AURAL SMOOTHING OF A VEHICLE

• US 20120078465A1
• Filed: 09/29/2010
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Reilly, Scott M., Bohn, Timothy R., Hartleip, Larry G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,218,801 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/175 using interference effects; Masking sound
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17821 characterised by the analysis of the input signals only
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/1783 handling or detecting of non-standard events or conditions, e.g. changing operating modes under specific operating conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/17883 the reference signal being derived from a machine operating condition, e.g. engine RPM or vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1282 Automobiles
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3033 Information contained in memory, e.g. stored signals or transfer functions
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/51 Improving tonal quality, e.g. mimicking sports cars

Abstract

A method of controlling sounds associated with a vehicle is provided. The method includes performing on a processor, monitoring powertrain data; determining a powertrain transition event based on the powertrain data; and selectively controlling the generation of one or more tones based on the powertrain transition event.

Claims

1. A method of controlling sounds associated with a vehicle, comprising:

performing on a processor,

monitoring powertrain data;

determining a powertrain transition event based on the powertrain data; and

selectively controlling the generation of one or more tones based on the powertrain transition event.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the generation of the one or more tones is within the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the generation of the one or more tones is outside of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the powertrain transition event includes at least one of a deactivation event and an activation event of one or more engine cylinders.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the powertrain transition event includes at least one of a start event and a stop event of an electric motor.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the powertrain transition event includes at least one of a start event and a stop event of an engine.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining the powertrain transition event comprises determining at least one of a transition type and a transition stage based on the powertrain data and wherein the controlling the generation of the one or more tones is based on the at least one of the transition type and the transition stage.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the transition stage includes at least one of entering the transition, transitioning, exiting the transition, and transition complete.

9. A system, comprising:

a transition determination module that monitors powertrain data and that determines a powertrain transition event based on the powertrain data; and

a tone manager module that selects one or more tones based on the powertrain transition event.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a speaker manager module that selectively controls one or more speakers based on the selected one or more tones.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the transition determination module determines a transition type and a transition stage based on the powertrain transition event.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the transition stage includes at least one of entering the transition, transitioning, exiting the transition, and transition complete.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the transition type includes at least one of an activation event and a deactivation event of one or more engine cylinders.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the transition type includes at least one of a start event and a stop event of a motor.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the transition type includes at least one of a start event and a stop event of an engine.

16. A vehicle, comprising:

a powertrain;

a control module that selectively controls one or more components of the powertrain and that generates powertrain data; and

an aural smoothing system that monitors the powertrain data, that determines a powertrain transition event based on the powertrain data, and that selectively determines one or more tones based on the powertrain transition event.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the aural smoothing system selectively controls the generation of the one or more tones by communicating with an infotainment system.

18. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the powertrain includes an engine system.

19. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the powertrain includes a hybrid system.

20. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the powertrain includes an electric system.