also increases the confidence of drivers with hearing impairments in traffic, ultimately improving road safety.This allows the driver to better assess whether an other road user can perceive the vehicle and whether a reaction from that other road user can be interpreted as a response to the approaching vehicle. This helps avoid misunderstandings in road traffic and reduces the risk of accidents.

[0020] The following section will discuss the circumstances under which the signal generator is coupled with the hearing aid or the interior speaker unit in order to transmit the digital audio data.

[0021] According to the invention, it is provided that the execution of step c) is dependent on an activation signal. That is, before the artificially generated driving sound is provided to the occupants via the hearing aid or the interior speaker unit, an activation signal is awaited.

[0022] According to the invention, the artificially generated driving noise is provided in relation to the vehicle's surroundings. In step d), the vehicle's surroundings are first detected. To detect these surroundings, the vehicle can be equipped with a suitable sensor system, such as a camera system and / or a radar system. This system can detect not only road users such as pedestrians or cyclists, or other vehicles, but also, for example, traffic signs. Furthermore, weather conditions such as rain, snow, or wind, as well as the road surface, can also be detected. In step e), environmental data is then generated from the detected environment and subsequently evaluated in step f).The environmental data describes which objects in the environment have been detected and how these objects interact. By evaluating this environmental data, a predetermined environmental criterion is then recognized. This criterion might be an attention parameter of a road user and / or a condition or type of road surface, a type of traffic sign, or a specific weather condition. The evaluation of the environmental data can therefore include, for example, gesture recognition or movement pattern recognition, so that upon detection of a predetermined gesture or movement pattern, it is known whether a person is paying attention to the approaching vehicle or not.If at least one predetermined environmental criterion is detected during the evaluation of the environmental data, the activation signal is generated in step g) based on that criterion. The activation signal is therefore an environment-dependent signal.

[0023] This offers the advantage that the artificially generated driving noise is automatically provided to the occupants in predetermined situations. This can occur, for example, when a residential street or a traffic-calmed zone is detected. In this situation, the vehicle is usually driven at walking speed and therefore often has a low driving noise level. Other road users, such as children, may have difficulty perceiving the approaching vehicle. By providing the artificially generated driving noise to the occupants, they gain a sense of how loud their vehicle is actually perceived to be from the outside and thus get an impression of whether other road users can even notice the approaching vehicle.

[0024] For example, a hearing aid battery might be dead, or the hearing aid might be defective in general. In such cases, the hearing aid would only have limited functionality. Therefore, in one embodiment of the invention, step h) provides that the signal generator is coupled to an interior speaker unit of the vehicle only if the test according to step b) reveals limited functionality of the hearing aid. The interior speaker unit refers to a loudspeaker system of the vehicle designed for sound transmission to the interior, i.e., the driver's cabin. By coupling the system, the digital audio data is transmitted to the interior speaker unit.This then converts the digital audio data into the artificially generated driving noise, so that the artificially generated driving noise is provided to the occupants of the vehicle via the interior speaker unit.

[0025] By directing artificially generated driving sounds to the vehicle's interior in case of a malfunctioning hearing aid, the advantage is that the driver's own driving sounds are largely prevented from being masked by environmental noise. In this case, the driving sounds projected into the interior are generally more dominant than environmental noises entering the cabin from outside, thus increasing the likelihood that the hearing aid user will perceive the driving sounds despite a malfunctioning device.

[0026] To make the artificially generated driving noises even more dominant for the occupant compared to ambient noise, step i) provides that, prior to step h), the occupant's hearing data is acquired, for example, by a control device in the vehicle. This hearing data provides the occupant with a hearing function or hearing field. Based on this hearing data, at least one acoustic parameter of the digital audio data is then modulated. The hearing data can, for example, be in the form of an audiogram, which defines the levels at which the occupant perceives a sound, depending on a given frequency. Taking the audiogram into account, the acoustic parameter, such as a frequency or level of the digital audio data, can then be adjusted.For example, if the occupant has high-frequency hearing loss, the level of the resulting road noise can be increased at high frequencies. Ideally, the hearing aid user can adjust the hearing data themselves, for example, via an application on a mobile device or the vehicle's multimedia interface. This means the occupant can, for example, use a sound equalizer or a control, similar to a mixing console, to adjust desired frequency levels, frequency bands, or volumes to their hearing ability.

[0027] This has the advantage that the noise emission of the artificially generated driving noise is thus adapted to the hearing ability of the occupant, so that the occupant can perceive the driving noises of the vehicle as well as possible even if their hearing aid is defective.

