Electronic siren

• US 6,646,548 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2001
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Dornfeld, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/757,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20020089416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 340/384.1, 340/384.3, 340/384.4, 340/384.5, 340/474, 340/384.6, 340/384.7, 340/384.71
• US Class Current: 340/384.4
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

An electronic siren emulates the sound of a mechanical siren using a dynamic algorithm and look up tables to generate a series of wave sets, each wave set including one fixed frequency wave and one variable frequency wave. A micro controller stores the algorithm and look up tables and executes the algorithm on command to produce a digital output emulating the mechanical siren. The digital output is converted to an analog signal that is applied to a class D amplifier. A switching power supply provides 70 VDC to the output stage of the amplifier. This arrangement produces 126 dB of sound pressure at a distance of 10 feet from the reverse folded horn speaker. The electronic siren generates little heat and requires only 10 amps of current from the vehicle electrical system.

Claims

1. An electronic siren comprising:

a command unit for selectively generating at least one command signal;

a microprocessor programmed with at least one algorithm;

a memory accessible by said microprocessor, said memory containing look up tables defining values used by said algorithm to emulate the frequency range, the rate of frequency change Δ

f and amplitudes as a function of frequency for at least a sweep up-down siren sound;

a class D amplifier which receives and amplifies a signal generated by said microprocessor; and

a speaker operatively connected to said amplifier,

wherein said microprocessor executes said algorithm in response to a said command signal and said algorithm utilizes said data to produce a series of digital outputs emulating said siren sound and said digital pattern is converted to an audio signal which is applied to said amplifier.

2. The electronic siren of claim 1, comprising a digital to analog converter, wherein said series of digital outputs are converted to an analog output.

3. The electronic siren of claim 1, wherein said algorithm emulates said siren sound by constructing a series of wave sets, each wave set including a fixed frequency wave and a variable frequency wave, said fixed frequency wave having a substantially constant frequency throughout the frequency range of said siren sound and said variable frequency wave having a frequency varied by said algorithm according to values in said look up tables.

4. The electronic siren of claim 3, wherein the frequency of said fixed frequency wave and the frequency of said variable frequency wave are altered by a small increment each time a wave set is generated, said fixed frequency wave altered by a different amount and according to a different formula than said variable frequency wave.

5. The electronic siren of claim 3, wherein the amplitude of said fixed frequency wave and said variable frequency wave in each wave set is substantially the same.

6. The electronic siren of claim 1, wherein said look up tables comprise two look up tables for Δ

f, a first Δ

f look up table corresponding to an increasing frequency portion of the siren sound and a second Δ

f look up table corresponding to a decreasing frequency portion of the siren sound.

7. The electronic siren of claim 1, wherein said look up tables comprise two look up tables for amplitude as a function of frequency, a first amplitude as a function of frequency look up table corresponding to frequencies on an increasing frequency portion of the siren sound and a second amplitude as a function of frequency look up table corresponding to frequencies on a decreasing frequency portion of the siren sound.

8. The electronic siren of claim 1, wherein said class D amplifier includes an H bridge output stage.

9. The electronic siren of claim 8, wherein said H bridge output stage includes MOSFET active devices.

10. The electronic siren of claim 1, comprising a switching power supply operatively configured to supply voltage to an output stage of said class D amplifier.

11. The electronic siren of claim 1, wherein said siren is capable of generating 126 dB of sound pressure at a distance of 10 feet from said speaker on a current draw of 10 amps.

12. The electronic siren of claim 1, wherein said memory includes algorithms for generating warning sounds in addition to said siren sound, said warning sounds including a yelp, bell, wail, hands free sequence.

13. The electronic siren of claim 1, comprising a microphone socket for installation of a microphone and components permitting amplification of signals generated by said microphone through said class D amplifier.

14. The electronic siren of claim 1, comprising components for receiving and amplifying a vehicle radio audio signal through said class D amplifier and said speaker.

15. The electronic siren of claim 1, comprising an input and an output EMI filter, wherein all signals passing in or out of said electronic siren pass through one of said input or output EMI filters.

16. A method for emulating a mechanical siren comprising the steps of:

storing at least one algorithm for emulating the sound pattern of a mechanical siren in memory accessible by a microprocessor, said algorithm comprising a plurality of look up tables defining values used by the algorithm to emulate;

the frequency range of the siren,

the harmonic characteristics of the siren sound over said frequency range, and

the relationship of frequency change with respect to time Δ

f for the siren sound over said frequency range,

executing said algorithm to combine values from said look up tables to produce a train of digital outputs corresponding to the sound of the mechanical siren;

converting said digital output to an analog signal;

applying said analog signal to a class D amplifier to produce an amplified signal; and

communicating said amplified signal to a speaker.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said algorithm includes the steps of:

constructing a series of wave sets, each wave set including a fixed frequency wave and a variable frequency wave, said fixed frequency wave having a substantially constant frequency throughout the frequency range of said siren sound and said variable frequency wave having a frequency varied by said algorithm according to values in said look up tables.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said algorithm comprises the step of:

altering the frequency of said fixed frequency wave and said variable frequency wave by a small increment each time a wave set is constructed, said fixed frequency wave altered by a different amount and according to a different formula than said variable frequency wave.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of executing further comprises accessing look up tables comprising two look up tables for Δ

f, a first Δ

f look up table corresponding to an increasing frequency portion of the siren sound and a second Δ

f look up table corresponding to a decreasing frequency portion of the siren sound.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of executing further comprises accessing look up tables comprising two look up tables for amplitude as a function of frequency, a first amplitude as a function of frequency look up table corresponding to frequencies on an increasing frequency portion of the siren sound and a second amplitude as a function of frequency look up table corresponding to frequencies on a decreasing frequency portion of the siren sound.