Operation notification sound emission device for vehicle

• US 9,227,567 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2012
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Fujii, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bousono, Orlando
• Application Number:
  US13/425,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20120242467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

A vehicle travels with a traveling electric motor controlled with a first control device. A synthetic circuit receives a driving signal from a second control device, which is for controlling another electric motor distinct from the traveling electric motor. The synthetic circuit synthesizes, according to the driving signal, the operation notification sound imitative of a motor sound emitted from the traveling electric motor. An emission unit emits an operation notification sound synthesized by the synthetic circuit to notify the vehicle being in an operation state.

Claims

1. An operation notification sound emission device equipped to a vehicle configured to travel with a traveling electric motor as a power source, the traveling electric motor being configured to be controlled with a first control device, the operation notification sound emission device being configured to emit an operation notification sound to notify the vehicle being in an operation state, the operation notification sound emission device comprising:

a synthetic circuit configured to

receive a driving signal from a second control device for an other electric motor, wherein the second control device is distinct from the first control device, wherein the other electric motor is distinct from the traveling electric motor, and

synthesize, according to the driving signal, the operation notification sound imitative of a motor sound emitted from the traveling electric motor; and

an emission unit configured to emit the operation notification sound synthesized by the synthetic circuit, wherein;

the driving signal controls the other electric motor, and

the other electric motor is a three-phase electric motor, and

the synthetic circuit is further configured to;

receive a three-phase driving signal from the second control device and

synthesize the operation notification sound according to the three-phase driving signal.

2. The operation notification sound emission device according to claim 1, wherein the second control device is configured to implement either one of:

control of the other electric motor when the vehicle is not in the operation state; and

generation of the driving signal when the vehicle is in the operation state.

3. The operation notification sound emission device according to claim 1, wherein the synthetic circuit is further configured to synthesize the operation notification sound including a high frequency component caused by the three-phase driving signal.

4. The operation notification sound emission device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a prohibition unit configured to prohibit electricity supply to the other electric motor when receiving the driving signal from the second control device.

5. The operation notification sound emission device according to claim 4, wherein the prohibition unit is further configured to put an output circuit, which is for sending a control signal to a driver circuit for the other electric motor, into an OFF state.

6. The operation notification sound emission device according to claim 1, wherein the synthetic circuit is further configured to receive the driving signal from the second control device for a parking lock device of the vehicle.

7. The operation notification sound emission device according to claim 6, wherein the second control device includes:

a first control unit configured to control the parking lock device; and

a second control unit configured to send the driving signal for producing a rotation state similar to a traveling rotation state of the traveling electric motor.

8. An operation notification sound emission device equipped to a vehicle configured to travel with a traveling electric motor as a power source, the traveling electric motor being configured to be controlled with a first control device, the operation notification sound emission device being configured to emit an operation notification sound to notify the vehicle being in an operation state, the operation notification sound emission device comprising:

a synthetic circuit configured to

receive a driving signal from a second control device for an other electric motor, wherein the second control device is distinct from the first control device, wherein the other electric motor is distinct from the traveling electric motor, and

synthesize, according to the driving signal, the operation notification sound imitative of a motor sound emitted from the traveling electric motor; and

an emission unit configured to emit the operation notification sound synthesized by the synthetic circuit;

wherein

the other electric motor is a three-phase electric motor, and

the synthetic circuit is further configured to

receive a three-phase driving signal from the second control device and

synthesize the operation notification sound according to the three-phase driving signal.

9. The operation notification sound emission device according to claim 8, wherein

the synthetic circuit is further configured to synthesize the operation notification sound including a high frequency component caused by the three-phase driving signal.

10. An operation notification sound emission device equipped to a vehicle configured to travel with a traveling electric motor as a power source, the operation notification sound emission device being configured to emit an operation notification sound to notify the vehicle being in an operation state, the operation notification sound emission device comprising:

a synthetic circuit configured to synthesize the operation notification sound, which is imitative of a motor sound emitted from the traveling electric motor, according to a signal for driving an inverter connected between a control device for the traveling electric motor and the traveling electric motor; and

an emission unit configured to emit the operation notification sound synthesized by the synthetic circuit;

wherein

the control device for the travelling electric motor generates and outputs the signal for driving the inverter to both of the inverter and the synthetic circuit,

the traveling electric motor is a three-phase electric motor; and

the synthetic circuit is further configured to;

receive a three-phase driving signal from the control device; and

synthesize the operation notification sound according to the three-phase driving signals.