Speed meter using sound, and program

Abstract

To provide a speed meter and a program therefor, in which the speed meter promotes a driver's attention directed to constant output, such as music and radio broadcasting or the like that are simultaneously outputted in a vehicle, to be directed to output of a sound speed meter as vehicle speed increases, in a sound speed meter that causes the driver to grasp a speed of the vehicle according to sound by dividing a speed range sectioned at constant speed intervals into different instruments or musical pieces, separately from a speed meter attached to a vehicle.SOLUTION: Both speed recognition and forward attention can be achieved by recognizing vehicle speed by utilizing the sense of hearing. However, since constant output, such as music and radio broadcasting, exists in a vehicle, sound volume of the constant output is gradually lowered as the speed of the vehicle increases, thereby output of a speed meter according to sound is relatively emphasized, and is caused to work effectively as a warning of speed violation or the like.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a speedometer that displays the vehicle speed by sound and a program that controls the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Vehicle speed is typically indicated visually by a speedometer. Therefore, drivers estimate their vehicle's speed from the engine sound produced by the vehicle and the scenery passing by, and occasionally check the speedometer to confirm their speed. However, looking at the speedometer interrupts checking the road ahead, causing drivers to become distracted. This leads to a tendency to check the speedometer less frequently, which makes drivers more likely to violate the speed limit. Furthermore, recent electric vehicles often have no engine sound, or even if there is, the sound is unrelated to the vehicle's speed. This makes it difficult to estimate speed using auditory information such as engine sound. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7202514 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-110180 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-105547 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is an acoustic speedometer (hereinafter abbreviated as "sonic speedometer") that divides the vehicle speed (hereinafter abbreviated as "vehicle speed") into multiple stepwise speed ranges and outputs a sound source or musical piece corresponding to each speed range into the vehicle to present the speed to the driver through auditory information. One of the issues with this sonic speedometer is that music or radio broadcasts are often on in cars (hereafter referred to as "constant output"), and sometimes they are on at high volume. In such situations, the sound speed indication is drowned out by the constant output, making it less useful. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The problem is solved by gradually or continuously reducing the volume of the constant output originally output to the vehicle interior as the step of the step-by-step speed range set by the sonic speed meter increases, so that the output of the sonic speed meter becomes relatively clear as the vehicle speed increases. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] A sonic speedometer that divides the vehicle speed into a plurality of stepwise speed ranges and presents the speed to the driver by outputting a sound source or a musical piece corresponding to each speed range into the vehicle, A sound speed meter and a program for realizing the same, which outputs any or all of the sound sources and the set of music pieces to the inside of the vehicle in accordance with the speed of the vehicle, and also outputs a sound source or music piece, etc., to the inside of the vehicle, the volume of which decreases stepwise or continuously as the speed or the speed range increases, Even in a situation where music, broadcasts, etc., constantly output in the vehicle are output at a high volume, the volume of the constantly output is made relatively smaller than the volume of the sonic speed meter as the vehicle speed increases, which has the effect of making the output of the sonic speed meter clear to the driver in response to the increased risk of driving that accompanies an increase in vehicle speed. As an example of this, even in dangerous situations where a driver is distracted by the constant output and loses focus on speed, such as during the climax of a sports broadcast on the radio that they are interested in, the constant output becomes harder to hear as the speed increases, so the output of the sonic speedometer becomes clearer as the speed violation level increases. On the other hand, the output level of the constant output decreases relatively, making it harder to hear the content. Therefore, if a driver wants to hear the constant output clearly, they have no choice but to slow down their vehicle speed, and they will take the action of slowing down their vehicle and listening to the radio broadcast. As a result, this has the effect of encouraging the driver to take a more safe driving approach. Although this effect is not always realized, the sound speed meter has an inherent function of encouraging the driver to take a safer approach depending on the situation, a function that does not exist in any sound speed meter known to date.

[0007] In the explanation so far, it has been assumed that the reduction in the output level of the constant output is constant when the vehicle is traveling within the same speed range. However, by continuously reducing the volume of the constant output from a speed just before the next speed limit is reached when the vehicle speed is increasing, it is possible to warn the driver that the next speed limit is approaching by the reduction in the volume of the constant output, and this has the effect of urging the driver to reduce their vehicle speed.

