BEV Artificial Sound Control for Driver Condition Perception

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Solution Overview

Problem

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have low-level driving sounds, making it difficult for drivers to perceive the operating conditions of the vehicle through sound alone.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a vehicle management system that generates and outputs artificial sounds, such as a simulated engine sound, which changes in response to the operating conditions of the BEV, including the traveling conditions of surrounding vehicles. This system includes processors to recognize the traveling conditions of other vehicles and perform sound source changes or generate harmonic sounds to enhance the driving experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If artificial sound is generated to improve driver perception of operating conditions, then driver satisfaction is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver perception of operating conditionVSAvoidsound generation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a virtual engine sound that copies the acoustic characteristics of a conventional engine, allowing drivers to perceive operating conditions through familiar sound patterns without requiring actual mechanical engine components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical sound generation of conventional engines with an electronic sound synthesis system that uses processors to generate and output artificial sounds through speakers, substituting mechanical acoustic generation with electronic acoustic synthesis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If sound source changes and harmonic sounds are generated to reflect other vehicle conditions, then driver enjoyment is improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse to traveling conditionVSAvoidsound processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the artificial sound characteristics in real-time based on detected traveling conditions of other vehicles, changing sound sources and adding harmonic components adaptively rather than using fixed sound patterns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses detected traveling conditions of other vehicles as feedback to continuously adjust the artificial sound output, creating a closed-loop system where environmental information influences sound generation parameters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250196767A1Battery electric vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.06.19 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A battery electric vehicle includes one or more processors configured to generate artificial sounds that change responsive to the operating conditions of battery electric vehicle and to provide artificial sounds from speakers mounted on battery electric vehicle. The one or more processors further recognize a driving condition of the other vehicle traveling around battery electric vehicle, and execute at least one of the following first processing and second processing in response to the recognized driving condition of the other vehicle. The first process is a process of changing the sound source of the artificial sound. The second process is a process of generating a harmonic that harmonizes with the artificial sound, superimposing the harmonic on the artificial sound, and outputting the artificial sound from the speaker.