REGURATING SOUND GENERATING SYSTEM FOR ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY VEHICLE AND A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SYSTEM

• US 20170001558A1
• Filed: 06/29/2016
• Published: 01/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LS Automotive Technologies., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Daesung Electric Company Limited (LS Corporation)
• Inventors: KWON, Dae Woo
• Granted Patent: US 9,643,537 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
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/04 Sound-producing devices G10K15/02 takes precedence

Abstract

An environmentally-friendly vehicle sound generator control apparatus. The apparatus includes a sound playback unit including a sound comparison unit for comparing a frequency band-specific reference sound level data with an extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data for each frequency band in response to a comparison control signal of a control unit, a sound control unit for controlling a pitch or a volume of a plurality of frequency band-specific sample sound source data to form a plurality of frequency band-specific sample control sound source data if the extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data is smaller than the frequency band-specific reference sound level data, and a sound mixing unit for mixing the plurality of frequency band-specific sample control sound source data and transferring the mixed plurality of frequency band-specific sample control sound source data to the sound output unit so that a pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound can be outputted.

Claims

1. An environmentally-friendly vehicle sound generator control apparatus comprising:

a storage unit including a sound source storage unit for storing a plurality of frequency band-specific sample sound source data of a real single engine sound of an internal combustion engine vehicle, and a reference data storage unit for storing frequency band-specific reference sound level data;

a sound output unit arranged in an environmentally-friendly vehicle to output a pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound;

a sound sensing unit arranged to be spaced apart from the sound output unit to sense the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound output from the sound output unit;

a sound source sound extraction unit for extracting and dividing the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound sensed by the sound sensing unit for each of a plurality of frequency bands;

a control unit for storing the frequency band-specific sound data of the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound extracted and divided by the sound source sound extraction unit in a sound storage unit of the storage unit; and

a sound playback unit including a sound comparison unit for comparing the frequency band-specific reference sound level data with the extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data for each frequency band in response to a comparison control signal of the control unit, a sound control unit for controlling the pitch or the volume of the plurality of frequency band-specific sample sound source data to form a plurality of frequency band-specific sample control sound source data if the extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data is smaller than the frequency band-specific reference sound level data, and a sound mixing unit for mixing the plurality of frequency band-specific sample control sound source data and transferring the mixed plurality of frequency band-specific sample control sound source data to the sound output unit so that the sound output unit can output the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound.

2. The environmentally-friendly vehicle sound generator control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sound control unit comprises:

a pitch control unit including pitch control points for enabling to form a plurality of new frequency band-specific sample control sound source data by pitch-shifting the plurality of frequency band-specific sample sound source data for each driving speed of the environmentally-friendly vehicle to control the pitch; and

a volume control unit including volume control points for enabling to form a plurality of new frequency band-specific sample control sound source data by increasing or decreasing the volume of the plurality of frequency band-specific sample sound source data for each driving speed of the environmentally-friendly vehicle to control the volume.

3. The environmentally-friendly vehicle sound generator control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of frequency bands include a low frequency band lower than 500 Hz, an intermediate frequency band ranging from 2,000 Hz to 5,000 Hz and a high frequency band higher than 5,000 Hz.

4. The environmentally-friendly vehicle sound generator control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a linear connection is formed between the pitch control points, and when the pitch control points are position-controlled, the linear connection is controlled in association with the pitch control points.

5. The environmentally-friendly vehicle sound generator control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the ratio of the segment speed to pitch shift between the pitch control points is 1% or higher per km/h.

6. The environmentally-friendly vehicle sound generator control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a linear connection is formed between the volume control points, and when the volume control points are position-controlled, the linear connection is controlled in association with the volume control points.

7. The environmentally-friendly vehicle sound generator control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein if the extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data is smaller than the frequency band-specific reference sound level data, the control unit applies, a pitch control signal for controlling the pitch control points of a corresponding frequency band as much as a pitch control ratio included in a previously set data stored in the storage unit, to the sound control unit.

8. The environmentally-friendly vehicle sound generator control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein if the extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data is smaller than the frequency band-specific reference sound level data, the control unit applies, a volume control signal for controlling the volume control points of a corresponding frequency band as much as a volume control ratio included in a previously set data stored in the storage unit, to the sound control unit.

9. The environmentally-friendly vehicle sound generator control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein if the extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data is smaller than the frequency band-specific reference sound level data, the control unit applies, a pitch and volume control signal for controlling the pitch control points and the volume control points of a corresponding frequency band as much as a pitch control ratio and a volume control ratio included in a previously set data stored in the storage unit, to the sound control unit.