[0008] Next, another effect will be described. Because roads have slopes, even when driving carefully, it is inevitable that the speed limit will be exceeded slightly. In the case of such minor speeding violations, there is no need to make the output of the sonic speedometer so prominent that it becomes difficult to hear the constant output. In this regard, the present invention is designed to reduce the volume of the constant output as the speed range increases, which has the effect of preventing the volume of the constant output from being reduced more than necessary for understanding low speeds. As a result, even if a slight speeding violation occurs, it is possible to use the device in a state where the driver is vaguely aware of driving within the speed limit violation range, but the output is not reduced so much that it becomes difficult to hear the constant output. This has the effect of preventing the deterioration of the sound environment inside the vehicle, which would make it difficult for the driver to hear the constant output that they are concentrating on, in the event of a minor speed limit violation, by adopting a gradual reduction in the volume of the constant output.

[0009] Furthermore, when the vehicle is driven in rainy weather, at night, or on snowy or icy roads, the rate at which the volume of the constant output gradually decreases can be increased to emphasize the output of the sonic speedometer. Therefore, the sonic speedometer's amplitude can be changed depending on the driving environment, which has the effect of encouraging the driver to drive safely and with greater speed awareness. Needless to say, additional sensors and mechanisms are required to grasp and evaluate these driving environments, but we will not discuss them here.

[0010] Separately, if partial attenuation of the volume within a speed range is used, in which the volume of the constant output decreases linearly or nonlinearly from the previous speed when the vehicle speed approaches the next violation point (speed range), the driver will understand that an increase in violation points is approaching as the attenuation begins, and it will be possible to create an opportunity for the driver to decide whether or not to suppress the increase in vehicle speed. Furthermore, when driving near the boundary of a speed range, if the speed frequently fluctuates between before and after the boundary, the output level of the constant output will frequently increase and decrease accordingly, making the output of the constant output difficult to hear. However, if partial attenuation of the volume within this speed range is used, the fluctuation range of the output level near the boundary can be reduced, which has the new advantage of reducing or almost eliminating the difficult to hear sound. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] Output of each sound source when the speed limit is 50km / h [Figure 2] Repeating note order for each tempo range [Figure 3] Relationship between output of each sound source and constant output [Figure 4] Change in volume of constant output as vehicle speed increases [Figure 5] Flowchart DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] First, the basic form of the sound velocity meter will be explained. One method of using a sonic speedometer is to divide the speed of a vehicle being driven into multiple step-by-step speed ranges, output sound sources or musical pieces corresponding to each speed range into the vehicle, and determine the speed step aurally from the number of types of sound sources or musical pieces and the combination of tones, thereby understanding the speed of the vehicle. The primary objective of the present invention is to constantly notify the driver of the increased risk of driving as the vehicle speed increases by making it possible to constantly grasp the vehicle speed, albeit as a speed range, through the auditory sense.

[0013] First, a specific example of a simple sound velocity meter will be described. The vehicle speed is output to the vehicle interior, indicating multiple speed ranges. When the vehicle speed is between 0km / h and 10km / h, a monotonous repeating sound is output, similar to a cymbal being struck with a drumstick. In the next speed range of 10km / h to 20km / h, a repeating rhythmic sound from the bass is output superimposed on the sound of the cymbals. In the next speed range of 20 to 30 km / h, the main melody, which is played on a piano, is superimposed on the sounds of cymbals and bass, so that the music gradually takes on the feel of an ensemble as the speed increases. This allows the driver to use their ears to grasp the number of overlapping sound sources such as cymbals, bass, and piano, and to determine at what stage in the speed range, divided into 10 km / h increments, the vehicle is traveling, using only their ears.

