Information processing device, control method therefor, and program

Abstract

To easily estimate the depth of residual grooves of tires.SOLUTION: An information processing device 10 is provided with a control part 11 for acquiring sound information of noise that is detected by a microphone 15 and is generated while a vehicle 50 travels, analyzing the sound information to acquire pattern noise that is generated due to tread patterns of tires 51, 52 of the vehicle 50, estimating the depths of residual grooves of the tires 51, 52 on the basis of the volume of the acquired pattern noise, and outputting the estimated depths of the residual grooves of the tires 51, 52.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] The grooves of a tire are important for preventing the vehicle from slipping and ensuring safety during vehicle operation. Legally, it is obligatory to ensure a remaining groove of a certain depth in the tire. Patent Document 1 describes an apparatus for measuring the depth of the remaining groove of a tire.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The conventional configuration had room for improvement in terms of simply estimating the depth of the remaining groove of the tire.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to simply estimate the depth of the remaining groove of the tire.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] (1) An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure acquires voice information of noise generated during running of a vehicle, detected by a microphone, analyzes the voice information to acquire pattern noise generated due to a tread pattern of a tire of the vehicle, estimates the depth of the remaining groove of the tire based on the volume of the acquired pattern noise, outputs the estimated depth of the remaining groove of the tire, and includes a control unit. According to such a configuration, it is possible to easily estimate the remaining groove depth of the tire because the remaining groove depth is estimated based on the voice information detected by the microphone.

[0007] (2) As an embodiment of the present disclosure, in (1), The control unit may estimate the remaining groove depth of the tire based on the change over time of the volume of the acquired pattern noise. According to such a configuration, it is possible to estimate the remaining groove depth with high accuracy because the remaining groove depth is estimated based on the change over time of the volume of the pattern noise.

[0008] (3) As an embodiment of the present disclosure, in (1) or (2), The control unit may estimate the remaining groove depth of the tire based on the acquired volume of the pattern noise by referring to the correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the volume of the pattern noise and the remaining groove depth of the tire. According to such a configuration, it is possible to estimate the remaining groove depth with high accuracy because the remaining groove depth is estimated by referring to the correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the volume of the pattern noise and the remaining groove depth of the tire.

[0009] (4) As an embodiment of the present disclosure, in any one of (1) to (3), The control unit When the estimated remaining groove depth of the tire or the acquired volume of the pattern noise is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, information prompting replacement of the tire may be output. According to such a configuration, when the remaining groove depth of the tire or the volume of the pattern noise is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, it is possible to notify that tire replacement is necessary because information prompting tire replacement is output.

[0010] (5) As an embodiment of the present disclosure, in (4), The control unit Obtain a threshold value of the remaining groove depth or the volume of pattern noise corresponding to the tire replacement timing from the communication device provided in the tire. When the estimated remaining groove depth of the tire or the volume of the obtained pattern noise is less than or equal to the threshold value obtained from the communication device, information prompting replacement of the tire may be output. According to such a configuration, since a threshold value of the remaining groove depth or the volume of pattern noise related to the tire replacement timing is obtained from the communication device provided in the tire, it is possible to notify that the tire should be replaced at an appropriate time without requiring complicated prior settings.

[0011] (6) As one embodiment of the present disclosure, in any one of (1) to (5), The control unit may analyze the voice information to obtain the pattern noise based on the speed of the vehicle and the characteristics of the tire. According to such a configuration, by utilizing the speed of the vehicle and the characteristics of the tire, it is possible to effectively obtain the pattern noise corresponding to the analysis of the voice information.

[0012] (7) As one embodiment of the present disclosure, in (6), The control unit may analyze the voice information to obtain the pattern noise based on the circumference and the number of pitches of the tire as the characteristics of the tire. According to such a configuration, since the circumference and the number of pitches of the tire are utilized to obtain the pattern noise, it is possible to effectively obtain the pattern noise.

[0013] (8) As one embodiment of the present disclosure, in any one of (1) to (7), The control unit may input the obtained volume of the pattern noise to a learned model trained with the volume of the pattern noise as an explanatory variable and the remaining groove depth of the tire as an objective variable, and estimate the remaining groove depth of the tire. According to such a configuration, since the depth of the remaining groove of the tire is estimated using a learned model learned with the volume of the pattern noise as an explanatory variable and the depth of the remaining groove of the tire as an objective variable, it is possible to effectively estimate the depth of the remaining groove of the tire.

