Method and system for generating an acoustic signal for a vehicle event

Abstract

In a method for generating an acoustic signal for a vehicle event, an event related to the vehicle is determined, and based on the event, at least one electric motor of the vehicle is controlled such that the electric motor emits an acoustic signal. In a further aspect, a system for generating an acoustic signal for a vehicle event is provided.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for generating an acoustic signal for a vehicle event. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system for generating an acoustic signal for a vehicle event.

[0002] Acoustic signals are regularly used when moving or operating vehicles. For example, acoustic signals are used to warn the driver or bystanders of potentially dangerous situations or elements. To generate these acoustic signals, vehicles are equipped with loudspeakers that can be controlled accordingly. This requires a large number of loudspeakers to generate targeted acoustic signals inside and outside the vehicle.

[0003] Alternative solutions involve individual speakers that perform the function of multiple speakers. For example, a single exterior speaker can function as a horn or generate driving sounds in electric cars.

[0004] DE 10 2017 204 748 A1 discloses a motor vehicle with electric motors, wherein the electric motors can be controlled in such a way that an audible sound is generated.

[0005] DE 10 2010 043 212 A1 discloses an electric vehicle with an acoustic warning device. The acoustic warning device comprises a sound emitter unit that enables directional sound emission using several orthogonally arranged loudspeakers, allowing sound propagation in specific directions.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a method and a system for generating an acoustic signal for an event of a vehicle, in which the generation of the acoustic signal is carried out safely and efficiently.

[0007] This object is achieved by a method for generating an acoustic signal for a vehicle event having the features of claim 1 and by the system having the features of the independent system claim. Advantageous further developments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0008] In the proposed method for generating an acoustic signal for a vehicle event, an event related to the vehicle is determined, and based on the event, at least one electric motor of the vehicle is controlled such that the electric motor emits an acoustic signal, in particular related to the event. This makes it possible to use electric motors already installed in the vehicle to generate an acoustic signal. The installation of specially provided loudspeakers is eliminated, thus enabling a space-saving vehicle design. The acoustic signal is preferably an audible acoustic signal, in particular audible to the human ear. In particular, the acoustic signal can be a warning tone.

[0009] Modern vehicles regularly comprise a multitude of electric motors, which can in particular include the traction motor. In addition to a possible electric traction motor, further electric motors can also be provided. These additional electric motors can also be called peripheral electric motors and often perform comfort functions of the vehicle. Examples of such peripheral electric motors are electric window lift motors, electric tailgate motors, electric seat adjustment motors and electric windshield wiper motors. These peripheral electric motors fundamentally differ from electric traction motors in their significantly lower power and smaller design, which allows for versatile installation in a wide variety of positions in the vehicle. Likewise, the peripheral electric motors are regularly arranged in positions where movement of vehicle elements also occurs.In this way, the acoustic signal can be generated regularly and efficiently at the position where the movement takes place.

[0010] Preferably, at least one location is determined at which the acoustic signal should be audible when the acoustic signal is emitted, particularly based on the detected event. This allows a particularly relevant acoustic signal to be emitted. For example, it can be determined whether the acoustic signal should be audible inside the vehicle and / or outside the vehicle, particularly based on whether the detected event relates to the interior and / or outside the vehicle.

[0011] It is particularly preferred that the vehicle comprises a plurality of electric motors, and wherein the method determines from the plurality of electric motors the at least one electric motor that is closest to the location at which the acoustic signal is to be audible when the acoustic signal is emitted. The acoustic signal is thus emitted, in particular, with the aid of an electric motor close to the determined location, so that the emitted acoustic signal is audible at the determined location. This makes it possible to emit the acoustic signal at a particularly relevant position. The plurality of electric motors are, in particular, peripheral electric motors that do not include an electric traction motor.

[0012] Preferably, the event is a movement of the vehicle, and the location where the acoustic signal should be audible is determined as the position of a person outside the vehicle. This enables precise output of the acoustic signal to the person outside the vehicle. The position of the person outside the vehicle can be determined, for example, using the vehicle's surrounding cameras.

