Synthetic engine sound for electric vehicle based on detected direction of travel

• US 8,204,243 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLAIR, KILE O
• Application Number:
  US11/859,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20090080672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,733 Days
• Field of Search: 381/61, 381/86, 340/463
• US Class Current: 381/86
• 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: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/02 Synthesis of acoustic waves synthesis of speech G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

A vehicle enunciator includes a storage device having sound data, a vehicle speed portion, an accelerator portion, and at least one speaker. The vehicle enunciator may be configured or attached to a vehicle, such as an electric car. The vehicle speed portion detects the speed of a vehicle, while the accelerator portion detects the position of the accelerator pedal of the vehicle. Using the outputs from the vehicle speed portion and accelerator portion, the sound data from the storage device is adjusted with regards to frequency and amplitude, respectively. At least one speaker then produces sound based upon the adjusted sound data.

Claims

1. An engine sound apparatus for use with a vehicle, comprising:

an accelerator portion configured to generate accelerator pedal position data;

a vehicle speed portion configured to generate vehicle speed data;

a processor portion configured to transmit sound data from a storage device based at least partially on accelerator pedal position data and speed data;

at least one speaker configured to receive engine sound data and to generate engine sound based on the engine sound data; and

a direction portion configured to detect a direction of travel of the vehicle, wherein the processor portion is further configured to select at least one speaker to produce at least one engine sound based at least partially on the detected direction of travel of the vehicle.

2. The engine sound apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sound data is synthetic.

3. The engine sound apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sound data is created from selected amplitude values.

4. The engine sound apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle speed portion is further configured to transmit vehicle speed data to the processor portion for use in generating the engine sound data.

5. The engine sound apparatus of claim 1, wherein the accelerator portion is further configured to transmit pedal position data to the processor portion for use in generating the engine sound data.

6. The engine sound apparatus of claim 1, wherein the direction portion is further configured to transmit direction data to the processor portion for use in generating the engine sound data.

7. The engine sound apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a switch that is configured to activate and deactivate at least the processor portion of the engine sound apparatus.

8. The engine sound apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one speaker comprises opposing speakers positioned on the front and back portions of the vehicle.

9. A system comprising:

a vehicle; and

an engine sound apparatus adapted to be attached to at least a portion of the vehicle comprising

an accelerator portion configured to generate accelerator pedal position data;

a vehicle speed portion configured to generate vehicle speed data;

a processor portion configured to generate and transmit sound data from a storage device based at least partially on accelerator pedal position data and speed data;

at least one speaker configured to receive engine sound data and

a direction portion configured to detect a direction of travel of the vehicle, wherein the processor portion is further configured to select at least one speaker to produce at least one engine sound based at least partially on the detected direction of travel of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle with an engine sound apparatus of claim 9, wherein the vehicle speed portion is further configured to transmit vehicle speed data to the processor portion for use in generating the engine sound data.

11. The vehicle with an engine sound apparatus of claim 10, wherein engine sound data is continuously generated based upon the vehicle speed data.

12. The vehicle with an engine sound apparatus of claim 9, wherein the accelerator portion is further configured to transmit pedal position data to the processor portion and to generate engine sound data based on the pedal position data.

13. The vehicle with an engine sound apparatus of claim 9, wherein the direction portion is further configured to transmit direction data indicating the direction of travel of a vehicle to the processor portion for use in generating engine sound data.

14. The vehicle with an engine sound apparatus of claim 9, wherein the vehicle comprises an electric vehicle.

15. The vehicle with an engine sound apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least the processor portion is implemented in a vehicle control system (VCS) of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle with an engine sound apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a microphone configured to detect sound produced by the at least one speaker.

17. An engine sound apparatus for use with a vehicle, comprising:

a storage device storing an engine sound signal;

a voltage-to-frequency converter (VFC) connected to receive the engine sound signal and a vehicle speed signal, the VFC generating the engine sound signal with a frequency dependent upon the vehicle speed signal;

an amplifier connected to receive the engine sound signal from the VFC and an accelerator position signal, the amplifier amplifying the engine sound signal based on the accelerator position signal;

one or more speakers connected to receive the engine sound signal from the amplifier and generate acoustic waves based on the engine sound signal; and

a switch/balancer connected to receive the engine sound signal from the amplifier, the switch/balancer connected to receive a direction-of-travel signal, the switch/balancer outputting the engine sound signal to the speakers based on the direction-of-travel signal.