[0014] (9) A control method for an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a control method for an information processing apparatus including a control unit, wherein the control unit acquires voice information of noise generated during running of a vehicle detected by a microphone; analyzes the voice information to acquire pattern noise generated due to a tread pattern of the tire of the vehicle; estimates the depth of the remaining groove of the tire based on the volume of the acquired pattern noise; outputs the estimated depth of the remaining groove; and includes. According to such a configuration, since the depth of the remaining groove is estimated based on the voice information detected by the microphone, it is possible to easily estimate the depth of the remaining groove of the tire.

[0015] (10) A program according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is causes a computer to operate as any one of the information processing apparatuses according to (1) to (8). According to such a configuration, since the depth of the remaining groove is estimated based on the voice information detected by the microphone, it is possible to easily estimate the depth of the remaining groove of the tire.

Advantages of the Invention

[0016] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the depth of the remaining groove of the tire can be easily estimated.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, parts having the same configuration or function are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the description of this embodiment, redundant descriptions may be omitted or simplified as appropriate for the same parts.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle 50 equipped with an information processing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment. The information processing apparatus 10 outputs a cancellation sound for canceling noise (noise) generated as the vehicle 50 travels, thereby reducing the noise in the vehicle interior.

[0020]

[0021] The microphone 15 detects voice information of noise in the vehicle interior of the vehicle 50. The microphone 15 may be provided, for example, near the seat of the vehicle 50. The information processing apparatus 10 may generate a cancellation sound for canceling the noise by inverting the phase of the voice information of the noise detected by the microphone 15. In a state where the cancellation sound is being output, the information processing apparatus 10 may use the voice information in the vehicle interior acquired by the microphone 15 to evaluate the effect of noise cancellation.

[0022] The speaker 16 outputs the cancellation sound as a sound wave. The speaker 16 may be realized by a voice output device of an audio system originally provided in the vehicle 50. The speaker 16 can be installed at any location inside the vehicle. For example, the speaker 16 may be provided on the floor surface inside the vehicle or near the floor surface.​

[0023] The acceleration sensor 17 measures the acceleration of the vehicle 50. The measured value of the acceleration sensor 17 is used for the evaluation of NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness). The acceleration sensor 17 may be realized by a sensor of any type such as a semiconductor gauge, a capacitance, or a differential transformer type. The acceleration sensor 17 may be attached, for example, to an axle that transmits the power generated by a driving unit such as an engine, a motor, or a combination thereof to the tires 51 and 52.

[0024] The arithmetic unit 19 is connected to the microphone 15, the speaker 16, and the acceleration sensor 17, and controls the operations of these devices. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 2, the arithmetic unit 19 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, and an output unit 18.

[0025] The vehicle 50 is, for example, an automobile such as a passenger car, but is not limited thereto and may be any vehicle. The automobile is, for example, a gasoline vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, a plug-in hybrid vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, or a battery electric vehicle, but is not limited thereto. The vehicle 50 includes tires 51 and 52.

[0026] A communication device 53 is provided in the tire 51. A communication device 54 is provided in the tire 52.

[0027] Communication devices 53 and 54 perform wireless communication. The communication devices 53 and 54 are, for example, RF (Radio Frequency) tags. RF tags are also referred to as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags. The communication devices 53 and 54 include an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip that constitutes a control unit and a storage unit, and one or more antennas connected to the IC chip. The IC chip may store any information related to the tires 51 and 52, such as identification information of the tires 51 and 52, the manufacturing date, the circumferential length, the number of pitches per revolution, the relationship between the volume of pattern noise and the remaining groove depth, and the volume or remaining groove depth serving as a reference for tire replacement. The pitch is a groove in the width direction formed on the surface of the tires 51 and 52. For example, the communication devices 53 and 54 may be provided such that two antennas extending linearly, wavily, or spirally extend from the IC chip in opposite directions from each other, and the entire device may have a longitudinal shape.

[0028] The IC chip may operate by dielectric electromotive force generated by electromagnetic waves received by one or more antennas. That is, the communication devices 53 and 54 may be passive communication devices. Alternatively, the communication devices 53 and 54 may further include a battery and be capable of generating electromagnetic waves with their own power for communication. That is, the communication devices 53 and 54 may be active communication devices.

