Virtual Engine Sound Generation for Realistic EV Gear Shift Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric vehicles lack a realistic engine sound due to the absence of an internal combustion engine, affecting driver enjoyment and safety, and existing solutions struggle to simulate engine rotation speed accurately, especially during automatic gear shifting.

Innovation Solution

A sound signal generation device that acquires accelerator operation and vehicle speed data, calculates virtual engine rotation speed, and generates an artificial engine sound linked to the vehicle's running state, using a virtual engine model to simulate realistic engine sounds even in electric vehicles without a conventional engine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a digital circuit synthesizes engine sound in electric vehicles, then driver enjoyment and safety are improved, but accurate simulation of engine rotation speed and gear shifting becomes difficult due to lack of actual engine data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver enjoymentVSAvoidengine rotation speed simulation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual engine model that copies the essential characteristics and behavior of a real internal combustion engine. This virtual model generates simulated rotation speed data based on vehicle running speed and accelerator opening, enabling realistic engine sound synthesis without requiring an actual physical engine. The virtual model replicates the dynamic response of engine rotation speed to accelerator operations and gear shifting events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a virtual engine rotation speed calculation unit as an intermediary between the vehicle's actual running state (speed and accelerator opening) and the sound synthesis process. This intermediary component translates actual vehicle parameters into simulated engine rotation speed data, bridging the gap between electric vehicle operation and traditional engine sound characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If engine sound is synthesized based on vehicle speed alone, then processing is simplified, but the sound does not accurately respond to accelerator operations and gear shifting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing complexityVSAvoidsound response accuracy to accelerator operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic calculation model where virtual engine rotation speed is continuously updated based on changing vehicle conditions. The system calculates rotation speed by combining vehicle running speed with accelerator opening degree, and dynamically adjusts for gear shifting events. This dynamic approach ensures the synthesized sound accurately reflects real-time engine behavior during acceleration, deceleration, and gear transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If actual engine data is used in hybrid vehicles, then realistic engine sound can be generated, but the engine does not always operate in conjunction with running, making data unavailable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine sound realismVSAvoidengine rotation speed data availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual engine model is self-sufficient and does not depend on actual engine operation to generate rotation speed data. It autonomously calculates simulated rotation speed based on vehicle running speed and accelerator opening, ensuring continuous availability of engine data regardless of whether the physical engine is operating. This self-service capability eliminates data availability issues in hybrid and electric vehicles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11884209B2Sound signal generation device, sound signal generation method, and sound signal generation program

Publication Date: 2024.01.30 SOUND DESIGN LAB LLC

AI summary

To provide a sound signal generation device capable of artificially generating an engine sound signal indicating a realistic engine sound linked to running of an electric vehicle even when, for example, an engine is not mounted at all. A virtual engine rotation speed generation unit that acquires accelerator opening data indicating an accelerator operation amount in the electric vehicle and running speed data indicating a vehicle running speed of the electric vehicle, calculates a virtual running speed of a virtual engine vehicle, modifies the virtual running speed on the basis of the running speed data, and calculates an engine rotation speed of a virtual engine on the basis of the modified virtual running speed, and an artificial engine sound generation unit that generates a sound signal for outputting an artificial engine sound corresponding to a running state of the electric vehicle on the basis of the accelerator operation amount.