Sound control device and sound generation method

Abstract

To provide an excellent sound control device and a sound generation method.SOLUTION: A sound control device 10 for causing a speaker 12 to output sound toward the interior of a vehicle includes: a signal generation part 18 for generating a sound signal which is a signal to cause the speaker to output sound; an acquisition part 20 for acquiring an operation value according to operation of a user; a gain determination part 22 for determining a gain of the sound signal according to the operation value acquired by the acquisition part; and an output part 24 for outputting a sound signal corrected with the gain determined by the gain determination part to the speaker. The gain determination part determines the gain to be small as a difference between a predetermined reference value and the operation value becomes larger if the operation value is smaller than the reference value, and determines the gain to be large as the difference between the reference value and the operation value becomes larger if the operation value is larger than the reference value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an acoustic control device and an acoustic generation method.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses an acoustic control device that allows a driver to set the volume of notification by a notification device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] A better acoustic control device and acoustic generation method are desired.

[0005] The present invention aims to solve the above-described problems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A first aspect of the present disclosure is an acoustic control device that outputs sound from a speaker toward the interior of a vehicle cabin, including: a signal generation unit that generates an audio signal, which is a signal for outputting the sound from the speaker; an acquisition unit that acquires an operation value according to an operation by a user; a gain determination unit that determines a gain of the audio signal according to the operation value acquired by the acquisition unit; and an output unit that outputs the audio signal corrected by the gain determined by the gain determination unit to the speaker. The gain determination unit determines the gain to be smaller as the difference between the reference value and the operation value becomes larger when the operation value is smaller than a predetermined reference value, and determines the gain to be larger as the difference between the reference value and the operation value becomes larger when the operation value is larger than the reference value.

[0007] A second aspect of the present disclosure is an acoustic generation method for outputting sound to a speaker toward the interior of a vehicle cabin, generating a sound signal that is a signal for outputting the sound to the speaker, obtaining an operation value according to an operation by a user, and when the obtained operation value is smaller than a predetermined reference value, determining the gain to be smaller as the difference between the reference value and the operation value increases, and when the operation value is larger than the obtained reference value, determining the gain to be larger as the difference between the reference value and the operation value increases, and outputting the sound signal corrected by the determined gain to the speaker.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, a better acoustic control device and an acoustic generation method can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

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Figure 7

Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] In a conventional acoustic control device (active sound generation device), the user could not set the sound pressure (volume) of the sound effect. In the acoustic control device of the present invention, as will be described later, the user can set the sound pressure of the sound effect. Further, according to the acoustic control device of the present invention, as will be described later, it is possible to satisfactorily reflect the design concept with respect to the volume of the sound effect and the like adjusted by the user.

[0011] 〔One Embodiment〕 [Configuration of Acoustic Control Device] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an acoustic control device 10 according to one embodiment. The acoustic control device 10 is, for example, an active sound generation device. The acoustic control device 10 is mounted on a vehicle having an electric motor as a drive source. The vehicle driven by the electric motor is a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), PHEV (plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle), or the like. The acoustic control device 10 may be mounted on a vehicle having an internal combustion engine as a drive source.

[0012] The acoustic control device 10 is a device that causes a speaker 12 provided in the vehicle interior to output a sound effect that changes according to the rotational speed of the electric motor. The sound effect enhances the attractiveness of the vehicle to the passengers. The acoustic control device 10 may cause the speaker 12 provided in the vehicle interior to output a sound effect that changes according to the vehicle speed. When the acoustic control device 10 is mounted on a vehicle having an internal combustion engine as a drive source, the acoustic control device 10 may cause the speaker 12 provided in the vehicle interior to output a sound effect that changes according to the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine.

[0013] The acoustic control device 10 includes an arithmetic unit 14 and a storage unit 16. The arithmetic unit 14 is, for example, a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit).

[0014] The arithmetic unit 14 functions as a signal generation unit 18, an acquisition unit 20, a gain determination unit 22, and an output unit 24. The signal generation unit 18, the acquisition unit 20, the gain determination unit 22, and the output unit 24 are realized by executing a program stored in the storage unit 16 in the arithmetic unit 14.

[0015] At least a part of the signal generation unit 18, the acquisition unit 20, the gain determination unit 22, and the output unit 24 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). At least a part of the signal generation unit 18, the acquisition unit 20, the gain determination unit 22, and the output unit 24 may be realized by an electronic circuit including discrete devices.

[0016] The storage unit 16 is composed of a volatile memory (not shown) and a non-volatile memory (not shown), which are computer-readable storage media. The volatile memory is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like. The non-volatile memory is, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, or the like. Data and the like are stored in the volatile memory, for example. Programs, tables, maps, etc. are stored in the non-volatile memory, for example.