[0029] In the configuration as described above, based on the information detected by the microphone 15, the acceleration sensor 17, etc., the information processing apparatus 10 outputs a cancellation sound from the speaker 16 to cancel the noise generated from the tires 51 and 52, thereby performing noise cancellation. In parallel with such processing, the information processing apparatus 10 analyzes the voice information of the noise generated during the running of the vehicle 50 detected by the microphone 15, and acquires pattern noise caused by the contact of the tread patterns in the width direction of the tires 51 and 52 with the road surface G. The information processing apparatus 10 estimates and outputs the remaining groove depth of the tires 51 and 52 based on the volume of the acquired pattern noise. As the remaining groove depth becomes shallower due to the wear of the tires 51 and 52, the volume of the pattern noise becomes smaller. Therefore, the information processing apparatus 10 enables a simple estimation of the remaining groove depth of the tires 51 and 52 by paying attention to the volume of the pattern noise.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the information processing apparatus 10. As described above, the information processing apparatus 10 includes a microphone 15, a speaker 16, an acceleration sensor 17, and an arithmetic unit 19. The arithmetic unit 19 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, and an output unit 18. The arithmetic unit 19 is one or a plurality of computer devices capable of communicating with each other. The arithmetic unit 19 is not limited thereto, and may be any general-purpose electronic device such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), a single board computer (SBC), or a PC (Personal Computer), or other dedicated electronic devices.

[0031] The control unit 11 includes one or more processors. In one embodiment, the "processor" is a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process, but is not limited thereto. The control unit 11 is communicably connected to each component constituting the information processing apparatus 10 and controls the operation of the entire information processing apparatus 10.

[0032] The storage unit 12 includes any storage module such as, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), a ROM (Read-Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The storage unit 12 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 12 stores any information used for the operation of the information processing apparatus 10. For example, the storage unit 12 may store a system program, an application program, and various information received by the communication unit 13. The storage unit 12 is not limited to being built into the information processing apparatus 10 and may be an external database or an external storage module.

[0033] The communication unit 13 includes any communication module that can be communicatively connected to other devices such as a scanner by any communication technology. The communication unit 13 may further include a communication control module for controlling communication with other devices and a storage module for storing communication data such as identification information required for communication with other devices.

[0034] The output unit 18 includes one or more output interfaces for outputting and notifying information to users such as passengers and vehicle maintenance personnel. For example, the output unit 18 is, but not limited to, a display for outputting information as an image or a speaker for outputting information as sound. Such a display may be, for example, a liquid crystal panel display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display. The output unit 18 may be integrally configured with the information processing apparatus 10 or the arithmetic unit 19, or may be provided separately. The output unit 18 may be configured as a touch panel capable of receiving input operations from users.

[0035] The functions of the information processing apparatus 10 can be realized by executing a computer program (program) according to this embodiment by a processor included in the control unit 11. That is, the functions of the information processing apparatus 10 can be realized by software. The computer program causes a computer to execute the processing of the steps included in the operation of the information processing apparatus 10, thereby causing the computer to realize the functions corresponding to the processing of each step. That is, the computer program is a program for causing a computer to function as the information processing apparatus 10 according to this embodiment. The computer program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The program includes information for use in processing by an electronic computer and corresponding to the program. For example, data that is not a direct instruction to a computer but has the property of defining the processing of the computer corresponds to "what corresponds to the program".

[0036] Some or all of the functions of the information processing apparatus 10 may be realized by a dedicated circuit included in the control unit 11. That is, some or all of the functions of the information processing apparatus 10 may be realized by hardware. Also, the information processing apparatus 10 may be realized by a single computer or may be realized by the cooperation of a plurality of computers.

[0037] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation procedure of the information processing apparatus 10. The operation of the information processing apparatus 10 described with reference to FIG. 3 may correspond to one of the control methods of the information processing apparatus 10. The operation of each step in FIG. 3 may be executed based on the control by the control unit 11 of the information processing apparatus 10.

[0038] In step S1, the control unit 11 acquires the voice information of the noise generated during the running of the vehicle 50 detected by the microphone 15.

[0039] In step S2, the control unit 11 analyzes the voice information acquired in step S1 to acquire the pattern noise caused by the tread patterns of the tires 51, 52.

[0040] Pattern noise is radiated when the discontinuous portions of the tread patterns of the tires 51 and 52 collide with the road surface G when they come into contact with the road surface, causing the tires 51 and 52 to vibrate due to the impact force. Therefore, the control unit 11 may predict the frequency band of the pattern noise based on, for example, the characteristic information of the tires 51 and 52 and the speed of the vehicle 50, and extract the pattern noise from the audio information detected by the microphone 15 based on the predicted frequency band and the like. The characteristic information of the tires 51 and 52 may include, for example, the circumference of the tires 51 and 52 and the number of pitches (grooves in the width direction of the tread pattern) per revolution of the tires 51 and 52. The control unit 11 may acquire the characteristic information of the tires 51 and 52 by communicating with the communication devices 53 and 54 embedded in the tires 51 and 52 or other devices. Note that the speed of the vehicle 50 can be acquired by any method. For example, the control unit 11 may calculate the speed of the vehicle 50 based on the acceleration of the vehicle 50 detected by the acceleration sensor 17.