[0014] It is easy to grasp the speed using such in-car sound output in a relatively quiet vehicle. However, in vehicles, there are often loud music or radio broadcasts constantly being output in addition to the output of the sonic speedometer. To make the sonic speedometer effective even under such conditions, the volume of the constant output is gradually reduced as the level of speeding increases and the risk or level of speeding increases, making the volume of the constant output relatively lower compared to the volume of the sonic speedometer, making it easier for the driver to more reliably recognize the increase in risk or the level of speeding as the vehicle speed increases. [Example]

[0015] Figure 1 shows the "output of each sound source at a speed limit of 50 km / h" on a sound speedometer, with the type of sound source output inside the vehicle and the volume of each sound source on the vertical axis, against the vehicle speed on the horizontal axis. The top row of Figure 1 shows the penalty points associated with speeding (also known as speeding violations). The second row shows the speed range for each violation point as the excess speed. These speed ranges are different from the normal continuously changing speedometer, and the speed ranges divided by the violation points are used as "graduated units." Note that these units differ between ordinary roads and expressways, and here we use the violation speeds for ordinary roads. The third row shows specific examples of vehicle speeds as speed ranges, assuming a road with a speed limit of 50 km / h. The following lines use a series of vertical bars to indicate the presence or absence of five types of output: Sound Source 1, Sound Source 2, Sound Source 3, Sound Source 4, and Sound Source 5. The reason there are five types of sound sources is because the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and other organizations assign five points for speeding violations: 1 point, 2 points, 3 points, 6 points, and 12 points.

[0016] Next, the output of each sound source as the vehicle speed increases will be described as a specific example. The speed range from 0 km / h to the speed limit of 50 km / h (shown as "0~50" in the figure) is not subject to speeding violations, so there is no output from any sound source. When the vehicle speed is above 50km / h but below 70km / h, the violation point is 1, and accordingly, sound source 1 is output at speeds above 50km / h. In this speed range, sound sources 2, 3, 4, and 5 are not output. When the vehicle speed is between 70km / h and 75km / h, the violation points are 2, and when the speed is 70km / h or faster, sound source 2 is superimposed on sound source 1. In this speed range, sound sources 3, 4, and 5 are not output. If the vehicle speed is between 75km / h and 80km / h, the penalty points will be 3 points. At speeds above 75 km / h, sound source 3 is superimposed on sound source 1 and sound source 2. In this speed range, there is no output from sound sources 4 and 5. When the vehicle speed is between 80km / h and 100km / h, the violation points are 6, and when traveling at a speed of 80km / h or more, sound source 1, sound source 2, sound source 3, and sound source 4 are superimposed and output. In this speed range, sound source 5 is not output. If the vehicle speed is 100 km / h or more, the violation points will be 12 points, and when driving at a speed of 100 km / h or more, sound source 1, sound source 2, sound source 3, sound source 4, and sound source 5 will be superimposed and output. This allows the tone colors and music output of each sound source to overlap, and depending on the number of types of overlapping, the driver can understand through his hearing which speed range the current vehicle speed falls into. Furthermore, if the music output from sound sources 1 to 5 corresponds to each phrase that makes up an ensemble, music with musicality that is listenable to as an ensemble will be output inside the car. This output with improved musicality makes it possible to use the output of the sound velocity meter to help improve the acoustic environment inside the car, unlike noise-like output such as a simple beep as a warning sound. [Example]

[0017] Here, we will explain the sound source in Figure 1 in more detail, using specific instruments and singing voices, to convey a more realistic feeling. For example, Sound source 1 is a slow metronome sound that indicates the division of each measure. Sound source 2 is the sound of a drumstick hitting a cymbal, which indicates the rhythm. Sound source 3 is a piano sound that represents the melody, Sound source 4 is a harmony vocal by a female chorus, Sound source 5 is the main melody sung by a male vocalist.

