Road Vehicle Sound Generator for Acoustic Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern road vehicles with low-noise drive units, such as electric motors and hybrid engines, pose challenges for driver awareness and safety due to reduced acoustic feedback, making it difficult for drivers to determine the operating state of the engine, and also affect the perceptibility of the vehicle to other road users like pedestrians and cyclists.
Innovation Solution
Equipping road vehicles with a sound generator featuring an electroacoustic converter and emission pipe, connected to a generator control device that mimics engine noises based on the drive unit's operating state, enhancing acoustic feedback for the driver and improving the vehicle's sound emission into the environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If low-noise drive units (electric motors, hybrid engines) are used, then energy efficiency and environmental performance are improved, but driver awareness of operating state and vehicle perceptibility to other road users deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The sound generator creates artificial copies of internal combustion engine noises to replace the missing acoustic feedback from electric motors. The electroacoustic converter generates sound waves that mimic the characteristic operating noises of combustion engines, providing drivers with familiar acoustic cues about vehicle operating state without requiring actual engine combustion.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound generator acts as an intermediary between the drive unit control device and the driver's perception system. It translates electronic control signals into acoustic signals that convey operating state information, serving as a mediator that bridges the gap between the silent electric motor operation and the driver's need for acoustic feedback.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If low-noise drive units are used, then environmental noise pollution is reduced, but safety for pedestrians and cyclists deteriorates due to reduced vehicle perceptibility
Solution Approach 1:
The sound generator is positioned at the front of the vehicle to create localized acoustic zones where sound waves are emitted into specific emission spaces. This allows the vehicle to generate targeted acoustic signals in areas where pedestrians and cyclists are most likely to be present, improving perceptibility without creating uniform noise pollution throughout the environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The sound generator operates periodically based on the drive unit's operating state, generating acoustic signals during specific phases of vehicle operation. The generator control device activates the electroacoustic converter when the drive unit operates in low-noise modes, creating periodic acoustic cues that alert road users without maintaining constant noise emission.
3Loss of information
If sound generators with electroacoustic converters are added, then acoustic feedback for driver awareness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sound generator system serves multiple functions: it provides acoustic feedback to the driver, enhances vehicle perceptibility to external road users, and can simulate different operating modes. The electroacoustic converter and emission pipe structure are designed to fulfill these diverse acoustic requirements through a single integrated system, reducing the need for separate components for each function.
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
The solution provides reliable acoustic feedback to the driver and improves the vehicle's perceptibility, enhancing safety and user acceptance by generating engine-like noises that are louder and more recognizable, regardless of the drive unit's type or operating state.
Implementation Method 1
The sound generator (4) has an electroacoustic converter (10) and is arranged on or in the vehicle (1)
Data Source
AI summary
A road vehicle (1) has a drive unit (2) for driving the vehicle (1), a drive unit control device (3) for driving the drive unit (2) and at least one sound generator (4), which has at least one electroacoustic converter (10). The sound generator (4) has an emission pipe (16), which connects the sound generator (4) acoustically and fluidically directly with an emission chamber (17). The an emission chamber (17) emits the sound generated by the converter (10) during the operation of the sound generator (4). Increased reliability of operation is achieved if a generator control device (26) is coupled with the drive unit control device (3) for driving the converter (10) and the generator control device (26) drives the converter (4) as a function of the current operating state of the drive unit (2).