[0028] In the following two embodiments, the next step described is to check the functionality of the hearing aid according to step b). Specifically, it explains how the functionality of the hearing aid is verified.

[0029] In the first of the two embodiments, the state of charge of the hearing aid's energy storage device is first determined in step j). This means that the current capacity of the energy storage device, such as a battery or rechargeable battery, is ascertained. The state of charge can be transmitted wirelessly from the hearing aid to a control unit or vehicle control unit using known methods. In step k), the state of charge is then compared with a predefined charge limit. This checks whether the state of charge exceeds or falls below the predefined charge limit. The charge limit could, for example, be ten percent of the total capacity of the energy storage device. Finally, in step l), the unrestricted functionality of the hearing aid is confirmed only if and when the state of charge exceeds the predefined charge limit.This means that the current charge level must be above the charge limit, for example, five percent of the total capacity, for the hearing aid to function correctly when tested. This prevents the hearing aid from suddenly failing, for example, during the transmission of digital audio data, due to the energy storage being depleted.

[0030] In the second of the two embodiments, the process involves, in step m), first sending a query signal to the hearing aid to test its functionality. Then, in step n), waiting for a response signal from the hearing aid corresponding to the query signal. Subsequently, in step o), receiving the response signal and verifying its arrival within a predetermined timeframe after sending the query signal, the system checks whether the response signal arrived within a specified timeframe. Finally, in step p), the unrestricted functionality of the hearing aid is confirmed only if it is determined that the response signal was received within the specified timeframe after sending the query signal. Thus, in this embodiment, the hearing aid is, for example, pinged by the vehicle.This means the vehicle can, for example, use the diagnostic tool Ping to check whether the hearing aid is reachable to establish a communication connection. Conversely, if the hearing aid cannot be reached, its limited functionality can be confirmed, and the artificially generated driving noise can be output directly through the interior speaker unit instead of the hearing aid.

[0031] To determine the environmental criterion, a further embodiment provides that, in step q), input from the occupant is captured. In step r), the input is then evaluated to determine the predetermined environmental criterion. The occupant can thus select in which situations they wish to perceive the artificially generated driving noise. The occupant can therefore personalize the provision of the artificially generated driving noise. This can be done, for example, by specifying or excluding certain traffic situations via the vehicle's multimedia interface before starting the journey.

[0032] Preferably, in a further embodiment, the occupant can also adjust the volume or frequency of the artificially generated driving noise emitted into the environment via voice input. For this purpose, in step s), a modulation voice input from the occupant is captured and evaluated. Based on this modulation voice input, in step t), at least one acoustic parameter of the digital audio data is then modulated or adjusted. That is, the frequency or level of the digital audio data can be changed, for example, by the modulation voice input. These modulated audio data are then transmitted in step u) from the signal generator to an external loudspeaker unit of the vehicle. The external loudspeaker unit then converts the modulated digital audio data into the artificially generated driving noise in step v).Thus, the artificially generated driving noise is provided in one step w) via the external loudspeaker unit to the surroundings and thus to at least one road user.

[0033] If the occupant finds that the artificially generated driving noise is emitted too quietly to the outside and is therefore likely to be poorly perceived, he can increase the noise emission of his vehicle until the road user, for example, raises his head and makes eye contact with the vehicle, thereby signaling his attention to the vehicle.

[0034] The invention also relates to a system for providing the artificially generated driving sound of a motor vehicle. The system comprises a signal generator of the motor vehicle, which is configured to generate the digital audio data. Furthermore, the system also includes a control unit and the hearing aid of the vehicle occupant. The aforementioned components of the system have the following functions: First, the control unit is configured to check the functionality of the hearing aid and to couple the hearing aid and the signal generator. That is, the control unit can ensure that the communication link between the hearing aid and the signal generator is established. The signal generator is configured to transmit the digital audio data to the hearing aid, and the hearing aid is configured to convert the digital audio data into the artificially generated driving sound.This means the system is designed to deliver the artificially generated driving sound to the occupant via the hearing aid. However, it is important to note that the pairing of the hearing aid and the signal generator, and the transmission and conversion of the digital audio data, only occur if the control unit confirms the hearing aid's full functionality during a functionality check.This involves coupling the hearing aid and the signal generator, transmitting the digital audio data, and converting the digital audio data depending on an activation signal, wherein the environment of the motor vehicle is detected by means of a camera system and / or a radar system, environmental data is generated from the detected environment, the environmental data is evaluated to recognize at least one predetermined environmental criterion, and only if the at least one predetermined environmental criterion is recognized, is the activation signal generated based on the at least one predetermined environmental criterion, wherein the environmental criterion is an attention parameter of a road user and / or a condition or type of roadway or a type of traffic sign or a specific weather condition.