[0018] If the vehicle speed is below the speed limit of 50 km / h, no sound source is output and the vehicle will continue to drive. If the speed exceeds the 50 km / h limit, the slow metronome sound of Sound Source 1 will start to play, allowing the driver to auditorily determine that the speed limit has been exceeded. At this point, if the vehicle speed returns to within the speed limit, the metronome sound will disappear, allowing the driver to understand that the vehicle is now driving within the speed limit. This metronome sound is output independently when the vehicle speed is between 50km / h and 70km / h, but in the sonic speedometer described here, the output continues even at speeds above 70km / h. However, at speeds above 70km / h, the metronome sound is not an output from the sound source that is necessary for the actual music, so it can be omitted. Furthermore, when the vehicle speed exceeds 70 km / h, the sound of a cymbal being struck with a stick, which indicates the rhythm of the music, begins to be output, and the sound of the cymbal can be heard along with the sound of a metronome. This lets you know that you have reached the speed range where two points will be deducted from your violation points. When the vehicle speed increases further and exceeds 75 km / h, the piano melody from Sound Source 3 starts to play, giving a clear musical impression. This allows the driver to determine that the vehicle has reached the speed range where the third violation point is awarded. Furthermore, as the vehicle speed increases to 80 km / h or above, the female chorus in Sound Source 4 sings in harmony, indicating that the speed has reached the speed range where the fourth level of violation points is 6 points. Furthermore, as the vehicle speed increases and exceeds 100 km / h, the main melody of the male vocalist in Sound Source 5 is added, along with the sounds of a metronome, cymbals, piano, harmony vocals by a female chorus, and the male vocalist's own vocals, creating an ensemble of five overlapping sounds. This indicates that the vehicle has reached the speed range where the fifth level of violation points is awarded, at 12 points. At this time, the driver is required to understand in advance which sound source will result in which speed range for which violation points will be awarded.Though some prior practice is required to understand the speed range, the driver will be able to understand the level of speeding violation at any time through their hearing by distinguishing between the superimposed sound sources and their number of types, without having to visually check the speedometer installed in the vehicle. [Example]

[0019] In the first embodiment described above, it is necessary to distinguish between superimposed sound sources and grasp the number of types thereof, which may require some degree of familiarity and musical knowledge. Another sound velocity meter that requires almost no familiarity will now be described. The sonic speed meter of the next embodiment is a sonic speed meter that audibly grasps vehicle speed by repeatedly outputting a different continuous scale for each speed range, and Figure 2 is a table that diagrams the output rules of the continuous scale. The top row in Figure 2 shows the speeding violation points published by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and other organizations, and the next row shows the range of excessive speeds corresponding to the above violation points, in units of km / h. The left column in Figure 2 shows the types of scales, and the column to the right shows five specific examples of scales: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, and So. When these scales are output continuously and repeatedly, the presence or absence of output of each scale at each violation score is diagrammed and shown for each column of violation scores. Furthermore, in the bottom row of Figure 2, the elapsed time for each violation score is divided into five sections, and at speeds corresponding to the same violation score, each scale is output in the order of these five sections, and these are output repeatedly. In addition, the output timing of each scale is indicated by a black square, and within that black square are white numbers indicating at which of the five divisions the note will be output. Please note that each time the elapsed time is left blank after dividing each tempo range into five sections, please consider that there is a rest.

[0020] Next, the output of FIG. 2 will be specifically explained. The range of excessive speeds that will result in one violation point is from 0 to 20 km / h (shown as "0-20" in the diagram). Here, at the first of five divisions, a C scale, for example, using a piano as the sound source, is output, and from the second to fifth divisions there is a rest, with no output during this time. After this, it returns to the beginning of the cycle, and at a vehicle speed that will result in one violation point, the C note is output again. In this way, at vehicle speeds within the range of excessive speeds that will result in one violation point, the piano sound of "C, rest, rest, rest, rest" is repeatedly output. The speed limit, which will result in two violation points, is between 20 and 25 km / h, and the note C is output at the first of the five divisions, the note D is output at the second division, and all of the periods from the third to the fifth are rests, so no note is output. Furthermore, if the vehicle continues to travel at a speed within the range that would earn two violation points, it will return to the first note and output the note "C" again. In this way, when the vehicle is traveling at a speed that would earn two violation points, the piano notes "C, D, rest, rest, rest" will be output repeatedly. Similarly, when the vehicle speed is in the super acceleration range, which corresponds to violation points 3, 6, or 12, The output will be "Do, Re, Mi, rest, rest", "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, rest", and "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So", respectively.

