Vehicle approach notification sound generating apparatus

• US 9,434,305 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2012
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Arita, Hidekazu, Shimotani, Mitsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): DARAMOLA, ISRAEL O
• Application Number:
  US14/414,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20150191117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/904, 701/36
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians
• 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 11/26 Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle approach notification sound generating apparatus that is capable of generating a vehicle approach notification sound in a suitable range according to a vehicle speed. The vehicle approach notification sound generating apparatus of the present invention is characterized by including a vehicle speed calculating unit that calculates a vehicle speed, a vehicle external speaker that outputs a vehicle approach notification sound for notifying of approach of the vehicle, and a general controller that controls a directivity angle width representing a breadth of directivity of the vehicle approach notification sound or a directivity direction of the vehicle approach notification sound, wherein the general controller controls the directivity angle width or the directivity direction according to the speed calculated by the vehicle speed calculating unit.

Claims

1. A vehicle approach notification sound generating apparatus comprising:

a vehicle speed calculating unit that calculates a vehicle speed;

a vehicle approach notifying unit that outputs a vehicle approach notification sound for notifying of approach of the vehicle; and

a controller that controls a directivity angle width representing a breadth of directivity of said vehicle approach notification sound and a directivity direction of said vehicle approach notification sound,

wherein said controller makes control so that as said speed calculated by said vehicle speed calculating unit is faster, said directivity angle width of said vehicle approach notification sound to be output in an advancing direction of said vehicle is narrower, and controls said directivity angle width or said directivity direction so that when said vehicle travels at a current speed, said vehicle approach notification sound is output, at a sound pressure that is equal to or higher than a predetermined sound pressure, to a pedestrian present in a range that enables the pedestrian to move into a path of said vehicle,

wherein said controller controls said vehicle approach notifying unit;

to output said vehicle approach notification sound only in said advancing direction of said vehicle when the calculated vehicle speed is above a first predetermined speed;

to output said vehicle approach notification sound in said advancing direction of said vehicle and separately in an oblong sideway-advancing direction when the calculated vehicle speed is below said first predetermined speed but above a second predetermined speed; and

to output said vehicle approach notification sound in a sideway direction perpendicular to said advancing direction of said vehicle when said calculated vehicle speed is at said second predetermined speed or slower.

3. The vehicle approach notification sound generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller determines whether said vehicle approach notification sound should be generated based on a road where said vehicle is currently traveling.

6. The vehicle approach notification sound generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller further controls said directivity angle width based on a width of said vehicle or a width of a street where said vehicle is traveling.

2. A vehicle approach notification sound generating apparatus comprising:

a vehicle speed calculating unit that calculates a vehicle speed;

a vehicle approach notifying unit that outputs a vehicle approach notification sound for notifying of approach of the vehicle; and

a controller that controls a directivity angle width representing a breadth of directivity of said vehicle approach notification sound and a directivity direction of said vehicle approach notification sound, wherein said controller makes control so that as said speed calculated by said vehicle speed calculating unit is faster, said directivity angle width of said vehicle approach notification sound to be output in an advancing direction of said vehicle is narrower, and controls said directivity angle width or said directivity direction so that when said vehicle travels at a current speed, said vehicle approach notification sound is output, at a sound pressure that is equal to or higher than a predetermined sound pressure, to a pedestrian present in a range that enables the pedestrian to move into a path of said vehicle,

wherein said controller controls said vehicle approach notifying unit;

to output said vehicle approach notification sound only in said advancing direction of said vehicle when the calculated vehicle speed is above a first predetermined speed;

to output said vehicle approach notification sound in said advancing direction of said vehicle and separately in an oblong sideway-advancing direction when the calculated vehicle speed is below said first predetermined speed but above a second predetermined speed; and

to output said vehicle approach notification sound in a sideway direction perpendicular to said advancing direction of said vehicle when said calculated vehicle speed is at said second predetermined speed or slower; and

said controller controls said directivity angle width based on a speed of a pedestrian present in the advancing direction of said vehicle.

4. The vehicle approach notification sound generating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said controller controls said directivity angle width based on a width of a street where said vehicle is traveling.

5. The vehicle approach notification sound generating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said controller controls said directivity angle width with an output energy of said vehicle approach notification sound being constant.

7. The vehicle approach notification sound generating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said controller determines whether said vehicle approach notification sound should be generated based on a road where said vehicle is currently traveling.