[0017] At least a part of the storage unit 16 may be provided in the above-described processor, integrated circuit, etc. At least a part of the storage unit 16 may be mounted on a device connected to the acoustic control device 10 via a network.

[0018] The signal generation unit 18 generates a sound effect signal. The sound effect signal is a signal of a sound effect having a component of a frequency corresponding to the rotational speed of the electric motor.

[0019] The acquisition unit 20 acquires an operation value according to an operation by the user. The operation value is determined by the user operating an operator 28 displayed on the display unit 26 (FIG. 2).

[0020] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display unit 26 on which an operator 28 is displayed in one embodiment. The display unit 26 is installed at the central portion of the instrument panel in the vehicle interior. As shown in FIG. 2, an operator 28 and a slide bar 30 are displayed on the display unit 26. The operator 28 is a slider that can move along the slide bar 30 by a user's operation.

[0021] According to the position of the operator 28 on the slide bar 30, operation values from "0" to "255" are input to the acoustic control device 10. When the operator 28 is located at the position Pa at the left end of the slide bar 30, the operation value "0" is input to the acoustic control device 10. When the operator 28 is located at the position Pb at the center of the slide bar 30, the operation value "128" is input to the acoustic control device 10. When the operator 28 is located at the position Pc at the right end of the slide bar 30, the operation value "255" is input to the acoustic control device 10. The correspondence between the position of the operator 28 and the operation value is not limited to the above.

[0022] The gain determination unit 22 determines the gain of the sound effect signal according to the operation value acquired by the acquisition unit 20. FIG. 3 is a map of the gain in one embodiment. The gain determination unit 22 determines the gain according to the map of FIG. 3.

[0023] In one embodiment, "128" is determined in advance as a reference value. When the operation value matches the reference value, the gain determination unit 22 determines the gain as "1". When the operation value is smaller than the reference value, the gain determination unit 22 determines the gain as a value smaller than "1". Also, when the operation value is smaller than the reference value, the gain determination unit 22 determines the gain as a smaller value as the difference between the reference value and the operation value becomes larger. When the operation value is larger than the reference value, the gain determination unit 22 determines the gain as a value larger than "1". Also, when the operation value is larger than the reference value, the gain determination unit 22 determines the gain as a larger value as the difference between the gain reference value and the operation value becomes larger.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 3, when the operation value changes by a predetermined amount ΔV when the operation value is smaller than the reference value, the change amount ΔB of the gain is smaller than the change amount ΔA of the gain when the operation value changes by the predetermined amount ΔV when the operation value is larger than the reference value.

[0025] The gain determination unit 22 may determine the gain by calculation without using a map. Assuming that the gain is G, the operation value is Vo, and the maximum value of the operation value is Vmax, when the operation value is larger than the reference value, the gain G is obtained by the following formula (1) using a positive constant α (α>1). G = 1 + {(Vo - Vs) / (Vmax - Vs)}×(α - 1)…(1)

[0026] Assuming that the gain is G, the operation value is Vo, and the minimum value of the operation value is Vmin, when the operation value is smaller than the reference value, the gain G is obtained by the following formula (2) using a positive constant β (β<1). G = 1 - {(Vs - Vo) / (Vs - Vmin)}×(1 - β)…(2)

[0027] Note that the constant α and the constant β have the relationship of the following formula (3). α - 1>1 - β…(3)

[0028] The output unit 24 corrects the sound effect signal generated in the signal generation unit 18 with the gain determined in the gain determination unit 22. The output unit 24 outputs the corrected sound effect signal to the speaker 12. The speaker 12 generates a sound effect corresponding to the sound effect signal in the vehicle interior.

[0029] In one embodiment, the designer of the acoustic control device 10 can better reflect the design concept with respect to the volume of the sound effects adjusted by the user by adjusting the constant α and the constant β. For example, when the user operates the operator 28 to increase the volume, the gain is increased to increase the volume of the sound effects output into the vehicle interior. Thereby, a sense of exhilaration and a sense of acceleration due to the sound effects can be further given to the user. On the other hand, when the user operates the operator 28 to decrease the volume, the decrease in gain is suppressed so that the volume of the sound effects output into the vehicle interior does not become too small. Thereby, a sense of exhilaration and a sense of acceleration due to the sound effects are continuously given to the user.

[0030] [Sound effect generation process] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the sound effect generation process executed in the acoustic control device 10 in one embodiment. The sound effect generation process is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle while the electric vehicle is running.