[0021] To determine this output and the violation point level it corresponds to, one must be able to distinguish between the previous and next notes with their ears, and have "relative pitch" to distinguish whether the output frequency has increased or decreased. However, most adults are said to have this "relative pitch." Therefore, as long as they understand the output rules, many adults will be able to easily grasp the level of the excessive speed range. Furthermore, even people without relative pitch can count the number of different scales, and since five scales are output, it is possible to determine the number of steps by subtracting the number of rests from the five-scale scale. In the explanation so far, the sound source has been explained as a piano sound, but it is easy to change the sound source to other instruments, human voices, or sounds from nature. Furthermore, although the above explanation has been based on the assumption of a sonic velocity meter such as that described above, this does not preclude the application of the present invention to other methods of recognizing a speed range that use hearing as a method of recognizing a speed range. Furthermore, the speed range does not always have to be the speed listed in the traffic violation point table, and it is possible to use a speed range that suits the purpose of use. [Example]

[0022] As mentioned earlier, one of the issues with this sound velocity meter is that music or radio broadcasts are often always on in cars, and sometimes at high volume levels. In such situations, the output of the sound velocity meter is drowned out by the constant output, making it useless. Furthermore, because roads have slopes, it is often the case that the speed limit is exceeded when going downhill. For this reason, even if a driver intends to drive within the speed limit, the speed limit may be exceeded, and the output of the sonic speedometer will change each time this occurs. If the output is such that it destroys the acoustic atmosphere inside the vehicle, the sonic speedometer will be seen as a device that outputs unnecessary sounds, which may lead to people disliking the use of the sonic speedometer and eventually to not using it at all. This is a common example of a system that simply emits a beep or other sound when a set speed is exceeded, informing the driver that the set speed has been reached. While this can be useful, the frequent beeping and stopping just before and after the speed limit can make it an annoying noise, which discourages drivers from using it.

[0023] There are several ways to mitigate or eliminate these problems: Assuming that both the sonic velocity meter and the main power are output in parallel, there are two main methods that can be considered. The first method is to have the sound speed meter output be low when the speed limit is exceeded, and then increase the volume as the speed increases. As the violation level increases, the driver is able to recognize the level of violation based on the increasingly clear sound speed meter output.

[0024] The second method is to keep the volume of the sonic speedometer output constant once the speed limit is exceeded, but as the vehicle speed increases and the level of the violation becomes higher, the volume of the constant output decreases, making the constant output relatively more noticeable and allowing the driver to more clearly recognize the level of the violation as the violation level increases. In this way, the speed violation can be recognized at the initial vehicle speed, but the constant output is output at a volume level that allows the constant output to function relatively well, thereby maintaining a good atmosphere inside the vehicle. However, as the vehicle speed continues to increase, the volume of the constant output decreases, making it gradually harder to hear the constant output. This state in which the constant output becomes harder to hear indicates that the speeding violation is becoming more serious and also helps the driver understand that they have reached a speed at which they need to be very conscious.

[0025] However, in the first method, the sound volume is kept constant, so the driver can maintain the desired sound level, but the sound volume increases as the speed limit increases due to the addition of the sound velocity meter output. This increases the burden on the driver's hearing, and the atmosphere inside the vehicle becomes increasingly unpleasant. Furthermore, since the volume level of the sound velocity meter is adjusted at the start of normal operation, the first method described above has the disadvantage that the total volume of the normal output and the sound velocity meter output cannot be understood at the start of operation.

[0026] In contrast, with the second method described above, the volume of the sonic speed meter is always constant, so even if the initial setting of the constant output is changed, the total volume of the constant output and the output of the sonic speed meter will not exceed the maximum volume before the speed limit was exceeded, which has the advantage that the burden on the hearing does not increase even if the speed limit is exceeded. Furthermore, as mentioned above, even if a driver continues to focus on the constant output while driving, as the violation level increases, the volume of the constant output decreases, making it harder to hear, and in some cases, impossible to hear. As the constant output becomes harder to hear, the sound of the sonic speedometer becomes more prominent in inverse proportion. This forces the driver to shift their focus from the constant output to the output of the sonic speedometer, which in turn has the effect of making the driver more conscious of speeding violations and encouraging them to slow down or drive slightly slower.

