Virtual Engine Sound Generation With Simulated Gear Shifts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles struggle to replicate the driving sound of internal combustion engines, particularly during gear shifting, leading to reduced driver immersion and satisfaction due to the absence of periodic RPM changes.
Innovation Solution
A virtual engine sound generation system that calculates a virtual gear stage and RPM signal based on vehicle speed and APS information to generate a virtual engine sound, incorporating a sensation of gear shifting, using conventional active sound design (ASD) to enhance driver experience while reducing system construction costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If electric vehicles use conventional ASD with motor torque signal, then the system construction cost is reduced, but the gear shifting sensation and driver immersion are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual RPM signal that copies the characteristic periodic changes of internal combustion engine RPM during gear shifting. By synthesizing this virtual signal based on vehicle speed and accelerator pedal position, the system replicates the auditory signature of gear shifting without requiring actual engine RPM data, thus maintaining cost-effectiveness while achieving the desired gear shifting sensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual RPM signal as an intermediary element that mediates between the motor torque signal and the final engine sound output. This virtual signal acts as a bridge, translating the smooth motor torque variations into the periodic RPM-like pattern characteristic of internal combustion engines, thereby enabling gear shifting sensation without direct mechanical connection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electric vehicles replicate internal combustion engine sounds, then driver immersion is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing ASD system multi-functional by enabling it to generate both authentic motor sounds and virtual engine sounds with gear shifting effects. The same sound output unit and processing chain are used for both conventional ASD and the new virtual engine sound generation, eliminating the need for separate hardware systems and reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical RPM sensing system with an electronic virtual signal generation system. Instead of using physical sensors to detect actual engine RPM, the system uses software-based calculations from vehicle speed and accelerator pedal position to generate the virtual RPM signal, thereby reducing mechanical complexity while achieving the desired auditory effect.
3Ease of operation
If electric vehicles use motor torque signal for sound generation, then the system operation is simplified, but the periodic RPM changes during gear shifting are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the parameter representation of engine sound by changing from direct motor torque signal to a derived virtual RPM signal. This parameter transformation preserves the operational simplicity of using electronic signals while recovering the lost periodic information by synthesizing RPM-like variations from vehicle speed and accelerator pedal position data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the virtual RPM signal is continuously updated based on real-time vehicle speed and accelerator pedal position measurements. This feedback loop ensures that the virtual signal accurately reflects the current driving state and generates appropriate periodic variations during gear shifting events, thereby recovering the lost RPM information.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a virtual engine sound generation system and a virtual engine sound generation method using the same, and more particularly, a virtual engine sound generation system and a virtual engine sound generation method using the same capable of providing a virtual engine sound to which a sensation of gear shifting is added by calculating a virtual gear stage and a virtual RPM signal through a current vehicle speed and current APS information and generating a virtual engine sound based on the virtual gear stage and the virtual RPM signal.