[0013] Preferably, the event is a movement of the vehicle, and the location where the acoustic signal should be audible is determined as the position between a driver of the vehicle and a person outside the vehicle. This enables precise output of the acoustic signal to the driver of the vehicle in relation to the person outside the vehicle. In particular, the acoustic signal can be generated in the direction in which the person is located, as seen from the driver. The position of the driver of the vehicle can be determined, for example, using the vehicle's interior cameras.

[0014] Preferably, the event is detected using a sensor of the vehicle. This enables efficient detection of the event. In particular, the movement of an element of the vehicle can be detected as an event using a sensor that also triggers the movement. For example, the event of the movement of the tailgate can be detected using a foot sensor for opening the tailgate of the vehicle.

[0015] To output the acoustic signal, the at least one electric motor is preferably controlled such that the at least one electric motor oscillates at a frequency of the acoustic signal. This enables particularly efficient generation of the acoustic signal using the electric motor.

[0016] Preferably, the acoustic signal is in a range between 20 and 20,000 Hz, particularly preferably in a range between 500 and 15,000 Hz, particularly preferably in a range between 1,000 and 10,000 Hz. This enables a clearly perceptible acoustic signal.

[0017] Preferably, the output acoustic signal comprises one or more frequencies. This enables the generation of different acoustic signals. In particular, the acoustic signal can be a melody, i.e., a sequence of different tones.

[0018] Preferably, the at least one electric motor is stationary when the acoustic signal is emitted. In particular, the at least one electric motor is not moving. This allows the acoustic signal to be generated before an element of the vehicle is moving. In particular, this enables a warning of a movement of an element of the vehicle.

[0019] The invention further relates to a system for generating an acoustic signal relating to an event of a vehicle, comprising means adapted to carry out the steps of the method according to any one of the preceding paragraphs.

[0020] Preferably, the system comprises at least one electric motor, wherein the at least one electric motor comprises a resonator adapted to oscillate at a frequency of the acoustic signal.

[0021] The system has the same advantages as the claimed method. In particular, the system can be further developed with the features of the dependent claims directed to the method and the further features mentioned in this document in connection with the method.

[0022] Examples of embodiments are explained in more detail below using the figures. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a vehicle, and Fig. 2 shows a flowchart of a method for outputting a feedback query regarding a feedback situation of a vehicle.

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 is, for example, electrically driven and comprises an electric traction motor 102 and a battery 104. The vehicle 100 comprises power electronics 106, with the aid of which at least the traction motor 102 can be supplied with power from the battery 104.

[0024] In addition to the traction motor 102, the vehicle 100 includes peripheral electric motors, for example, an electric wiper motor 108 for moving a rear window wiper and an electric tailgate motor 110 for moving a tailgate. These peripheral electric motors can be, for example, stepper motors that move elements of the vehicle 100. The traction motor 102 is significantly more powerful than the peripheral electric motors, and the vehicle 100 itself is not moved by the peripheral electric motors. Further examples of peripheral electric motors of the vehicle 100 are adjustment motors, for example, for electric seats and electric windows, or power steering motors. Thus, the vehicle 100 can include a plurality of electric motors, in particular peripheral electric motors.

[0025] The vehicle 100 further comprises a control unit 112 that controls functions of the vehicle 100. For this purpose, the control unit 112 comprises data inputs and data outputs that serve to connect to other units of the vehicle 100, for example, the power electronics 106 for controlling the traction motor 102 and the peripheral electric motors 110, 108. Furthermore, elements of the vehicle 100, such as cameras, sensors, input and output units, and control units of assistance systems, can be connected to the control unit 112. For example, the vehicle 100 can comprise at least one front camera for capturing images of an area in front of the vehicle, a radar sensor, a lidar sensor, and / or another sensor suitable for monitoring the surroundings of the vehicle 100.

[0026] The control unit 112 further comprises a communication module 114 which is designed to establish a wireless connection, in particular with a telecommunications network or a wireless key 116.

[0027] With the aid of a selector lever 118 connected to the control unit 112, a driving direction of the drive motor 102 can be selected by a driver of the vehicle 100.

