Audible feedback of machine load

• US 20070147626A1
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Casey, Kent A., Thomson, Norval P., Smith, Vernon R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,300,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/61
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 39/00 Rotary fluid gearing using pumps and motors of the volumetric type, i.e. passing a predetermined volume of fluid per revolution control of exclusively fluid gearing F16H61/38
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/02 Synthesis of acoustic waves synthesis of speech G10L13/00

Abstract

A sensor is provided in a machine having a continuously variable transmission, for example, and the amount of force exerted by the machine against a load is sensed. Based on the sensed power, an appropriate audio signal is generated which simulates the sounds an operator would expect to hear when such force is applied with a machine having a conventional geared transmission. The sounds can include engine noises, as well as sounds associated with the flow of oil or other hydraulic fluids. In addition, the sounds can be generated from digitally pre-recorded audible data, or can be output based on calculated audible data. User controls are also provided to adjust the volume and frequency or pitch of the generated sounds.

Claims

1. A system for outputting an audible signal simulating a mechanical noise, the audible signal corresponding to an output force generated by a machine against a load, the system comprising:

a processor circuit configured to receive an input signal and output audible signal data based on the input signal, the input signal being associated with the output force; and

an audio output circuit coupled to the processor circuit, the audio output circuit being configured to generate the audible signal in response to the audible signal data.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, further including a memory configured to store the audible signal data, the processor circuit being configured to retrieve the audible signal data from the memory based on the output force.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the processor circuit is configured to calculate the audible signal data based on the output force.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the audio output circuit includes:

a synthesizer circuit coupled to the processor circuit, the synthesizer circuit being configured to receive the audible signal data and output an analog signal in response thereto; and

a speaker circuit coupled to the synthesizer circuit, the speaker circuit being configured to receive the analog signal and generate the audible signal in accordance with the analog signal.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1, further including a vibration generator circuit coupled to the processor circuit, the vibration generator circuit being configured to generate vibrations in the machine in response to the audible signal data.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1, further including a sense circuit coupled to the processor circuit, the sense circuit being configured to sense a parameter associated with the output force and supply the input signal to the processor circuit in response to the sensed parameter.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the sense circuit includes a pressure sensor and the sensed parameter is a pressure of a hydraulic fluid, the pressure being associated with the output force.

8. A system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the sense circuit includes a current sensor and the sensed parameter is an electrical current associated with the output force.

9. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the input signal corresponds to a user control signal supplied to the machine for controlling the output force.

10. A system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the audio output circuit includes:

an audio control circuit coupled to the synthesizer circuit, the audio control circuit including a volume control circuit configured to adjust a volume associated with the audible signal; and

a frequency control circuit configured to adjust a pitch associated with the audible signal.

11. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the audible signal is a first audible signal and the input signal is a first input signal, the processor circuit being configured to receive a second input signal associated with a second audible signal and incorporate interference data into the audible signal data, the audio output circuit being configured to generate the audible signal with a component signal in response to the audible signal data incorporating the interference data, the component signal interfering with the second audible signal.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11, further including a microphone configured to sense the second audible signal and supply the second input signal to the processor circuit.

13. A system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the parameter is selected from the group including an amount of the load, vehicle speed, engine speed, relative speed, torque output by the machine, and engine speed.

14. A method for outputting an audible signal simulating a mechanical noise, the audible signal corresponding to output force generated by a machine against a load, the method comprising:

receiving an input signal associated with the output force;

generating audible signal data based on the input signal; and

generating the audible signal in response to the audible signal data.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14, further including:

determining a value of the output force based on the input signal; and

retrieving the audible signal data from a memory, the audible signal data corresponding to the value of the amount of the output force.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14, further including:

determining a value of the output force based on the input signal; and

calculating the audible signal data based on the value of the output force.

17. A method in accordance with claim 14, further including generating vibrations in the machine in response to the audible signal data.

18. A method in accordance with claim 14, further including:

sensing a parameter associated with the output force;

generating the input signal in response to the sensed parameter.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the sensed parameter is a pressure of a hydraulic fluid.

20. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the sensed parameter is an electrical current.

21. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the receiving the input signal includes receiving a user control signal as the input signal, the user control signal for controlling the output force.

22. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the audible signal is a first audible signal and the input signal is a first input signal, the method further including:

receiving a second input signal associated with a second audible signal;

incorporating interference data into the audible signal data;

generating a component signal based on the interference data; and

incorporating a component signal into the audible signal, the component signal interfering with the second audible signal.

23. A machine configured to operate on a load, the machine comprising:

a power source;

a transmission coupled to the power source;

an implement coupled to the transmission and the load, the transmission being configured to deliver an output force to the implement and against the load;

a processor circuit configured to receive an input signal and generate audible signal data based on the input signal, the input signal being associated with the output force; and

an audio output circuit coupled to the processor circuit, the audio output circuit being configured to generate the audible signal in response to the audible signal data, the audible signal simulating a mechanical noise.

24. A machine in accordance with claim 23, wherein the power source includes an internal combustion engine.

25. A machine in accordance with claim 23, wherein the power source includes a fuel cell.

26. A machine in accordance with claim 23, wherein the power source includes an electric drive motor.

27. A machine in accordance with claim 23, wherein the transmission includes:

a hydraulic pump outputting a hydraulic fluid and being coupled to the power source;

a hydraulic motor configured to receive the hydraulic fluid, the hydraulic motor being coupled to the implement; and

a pressure sensor circuit coupled to the hydraulic pump, the pressure sensor circuit being configured to sense a pressure of the hydraulic fluid output from the hydraulic pump and supply the input signal to the processor circuit in response to the sensed pressure.

28. A machine in accordance with claim 23, wherein the transmission includes:

a hydraulic pump outputting a fluid and being coupled to the power source;

a valve configured to receive the fluid and output the fluid to a hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder being coupled to the implement; and

a pressure sensor circuit coupled to the valve, the pressure sensor circuit being configured to sense a pressure of the fluid output from the valve and supply the input signal to the processor circuit in response to the sensed pressure.

29. A machine in accordance with claim 23, wherein the transmission includes:

a generator coupled to the power source;

an electric motor coupled to the generator and to the implement; and

a current sensor circuit coupled to the generator and the electric motor, the current sensor circuit sensing a current output from the generator to the electric motor, the current sensor circuit supplying the input signal to the processor circuit in response to sensed current.

30. A machine in accordance with claim 23, further comprising a user interface circuit, wherein the transmission includes:

a generator coupled to the power source;

an electric motor coupled to the generator and to the implement,

wherein the user interface circuit supplies a control signal for regulating the electric motor, the control signal being supplied to the processor circuit as the input signal.

31. A machine in accordance with claim 23, wherein the transmission is a continuously variable transmission.

32. A system outputting an audible signal simulating a mechanical noise, the system comprising:

a machine having a transmitter circuit, the transmitter circuit transmitting a signal carrying information related to a force output from the machine to manipulate a load;

a receiver circuit remote from the machine, the receiver circuit being configured to receive the signal and output the information;

a processor circuit coupled to the receiver circuit, the processor circuit being configured to output audible signal data based on the information; and

an audio output circuit coupled to the processor circuit, the audio output circuit being configured to generate the audible signal in response to the audible signal data.