[0035] The control unit can, for example, be integrated into the vehicle. Alternatively, the control unit can also be located in a mobile device belonging to the occupant, such as a smartphone. This allows for multiple communication connections to be established: one between the mobile device and the vehicle, one between the vehicle and the hearing aid, and one between the control unit and the hearing aid, in order to transmit data.

[0036] The invention also includes further developments of the system according to the invention, which have features already described in connection with the further developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the system according to the invention are not described again here.

[0037] The invention also includes combinations of the features of the described embodiments.

[0038] The following are exemplary embodiments of the invention described. This is illustrated by: Fig. 1. A schematic representation of a system for providing an artificially generated driving noise to an occupant of a motor vehicle with a hearing aid; and Fig. 2 a flowchart of process steps to be carried out to provide the artificially generated driving noise to the occupants of the motor vehicle with a hearing aid.

[0039] The exemplary embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In these exemplary embodiments, the described components each represent individual features of the invention, which can be considered independently of one another and each further develops the invention independently. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to include combinations of features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0040] In the figures, identical reference symbols denote functionally equivalent elements.

[0041] Fig. Figure 1 shows a system V for providing an artificially generated driving noise F of a motor vehicle. The focus is on providing the artificially generated driving noise F to an occupant I of the motor vehicle. Occupant I is a person with impaired hearing or hearing loss who wears a hearing aid H to improve their hearing. Occupant I is therefore referred to as the hearing aid wearer in the following.

[0042] Generally, hearing aid users often face the problem that they can barely perceive the driving or operating noises emitted by a motor vehicle. Especially in city traffic, the driver's own driving noise (F) is masked by traffic noise or other ambient sounds and further attenuated by the sound insulation of the driver's cabin. As a result, it is hardly audible inside the vehicle. Furthermore, the processing of a sound signal, such as driving or road noise, by the hearing aid (H) results in an additional degradation and thus usually a further attenuation of the artificially generated driving noise emitted into the environment (U) by the signal generator (G) or sound actuator.

[0043] Therefore, hearing aid users are often unclear about how their vehicle is realistically perceived by the outside world, i.e., other road users such as pedestrians or cyclists. Consequently, they can only very limitedly predict the possible behavior of other road users in relation to their own vehicle. This uncertainty about whether and how exactly their vehicle is perceived by other road users can lead to misunderstandings and reduced road safety.

[0044] To avoid unsettling the hearing aid wearer, the following is done in the Fig. In the system V shown in Figure 1, the artificially generated driving noise F is provided directly to the hearing aid wearer, i.e., the occupant I. For this purpose, the system V comprises a signal generator G, a control unit S, and the hearing aid H of the occupant I.

[0045] The signal generator G has the function of generating digital audio data D, which is assigned to the artificially generated driving noise F, depending, for example, on at least one operating parameter B of the vehicle. The operating parameter B could be, for example, the current vehicle speed, the accelerator pedal position, and / or the driving mode in which the vehicle is operating. If the vehicle is, for example, an electric vehicle, a loudspeaker unit of the signal generator G can then convert the digital audio data into a sound signal and thereby transmit the artificially generated driving noise F to an environment U. Furthermore, the signal generator G can also transmit the digital audio data D to the hearing aid H. For this purpose, the signal generator G, as described in Fig. Figure 1 shows a communication interface KG. The hearing aid H also has a communication interface KH. A communication connection K1 between the signal generator G and the hearing aid H can be established via the two communication interfaces KG and KH. In the Fig. The communication link K1 shown is, in particular, a wireless communication link. The signal generator G and the hearing aid H can thus be coupled or connected via the communication link K1.

[0046] A control device S is preferably provided for coupling the two. Fig. 1. The control unit S is configured as a mobile device or smartphone of the occupant I. In addition to pairing, the control unit S is also configured to check whether the hearing aid H is functional before the communication link K1 is enabled for the transmission of the digital audio data D. This ensures that the transmission of the digital audio data can take place over a longer period and without interruption.

[0047] To establish a preferably wireless communication connection K2 with the hearing aid H for the purpose of verifying its functionality, the control unit S also has a communication interface KS. The control unit S can send a request signal or test signal PS to the hearing aid H via the communication interface KS. The control unit S can then wait for a response signal AS from the hearing aid H for a predetermined period, for example, ten seconds. If the hearing aid H sends the response signal AS back to the control unit S within the predetermined period and the control unit S receives it, the control unit S can confirm that the hearing aid H is functioning correctly. If the control unit S receives the response signal AS outside the predetermined period or not at all, a malfunction of the hearing aid H must be assumed.The control unit S therefore denies the unrestricted functionality of the hearing aid H in this case.