[0028] As a further example, the opening or closing of the tailgate of the vehicle 100 can be commanded using a control button 120 or a foot sensor 122. For this purpose, the electric tailgate motor 110 can be controlled accordingly using the control unit 112.

[0029] The movement of elements of the vehicle 100, such as the tailgate, generally represents a risk of injury, especially for bystanders 124. Thus, before or during an opening or closing command of the tailgate, an acoustic signal may be emitted to indicate the movement of the tailgate. This acoustic signal may be generated by at least one of the electric motors of the vehicle 100, preferably by one of the peripheral electric motors 108, 110 of the vehicle 100. The acoustic signal is Fig. 1 is symbolically represented and designated by the reference numeral 126.

[0030] To generate the acoustic signal, the electric motor can be controlled by means of the control unit 112 so that the electric motor generates the acoustic signal. In particular, the electric motors that are close to the location where the acoustic signal is to be audible can be identified and controlled. Thus, in particular, the electric motors that can generate an acoustic signal that is audible at that location are identified and controlled.

[0031] In particular, this makes it possible to avoid the installation of loudspeakers that generate the acoustic signal, thus achieving a particularly space-saving construction of the vehicle 100.

[0032] Using the example of the movement of the tailgate, the tailgate motor 110 and / or the rear window wiper motor 108 can be controlled in such a way that they generate the acoustic signal. Thus, the acoustic signal is generated in the immediate vicinity of the moving element of the vehicle 100, thus allowing the acoustic signal to be perceived by bystanders as coming from the moving element.

[0033] The respective electric motor 108, 110 can then be controlled such that the motor control signal, which generates a rotary movement of the electric motor, is modulated with a signal generating the acoustic signal. The motor control signal generating the acoustic signal generates oscillations in the electric motor, which generate the acoustic signal. Alternatively, the electric motor can also be controlled only with a motor control signal generating the acoustic signal, so that the electric motor only generates the acoustic signal and essentially does not move. This enables a particularly reliable warning, since the acoustic signal can be generated even before an element of the vehicle 100 moves, and a warning can be given before the movement. Furthermore, generating the acoustic signal without moving the electric motor allows those electric motors that are not supposed to move to also generate the acoustic signal.For example, the electric motor 108 can also be used to generate an acoustic signal to warn of a movement of the tailgate without the actual windshield wiper, which is driven by the electric motor 108, having to be moved.

[0034] It is advantageous if the electric motor 110, 108, by means of which the acoustic signal is generated, comprises a resonator or is connected to it. For example, the rear window wiper motor 108 can be connected to the rear window to be wiped, in particular via the rear window wiper, and the rear window can serve as a resonator for the rear window wiper motor 108.

[0035] Thus, the control unit 112 can, in particular, be part of a system for generating an acoustic signal for an event of the vehicle 100. The control unit 112 is then configured to execute a method for generating an acoustic signal for an event of the vehicle 100.

[0036] Alternatively or in addition to the electric traction motor 102, the vehicle 100 may include an internal combustion engine for driving and moving the vehicle 100.

[0037] Fig. Figure 2 shows a flowchart of a method for generating an acoustic signal for a vehicle event. The method starts in step S200. In step S202, an event related to the vehicle 100 is determined. This event of the vehicle 100 can, for example, be an event already associated with Fig. 1 and can be determined by the control unit 112. In particular, the control unit 112 can determine a control command generated by the control button 120 or by the foot sensor 122.

[0038] In the subsequent step S204, at least one electric motor of the vehicle 100 is then controlled based on the event in order to emit an acoustic signal related to the event using the controlled electric motor. When the tailgate is opened or closed, at least one of the electric motors 108, 110 can thus be controlled to emit the acoustic signal and warn of the tailgate's movement. The control command for the electric motor 108, 110 can be generated, in particular, using the control unit 112. The method ends in step S206.

[0039] Preferably, in step S204, at least one location can first be determined at which the acoustic signal should be audible when the acoustic signal is emitted. In particular, the location can be determined depending on the event determined in step S202. Thus, it can generally be determined whether the acoustic signal should be audible inside and / or outside the vehicle 100.