[0027] Furthermore, because roads have uphill and downhill slopes, drivers often exceed the speed limit slightly even when driving carefully. Therefore, in the case of such minor speeding violations, it is not necessary for the output of the sonic speedometer to be reduced to the point where the constant output becomes difficult to hear. In such situations, the present invention can gradually reduce the constant output as the speed range level increases, which has the advantage of not reducing the volume of the constant output more than necessary in the early stages of the speed violation. As a result, in the case of minor speed limit violations, the driver only weakly notices that a slight speeding violation has occurred, so the constant output can be heard without being disturbed by the sonic speedometer. The second method described above has the advantage of taking such minor speed limit violations into consideration. [Example]

[0028] Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Figure 3 is a diagram in which the volume portion of the vertical axis of Figure 1 is expanded downward to include the volume at each speed range of constant output. However, while the presence or absence of output of the five types of sound sources 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 explained in Figure 1 is shown as a series of vertical bars, the volume of the constant output added to Figure 3 is shown as a percentage of the initial volume setting of 100%, with the length of the vertical bars indicating the continuation of the sound. As with Figure 1, the top horizontal row in Figure 3 indicates the number of violation points. Furthermore, for the sake of explanation, the speed range below the speed limit will be shown as having zero violation points. Furthermore, the volume shown in the bottom of Figure 3 shows the volume of the constant output from R1% to R5% as well as the 100% output. The magnitude has the relationship R1>R2>R3>R4>R5.

[0029] Next, the specific operation of FIG. 3 will be described. When the vehicle speed is within the speed range where the violation points are 0 and the vehicle speed does not exceed the speed limit, there is no output from sound sources 1 to 5, and the sound is always output at 100% volume inside the vehicle. When the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit and is within the speed range that will result in violation point 1, sound source 1 is output, and the volume of the constant output is reduced by one level from 100% to R1%. When the vehicle speed is within the speed range that results in violation points 2, sound sources 1 and 2 are output, and the volume of the constant output is further reduced by one level to R2%. When the vehicle speed is within the speed range that results in a violation point of 3, sound sources 1, 2, and 3 are output, and the volume of the constant output is further reduced by one level to R3%. When the vehicle speed is within the speed range that results in a violation point of 6, sound sources 1, 2, 3, and 4 are output, and the volume of the constant output is further reduced by one level to R4%. When the vehicle speed is within the speed range that results in 12 violation points, sound sources 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 will output, and the volume of the constant output will be further reduced by one level to R5%. Although an increase in vehicle speed has been described here, when the vehicle speed decreases, the number of types of sound sources of the sonic speedometer decreases, and conversely, the volume of the constant output increases stepwise.

[0030] In this way, the volume of the constant output increases or decreases in inverse proportion to the increase or decrease in the speed range of violation points. Therefore, from the change in the number of types of sound sources of the sonic speedometer and the gradual increase or decrease in the volume of the constant output, it becomes possible to clearly determine, using only auditory information, the timing when the speed range changed and to which stage the vehicle speed has moved as a result of that change. Under such circumstances, the volume of the constant output decreases as the violation speed level increases, so even if the driver is listening intently to the constant output and is in the mood to ignore the output of the sonic speed meter, the volume of the constant output gradually decreases as the violation points increase, making it difficult to hear the constant output, which has the effect of reducing the driver's interest in the constant output and encouraging the driver to pay more attention to the sonic speed meter. Also, if a driver wants to hear the warning at a higher output all the time, they can hear it by lowering the speed at which the violation occurred, so they will operate the vehicle to slow down, which will ultimately have the effect of encouraging safe driving.

[0031] Furthermore, when the vehicle speed is slightly higher than the violation speed, the reduction in the volume of the continuous output is small, and furthermore, since the number of sound sources of the sonic speed meter is often one or a small number, the sound of the sonic speed meter is merely mixed into the continuous output like noise, and the deterioration in the quality of the continuous output can be kept minor. However, if the driver recognizes that sound source 1 of the sonic speedometer is mixed in with the constant output, he or she can recognize that he or she is slightly speeding, which has the effect of being aware that he or she is speeding while hardly disturbing the comfortable sound environment inside the car.

