JP2006021667A - Simulated running sound generator for motor-driven vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a traveling pseudo sound generating device for a motor driven vehicle capable of ensuring safety regarding traveling of the motor driven vehicle.
SOLUTION: A volume setting map M is referred to (S5) to select a volume of a simulated driving sound suitable for a driving environment (S6, S7, S8), and when there is a person around the host vehicle 1, a driving simulation is selected. Increase the volume of the sound (S13-S18).
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a running simulated sound generating device for a motor-driven vehicle.

When an engine-driven vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine (hereinafter also referred to as an engine) travels, there is a problem that the sound generated by the engine becomes noise in the vicinity, but a person such as a pedestrian around the engine-driven vehicle The warning that the vehicle is approaching can be alerted by the sound emitted by the engine, and the safety with respect to vehicle travel has been ensured.
On the other hand, when a motor-driven vehicle driven by a motor travels, the noise problem has been solved because almost no sound is generated even during traveling, but pedestrians around the motor-driven vehicle approach the vehicle. There was a problem of not being aware of it.

In view of this, a technique has been developed in which a motor-driven vehicle is provided with a simulated driving sound generator that generates a simulated driving sound that approximates the sound generated by the engine in order to improve the safety of the motor-driven vehicle. 1). This technology increases or decreases the volume of the simulated driving sound according to the acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle, and adjusts the volume according to the ambient noise, thereby realizing low noise at night or in a quiet place.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-182587

However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that a pedestrian at night or in a quiet place is not aware of the approach of the motor-driven vehicle. However, noise becomes a problem unless the volume of the simulated driving sound is reduced at night or in a quiet place.
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a motor-driven vehicle while minimizing noise to the surrounding environment where the motor-driven vehicle is traveling. It is an object of the present invention to provide a simulated driving sound generator for a motor-driven vehicle capable of ensuring safety with respect to traveling of the motor-driven vehicle by alerting a person around the vehicle.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, in the travel simulated sound generating device for a motor driven vehicle according to claim 1, travel simulated sound generating means for generating a travel simulated sound when the motor driven vehicle travels, A person detecting means for detecting a person existing in the surroundings, and when the person detecting means detects a person existing around the motor-driven vehicle, the volume of the driving simulated sound generated from the driving simulated sound generating means is increased. It is characterized by having a running pseudo-sound control means.

That is, when a person such as a pedestrian is present when the motor-driven vehicle is traveling, the pedestrian or the like is alerted by increasing the volume of the simulated driving sound.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a simulated driving sound generator for a motor-driven vehicle. The simulated driving sound generating means for generating a simulated driving sound when the motor-driven vehicle travels, and a person for detecting a person existing around the motor-driven vehicle. A volume that is set to a certain level for the volume of the simulated driving sound according to the travel environment information detected by the detection means, the travel environment detection means that detects the travel environment of the motor-driven vehicle, and the travel environment detection means The volume of the simulated driving sound is determined based on the setting map, the driving environment information detected by the driving environment detecting unit and the volume setting map, and the driving simulated sound generating unit generates the driving pseudo sound of the volume. When the person detecting means detects a person around the motor-driven vehicle, the simulated driving sound generated from the running simulated sound generating means Is characterized in that a traveling dummy sound control means for increasing the serial volume.

In other words, the volume of the simulated driving sound is generated based on the volume setting map in which the volume of the simulated driving sound suitable for the environment is set, and the volume of the driving simulated sound is increased when there are pedestrians etc. around. Attention is given to pedestrians.
4. The simulated driving sound generation device for a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the travel environment detection means detects the current location of the motor-driven vehicle and collates it with map information, thereby surrounding environment where the motor-driven vehicle is currently traveling. The ambient environment detecting means for detecting illuminance, the illuminance detecting means for detecting the illuminance around the motor-driven vehicle, and the time detecting means for detecting the current time.

