Sound synthesizer in a vehicle

• US 5,371,802 A
• Filed: 08/24/1993
• Issued: 12/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems Manufacturing Kft (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Group Lotus PLC (Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Perry, David C., Quinn, David C., McDonald, Anthony M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US08/111,022
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 381/71, 381/86, 381/110, 340/683, 367/197, 367/198, 367/199, 455/297
• US Class Current: 381/71.4
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/02 Synthesis of acoustic waves synthesis of speech G10L13/00

Abstract

In a noise enhancement system for use in a vehicle having an engine, a memory contains stored data representing desired sound relating to vehicle speed or the engine speed. The system is provided with a source of first signals indicative of the vehicle speed or the engine speed and a generator to generate vehicle engine noise desired by an occupant of a cabin of the vehicle. The generator includes a synthesizer to synthesize desired vehicle engine noise signals used to generate the desired vehicle engine noise and a microprocessor responsive to the first signals to use appropriate data of the stored data in dependence upon the vehicle speed or the engine speed indicated by the first signal to control the synthesizer to synthesize the desired engine noise in time with the vehicle speed or the engine speed indicated by the first signals.

Claims

1. A sound enhancement system for use in a vehicle having an engine, the system comprising a memory containing stored data representing desired sound related to one of vehicle speed and engine speed, a source of first signals indicative of one of vehicle speed and engine speed, and generating means for generating vehicle engine noise desired by an occupant of a cabin of the vehicle;

said generating means including a synthesizer to synthesize desired vehicle engine noise signals used to generate said desired vehicle engine noise, and a microprocessor adapted to be responsive to said first signals and said stored data in dependence upon one of the vehicle speed and the engine speed indicated by said first signals to control said synthesizer to synthesize said desired vehicle engine noise signals in time with one of the vehicle speed and the engine speed indicated by said first signals.

2. A sound enhancement system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source of first signals comprises at least one of:

at least one microphone responsive to vehicle engine noise;

at least one vibration sensor responsive to vehicle engine generated vibrations; and

at least one transducer responsive to at least one of vehicle speed and engine speed.

3. A sound enhancement system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vehicle includes an in-car entertainment system providing an audio signal source, the system including mixer means arranged to mix said desired vehicle engine noise signals and a signal from said audio signal source to generate a mix of said desired vehicle engine noise and sound from said audio signal source.

4. A sound enhancement system as claimed in claim 1 further including a noise cancellation system including at least one error sensing microphone, a signal treatment unit, means to supply signals output from said error sensing microphone to said signal treatment unit, said signal treatment unit being arranged to generate a noise canceling signal adaptively in response to the output from said error sensing microphone to reduce undesired noise, and mixer means arranged to mix said desired vehicle engine noise signals and said noise canceling signal to generate said desired vehicle engine noise.

5. A sound enhancement system as claimed in claim 1 including transducer means, and means to supply said desired vehicle engine noise signals from said generating means to said transducer means, said transducer means being arranged to receive said desired vehicle engine noise signals and generate vehicle engine noise desired by an occupant of the cabin of the vehicle.

6. A sound enhancement system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said transducer means comprises at least one of:

at least one loudspeaker located in the region of the vehicle engine;

at least one loudspeaker located in the vehicle cabin, and

at least one vibration actuator arranged to cause a vehicle panel to vibrate.

7. A sound enhancement system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said transducer means comprises at least one loudspeaker located in the vehicle cabin, and said at least one loudspeaker forms part of at least one of an in-car entertainment system and a noise cancellation system.

8. A sound enhancement system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said source of first signals is adapted to provide signals indicative of both engine speed and throttle position, said memory is adapted to store data representing desired sound related to engine speed and throttle position, and said microprocessor is adapted to use said stored data in dependence upon the engine speed and the throttle position indicated by said first signals to control said synthesizer.

9. A sound enhancement system for use in a vehicle having an engine, the system comprising a source of first signals indicative of one of vehicle speed and engine speed, a memory containing stored data representing desired vehicle engine sound for vehicle speeds and engine speeds;

transducer means; and

generator means responsive to said first signals to use said stored data to provide desired vehicle engine noise signals to said transducer means to create enhanced vehicle engine noise within a cabin of the vehicle, said enhanced vehicle engine noise representing a sound desired by a cabin occupant;

said generator means including a synthesizer to synthesize said desired vehicle engine noise signals, and a microprocessor responsive to said first signals and said stored data in dependence upon one of the vehicle speed and engine speed indicated by said first signals to control said synthesizer to trigger the generation of said desired vehicle engine noise signals in time with one of the vehicle speed and engine speed indicated by said first signals.

10. A sound enhancement system for use in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a memory containing stored data representing desired vehicle driving noise related to vehicle operation;

an audio signal source of an in-car entertainment system;

a source of speed signals indicative of one of vehicle speed and engine speed;

generating means responsive to said speed signals for converting said data to said vehicle driving noise desired by an occupant of the cabin of the vehicle; and

mixer means arranged to mix said vehicle driving noise and a signal from said audio signal source to generate a mix of noise related to vehicle operation desired by the vehicle cabin occupant and sound from said audio signal source.