Vehicle Sound Enhancing System With Adjustable Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sound enhancement systems for vehicles fail to provide adjustable and authentic engine sound experiences, as they often do not transmit sounds from turbochargers and can be intrusive, lacking user preference options and authenticity in performance vehicle experiences.
Innovation Solution
A sound enhancing system that adjusts valves to route engine sounds from various engine regions to a vehicle cabin based on operator-selected modes, using a sound tube with adjustable valves, a diaphragm, and a tuning cavity to modify and enhance sound frequencies, while compensating for air flow to maintain engine performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If engine sounds are enhanced and transmitted to the vehicle cabin, then driver perception of vehicle response and power output is improved, but passenger comfort deteriorates due to obtrusive noises disrupting conversations
Solution Approach 1:
The system routes different engine sounds to different destinations: desirable engine frequencies are directed to the vehicle cabin through the sound tube to enhance driver perception, while obtrusive noises are directed away from the cabin through separate pathways (intake/exhaust manifolds), allowing selective delivery of sound qualities to different locations
Solution Approach 2:
The sound enhancement system is divided into multiple independent pathways: a sound tube pathway for delivering desirable engine sounds to the cabin, and separate intake/exhaust manifold pathways for routing obtrusive noises away from the cabin, enabling selective sound management
2Loss of information
If sound enhancement system is coupled to intake and/or exhaust manifold, then engine sounds are transmitted to vehicle cabin, but sounds produced by turbocharger are not transmitted, reducing authenticity of performance vehicle experience
Solution Approach 1:
The sound enhancement system is designed to accept and process sounds from multiple engine sources including the turbocharger, intake manifold, and exhaust manifold through a unified sound tube pathway, enabling the system to deliver comprehensive engine sound coverage that captures the authentic performance vehicle experience
3Loss of information
If air is routed from engine region to sound tube, then engine sound is enhanced in vehicle cabin, but engine performance deteriorates due to reduced air flow to engine
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the sound tube as an intermediary pathway that extracts sound energy from the engine regions without significantly diverting the main air flow required for engine performance, allowing sound enhancement while maintaining engine function through separate sound and air flow pathways
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables customizable and authentic engine sound experiences, allowing drivers to choose from different modes that enhance specific engine sounds, maintaining engine performance by adjusting throttle openings and air flow compensation.
Implementation Method 1
As one example, a sound enhancing device may provide a pathway for sound waves to flow from at least one of an intake passage, a charge air passage, a compressor recirculation path, and an exhaust passage to a vehicle cabin
Implementation Method 2
using a sound tube with adjustable valves, a diaphragm, and a tuning cavity to modify and enhance sound frequencies
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for enhancing and delivering engine sounds to a vehicle cabin based on a selected mode. In one example, a method may include adjusting openings of one or more valves fluidically coupling one or more corresponding engine regions to a sound tube of a sound enhancing system based on the selected mode. Throttle opening may also be adjusted to compensate for air routed from the engine regions to the sound tube instead of flowing to the engine cylinders.