Vehicle sound enhancement

• US 9,860,667 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2015
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Barlow, Jr., Roger C., Reilly, Scott M., Valeri, Frank C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): FAHNERT, FRIEDRICH
• Application Number:
  US14/851,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20170078822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 381 86, 381 61, 381 56, 381107, 381 714, 381 57, 381152
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/00 Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/13 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in stereophonic sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and systems for enhancing vehicle sound are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, a vehicle includes a powertrain, one or more sensors, and a processor. The one or more sensors are configured to measure a sound, a vibration, or both, produced by one or more vehicle components pertaining to the engine. The processor is configured to enhance the sound for audible display for one or more individuals within or in proximity to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

measuring, via a sensor, an engine-related target sound for a vehicle;

that is produced by one or more vehicle components that are coupled to an engine of the vehicle;

measuring one or more vehicle parameters pertaining to operation of the engine, the vehicle parameters selected from the group consisting;

of an engine torque, engine revolutions per minute, a vehicle speed; and

a vehicle acceleration;

measuring one or more cabin sounds that entered a cabin of the vehicle from outside the vehicle as the vehicle is travelling, wherein the cabin sounds are different from the engine related target sound, and are not generated by vehicle components that are coupled to the engine;

selecting a harmonic of the engine-related target sound for manipulation, based on a comparison of the measured engine-related target sound with an expected or desired sound for a passenger in the vehicle to hear given the one or more vehicle parameters and the one or more cabin sounds, based on vehicle testing data that is stored in a memory of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle testing data reflects testing of one or more test vehicles during vehicle model development, prior to a current engine operation cycle for the vehicle, wherein the testing data includes a history of engine-related sounds that typically occur or that passengers expect or find pleasing at various values of the vehicle parameters and as blending with other sounds entering a vehicle'"'"'s cabin from outside the vehicle; and

enhancing the engine-related target sound for one or more individuals within or in proximity to the vehicle by adjusting the selected harmonic of the engine-related target sound based on the one or more vehicle parameters, the one or more cabin sounds, and the comparison of the measured engine-related target sound with the expected sound using the vehicle testing data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of measuring the sound comprises measuring a sound from an induction system of the vehicle using a microphone, an accelerometer, or both.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of measuring the sound comprises measuring a sound from an exhaust system of the vehicle using a microphone, an accelerometer, or both.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of measuring the sound comprises measuring a vibration from a powertrain or suspension mount device using an accelerometer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enhancing the sound comprises:

selecting a portion of a bandwidth of the sound for audible display for the one or more individuals within or in proximity to the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring one or more outputs of a powertrain of the vehicle;

wherein the step of enhancing the sound comprises enhancing the sound from the one or more vehicle components based at least in part on the outputs of the powertrain of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the enhanced sound via an entertainment system of the vehicle for audible display via a speaker within an interior cabin of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the enhanced sound for audible display via a speaker disposed on an exterior portion of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of measuring the engine-related target sound comprises:

measuring, via an accelerometer, the engine-related target sound for the vehicle that is produced by the one or more vehicle components that are mechanically coupled to the engine of the vehicle as the engine-related target sound is organically occurring within the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of measuring one or more parameters comprises measuring an engine torque for the vehicle;

the step of selecting a harmonic of the engine-related target sound for manipulation comprises selecting the harmonic of the engine-related target sound for manipulation based on a comparison of the measured engine-related target sound with an expected or desired sound for a passenger in the vehicle to hear given the engine torque, based on vehicle testing data that is stored in a memory of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle testing data reflects testing of one or more test vehicles of a same vehicle model as the vehicle, during vehicle model development, prior to a current engine operation cycle for the vehicle, wherein the testing data includes a history of engine-related sounds that typically occur or that passengers expect or find pleasing at various values of the engine torque and as blending with other sounds entering a vehicle'"'"'s cabin from outside the vehicle; and

the step of enhancing the engine-related target sound comprises enhancing the engine- related target sound by adjusting the selected harmonic of the engine-related target sound based on the engine torque, the one or more cabin sounds, and the comparison of the measured engine-related target sound with the expected sound using the vehicle testing data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of measuring one or more parameters comprises measuring an engine revolutions per minute for the vehicle;