[0048] If the control unit S confirms the full functionality of the hearing aid H, it can establish a further communication link K3 with the signal generator G. Via this communication link K3, the control unit S can transmit a confirmation signal BS to the signal generator G. For this purpose, the control unit S can provide the confirmation signal BS at the communication interface KS, and the signal generator G can receive the confirmation signal BS via its communication interface KG. By sending the confirmation signal BS, the control unit S can thus unlock or activate the communication link K1 between the signal generator G and the hearing aid H. This allows the signal generator G to couple or connect with the hearing aid H to transmit the digital audio data D.

[0049] The signal generator G can first provide the digital audio data to the communication interface KG. From there, the digital audio data D can be sent to the hearing aid H via the communication link K1. The hearing aid H then receives and receives the digital audio data D using the communication interface KH. From the communication interface KH, the digital audio data D can then be forwarded to a sound transmission unit L of the hearing aid H. The sound transmission unit L can also be referred to as the loudspeaker system of the hearing aid H and has the function of converting the digital audio data into a sound signal, i.e., the artificially generated driving noise F. Thus, the artificially generated driving noise F can be provided by the signal generator G to the occupant I via the hearing aid H.

[0050] If, however, testing the control unit S reveals limited functionality or a malfunction of the hearing aid H, a replacement can be installed, for example, in the Fig. 1. A negation signal (not shown) is transmitted to the signal generator G. In this case, the signal generator G can connect to an interior speaker unit of the vehicle instead of to the hearing aid H of the occupant I and transmit the digital audio data D to the interior speaker unit. This interior speaker unit can then convert the digital audio data D into the artificially generated driving noise F, so that the artificially generated driving noise F is provided to the occupant via the interior speaker unit.

[0051] The driving noise F is thus provided to the occupant I either via the hearing aid H or the interior speaker unit, depending on the functionality of the hearing aid H. This gives the hearing aid wearer, as the driver of the vehicle, an impression of how their vehicle is perceived by other road users in the vicinity U. This reduces the risk of misunderstandings in road traffic. As a result, the hearing aid wearer can maneuver their vehicle more safely in traffic and increases their confidence on the road.

[0052] The described embodiment could be based on the following exemplary situation. A hearing aid user is driving his electric vehicle in a traffic-calmed zone where children are playing at the roadside. Since external noises, including the driver's own driving noise F, are significantly dampened by the sound-absorbing materials in the driver's cabin and by the processing of the hearing aid H, the driver is unsure whether the children have noticed the approaching vehicle. Therefore, he can request the transmission of the artificially generated driving noise F via his mobile device, which represents the control unit S, for example, using voice input. If the hearing aid user then determines, for example, that the driving noise is barely perceptible to the children, he can, for instance, brake before reaching them or alert them by honking the horn.

[0053] Fig. Figure 2 summarizes, by way of example, the individual process steps that are carried out to provide the artificially generated driving noise F to the occupant I with hearing aid H. It shows Fig.Figure 2 shows a flowchart illustrating the process steps. The process begins in a start step SL. In step S1, the digital audio data D is then generated by the signal generator G. In step S2, the control unit S checks the functionality of the hearing aid H of the vehicle occupant I. If the control unit S confirms that the hearing aid H is functioning correctly, step S3 couples the sound transmission unit L of the hearing aid H with the signal generator G. In step S4, the digital audio data D is then transmitted to the sound transmission unit L, which finally converts the digital audio data into the artificially generated driving noise in step S5. Finally, in step S6, the artificially generated driving noise is provided to the vehicle occupant I via the hearing aid H.

[0054] If, however, a limited functionality or malfunction of the hearing aid H is detected in step S2, an interior speaker unit of the vehicle is coupled to the signal generator G in step S7. Subsequently, in step S8, the digital audio data D is transmitted from the signal generator to the interior speaker unit, which then converts the digital audio data into the artificially generated driving noise F in step S9. Thus, in step S10, the artificially generated driving noise F is provided to the occupant I of the vehicle via the interior speaker unit. Finally, the procedure ends with a final step SE.

[0055] Overall, the examples show how the invention can increase the safety of a motor vehicle driven by persons with impaired hearing.