[0032] In addition, in Figure 3, the rate at which the volume of the constant output decreases as the number of violation points increases is depicted as decreasing at an almost constant rate, but this rate does not have to be constant at all times. It is also possible to automatically adjust the rate of the constant output volume depending on the road conditions, such as whether it is a rainy or snowy road, or the surrounding environment, such as whether it is a road at night, so that the output of the sonic speedometer is more prominent with consideration for safety. Furthermore, although Figure 3 shows that the volume of the constant output is not zero even in the speed range where the violation points are 12, it is also possible to distribute the volume of the constant output so that the volume reaches zero in the speed range where the violation points are 6 or 3. [Example]

[0033] In the explanation of FIG. 3 so far, the volume of the constant output is assumed to decrease in stages, but it is also possible to set the output so that the volume increases or decreases with a linear or non-linear gradient. Figure 4 is a partial cutout of the volume change of the constant output in the lower half of Figure 3, and the horizontal and vertical axes are the same as those in Figure 3. Also, the volume on the vertical axis in Figure 4 is the same as in Figure 3, with the initial values ​​of the speed at which each violation point begins being shown as 100%, R1%, R2%, R3%, R4%, and R5%. In Figure 4, the volume of the constant output starts at 100% at a vehicle speed where the violation points are 0. As the vehicle speed increases and the violation points approach 1, the volume starts to decrease linearly or nonlinearly at a speed just before that, and even within the same speed range, the volume is only partially reduced. The volume continues to decrease as the speed increases, but when the boundary is reached where the violation points change from 0 to 1, the volume drops stepwise to R1%. This stepwise decrease in volume makes it possible to clearly notify the driver that the violation points have changed. In other words, this decrease in volume warns the driver that they are approaching the speed limit at which the violation points will change from 0 to 1; it is also a signal to the driver to decide whether to increase the speed of an accelerating vehicle to a level at which the violation points will increase, and it is also a sign that the danger will increase further.

[0034] Apart from this, there is an advantage that the step-like volume drop at the boundary speed in FIG. 4 can be reduced compared to the volume step explained in FIG. 3 where the volume changes from 100% to R1%. This reduced step has the following effect. When a vehicle is traveling near the boundary between 0 and 1 violation points, frequently going back and forth between 0 and 1 violation points and driving at a nearly constant speed, the volume of the sound corresponding to the violation points will fluctuate between 100% and R1% in Figure 3. This results in the sound volume of the constant output suddenly decreasing and increasing repeatedly, which is unnatural and may even be perceived as unpleasant. In contrast, as shown in Figure 4, by gradually decreasing the volume as the vehicle approaches the violation point boundary, the difference in the sound volume of the constant output as the violation point boundary is crossed is reduced, which has the effect of reducing or eliminating the unnaturalness of the constant output. These effects are the same at the boundary between the subsequent speed range and the next speed range, and the volume difference that accompanies crossing these boundaries is reduced, making it possible to reduce or eliminate the unnaturalness of the constant output. Furthermore, while the vehicle is decelerating, the driver will know that the violation points have been reduced to the next lower level as the volume of the constant output begins to increase, and the gradual increase in volume will enable the driver to recognize from the volume change that they are moving away from the boundary between the upper and lower violation points. This type of constant output, gradual change in volume is slightly different from a change in acceleration, but it has a similar function, equivalent to a warning sound against speeding or a function to warn the driver against speeding. [Example]