the step of selecting an a harmonic of the engine-related target sound for manipulation comprises selecting the harmonic of the engine-related target sound for manipulation based on a comparison of the measured engine-related target sound with an expected or desired sound for a passenger in the vehicle to hear given the engine revolutions per minute, based on vehicle testing data that is stored in a memory of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle testing data reflects testing of one or more test vehicles of a same vehicle model as the vehicle, during vehicle model development, prior to a current engine operation cycle for the vehicle, wherein the testing data includes a history of engine-related sounds that typically occur or that passengers expect or find pleasing at various values of the engine revolutions per minute and as blending with other sounds entering a vehicle'"'"'s cabin from outside the vehicle; and

the step of enhancing the engine-related target sound comprises enhancing the engine-related target sound by adjusting the selected harmonic of the engine-related target sound based on the engine revolutions per minute, the one or more cabin sounds, and the comparison of the measured engine-related target sound with the expected sound using the vehicle testing data.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of measuring one or more parameters comprises measuring a vehicle speed for the vehicle;

the step of selecting a harmonic of the engine-related target sound for manipulation comprises selecting the harmonic of the engine-related target sound for manipulation based on a comparison of the measured engine-related target sound with an expected or desired sound for a passenger in the vehicle to hear given the vehicle speed, based on vehicle testing data that is stored in a memory of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle testing data reflects testing of one or more test vehicles of a same vehicle model as the vehicle, during vehicle model development, prior to a current engine operation cycle for the vehicle, wherein the testing data includes a history of engine-related sounds that typically occur or that passengers expect or find pleasing at various values of the vehicle speed and as blending with other sounds entering a vehicle'"'"'s cabin from outside the vehicle; and

the step of enhancing the engine-related target sound comprises enhancing the engine-related target sound by adjusting the selected harmonic of the engine-related target sound based on the vehicle speed, the one or more cabin sounds, and the comparison of the measured engine-related target sound with the expected sound using the vehicle testing data.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of measuring one or more parameters comprises measuring a vehicle acceleration for the vehicle;

the step of selecting a harmonic of the engine-related target sound for manipulation comprises selecting the harmonic of the engine-related target sound for manipulation based on a comparison of the measured engine-related target sound with an expected or desired sound for a passenger in the vehicle to hear given the vehicle acceleration;

based on vehicle testing data that is stored in a memory of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle testing data reflects testing of one or more test vehicles of a same vehicle model as the vehicle, during vehicle model development, prior to a current engine operation cycle for the vehicle, wherein the testing data includes a history of engine-related sounds that typically occur or that passengers expect or find pleasing at various values of the vehicle acceleration and as blending with other sounds entering a vehicle'"'"'s cabin from outside the vehicle; and

the step of enhancing the engine-related target sound comprises enhancing the engine- related target sound by adjusting the selected harmonic of the engine-related target sound based on the vehicle acceleration, the one or more cabin sounds, and the comparison of the measured engine-related target sound with the expected sound using the vehicle testing data.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of measuring one or more cabin sounds that entered a cabin of the vehicle from outside the vehicle as the vehicle is travelling comprises measuring sounds from wind and from a road on which the vehicle is travelling as these sounds enter the cabin of the vehicle;

the step of selecting the harmonic of the engine-related target sound for manipulation comprises based on the step of selecting the order harmonic of the engine-related target sound for manipulation based on a comparison of the measured engine-related target sound with an expected or desired sound for a passenger in the vehicle to hear given the one or more vehicle parameters and the sounds from the wind and from the road on which the vehicle is travelling as these sounds enter the cabin of the vehicle, based on vehicle testing data that is stored in a memory of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle testing data reflects testing of one or more test vehicles during vehicle model development, prior to a current engine operation cycle for the vehicle, wherein the testing data includes a history of engine-related sounds that typically occur or that passengers expect or find pleasing at various values of the vehicle parameters and as blending with the sounds from wind and from a road on which the vehicle is travelling as these sounds enter the cabin of the vehicle; and

the step of enhancing the engine-related sound comprises enhancing the engine-related sound by adjusting the selected harmonic of the engine-related target sound based on the one or more vehicle parameters, the sounds from wind and from a road on which the vehicle is travelling as these sounds enter the cabin of the vehicle, and the comparison of the measured engine-related target sound with the expected sound using the vehicle testing data.