[0031] In step S1, the acquisition unit 20 acquires an operation value. Then, the process proceeds to step S2.

[0032] In step S2, the signal generation unit 18 generates a sound effect signal. Then, the process proceeds to step S3.

[0033] In step S3, the gain determination unit 22 determines a gain. Then, the process proceeds to step S4.

[0034] In step S4, the output unit 24 corrects the sound effect signal generated by the signal generation unit 18 with the gain determined by the gain determination unit 22. Further, the output unit 24 outputs the corrected sound effect signal to the speaker 12. Then, the sound effect generation process ends.

[0035] [Comparative example] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display unit 26 on which an operator 40 in a comparative example is displayed. As shown in FIG. 5, a slide bar 42 and an operator 40 are displayed on the display unit 26. The operator 40 is a slider that can be moved along the slide bar 42 by a user's operation.

[0036] According to the position of the operator 40 on the slide bar 42, operation values from "0" to "255" are input to the audio control device 10. When the operator 40 is located at the position Qa at the left end of the slide bar 42, the operation value "0" is input to the audio control device 10. When the operator 40 is located at the position Qb at the right end of the slide bar 30, the operation value "255" is input to the audio control device 10.

[0037] FIG. 6 is a gain map of the comparative example. In the comparative example, "0" is determined as the reference value. The greater the difference between the reference value and the operation value, the greater the value of the gain is determined. As shown in FIG. 6, in all ranges of the operation value, the amount of change in the gain when the operation value changes by a predetermined amount is constant.

[0038] That is, in one embodiment, "128" is determined as the reference value, while in the comparative example, "0" is determined as the reference value.

[0039] Also, in one embodiment, when the operation value is smaller than the reference value, the greater the difference between the reference value and the operation value, the smaller the value of the gain is determined. When the operation value is greater than the reference value, the greater the difference between the reference value and the operation value, the greater the value of the gain is determined. In contrast, in the comparative example, there is no operation value smaller than the reference value, and the greater the difference between the reference value and the operation value, the greater the value of the gain is determined.

[0040] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the amount of change in the gain when the operation value changes by a predetermined amount when the operation value is smaller than the reference value is smaller than the amount of change in the gain when the operation value changes by a predetermined amount when the operation value is greater than the reference value. In contrast, in the comparative example, in all ranges of the operation value, the amount of change in the gain when the operation value changes by a predetermined amount is constant.

[0041] 〔Other Embodiments〕 FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the display unit 26 on which the operator 28 in another embodiment is displayed. In the above-described one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the operator 28 is a slider movable on the slide bar 30. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 7, the operator 28 may be a rotatable dial.

[0042] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the display unit 26 on which the volume input unit 32 in another embodiment is displayed. In the above-described one embodiment, an operation value is input to the acoustic control device 10 by the user operating the operator 28 displayed on the display unit 26. In contrast, the user may input a numerical value to the volume input unit 32 shown in FIG. 8. A numerical value input to the volume input unit 32 and an operation value are associated with each other in advance, and an operation value corresponding to the numerical value input by the user is input to the acoustic control device 10.

[0043] In the above-described one embodiment, the signal generation unit 18 generates a sound effect signal. The signal generation unit 18 may generate a sound signal, which is a signal for causing the speaker 12 to output a sound other than the sound effect.

[0044] When the signal generation unit 18 generates a sound signal, the gain determination unit 22 determines the gain of the sound signal. Also, when the signal generation unit 18 generates a sound signal, the output unit 24 outputs the sound signal corrected by the gain determined by the gain determination unit 22 to the speaker.

[0045] Regarding the above embodiment, the following additional remarks are further disclosed.

[0046] (Additional Remark 1) The acoustic control device (10) of the present disclosure is an acoustic control device that outputs sound to a speaker (12) toward the interior of a vehicle. The acoustic control device includes a signal generation unit (18) that generates an audio signal, which is a signal for outputting the sound to the speaker, an acquisition unit (20) that acquires an operation value according to an operation by a user, a gain determination unit (22) that determines the gain of the audio signal according to the operation value acquired by the acquisition unit, and an output unit (24) that outputs the audio signal corrected by the gain determined by the gain determination unit to the speaker. When the operation value is smaller than a predetermined reference value, the gain determination unit determines the gain to be smaller as the difference between the reference value and the operation value becomes larger. When the operation value is larger than the reference value, the gain determination unit determines the gain to be larger as the difference between the reference value and the operation value becomes larger. Thereby, the gain can be set based on the difference between the reference value and the operation value.

