Virtual Engine Sound Control Using Speaker Current Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual engine sound control systems in eco-friendly vehicles face challenges in minimizing sound heterogeneity and increasing costs due to CAN communication and diagnostic algorithms, leading to inefficiencies in engine sound output.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that utilize sensors to monitor current values from sound output devices, determining operating states based on measured currents, identifying failures or errors, and adjusting outputs to maintain sound consistency, thereby reducing costs and heterogeneity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple control devices are used to generate virtual engine sound, then sound output capability is improved, but sense of heterogeneity increases due to timing problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple control devices into a unified control system where a single controller coordinates all sound output devices. This integration eliminates timing synchronization issues between separate control devices while maintaining enhanced sound output capability through the combined operation of multiple speakers or sound output modules under centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring current values from each sound output device and adjusting their operation accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that all sound output devices operate in synchronization, maintaining sound consistency while utilizing multiple devices for enhanced output capability.
2Reliability
If CAN communication and diagnostic algorithms are implemented, then device state monitoring is improved, but cost and CAN bus load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sound output devices perform self-diagnosis by internally monitoring their own current consumption and comparing it against expected values. Each device independently identifies its own abnormal states and communicates only the essential status information to the controller, eliminating the need for complex CAN-based diagnostic algorithms while maintaining reliable device state monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the diagnostic function from the centralized controller and implements it locally within each sound output device. This distribution of diagnostic capabilities eliminates the need for complex CAN communication protocols and diagnostic algorithms in the controller, reducing both cost and bus load while maintaining comprehensive device state monitoring through simplified status reporting.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for controlling a virtual engine sound includes a sensor for sensing a state of a vehicle, one or more sound output devices for outputting a virtual engine sound corresponding to the state of the vehicle, and a controller that measures a plurality of currents respectively output from the one or more sound output devices, and determines operating states of the one or more sound output devices based on the measured plurality of current values.