In other words, the surrounding environment detection means detects what kind of surrounding environment the road is currently traveling, the illuminance detection means detects the brightness around the own vehicle, and the time detection means currently travels. The environment in which the vehicle is traveling is specified by detecting the time zone.
5. The simulated sound generation apparatus for a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the sound volume setting map sets the sound volume to three levels for the sound volume of the simulated travel sound according to the input of the travel environment detected by the travel environment detection means. It is characterized by that.

That is, the volume of the simulated driving sound suitable for the environment is set to three levels.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the simulated driving sound generating means is provided at a plurality of locations of the motor driven vehicle, and the person detecting means is configured to detect a person around the motor driven vehicle. A position is detected, and when the person detecting means detects a person existing around the motor-driven vehicle, the control means includes a running simulated sound generating means provided at the plurality of locations based on the positional relationship of the person. It is characterized in that the volume of the running simulated sound generated by the most suitable running simulated sound generating means is increased.

  In other words, the volume of the simulated driving sound toward the direction of the pedestrian around the motor-driven vehicle is increased to alert the pedestrian and the like, and the simulated driving sound in the direction where no person is present is suitable for the surrounding environment. The volume is maintained.

According to the apparatus for generating simulated sound of a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 1 of the present invention using the above means, the volume of the simulated travel sound is increased when a person such as a pedestrian is present when the motor-driven vehicle is traveling. Thus, attention can be given to pedestrians and the like, and safety regarding traveling of the motor-driven vehicle can be ensured.
According to the driving simulation sound generating device for a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 2, a pedestrian is generated around the surroundings while generating the sound of the driving simulation sound based on the volume setting map in which the volume of the driving simulation sound suitable for the environment is set. If there is a person such as, increase the volume of the simulated driving sound and call attention to the pedestrian, etc. It is possible to ensure the safety of driving and driving the motor-driven vehicle.

According to the traveling sound generation apparatus for a motor-driven vehicle according to the third aspect, the traveling environment of the motor-driven vehicle can be detected with a simple configuration.
According to the driving simulated sound generating apparatus for a motor-driven vehicle according to the fourth aspect, the driving simulated sound control can be facilitated by setting the volume setting preset in the volume setting map to three stages.
According to the driving simulated sound generating device for a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 5, the traveling simulated sound in the direction where there is no pedestrian or the like maintains the volume based on the volume setting map, so that the noise is minimized with respect to the surrounding environment. Since the volume is increased in the direction where a pedestrian or the like is present, it is possible to reliably attract attention and to ensure the safety of the motor-driven vehicle.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic configuration diagram of a simulated driving sound generator for a motor-driven vehicle according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the host vehicle 1 is a motor-driven vehicle that is driven by a motor 2. The motor 2 is provided with a motor control device 2a that controls and detects the operation of the motor 2.

  The own vehicle 1 is provided with a global positioning system (GPS) that receives radio waves from a satellite by a receiver and detects the current position of the own vehicle 1, and the current location of the own vehicle 1 detected by the GPS is previously determined. A navigation system 4 that calculates the surrounding environment of the host vehicle 1 by collating with stored map information, a clock 6 that indicates the current time, an illuminance sensor 8 that detects the illuminance around the host vehicle 1, and the host vehicle 1 And a human sensor 12 that senses a person in front of the vehicle 1 with infrared rays or the like.

  In addition, a right speaker 14 and a left speaker 16 that generate a running simulated sound are provided at both front ends of the host vehicle 1. The traveling sound is approximated to the traveling sound of a vehicle driven by an engine, for example. Furthermore, the right speaker 14 and the left speaker 16 can also generate a warning sound that calls attention to a person around the host vehicle 1 in addition to the simulated driving sound. The alert sound is, for example, a horn sound or a voice message.