[0047] (Appendix 2) In the acoustic control device according to Appendix 1, when the operation value is smaller than the reference value, the amount of change in the gain when the operation value changes by a predetermined amount may be different from the amount of change in the gain when the operation value changes by the predetermined amount when the operation value is larger than the reference value. Thereby, the design concept can be favorably reflected in the gain that changes according to the user's operation.

[0048] (Appendix 3) In the acoustic control device according to Appendix 2, the amount of change in the gain when the operation value changes by the predetermined amount when the operation value is smaller than the reference value may be smaller than the amount of change in the gain when the operation value changes by the predetermined amount when the operation value is larger than the reference value. When the user performs an operation to increase the volume, the gain can be made larger to output a louder sound into the vehicle interior. On the other hand, when the user performs an operation to decrease the volume, the decrease in the gain is suppressed so that the sound in the vehicle interior does not become too small.

[0049] (Appendix 4) In the acoustic control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 3, the operation value may be determined by the user operating an operator (28) displayed on a display unit (26) provided on the instrument panel in the vehicle interior. Thereby, it becomes easier for the user to operate the operator.

[0050] (Supplementary Note 5) In the acoustic control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 3, the sound signal may be an effect sound signal for causing the speaker to output an effect sound that changes according to the rotational speed of the drive source of the vehicle. Thereby, the user can adjust the volume of the effect sound.

[0051] (Supplementary Note 6) The acoustic generation method of the present disclosure is an acoustic generation method for outputting sound from a speaker toward the vehicle interior of a vehicle, generating a sound signal that is a signal for outputting the sound to the speaker, obtaining an operation value according to an operation by a user, and when the obtained operation value is smaller than a predetermined reference value, determining the gain to be smaller as the difference between the reference value and the operation value becomes larger, and when the operation value is larger than the obtained reference value, determining the gain to be larger as the difference between the reference value and the operation value becomes larger, and outputting the sound signal corrected by the determined gain to the speaker. Thereby, the gain can be set based on the difference between the reference value and the operation value.

[0052] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described individual embodiments. These embodiments can be variously added, replaced, changed, partially deleted, etc. without departing from the gist of the present disclosure or without departing from the gist of the present disclosure derived from the content described in the claims and its equivalents. Also, these embodiments can be implemented in combination. For example, in the above-described embodiments, the order of each operation and the order of each process are shown as examples and are not limited thereto. The same applies when numerical values or mathematical formulas are used in the description of the above-described embodiments.

Explanation of Reference Signs

[0053] 10…Audio control device 12…Speaker 18…Signal generation unit 20…Acquisition unit 22…Gain determination unit 24…Output unit 26…Display unit 28…Operator

Claims

1. An acoustic control device for outputting sound to a speaker toward the interior of a vehicle, comprising: a signal generation unit that generates an audio signal which is a signal for outputting the sound to the speaker; an acquisition unit that acquires an operation value according to an operation by a user; a gain determination unit that determines the gain of the audio signal according to the operation value acquired by the acquisition unit; an output unit that outputs the audio signal corrected by the gain determined by the gain determination unit to the speaker; wherein when the operation value is smaller than a predetermined reference value, the gain determination unit determines the gain to be smaller as the difference between the reference value and the operation value becomes larger, and when the operation value is larger than the reference value, the gain determination unit determines the gain to be larger as the difference between the reference value and the operation value becomes larger.

2. The acoustic control device according to Claim 1, wherein a change amount of the gain when the operation value changes by a predetermined amount when the operation value is smaller than the reference value is different from a change amount of the gain when the operation value changes by the predetermined amount when the operation value is larger than the reference value.

3. The acoustic control device according to Claim 2, wherein the change amount of the gain when the operation value changes by the predetermined amount when the operation value is smaller than the reference value is smaller than the change amount of the gain when the operation value changes by the predetermined amount when the operation value is larger than the reference value.

4. The acoustic control device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the operation value is determined by the user operating an operator displayed on a display unit provided on an instrument panel in the vehicle interior.

5. The acoustic control device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the audio signal is an effect sound signal for outputting an effect sound that changes according to the rotational speed of a drive source of the vehicle to the speaker.

6. An acoustic generation method for outputting sound to a speaker toward the interior of a vehicle, comprising: generating an audio signal which is a signal for outputting the sound to the speaker; acquiring an operation value according to an operation by a user; When the obtained operation value is smaller than a predetermined reference value, the gain is determined to be smaller as the difference between the reference value and the operation value becomes larger. When the operation value is larger than the obtained reference value, the gain is determined to be larger as the difference between the reference value and the operation value becomes larger. An acoustic generation method for outputting the sound signal corrected by the determined gain to the speaker.

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