[0041] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the relationship between the speed of the vehicle 50 and the frequency of the pattern noise. In FIG. 4, the horizontal axis represents the speed of the vehicle 50. The vertical axis represents the frequency of the pattern noise. Graph 61 shows the characteristics of the primary component of the pattern noise generated from the tire (hereinafter described as tire 51). Graph 62 shows the characteristics of the secondary component of the pattern noise generated from the same tire 51. Although pattern noise of the third component or higher may also be generated from the tire 51, the graph display of the third component or higher is omitted in FIG. 4.

[0042] As shown by graphs 61 and 62, the frequency of each component of the pattern noise generated from the same tire 51 increases in proportion to the speed of the vehicle 50. Also, the frequency of the secondary component of the pattern noise at a certain speed is twice the frequency of the primary component at the same speed. Generally, the frequency of the nth component (n: an integer of 2 or more) of the pattern noise at a certain speed is n times the frequency of the primary component at the same speed. In step S2, the control unit 11 may utilize such properties of the pattern noise to extract the pattern noise from the audio information acquired in step S1.

[0043] In this way, the control unit 11 may analyze the voice information detected by the microphone 15 based on the speed of the vehicle 50 and the characteristics of the tires 51 and 52 to obtain pattern noise. For example, the control unit 11 may analyze the voice information based on the circumference and the number of pitches of the tires 51 and 52 as the characteristics of the tires 51 and 52 to obtain pattern noise. Therefore, the information processing device 10 can effectively obtain pattern noise corresponding to the analysis of the voice information.

[0044] In step S3, the control unit 11 estimates the remaining groove depth of the tread patterns of the tires 51 and 52 based on the volume of the pattern noise acquired in step S2.

[0045] When the tires 51 and 52 are worn and the remaining groove depth in the tread pattern becomes shallow, the volume of the pattern noise generated from the tires 51 and 52 becomes small. Therefore, the control unit 11 may estimate the remaining groove depth in the tread pattern of the tires 51 and 52 based on the change over time of the volume of the pattern noise acquired in step S2. Specifically, the control unit 11 may refer to the correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the volume of the pattern noise and the remaining groove depth, and estimate the remaining groove depth corresponding to the volume of the pattern noise acquired in step S2.

[0046] For example, when the storage unit 12 stores such correspondence information in advance, the control unit 11 may refer to the storage unit 12 to acquire the correspondence information. When the correspondence information about the tires 51 and 52 is stored in the communication devices 53 and 54, the control unit 11 may acquire the correspondence information from the communication devices 53 and 54. When the identification information of the tires 51 and 52 is stored in the communication devices 53 and 54, the control unit 11 may communicate with a server device that manages information about the tires 51 and 52 through the communication unit 13, and acquire the correspondence information about the tires 51 and 52 identified by the identification information.

[0047] In this way, since the information processing apparatus 10 estimates the depth of the remaining groove based on the change over time of the volume of the pattern noise, it is possible to estimate the depth of the remaining groove with high accuracy. Further, since the information processing apparatus 10 estimates the depth of the remaining groove by referring to the correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the volume of the pattern noise and the depth of the remaining grooves of the tires 51 and 52, it is possible to estimate the depth of the remaining groove with high accuracy.

[0048] In step S4, the control unit 11 outputs the depth of the remaining grooves of the tires 51 and 52 measured in step S3. Specifically, the control unit 11 may output the depth of the remaining groove to the storage unit 12, or output it to the output unit 18 to be displayed or output as sound. Therefore, users such as the driver and vehicle maintenance personnel can know the depth of the remaining groove.

[0049] When the depth of the remaining groove of the tire estimated in step S3 or the volume of the pattern noise acquired in step S2 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, the control unit 11 may output information prompting replacement of the tires 51 and 52. Specifically, when the depth of the remaining groove or the volume of the pattern noise is equal to or less than the threshold value, the control unit 11 may output information prompting replacement of the tires 51 and 52 to the output unit 18 to be displayed or output as sound. Therefore, the user can be notified that it is necessary to replace the tires 51 and 52.

[0050] When a threshold value corresponding to the replacement timing of such tires is stored in the storage unit 12 in advance, the control unit 11 may acquire and use the threshold value from the storage unit 12. When the threshold value is stored in the communication devices 53 and 54 provided in the tires 51 and 52, the control unit 11 may acquire the threshold value from the communication devices 53 and 54. When the identification information of the tires 51 and 52 is stored in the communication devices 53 and 54, the control unit 11 may communicate with a server device that manages information about the tires 51 and 52 through the communication unit 13 and acquire the threshold value for the tires 51 and 52 identified by the identification information. Thus, when the threshold value or the identification information of the tires 51 and 52 is stored in the communication devices 53 and 54, the information processing device 10 can refer to the threshold value or the information for acquiring the threshold value by communicating with the communication devices 53 and 54. Therefore, the information processing device 10 can notify that the tires should be replaced at an appropriate time without requiring complicated prior settings. After finishing the process of step S4, the control unit 11 ends the flowchart process.