Claims

[1] Method for providing an artificially generated driving noise (F) of a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps: a) Generating digital audio data (D) using a signal generator (G), b) Checking the functionality of a hearing aid (H) of an occupant (I) of the motor vehicle, c) only if the test according to step b) shows that the hearing aid (H) is fully functional: - Pairing (S3) the hearing aid (H) with the signal generator (G), - Transfer (S4) the digital audio data (D) to the hearing aid (H), - Converting (S5) the digital audio data (D) into the artificially generated driving noise (F), and - Providing (S6) the artificially generated driving noise (F) via the hearing aid (H) to the occupant (I), wherein step c) is executed depending on an activation signal, comprising the following further steps: d) Detection of the motor vehicle's surroundings (U) using a camera system and / or a radar system, e) Generating environmental data from the captured environment (U), f) Evaluating the environmental data to detect at least one predetermined environmental criterion, and (g) only if at least one predetermined environmental criterion is detected: generating the activation signal based on the at least one predetermined environmental criterion, wherein the environmental criterion is an attention parameter of a road user and / or a condition or type of roadway or a type of traffic sign or a specific weather condition. [2] The method of claim 1, comprising the following further step: h) only if the testing according to step b) reveals a limited functionality of the hearing aid (H): - Coupling (S7) an interior loudspeaker unit of the motor vehicle with the signal generator (G), - Transfer (S8) the digital audio data (D) to the interior speaker unit, - Converting (S9) the digital audio data (D) into the artificially generated driving noise (F), and - Providing (S10) the artificially generated driving noise (F) to the occupants (I) via the interior speaker unit. [3] The method of claim 2, comprising the following further step: i) before performing step h): - Acquisition of hearing data by means of a hearing function of the occupant (I), and - Modulating at least one acoustic parameter of the digital audio data (D) depending on the listening data. [4] Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the following further steps are carried out to test the functionality of the hearing aid (H) according to step b): j) Determining the charge level of an energy storage device of the hearing aid (H), k) Comparing the state of charge with a predetermined charge limit, and I) only in the event that the charge level exceeds the specified charge limit, confirming the unrestricted functionality of the hearing aid (H). [5] Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the following further steps are carried out to test the functionality of the hearing aid (H) according to step b): m) Sending a request signal (PS) to the hearing aid (H), n) Waiting for a response signal (AS) from the hearing aid (H) that corresponds to the request signal (PS), o) Receiving the response signal (AS), p) only if the response signal (AS) is received within a specified period after sending the request signal (PS): Confirmation of the unrestricted functionality of the hearing aid (H). [6] A method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the following further steps: q) Capturing input from the occupant (I), r) Evaluating the input to determine at least one predetermined environment criterion. [7] A method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the following further steps: s) Capturing a modulated speech input from the occupant (I), t) Modulating at least one acoustic parameter of the digital audio data (D) depending on the modulation speech input, u) Transmitting the digital audio data modulated according to step w) to an external loudspeaker unit of the motor vehicle, and v) Converting the modulated digital audio data into the artificially generated driving noise (F), and w) Providing the artificially generated driving noise (F) via the external loudspeaker unit to at least one road user. [8] System for providing an artificially generated driving noise (F) of a motor vehicle, comprising - a signal generator (G) of the motor vehicle designed to generate digital audio data (D), wherein the system (V) continues - a control device (S), and - a hearing aid (H) of an occupant (I) of the motor vehicle, comprising wherein - the control unit (S) is designed to check the functionality of the hearing aid (H) and to couple the hearing aid (H) and the signal generator (G), - the signal generator (G) is designed to transmit the digital audio data (D) to the hearing aid (H), and - the hearing aid (H) is designed to convert the digital audio data (D) into the artificially generated driving noise (F), so that - the system (V) is designed to provide the artificially generated driving noise (F) to the occupant (I) via the hearing aid (H), wherein- the pairing of the hearing aid (H) and the signal generator (G), the transmission of the digital audio data (D) and the conversion of the digital audio data (D) only takes place if the control unit (S) confirms the unrestricted functionality of the hearing aid (H) when checking its functionality, wherein the pairing of the hearing aid (H) and the signal generator (G), the transmission of the digital audio data (D) and the conversion of the digital audio data (D) are carried out depending on an activation signal, wherein an environment (U) of the motor vehicle is detected by means of a camera system and / or a radar system, environmental data are generated from the detected environment (U), the environmental data are evaluated to recognize at least one predetermined environmental criterion, and only if the at least one predetermined environmental criterion is recognized,the activation signal is generated based on at least one predetermined environmental criterion, wherein the environmental criterion is an attention parameter of a road user and / or a condition or type of roadway or a type of traffic sign or a specific weather condition.

Images