Engine speed calculation device and engine sound generation device

• US 8,331,580 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Isozaki, Yoshimasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRAHAM, ANDREW R
• Application Number:
  US12/646,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20100166210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 381/61, 381/86, 340/441, 700/94, 446/7, 702/142, 702/145, 702/148, 701/22
• US Class Current: 381/86
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/00 Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells B60L58/00
• 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 15/02 Synthesis of acoustic waves synthesis of speech G10L13/00

Abstract

An engine sound generation device adapted to an electric vehicle includes an engine speed calculation unit which calculates the virtual engine speed based on the motor revolution speed, vehicle speed, and acceleration opening. The engine speed calculation unit calculates the virtual engine speed with reference to the vehicle-dependent engine speed memory on the condition that the virtual engine speed is deemed proportional to the vehicle speed. In addition, the engine speed calculation unit calculates the virtual engine speed with reference to the vehicle-nondependent engine speed memory on the condition that the virtual engine speed is not deemed proportional to the vehicle speed, thus generating the common engine sound matching the behavior of an engine in a prescribed event such as the startup of the electric vehicle and the semi-engagement of a clutch.

Claims

1. An engine sound generation device comprising:

an accelerator opening sensor detecting an accelerator opening of a vehicle;

a vehicle speed sensor detecting a vehicle speed of the vehicle;

a vehicle-nondependent engine speed memory storing a virtual engine speed which depends upon the accelerator opening but does not depend upon the vehicle speed in advance; and

an engine speed calculation unit acquiring the virtual engine speed from the vehicle-nondependent engine speed memory in correspondence with the accelerator opening on an estimated condition that the virtual engine speed is not deemed proportional to the vehicle speed.

2. The engine sound generation device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle-nondependent engine speed memory stores a table of time-related variations of the virtual engine speed in connection to the accelerator opening, so that the engine speed calculation unit reads the virtual engine speed from the table in correspondence with the accelerator opening and an elapsed time.

3. The engine sound generation device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle-nondependent engine speed memory stores a table of an engine speed increase rate in connection to the accelerator opening, so that the engine speed calculation unit reads the engine speed increase rate from the table in correspondence with the accelerator opening, thus calculating the virtual engine speed using an elapsed time.

4. The engine sound generation device according to claim 1 further comprising a vehicle-dependent engine speed memory storing the virtual engine speed which depends upon the accelerator opening and the vehicle speed, wherein the virtual engine speed calculation unit calculates the virtual engine speed with reference to the vehicle-dependent engine speed memory on an estimated condition that the virtual engine speed is deemed proportional to the vehicle speed, and wherein the virtual engine speed calculation unit calculates the virtual engine speed with reference to the vehicle-nondependent engine speed memory on the estimated condition that the virtual engine speed is not deemed proportional to the vehicle speed.

5. The engine sound generation device according to claim 1 further comprising an engine sound generation unit which artificially generates an engine sound based on the virtual engine speed.