Vehicle Sound Output Control via Variable Blowing Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sound output systems for vehicles face a trade-off between providing timely and reliable information, where the interval between muting other sounds and outputting an alarm sound can lead to delayed information delivery, potentially missing urgent alerts.
Innovation Solution
A sound output control system that adjusts the start timing and mute period of the blowing sound based on the importance of the information, allowing for earlier or later initiation of the blowing sound to minimize delays or ensure timely delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the interval between muting and alarm sound output is lengthened to ensure reliable information provision, then the driver can notice the alarm sound more reliably, but the information provision is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the start timing of the blowing sound variable rather than fixed. The control device adjusts the start timing dynamically based on the importance level of the alarm sound, allowing the system to adapt between reliability and speed requirements for different types of information
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing parameter of the blowing sound output based on the importance of information. By adjusting the start timing parameter according to information importance levels, the system resolves the contradiction between providing reliable information and minimizing delay
2Loss of time
If the mute period is shortened to reduce information delay, then the provision of information is faster, but urgent information may be missed during the mute period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by outputting the blowing sound before the alarm sound when the information is important. This preliminary blowing sound ensures that urgent information is not missed during the mute period, while still maintaining relatively short overall timing
3Reliability
If the start timing of the blowing sound is advanced to minimize missing urgent information, then urgent information is provided promptly, but the mute period must be extended which delays less urgent information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by treating different alarm sounds according to their importance levels. Important alarm sounds receive advanced start timing and preliminary blowing sound treatment, while less important sounds use standard timing, allowing differentiated quality of service for different information types
Data Source
AI summary
A controller executes output state control in which an output status of a sound signal outputted from a sound source device and that of a blowing sound outputted from a sounding device are controlled based on driving environment information. In the output state control, it is judged whether or not an output condition of the blowing sound is satisfied based on the driving environment information. If it is judged that the output condition is satisfied, a mute signal is outputted to a sound source device to mute the output of the sound signal and also a blowing signal including mute information is outputted to the sounding device. The mute information includes information on a start timing to output the blowing sound. The start timing is variably set in accordance with an importance of the information provided to an occupant of the vehicle.