[0035] Next, the flowchart of the program that controls the increase and decrease of the volume of the constant output in FIG. 3 will be explained with reference to FIG. The program begins with Start 101, In 102, the sound velocity meter is started, and music or the like is selected and the output volume is set. Next, the process proceeds to 103, where the constant output of music, radio broadcasting, etc. is selected and its initial volume is set, and the process proceeds to 104. In 104, specific numerical values ​​(here, in %) of R1 to R(n+1) indicating the ratio by which the output volume is limited are set, by multiplying the initial volume of the constant output. Next, the process proceeds to 110, where it is first determined whether the vehicle speed is within the speed range of 0 to S1 (usually in Km / h units). If the answer to 110 is yes, the process proceeds to 111, where the song or music from the sound source selected in 103 is output to the inside of the car at an initial volume of 100%, and the process proceeds to the decision in 150. If 110 is NO, proceed to 120 to determine whether the vehicle speed is within the speed range from S1 to S2. If the answer to 120 is yes, proceed to 121, reduce the volume of the constant output to R 1 percent, and proceed to the decision at 150. If 120 is no, proceed to 130 to determine if the vehicle speed is within the speed range from S2 to S3. If 130 is yes, proceed to 131, reduce the volume of the constant output to R2 percent, and proceed to decision 150. If 130 is no, proceed to the next decision. In this way, the process proceeds to decision 140, where the final decision on whether to decrease the volume of the in-car output is made. At decision 140, it is determined whether the vehicle speed is within the speed range Sn to S(n+1). If the answer in 140 is yes, the volume of the constant output is reduced to Rn percent in 141, and the process proceeds to the decision in 150. If 140 is no, then 142 reduces the volume of the in-cabin output to R(n+1) percent, and then proceeds to decision 150. Decision 150 determines if the vehicle is in operation. If 150 is no, then 151 stops the program. If 150 is yes, proceed to 160. In 160, it is determined whether or not the values ​​of R1 to R(n+1) need to be changed based on information such as whether the outside of the vehicle is in an accident-prone condition, such as rain or nighttime, or whether the condition has improved. In 160, if it is necessary to change the values ​​of R1 to R(n+1), the process proceeds to 161 by selecting "Yes" and changing the values ​​of R1 to R(n+1). This allows the driver to drive carefully, or conversely, returns R1 to R(n+1) to values ​​closer to their initial values. If 160 is "no", then proceed to 170. At 170, determine whether there is a request to reset the volume of the constant output. If 170 is "yes", then reset the initial volume of the constant output at 171 and return to determination 110. If 170 is "no", then return to determination 110. The above is the content of the flowchart. Here, in processes 121, 131, 141, and 142, R1, R2, Rn, R(n + 1), etc., which indicate the volume of the constant output, are using percentage values. Basically, the magnitude relationship among these is R1 > R2 > Rn > R(n + 1) > 0, and the intervals are not necessarily arithmetic progressions. Furthermore, the magnitude relationship of vehicle speeds S1, S2, ··· Sn, S(n + 1) is 0 < S1 < S2 < Sn < S(n + 1), and the intervals are not necessarily arithmetic progressions. By doing this, it becomes possible to increase or decrease the volume of the constant output corresponding to the speed range. Furthermore, in situations where accidents are likely to occur, such as night driving, rain, or road surface freezing, it is possible to change the volume of the constant output at determination 160. Therefore, depending on the situation, it is possible to make the output of the sound speedometer stand out by reducing the volume of this constant output. This sound speedometer is not limited to the embodiments described so far and can be a speedometer by sound according to other inventions. Note that the constant output in the explanations so far is, from the fact that process 103 in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is "selection of constant output and setting of initial volume", the constant output output inside the vehicle is the output under the control of this program. For this reason, the present invention outputs both the sound speedometer and the constant output inside the vehicle.

Industrial Applicability

[0036] It is used for the purpose of grasping the driving speed of the vehicle audibly instead of visually confirming it while driving the vehicle. This can be used not only for automobiles but also for vehicles such as trains.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0037] The numbers 101 to 171 are assigned to each process in the flowchart.

Claims

1. A sonic speedometer that divides the vehicle speed into a plurality of stepwise speed ranges and presents the speed to the driver by outputting a sound source or a musical piece corresponding to each speed range into the vehicle, A sound speed meter that outputs any or all of the sound sources or the set of music pieces to the inside of the vehicle in accordance with the speed of the vehicle, and also outputs separately to the inside of the vehicle a sound source or music piece whose volume decreases stepwise or continuously as the speed or the speed range increases.

2. A sonic speedometer that divides the vehicle speed into a plurality of stepwise speed ranges and presents the speed to the driver by outputting a sound source or a musical piece corresponding to each speed range into the vehicle, A program for realizing a sound speedometer that outputs any or all of the sound sources or the set of music pieces to the inside of the vehicle in accordance with the vehicle speed, and also outputs a sound source or music piece, etc., to the inside of the vehicle, the volume of which decreases stepwise or continuously as the speed or the speed range increases.

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