VEHICLE APPROACH NOTIFICATION APPARATUS

• US 20160229340A1
• Filed: 09/09/2014
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anden Company Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Anden Company Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: SAKAKIBARA, Hiroshi, TAJIMI, Hironari
• Granted Patent: US 9,580,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/008 for signaling silent vehicles, e.g. for warning that a hybrid or electric vehicle is approaching

Abstract

A vehicle approach notification apparatus includes a first sounding signal generation portion that generates a first sounding signal based on a first sound source data; a second sounding signal generation portion that generates a second sounding signal based on a second sound source data; and a combination portion that combines the first sounding signal with the second sounding signal to generate a notice sound signal. The first sounding signal generation portion changes a frequency and an output level of the first sounding signal depending on a speed of the vehicle. The second sounding signal generation portion changes an output level of the second sounding signal depending on the speed of the vehicle while holding a frequency of the second sounding signal to be constant.

Claims

1. A vehicle approach notification apparatus including a notice sound generation device that generates a notice sound signal corresponding to a notice sound that is to be outputted via a speaker,

the notice sound generation device comprising:

a first sounding signal generation portion that generates a first sounding signal based on a first sound source data;

a second sounding signal generation portion that generates a second sounding signal based on a second sound source data; and

a combination portion that combines the first sounding signal with the second sounding signal, generating the notice sound signal,

wherein;

the first sounding signal generation portion changes a frequency and an output level of the first sounding signal depending on a speed of a vehicle; and

the second sounding signal generation portion changes an output level of the second sounding signal depending on the speed of the vehicle while holding a frequency of the second sounding signal to be constant.

2. A vehicle approach notification apparatus mounted to a vehicle, the apparatus permitting a speaker to output a notice sound according to a notice sound signal,

the apparatus comprising:

a vehicle speed determination portion that determines a vehicle speed of the vehicle;

a storage unit that stores a first sound source data and a second sound source data;

a control unit that generates a first sounding signal based on the first sound source data and a second sounding signal based on the second sound source data, the control unit including

a first sounding signal generation portion that changes a frequency and an output level of the first sounding signal depending on a change of the vehicle speed, and

a second sounding signal generation portion that changes an output level of the second sounding signal depending on the change of the vehicle speed while maintaining a frequency of the second sounding signal to be constant;

a combination portion that combines the first sounding signal outputted from the first sounding signal generation portion with the second sounding signal outputted from the second sounding signal generation portion, generating the notice sound signal; and

an amplifier that amplifies the notice sound signal generated by the combination portion to provide an amplified output and applies an electric current corresponding to the amplified output to the speaker.

3. The vehicle approach notification apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the first sounding signal generation portion shifts the frequency of the first sounding signal to a higher frequency and increases the output level of the first sounding signal as the vehicle speed increases; and

the second sounding signal generation portion changes the output level of the second sounding signal as the vehicle speed increases while holding the frequency of the second sounding signal to be constant.

4. The vehicle approach notification apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

a peak value of the output level of the first sounding signal is higher than a peak value of the output level of the second sounding signal.

5. The vehicle approach notification apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

a peak value of the output level of the first sounding signal and a peak value of the output level of the second sounding signal are located separately in mutually different frequency bands.

6. The vehicle approach notification apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

a peak value of the output level of the first sounding signal is located in a frequency band lower in frequency than a frequency band where a peak value of an output level of the second sounding signal is located.

7. The vehicle approach notification apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

a peak value of the output level of the first sounding signal is included in a frequency band where an output sound pressure increases with increasing frequency in a characteristic of the speaker.

8. The vehicle approach notification apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

a peak value of the output level of the first sounding signal is included in a frequency band ranging from 125 to 315 Hertz.

9. The vehicle approach notification apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

a peak value of the output level of the first sounding signal is included in a frequency band ranging from 1200 to 2000 Hertz.