  The host vehicle 1 is equipped with an ECU (electronic control unit) 18 (running simulated sound control means) that performs various controls of the host vehicle 1. The motor control device 2 a and the navigation system are provided on the input side of the ECU 18. 4, a clock 6, an illuminance sensor 8, a camera 10, and a human sensor 12 are connected to each other. On the other hand, the right speaker 14 and the left speaker 16 are connected to the output side of the ECU 18.

Referring to FIG. 2, the internal configuration of the ECU 18 of the simulated driving sound generator for a motor-driven vehicle according to the present invention is shown in a block diagram, and the input / output relationship of the ECU 18 will be described with reference to FIG.
The motor control device 2 a detects the operation of the motor 2, and the detection data is input to the motor operation recognition unit 20. The motor operation recognition unit 20 recognizes the operation of the motor 2 from the detection data.

The navigation system 4 compares the current location information of the host vehicle 1 with GPS and the stored map information to calculate the surrounding environment of the host vehicle 1, and the surrounding environment data is input to the surrounding environment recognition unit 22. . The surrounding environment recognition unit 22 recognizes the surrounding environment of the location where the host vehicle 1 is currently running from the surrounding environment data (a surrounding environment detection unit, a running environment detection unit).
The time data detected from the clock 6 is input to the time recognition unit 24. The time recognition unit 24 recognizes the current time from the time data (time detection means, travel environment detection means).

The illuminance data of the vehicle 1 detected from the illuminance sensor 8 is input to the illuminance recognition unit 26. The illuminance recognition unit 26 recognizes the illuminance around the host vehicle 1 from the illuminance data (illuminance detection means, travel environment detection means).
Also, video data captured by the camera 10 and sensed data from the human sensor 12 are input to the person recognition unit 28. The person recognition unit 28 detects a person around the own vehicle 1 based on the video data and the sensed data, and recognizes the number of detected persons, the positional relationship with the own vehicle 1 and the like (person detection). means).

Then, each recognition data of the surrounding environment recognition unit 22, the time recognition unit 24, and the illuminance recognition unit 26 is collated with a volume setting map M stored in advance, and traveling from each recognition data by collation with the volume setting map M. The volume of the simulated sound is selected and output to the traveling simulated sound control unit 30.
In the traveling pseudo sound control unit 30, when it is determined that the motor is not operating based on the motor operation recognition data from the motor drive recognition unit 20, the traveling pseudo sound is not generated, and the motor is operating and the person recognizing unit When it is determined that there is no person around the host vehicle 1 based on the person recognition data from the vehicle 28, the simulated sound is output to the right speaker 14 and the left speaker 16 so as to generate a running pseudo sound of the volume selected in the volume setting map M. If it is determined that there is a person, the volume in the direction in which the person is present is increased from the volume selected in the volume setting map M, and the volume in the direction in which no person is present remains the volume selected in the volume setting map M. The sound is output to a corresponding speaker so as to generate a running simulation sound.

Here, referring to FIG. 3, a volume setting map M is shown, and the selection of the volume of the simulated driving sound will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the volume setting map M is based on whether the vehicle 1 is currently traveling in a residential alley based on the surrounding environment recognition data from the surrounding environment recognition unit 22 or based on the time recognition data from the time recognition unit 24. Based on the illuminance recognition data from the illuminance recognition unit 26, whether the current time is in the middle of the night or early morning, whether the surroundings of the host vehicle 1 are dark or not is determined. The volume is set to be selected.

  The volume of the simulated driving sound selected here is set in three stages. The engine is driven in a time zone such as daytime that is not late at night or early in the morning and the surroundings are bright, that is, in an environment where the driving simulated sound is less likely to be noisy to the surroundings. A simulated driving sound is generated at a volume equivalent to that during normal driving of the vehicle. The volume at this time is set as a reference volume. In the case of late night or early morning or when the surroundings are dark and the driving sound is generated at the reference volume, the noise is generated in the vicinity. When traveling in a residential alley, the volume is set to be smaller than the suppression volume, for example, a minimum volume of about 5% of the reference volume. It should be noted that when these sound volumes are switched, it is desirable to change them continuously in order to reduce the uncomfortable feeling to the driver.