15. A system comprising:

sensors configured to measure;

an engine-related target sound, produced by one or more vehicle components that are coupled to an engine of the vehicle;

one or more vehicle parameters pertaining to operation of the engine, the vehicle parameters selected from the group consisting;

of an engine torque, engine revolutions per minute, a vehicle speed, and a vehicle acceleration; and

one or more cabin sounds that entered a cabin of the vehicle from outside the vehicle as the vehicle is travelling, wherein the cabin sounds are different from the engine related target sound, and are not generated by vehicle components that are mechanically coupled to the engine; and

a processor configured to;

select a harmonic of the engine-related target sound for manipulation, based on a comparison of the measured engine-related target sound with an expected or desired sound for a passenger in the vehicle to hear given the one or more vehicle parameters and the one or more cabin sounds, based on vehicle testing data that is stored in a memory of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle testing data reflects testing of one or more test vehicles during vehicle model development, prior to a current engine operation cycle for the vehicle, wherein the testing data includes a history of engine-related sounds that typically occur or that passengers expect or find pleasing at various values of the vehicle parameters and as blending with other sounds entering a vehicle'"'"'s cabin from outside the vehicle; and

enhance the engine-related target sound, for one or more individuals within or in proximity to the vehicle, by adjusting the selected harmonic of the engine-related target sound based on the one or more vehicle parameters, the one or more cabin sounds, and the comparison of the measured engine-related target sound with the expected sound using the vehicle testing data, using an amplifier than is configured to amplify the sounds in accordance with the enhancement and a speaker that is a configured to transmit the enhanced sound based on instructions provided by the processor after the enhanced sound is amplified by the amplifier.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more sensors include a microphone configured to measure a sound from an induction system of the vehicle, an accelerometer configured to measure a vibration from the induction system, or both.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more sensors include a microphone configured to measure a sound from an exhaust system of the vehicle, an accelerometer to measure a vibration from the exhaust system, or both.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more sensors include an accelerometer configured to measure a vibration from a powertrain or suspension mount of the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to select a portion of a bandwidth of the sound for audible display for the one or more individuals within or in proximity to the vehicle.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a speaker configured to transmit the enhanced sound based on instructions provided by the processor after the enhanced sound is amplified by the amplifier.

21. A vehicle comprising:

a plurality of systems including a powertrain, a suspension, an induction system, and an exhaust system;

sensors configured to measure;

an engine-related target sound, produced by one or more vehicle components that are coupled to an engine of the vehicle;

one or more vehicle parameters pertaining to operation of the engine, the vehicle parameters selected from the group consisting;

of an engine torque, engine revolutions per minute, a vehicle speed, and a vehicle acceleration; and

one or more cabin sounds that entered a cabin of the vehicle from outside the vehicle as the vehicle is travelling, wherein the cabin sounds are different from the engine related target sound, and are not generated by vehicle components that are mechanically coupled to the engine; and

a processor configured to;

select a harmonic of the engine-related target sound for manipulation, based on a comparison of the measured engine-related target sound with an expected or desired sound for a passenger in the vehicle to hear given the one or more vehicle parameters and the one or more cabin sounds, based on vehicle testing data that is stored in a memory of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle testing data reflects testing of one or more test vehicles of a same vehicle model as the vehicle, during vehicle model development, prior to a current engine operation cycle for the vehicle, wherein the testing data includes a history of engine-related sounds that typically occur or that passengers expect or find pleasing at various values of the vehicle parameters and as blending with other sounds entering a vehicle'"'"'s cabin from outside the vehicle, using an amplifier than is configured to amplify the sounds in accordance with the enhancement and a speaker that is a configured to transmit the enhanced sound based on instructions provided by the processor after the enhanced sound is amplified by the amplifier; and

enhance the engine-related target sound, for one or more individuals within or in proximity to the vehicle by adjusting the selected harmonic of the engine-related target sound based on the one or more vehicle parameters, the one or more cabin sounds, and the comparison of the measured engine-related target sound with the expected sound using the vehicle testing data.