10. A method for controlling an environmentally-friendly vehicle sound generator control apparatus which includes:

a storage unit including a sound source storage unit for storing a plurality of frequency band-specific sample sound source data of a real single engine sound of an internal combustion engine vehicle, and a reference data storage unit for storing frequency band-specific reference sound level data;

a sound output unit arranged in an environmentally-friendly vehicle to output a pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound;

a sound sensing unit arranged to be spaced apart from the sound output unit to sense the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound output from the sound output unit;

a sound source sound extraction unit for extracting and dividing the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound sensed by the sound sensing unit for each of a plurality of frequency bands;

a control unit for storing the frequency band-specific sound data of the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound extracted and divided by the sound source sound extraction unit in a sound storage unit of the storage unit; and

a sound playback unit including a sound comparison unit for comparing the frequency band-specific reference sound level data with the extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data for each frequency band in response to a comparison control signal of the control unit, a sound control unit for controlling the pitch or the volume of the plurality of frequency band-specific sample sound source data to form a plurality of frequency band-specific sample control sound source data if the extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data is smaller than the frequency band-specific reference sound level data, and a sound mixing unit for mixing the plurality of frequency band-specific sample control sound source data and transferring the mixed plurality of frequency band-specific sample control sound source data to the sound output unit so that the sound output unit can output the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound, the method comprising;

a provision step of providing the environmentally-friendly vehicle sound generator control apparatus;

a sensing step of sensing, by the sound sensing unit, a pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound output from the sound output unit of an environmentally-friendly vehicle;

a sound extraction and storage step of extracting and dividing the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound sensed by the sound sensing unit for each of a plurality of frequency bands and storing the extracted and divided pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound in the sound storage unit of the storage unit;

a sound comparison step of comparing the frequency band-specific reference sound level data with the extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data in response to a comparison control signal of the control unit; and

a sound control step of forming a plurality of frequency band-specific sample control sound source data by controlling the pitch or the volume of the plurality of frequency band-specific sample sound source data if the extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data is smaller than the frequency band-specific reference sound level data at the sound comparison step.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the sound control unit comprises:

a pitch control unit including pitch control points for enabling to form a plurality of new frequency band-specific sample control sound source data by pitch-shifting the plurality of frequency band-specific sample sound source data for each driving speed of the environmentally-friendly vehicle to control the pitch; and

a volume control unit including volume control points for enabling to form a plurality of new frequency band-specific sample control sound source data by increasing or decreasing the volume of the plurality of frequency band-specific sample sound source data for each driving speed of the environmentally-friendly vehicle to control the volume, and

wherein the sound control step comprises a pitch control step of, if the extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data is smaller than the frequency band-specific reference sound level data, applying, by the control unit, a pitch control signal for controlling the pitch control points of a corresponding frequency band as much as a pitch control ratio included in a previously set data stored in the storage unit, to the sound control unit.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the sound control unit comprises:

a pitch control unit including pitch control points for enabling to form a plurality of new frequency band-specific sample control sound source data by pitch-shifting the plurality of frequency band-specific sample sound source data for each driving speed of the environmentally-friendly vehicle to control the pitch; and

a volume control unit including volume control points for enabling to form a plurality of new frequency band-specific sample control sound source data by increasing or decreasing the volume of the plurality of frequency band-specific sample sound source data for each driving speed of the environmentally-friendly vehicle to control the volume, and

wherein the sound control step comprises a volume control step of, if the extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data is smaller than the frequency band-specific reference sound level data, applying, by the control unit, a volume control signal for controlling the volume control points of a corresponding frequency band as much as a volume control ratio included in a previously set data stored in the storage unit, to the sound control unit.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of frequency bands include a low frequency band lower than 500 Hz, an intermediate frequency band ranging from 2,000 Hz to 5,000 Hz and a high frequency band higher than 5,000 Hz.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein a linear connection is formed between the pitch control points, and when the pitch control points are position-controlled, the linear connection is controlled in association with the pitch control points.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the ratio of the segment speed to pitch shift between the pitch control points is 1% or higher per km/h.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein a linear connection is formed between the volume control points, and when the volume control points are position-controlled, the linear connection is controlled in association with the volume control points.