Hereinafter, the operation of the simulated driving sound generator for a motor-driven vehicle according to the present invention configured as described above will be described.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a control routine for generating the simulated running sound executed by the ECU 18 is shown in a flowchart, and will be described below based on the flowchart.
First, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the motor 1 is operating. If the determination result is false (No), the host vehicle 1 is not traveling, so there is no need to generate a simulated driving sound and the routine is exited. On the other hand, if the determination result is true (Yes), the process proceeds to step S2.

In step S2, the ambient environment data from the navigation system 4 is input. In the next step S3, time data from the clock 6 is input. In the next step S4, the illuminance data from the illuminance sensor 8 is input, and the process proceeds to step S5. .
In step S5, the volume setting map M is referred to, and the volume of the simulated driving sound suitable for the driving environment is selected based on the data input in steps S2 to S4, and the process proceeds to the next step corresponding to each volume. That is, if the reference volume is selected, the process proceeds to step S6. If the suppression volume is selected, the process proceeds to step S7. If the minimum volume is selected, the process proceeds to step S8. Generated from the speaker 16 and proceeds to step S9.

In step S9, the video data from the camera 10 is input. In the next step S10, the detection data from the human sensor 12 is input, and the process proceeds to step S11.
In step S11, it is determined whether or not there is a person around the host vehicle 1 based on the data input in steps S9 and S10. If the determination result is false (No), the routine is exited while the simulated running sound having the volume selected in step S5 is being generated. On the other hand, if the determination result is true (Yes), the process proceeds to step S12.

In step S12, it is determined whether the position of the person recognized in step S11 is the right side or the left side of the host vehicle 1, the front of the host vehicle 1, or a plurality of persons in two or more directions. If it is determined that the person is on the right side, the process proceeds to step S13. If it is determined that the person is on the left side, the process proceeds to step S14.
In step S13, the volume of the running pseudo sound generated from the right speaker 14 is increased from the volume selected in step S5, and the process proceeds to step S16 to generate a warning sound from the right speaker 14 and exit from the routine. At this time, the left speaker 16 continues to generate the simulated driving sound having the volume selected in step S5.

In step S14, the volume of the running pseudo sound generated from the left speaker 16 is increased from the volume selected in step S5, and the process proceeds to step S16 where a warning sound is generated from the left speaker 16 and the routine is exited. At this time, the right speaker 14 continues to generate the running simulated sound having the volume selected in step S5.
In step S15, the volume of the simulated driving sound generated by both the right speaker 14 and the left speaker 16 is increased from the volume selected in step S15, and the process proceeds to step S18 to generate a warning sound from both speakers. Exit the routine.

As described above, first, the own vehicle 1 generates a simulated driving sound having a volume suitable for the surrounding environment, and when there is a person around the own vehicle 1, only the person can be urged to pay special attention. Safety can be ensured with minimal sound.
As described above, in the traveling simulated sound generating device for a motor-driven vehicle according to the present invention, by generating the volume of the traveling simulated sound based on the volume setting map in which the volume of the traveling simulated sound suitable for the environment is set, It is possible to generate a running simulation sound so as not to generate noise.

Furthermore, when there are people such as pedestrians around, the volume of the simulated driving sound in the direction of the pedestrian is increased to alert the pedestrians etc. It is possible to reliably call attention to pedestrians.
Thereby, the safety | security regarding driving | running | working of a motor drive vehicle is securable.
This is the end of the description of the embodiment of the simulated driving sound generator for a motor-driven vehicle according to the present invention. However, the embodiment is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

For example, in the volume setting map M of the above embodiment, the volume is selected based on the surrounding environment, time, and illuminance, but the volume may be selected based on other information. In addition, the volume is set to three levels in the above embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any number of levels may be used. Further, instead of changing the volume, the timbre may be changed.
In the above embodiment, the speakers are provided at both front ends of the host vehicle. However, the number of speakers and the location of the speakers are not limited to this. Speakers may be provided at the four corners of the host vehicle so that attention can be given to the person behind the vehicle.

