Synchronized Vehicle Notification Sound Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle notification sound emitting apparatuses fail to synchronize intermittent notification sounds emitted inside and outside the vehicle, leading to driver annoyance and reduced recognition of other important sounds, such as obstacle distance or seatbelt notifications, due to unsynchronized reverse range selection and movement notification sounds.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus comprising a first sound emitting device for the cabin interior, a second sound emitting device for the exterior, and a notification sound control device that synchronizes these sounds to ensure simultaneous and overlapping emission patterns for conveying the same type of vehicle information, thereby extending silent periods and improving sound recognition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If intermittent notification sounds are emitted simultaneously inside and outside the vehicle without synchronization, then both interior and exterior notifications are provided, but driver annoyance increases and recognition of other important sounds is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification deliveryVSAvoiddriver annoyance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control of interior and exterior notification sounds into a single synchronized system. The notification sound control device coordinates both sound emitting devices to operate according to a unified timing pattern, ensuring they emit sounds simultaneously and stop together, thereby eliminating the harmful effect of unsynchronized sounds on driver annoyance while maintaining reliable notification delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic intermittent notification sounds with synchronized timing for both interior and exterior devices. The sounds are emitted in periodic intervals rather than continuously, allowing silent periods that reduce driver annoyance while still providing reliable notifications. The periodic action includes both emission and silent phases that are synchronized between interior and exterior devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If intermittent notification sounds are emitted without synchronized timing, then notification coverage is provided, but silent periods are reduced and recognition of other sounds is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification coverageVSAvoidsilent period duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic intermittent notification sounds with synchronized timing that create adequate silent periods between emission cycles. This periodic action ensures that while notification coverage is maintained through regular emission intervals, sufficient silent time is provided for drivers to recognize other important sounds without continuous noise interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

By merging the timing control of interior and exterior notification sounds, the patent ensures that both devices emit and remain silent simultaneously. This synchronization maximizes the utilization of silent periods, allowing drivers to recognize other sounds during these unified silent intervals while maintaining comprehensive notification coverage through coordinated emission phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of information

If reverse range selection notification sound and reverse movement notification sound are emitted simultaneously without synchronization control, then both information types are conveyed, but sound timing coordination is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle information conveyanceVSAvoidsound timing control

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control of reverse range selection notification and reverse movement notification into a single synchronized timing system. The notification sound control device coordinates both types of information conveyance to occur simultaneously with proper timing, ensuring that both vehicle information types are effectively communicated while maintaining manageable control through unified synchronization rather than separate complex timing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2534004B1Vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus

Publication Date: 2019.09.04 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD

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AI summary

A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus is basically provided with a first sound emitting device (11), a second sound emitting device (1) and a notification sound control device (12). The first sound emitting device (11) emits a first intermittent notification sound inside a cabin interior of a vehicle. The second sound emitting device (1) emits a second intermittent notification sound outside of the cabin interior of the vehicle. The notification sound control device (12) operates the first and second sound emitting devices (11, 1) to separately emit the first and second intermittent notification sounds in at least a partially overlapping pattern in response to occurrence of a vehicle condition to convey a same type of vehicle information to both inside and outside of the cabin interior of the vehicle. The notification sound control device (12) includes a cabin interior-exterior notification sound synchronizing section (step S43) that is configured to synchronize the first and second intermittent notification sounds.