17. An environmentally-friendly vehicle sound generator control apparatus comprising:

a storage unit including a sound source storage unit for storing a plurality of frequency band-specific sample sound source data of a real single engine sound of an internal combustion engine vehicle, and a reference data storage unit for storing frequency band-specific reference sound level data;

a sound output unit for outputting a pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound;

a sound source sound extraction unit for extracting and dividing the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound output from the sound output unit for each of a plurality of frequency bands;

a control unit for storing the frequency band-specific sound data of the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound extracted and divided by the sound source sound extraction unit in a sound storage unit of the storage unit; and

a sound playback unit including a sound comparison unit for comparing the frequency band-specific reference sound level data with the extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data for each frequency band in response to a comparison control signal of the control unit, a sound control unit for controlling the pitch or the volume of the plurality of frequency band-specific sample sound source data to form a plurality of frequency band-specific sample control sound source data if the extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data is smaller than the frequency band-specific reference sound level data, and a sound mixing unit for mixing the plurality of frequency band-specific sample control sound source data and transferring the mixed plurality of frequency band-specific sample control sound source data to the sound output unit so that the sound output unit can output the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound.

18. The environmentally-friendly vehicle sound generator control apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising further include a sound sensing unit for sensing the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound output from the sound output unit,

wherein the sound sensing unit further comprises a virtual sound sensing unit for transferring a signal by virtually processing the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound output from the sound output unit as if the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound was sensed, and

wherein the sound source sound extraction unit extracts and divides the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound virtually sensed by the sound sensing unit for each of a plurality of frequency bands.

19. The control apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the sound output unit is a virtual sound output unit for virtually processing a sound playback data transferred from the sound playback unit and outputting the processed data as a pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound.

20. A method for controlling an environmentally-friendly vehicle sound generator control apparatus, which includes:

a storage unit including a sound source storage unit for storing a plurality of frequency band-specific sample sound source data of a real single engine sound of an internal combustion engine vehicle, and a reference data storage unit for storing frequency band-specific reference sound level data;

a sound output unit for outputting a pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound;

a sound source sound extraction unit for extracting and dividing the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound output from the sound output unit for each of a plurality of frequency bands;

a control unit for storing the frequency band-specific sound data of the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound extracted and divided by the sound source sound extraction unit in a sound storage unit of the storage unit; and

a sound playback unit including a sound comparison unit for comparing the frequency band-specific reference sound level data with the extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data for each frequency band in response to a comparison control signal of the control unit, a sound control unit for controlling the pitch or the volume of the plurality of frequency band-specific sample sound source data to form a plurality of frequency band-specific sample control sound source data if the extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data is smaller than the frequency band-specific reference sound level data, and a sound mixing unit for mixing the plurality of frequency band-specific sample control sound source data and transferring the mixed plurality of frequency band-specific sample control sound source data to the sound output unit so that the sound output unit can output the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound, the method comprising;

a provision step of providing the environmentally-friendly vehicle sound generator control apparatus;

a sensing step of sensing, by the sound sensing unit, a pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound output from the sound output unit of an environmentally-friendly vehicle;

a sound extraction and storage step of extracting and dividing the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound sensed by the virtual sound sensing unit for each of a plurality of frequency bands and storing the extracted and divided pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound in the sound storage unit of the storage unit;

a sound comparison step of comparing the frequency band-specific reference sound level data with the extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data in response to a comparison control signal of the control unit; and

a sound control step of forming a plurality of frequency band-specific sample control sound source data by controlling the pitch or the volume of the plurality of frequency band-specific sample sound source data if the extracted plurality of frequency band-specific sound data is smaller than the frequency band-specific reference sound level data at the sound comparison step.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the environmentally-friendly vehicle sound generator control apparatus further comprises a sound sensing unit for sensing the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound output from the sound output unit,

wherein the sound sensing unit further comprises a virtual sound sensing unit for transferring a signal by virtually processing the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound output from the sound output unit as if the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound was sensed,

wherein the sound source sound extraction unit extracts and divides the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound virtually sensed by the sound sensing unit for each of a plurality of frequency bands,

wherein the control method further comprises a virtual sensing step of transferring, before executing the sound extraction and storage step, a virtual signal as if the virtual sound sensing unit sensed the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound output from the sound output unit of the environmentally-friendly vehicle, and

wherein the pedestrian'"'"'s vehicle recognition sound virtually sensed by the sound sensing unit is extracted and divided for each of a plurality of frequency bands at the sound extraction and storage step.