[0051] As described above, the information processing device 10 can estimate and output the remaining groove depth, replacement timing, etc. of the tires 51 and 52 by using the configuration for canceling the noise generated from the tires 51 and 52.

[0052] Note that when the vehicle 50 is running, the information processing device 10 may learn the relationship between the remaining groove depth of the tires 51 and 52 and the volume of the pattern noise, and use the result to estimate the remaining groove depth from the volume of the pattern noise. Specifically, the information processing device 10 may generate a learned model with the volume of the pattern noise as an explanatory variable and the remaining groove depth of the tire as an objective variable. The information processing device 10 may input the volume of the pattern noise obtained from the audio information to such a learned model to estimate the remaining groove depth of the tires 51 and 52. Alternatively, the information processing device 10 may store in the storage unit 12 a learned model that has been pre-learned by another device, and use such a learned model to estimate the remaining groove depth of the tires 51 and 52. In this way, the information processing device 10 can effectively estimate the remaining groove depth of the tire by estimating the remaining groove depth using a learned model in which the volume of the pattern noise is an explanatory variable and the remaining groove depth of the tire is an objective variable.

[0053] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, a plurality of blocks described in the block diagram may be integrated, or one block may be divided. Instead of executing the plurality of steps described in the flowchart in time series according to the description, they may be executed in parallel or in a different order according to the processing capabilities of the device that executes each step, or as necessary. In addition, changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. [Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Led by the United Nations]

[0054] Towards the realization of a sustainable society, the SDGs have been proposed. One embodiment of the present invention can be considered as a technology that contributes to "No. 9 - Build the foundation of industry and technological innovation", etc.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0055] 10 Information processing device 11 Control unit 12 Storage unit 13 Communication unit 15 Microphone 16 speakers 17 acceleration sensor 19 arithmetic unit 50 vehicle 51, 52 tires 53, 54 communication devices 61, 62 graphs G road surface

Claims

1. Obtain voice information of noise generated during the running of a vehicle, detected by a microphone, analyze the voice information to obtain pattern noise caused by the tread pattern of the tire of the vehicle, estimate the remaining groove depth of the tire based on the volume of the obtained pattern noise, output the estimated remaining groove depth of the tire, An information processing device comprising a control unit.

2. The control unit estimates the remaining groove depth of the tire based on the change over time of the volume of the obtained pattern noise. The information processing device according to Claim 1.

3. The control unit refers to correspondence information indicating the correspondence relationship between the volume of the pattern noise and the remaining groove depth of the tire, and estimates the remaining groove depth of the tire based on the volume of the obtained pattern noise. The information processing device according to Claim 1.

4. The control unit when the estimated remaining groove depth of the tire or the volume of the obtained pattern noise is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, outputs information prompting replacement of the tire, The information processing device according to Claim 1.

5. The control unit obtains a threshold of the remaining groove depth or the volume of the pattern noise corresponding to the tire replacement timing from a communication device provided in the tire, when the estimated remaining groove depth of the tire or the volume of the obtained pattern noise is equal to or less than the threshold obtained from the communication device, outputs information prompting replacement of the tire, The information processing device according to Claim 4.

6. The control unit analyzes the voice information to obtain the pattern noise based on the speed of the vehicle and the characteristics of the tire. The information processing device according to Claim 1.

7. The control unit analyzes the voice information to obtain the pattern noise based on the circumference and the number of pitches of the tire as the characteristics of the tire. The information processing device according to Claim 6.

8. The control unit inputs the volume of the obtained pattern noise into a learned model trained with the volume of the pattern noise as an explanatory variable and the remaining groove depth of the tire as an objective variable, and estimates the remaining groove depth of the tire. The information processing device according to Claim 1.

9. A control method for an information processing device comprising a control unit, wherein the control unit performs a step of obtaining voice information of noise generated during the running of a vehicle, detected by a microphone, A step of analyzing the voice information to obtain pattern noise generated due to the tread pattern of the tire of the vehicle; A step of estimating the remaining groove depth of the tire based on the volume of the obtained pattern noise; A step of outputting the estimated remaining groove depth; A control method for an information processing apparatus, including the above steps.

10. A program for operating a computer as the information processing apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 8.

Images