Vehicle Sound Control for EV Acceleration Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles lack effective sound feedback to drivers about the operational state of their power source, making it difficult for drivers to perform appropriate accelerator operations based on travel situations due to minimal engine noise and motor operating noise being less noticeable.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle sound generation device that includes a sound control circuit and a travel situation estimation circuit, which set and adjust sound pressures across multiple frequencies to generate synthetic sounds that inform drivers about the vehicle's operational state, such as acceleration or deceleration rates, by using sensors for motor revolutions, torque, speed, and navigation data to estimate travel situations and adjust sound pressure maps accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If electric vehicles operate without traditional engine noise, then energy efficiency is improved, but driver awareness of operational state deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an acoustic intermediary system that generates synthetic sounds to mediate between the silent electric motor operation and the driver's need for operational feedback. The sound generation device creates artificial acoustic signals that represent motor state information, allowing drivers to perceive operational status without traditional engine noise, thus maintaining energy efficiency while restoring driver awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by generating sounds that correspond to motor revolutions and operational state. The sound control circuit adjusts frequency and intensity based on real-time motor data, creating a feedback loop where drivers receive continuous information about vehicle state through acoustic signals, enabling appropriate accelerator operations despite the absence of natural engine noise.
2Loss of information
If sound pressure is increased to improve driver awareness, then operational feedback is enhanced, but driver discomfort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting sound pressure levels, frequency spectra, and temporal characteristics of generated sounds. The sound control circuit modifies these parameters based on motor state, travel conditions, and driver behavior patterns, optimizing the balance between providing sufficient operational feedback and maintaining comfortable sound levels that do not cause driver discomfort or distraction.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle sound generation device includes a sound control circuit that sets a plurality of frequencies according to a number of motor revolutions and sound pressures to be applied to the plurality of frequencies and generates a synthetic sound signal representing a synthetic sound, and a travel situation estimation circuit that estimates a first travel situation in which the driver accelerates or decelerates a vehicle at a first rate and a second travel situation in which the driver accelerates or decelerates the vehicle at a second rate greater than the first rate, and the sound control circuit changes the magnitudes of the sound pressures to be applied to the plurality of frequencies based on whether the first travel situation, the second travel situation or neither the first travel situation and the second travel situation is estimated.