[0040] Furthermore, preferably in step S204, an electric motor can first be identified from a plurality of electric motors of the vehicle 100 that is arranged on or in the vehicle 100 such that the acoustic signal generated by the electric motor is audible at the identified location. In particular, the electric motor that is closest to the identified location at which the acoustic signal should be audible can be identified.

[0041] One example may be the electrical adjustment of a seat in the vehicle 100. In this case, the seat adjustment requested by an occupant of the vehicle 100 may be detected as an event, and it may then be determined that an acoustic signal should be audible and emitted within the vehicle.

[0042] Another example is the movement of the vehicle 100. In this case, the movement of the vehicle 100 and bystanders 124 can be identified as an event. The bystander 124 can be identified, for example, using cameras surrounding the vehicle 100. The position of the bystander 124 can then be identified as the location where the acoustic signal should be audible. The person 124 is located at the rear of the vehicle 100, so that the electric motors 108, 110 are subsequently identified as the closest to the location where the acoustic signal should be audible. Thus, one of the electric motors 108, 110 can be controlled to generate the acoustic signal. The person 124 can thus be specifically warned of the moving vehicle 100.

[0043] Additionally or alternatively, the driver can also be warned about the bystander 124. Thus, the location at which the acoustic signal should be audible can be determined as the interior of the vehicle 100, in particular a point between the driver of the vehicle 100 and the bystander 124. In the case where the person 124 is standing behind the vehicle, one of the electric motors 108, 110 can be controlled to generate the acoustic signal. Thus, with the aid of the acoustic signal, the driver of the vehicle 100 can be alerted, in particular, to the direction in which the person 124 is located in relation to the vehicle 100. Alternatively, another electric motor that is closer to the driver can be controlled. List of reference symbols: 100 vehicles 102 electric traction motor 104 Battery 106 Power Electronics 108 electric rear window wiper motor 110 electric tailgate motor 112 Control unit 114 Communication module 116 wireless key 118 selector lever 120 control knob 122 Foot sensor 124 bystanders 126 acoustic signal

Claims

[1] Method for generating an acoustic signal for an event of a vehicle (100), wherein the vehicle (100) comprises a plurality of electric motors (102, 108, 110), in which an event relating to the vehicle (100) is determined, in which at least one location is determined at which the acoustic signal (126) should be audible when the acoustic signal (126) is emitted, in which from the plurality of electric motors (102, 108, 110) the at least one electric motor is determined which is closest to the location at which the acoustic signal (126) is to be audible when the acoustic signal (126) is emitted, in which, based on the event, the at least one electric motor (102, 108, 110) of the vehicle (100) is controlled such that the electric motor (102, 108, 110) emits an acoustic signal (126). [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the event is a driving movement of the vehicle (100) and the location at which the acoustic signal (126) is to be audible is determined as the position of a person (124) located outside the vehicle (100). [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the event is a driving movement of the vehicle (100) and the location at which the acoustic signal (126) is to be audible is determined as a position between a driver of the vehicle (100) and a person (124) located outside the vehicle (100). [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the event is determined with the aid of a sensor of the vehicle (100). [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, in order to output the acoustic signal (126), the at least one electric motor (102, 108, 110) is controlled such that the at least one electric motor oscillates at a frequency of the acoustic signal. [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the acoustic signal (126) is in a range between 20 and 20,000 Hz, preferably in a range between 500 and 15,000 Hz, particularly preferably in a range between 1,000 and 10,000 Hz. [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the output acoustic signal (126) comprises one or more frequencies. [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one electric motor (102, 108, 110) is stationary when the acoustic signal (126) is output. [9] A system for generating an acoustic signal (126) relating to an event of a vehicle (100), comprising means adapted to carry out the steps of the method according to any one of the preceding claims. [10] The system of claim 9, comprising the at least one electric motor (102, 108, 110), wherein the at least one electric motor comprises a resonator adapted to oscillate at a frequency of the acoustic signal (126).

Images