Vehicle Audio Control Module for Deceleration Sound Replication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle audio systems fail to replicate the natural sounds of internal combustion engines during deceleration events, leading to a diminished user experience due to the absence of expected engine sounds, especially in hybrid electric powertrains where fuel cutoff and altered spark timing can result in a lack of typical engine noises.
Innovation Solution
An audio control module in the vehicle generates sounds within the cabin using a randomization function, such as a Chaos function, to replicate the natural pop and burble sounds of the engine during deceleration by controlling the output of speakers based on vehicle speed, acceleration, fueling conditions, and spark timing, ensuring an expected auditory experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If fuel cutoff and altered spark timing are applied during deceleration to improve fuel efficiency, then energy consumption is reduced, but the natural engine sounds are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates artificial copies of natural engine sounds using speakers and audio processing. The audio control module generates synthetic pop and burble sounds that replicate the acoustic characteristics of actual engine deceleration events, allowing the vehicle to maintain fuel efficiency while preserving the expected auditory experience for the driver.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio control module acts as an intermediary between the engine's mechanical sound production and the driver's auditory perception. When the engine naturally produces sounds during deceleration, the system captures and processes these sounds through microphones and audio processing, then reproduces them through speakers to ensure the driver hears the expected engine noises even when fuel cutoff reduces natural sound production.
2Device complexity
If conventional audio systems are used without sound enhancement, then device complexity is low, but user experience is diminished due to absent engine sounds
Solution Approach 1:
The audio control module performs multiple functions: it processes audio signals from microphones, analyzes engine operating conditions, generates synthetic sounds, and controls speaker output. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be multiple separate systems into a single integrated unit, managing complexity while delivering enhanced user experience through sound replication and augmentation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If randomization functions are applied to sound output to replicate natural engine variability, then sound naturalness is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts sound output characteristics based on real-time engine operating conditions and randomization parameters. The audio control module varies sound intensity, timing, and frequency content to match the natural variability of engine sounds during different deceleration events, creating a more authentic auditory experience while adapting to changing vehicle conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
An audio system of a vehicle includes a mode module that sets a mode signal to a first mode when a vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed and a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle is less than a predetermined acceleration. The predetermined acceleration is less than zero and the predetermined speed is greater than zero. A sound control module, when the mode signal is in the first mode, selectively sets audio characteristics for a deceleration event of the vehicle based on randomization parameters. An audio driver module, based on the audio characteristics, applies power to speakers to output sound within a passenger cabin of the vehicle.