Vehicle sound synthesizer

• US 6,859,539 B1
• Filed: 07/07/2000
• Issued: 02/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Maeda, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Minsun Oh
• Application Number:
  US09/612,041
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 381/86, 381/98, 381/103, 381/119, 381/61, 700/94
• US Class Current: 381/86
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/42 Means to improve acoustic vehicle detection by humans
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/02 Synthesis of acoustic waves synthesis of speech G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

A sound synthesizer for a vehicle includes a driving operation detector that detects an operation amount of a driving operation input device by a driver. A speed calculator calculates a revolution speed of a drive unit based on the detected operation amount. A sound controller outputs a sound control signal based on an input of the operation amount and based on the revolution speed. A memory stores drive sound data in advance. A synthesized sound output generator reads out drive sound data from the memory and outputs a voltage signal corresponding to a sound pressure signal. The memory divides the operational state of the drive unit into plural stages by using the operation amount and the revolution speed as parameters. The memory stores each driving sound which is recorded in the middle of each operational period as digital data of the driving sound at a wavelength of a sound pressure waveform which is substantially the same as a cyclic sound interval of the drive unit. The sound controller is arranged to output sound control signals so that the drive sound data within a range of the operational state corresponding to the inputted operation amount and revolution speed is repetitively played. Preferably, multiple sound synthesizers are interconnected to a server so that sound data can be downloaded to the sound synthesizers from the server.

Claims

1. A sound synthesizer for a vehicle that includes a driving operation detector that detects an operation amount of a driving operation input device by a driver, a speed calculator that calculates a revolution speed of a drive unit based on the detected operation amount, a sound controller that outputs a sound control signal based on an input of the operation amount and based on the revolution speed, a memory that stores drive sound data in advance, and a synthesized sound output generator that reads out drive sound data from the memory and that outputs a voltage signal corresponding to a sound pressure signal, wherein:

the memory divides the operational state of the drive unit into plural stages by using the operation amount and the revolution speed as parameters;

the memory stores each driving sound which is recorded in the operational period as digital data of the driving sound at a wavelength of a sound pressure waveform which is substantially the same as a cyclic sound interval of the drive unit; and

the sound controller outputs sound control signals so that drive sound data within a range of an operational state corresponding to the inputted operation amount and the revolution speed is repetitively played.

2. A sound synthesizer for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drive unit is a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine, and the cyclic sound interval refers to a firing interval between each cylinder of the internal combustion engine.

3. A sound synthesizer for a vehicle as set forth in claim 2, wherein the memory stores sound pressure waveforms as driving data, the sound pressure waveforms having substantially the same wavelength as the cyclic sound interval of the drive unit, and the sound controller outputs sound control signals so that drive sound data is played at an interval corresponding to the cyclic sound interval of the drive unit.

4. A sound synthesizer for a vehicle as set forth in claim 3, wherein said sound control signals are repetitively outputted at an interval corresponding to the cyclic sound interval of the drive unit and are controlled so that at least one of the sound volume, pitch or tone of the drive sound data read from the memory is modified.

5. A sound synthesizer for a vehicle as set forth in claim 4, wherein a reproduction rate for converting digital data to analog data varies depending on a ratio between an actually recorded engine speed and calculated engine speed.

6. A sound synthesizer for a vehicle as set forth in claim 3, wherein a reproduction rate for converting digital data to analog data varies depending on a ratio between an actually recorded engine speed and calculated engine speed.

7. A sound synthesizer for a vehicle as set forth in claim 2, wherein a reproduction rate for converting digital data to analog data varies depending on a ratio between an actually recorded engine speed and calculated engine speed.

8. A sound synthesizer for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the memory stores sound pressure waveforms as driving data, the sound pressure waveforms having substantially the same wavelength as the cyclic sound interval of the drive unit, and the sound controller outputs sound control signals so that drive sound data is played at an interval corresponding to the cyclic sound interval of the drive unit.

9. A sound synthesizer for a vehicle as set forth in claim 8, wherein said sound control signals are repetitively outputted at an interval corresponding to the cyclic sound interval of the drive unit and are controlled so that at least one of the sound volume, pitch or tone of the drive sound data read from the memory is modified.

10. A sound synthesizer for a vehicle as set forth in claim 9, wherein a reproduction rate for converting digital data to analog data varies depending on a ratio between an actually recorded engine speed and calculated engine speed.

11. A sound synthesizer for a vehicle as set forth in claim 8, wherein a reproduction rate for converting digital data to analog data varies depending on a ratio between an actually recorded engine speed and calculated engine speed.

12. A sound synthesizer for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein a reproduction rate for converting digital data to analog data varies depending on a ratio between an actually recorded engine speed and calculated engine speed.

13. A sound synthesizer for a vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein the drive sound data for generating the sound pressure waveforms stored in the memory is prepared at a server connected to the sound synthesizer through a communication line, and wherein the drive sound data is transmitted to the memory from the server through the communication line.

14. A sound synthesizer for a vehicle having a driving operation detector that detects an operation amount of a driving operation input device activated by a driver, a speed calculator that calculates a revolution speed of a drive unit based on the detected operation amount, a sound controller that outputs a sound control signal based on an input of the operation amount and the revolution speed, a memory that stores drive sound data in advance, a synthesized sound output generator that outputs drive sound data from the memory and outputs a voltage signal corresponding to a sound pressure signal, wherein:

the memory divides the operational state of the drive unit into plural stages by using the operation amount and the revolution speed as parameters, the memory storing each driving sound which is recorded in each operational period as digital data of the driving sound at a wavelength of a sound pressure waveform which is substantially the same as a cyclic sound interval of the drive unit;

the sound controller is arranged to output sound control signals so that the drive sound data corresponding to the revolution speed and the cyclic interval of the drive unit is repetitively played; and

the drive sound data with a unit of the sound pressure waveform stored in the memory is prepared at a server that is connected to the sound synthesizer through a communication line, and at the time of use, the drive sound data is transmitted to the memory from the server through the communication line.

15. A sound synthesizer for a vehicle as set forth in claim 14, wherein the drive unit is an internal combustion engine, and the cyclic sound interval refers to a firing interval between each cylinder of the internal combustion engine.