Active Sound Effect Generation Using Vehicle Speed and Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing active sound effect generating apparatuses struggle to produce natural sound effects in vehicles with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) and electric vehicles, as they rely on engine rotational frequency, which may not accurately follow accelerator pedal operation, leading to inappropriate sound effects.
Innovation Solution
An active sound effect generating apparatus that uses a waveform data table, vehicle speed detecting unit, frequency setting unit, and driving source load detecting unit to adjust sound effect amplitudes based on vehicle speed and driving source load, independent of engine rotational frequency, allowing for more natural sound effects in vehicles without traditional engines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the amplitude of sound effect is adjusted in accordance with engine rotational frequency and amount of change in rotational frequency, then the sound effect can be generated in traditional vehicles, but the sound effect does not follow accelerator pedal operation in vehicles with CVT, causing unnatural sound
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters used for sound effect generation from engine rotational frequency to vehicle speed and amount of change in vehicle speed. This allows the sound effect to accurately reflect vehicle behavior in CVT and electric vehicles where engine rotational frequency does not follow accelerator pedal operation, thereby improving both sound naturalness and adaptability across different vehicle types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal sound effect generation system that works across multiple vehicle types (traditional vehicles with engines, CVT vehicles, and electric vehicles) by using vehicle speed as a common parameter that all vehicle types share, rather than relying on engine-specific parameters. This enables the same control method to be applied universally while maintaining natural sound effects in each vehicle type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If engine rotational frequency is used as the basis for sound effect generation, then the system works for traditional vehicles, but it cannot be applied to electric vehicles that do not have an engine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes engine rotational frequency with vehicle speed as the fundamental parameter for sound effect generation. Vehicle speed is a parameter that exists in all vehicle types including electric vehicles, enabling universal application. The sound effect accuracy is maintained by using the amount of change in vehicle speed to dynamically adjust the sound characteristics, reflecting the vehicle's actual motion state.
3Speed
If the sound effect amplitude is adjusted based on amount of change in rotational frequency, then the sound responds to engine behavior, but it does not respond appropriately to vehicle speed changes in CVT vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the response parameter from amount of change in rotational frequency to amount of change in vehicle speed. This ensures that the sound effect amplitude directly corresponds to actual vehicle speed changes rather than engine behavior, making the sound effect appropriate and natural in CVT vehicles where engine speed and vehicle speed are decoupled by the transmission system.
Data Source
AI summary
A control signal generating unit in an active sound effect generating apparatus adjusts the amplitude of a control signal by varying the amplitudes of reference signals in accordance with an amount of change in frequency and a load of a driving source.