In-Car Danger Sound Relay for High-Insulation Cabins

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Solution Overview

Problem

In general automobiles, high sound insulation can make it difficult for drivers to hear essential outside sounds, such as danger signals, due to age-related hearing decline or audio equipment usage.

Innovation Solution

A sound collection and emission apparatus that collects outside acoustic signals, determines if they represent a danger, and selectively emits an inside acoustic signal to the driver, thereby improving audibility of critical outside sounds without amplifying unnecessary noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If high sound insulation is provided in the automobile, then passenger comfort is improved by reducing unnecessary noises, but the driver's ability to apprehend outside danger sounds is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunnecessary outside noisesVSAvoiddriver's ability to apprehend danger

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the dangerous sound components from the outside acoustic environment and transmits them selectively to the driver, while blocking other unnecessary noises through the sound insulation structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The sound transmission apparatus acts as an intermediary between the outside acoustic environment and the driver, intelligently selecting and transmitting only dangerous sounds while blocking other noises

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If sound insulation is enhanced to create a comfortable in-automobile space, then unnecessary outside sounds are reduced, but essential danger sounds become harder to detect

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvein-automobile comfortVSAvoiddetection of outside danger sounds

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The sound transmission system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on real-time acoustic analysis, switching between blocking and transmitting modes according to the nature of the outside sound

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the transmission parameter (sound transmission level) based on the characteristics of the outside sound, transmitting dangerous sounds while blocking other noises

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the driver uses audio equipment or radio inside the automobile, then entertainment or information needs are met, but the ability to hear outside danger sounds is further reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvein-automobile audio functionalityVSAvoiddanger sound perception

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback to the driver about dangerous outside sounds through the audio equipment or separate output, allowing continued use of entertainment systems while maintaining safety awareness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12289583B2Sound collection and emission apparatus, sound collection and emission method, and program

Publication Date: 2025.04.29 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP

AI summary

Audibility of an outside sound needed for a driver inside an automobile to apprehend a danger and obtain a grasp of a situation necessary for driving is improved. A sound collection and emission apparatus (10) emits, on the basis of an outside acoustic signal which emanates from a sound source outside an automobile (90) and arrives at the automobile (90), an inside acoustic signal which is an acoustic signal derived from the outside acoustic signal to inside the automobile (90). A sound collection unit (M1) collects the outside acoustic signal. A sound emission unit (S1) emits the inside acoustic signal. A danger sound detection unit (11) determines whether the outside acoustic signal has a feature representing a danger defined in advance. A control unit (12) performs control that emits the inside acoustic signal from the sound emission unit (S1) such that a driver of the automobile (90) is capable of perceiving the danger if the outside acoustic signal is determined to represent the danger.