Further, both the camera and the human sensor in the above embodiment are directed only in front of the own vehicle, but a person detecting means may be provided behind the own vehicle.
In the above embodiment, the camera and the human sensor are provided as the person detecting means. However, any person can be used as long as it can detect a person around the own vehicle 1, and a person other than the camera and the human sensor can be used. An apparatus capable of detection may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, when a person is present around the host vehicle, a warning sound is generated in addition to an increase in the volume of the simulated driving sound. Or you may add specific conditions, such as generating a warning sound when the person around the own vehicle approaches very much.
In the above embodiment, in the volume setting map M, the reference volume is set to a volume comparable to that during normal driving of the engine-driven vehicle, but this may be configured such that the driver can adjust to some extent. Further, the suppression volume and the minimum volume may be set as appropriate.

It is a schematic block diagram of the driving | running | working simulated sound generator of the motor drive vehicle which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of ECU in the driving | running | working simulated sound generator of the motor drive vehicle which concerns on this invention. It is a volume setting map in the driving | running | working simulated sound generator of the motor drive vehicle which concerns on this invention. It is a part of flowchart which shows the driving | running | working simulated sound control routine which ECU in the driving | running | working simulated sound generator of the motor drive vehicle which concerns on this invention performs. FIG. 5 is a remaining part of a flowchart showing a running pseudo sound control routine following FIG. 4. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Own vehicle 2 Motor 2a Motor control apparatus 4 Navigation system (Ambient environment detection means, traveling environment detection means)
6 Clock (time detection means, travel environment detection means)
8 Illuminance sensor (illuminance detection means, travel environment detection means)
10 Camera (person detection means)
12 Human sensor (person detection means)
14 Right speaker (Driving sound generation means)
16 Left speaker (means for generating simulated running sound)
18 ECU (Driving sound control means)
M Volume setting map

Claims (5)

A traveling simulated sound generating means for generating a traveling simulated sound when the motor-driven vehicle travels;
Person detecting means for detecting a person existing around the motor-driven vehicle;
When the person detecting means detects a person present around the motor-driven vehicle, a running simulated sound control means for increasing the volume of the running simulated sound generated from the running simulated sound generating means is provided. The driving | running | working simulated sound generation device of the motor drive vehicle. A traveling simulated sound generating means for generating a traveling simulated sound when the motor-driven vehicle travels;
Person detecting means for detecting a person existing around the motor-driven vehicle;
Traveling environment detection means for detecting the traveling environment of the motor-driven vehicle;
A volume setting map in which a certain setting is set for the volume of the simulated driving sound according to the traveling environment information detected by the traveling environment detection unit;
Based on the driving environment information detected by the driving environment detection means and the volume setting map, the volume of the driving pseudo sound is determined, the driving pseudo sound generating means generates a driving pseudo sound of the volume, and the person detecting means When a person existing around the motor-driven vehicle is detected by the driving pseudo-noise control means for increasing the volume of the driving pseudo sound generated from the driving pseudo-noise generating means. A traveling sound generator for a motor-driven vehicle. The travel environment detection means includes
A surrounding environment detection means for detecting a current location of the motor-driven vehicle and detecting a surrounding environment where the motor-driven vehicle is currently traveling by collating with map information;
Illuminance detection means for detecting the illuminance around the motor-driven vehicle;
3. A simulated driving sound generator for a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the time detecting means detects the current time.   4. The sound volume setting map has a sound volume set in three stages with respect to the sound volume of the simulated driving sound according to the input of the driving environment detected by the driving environment detecting means. A traveling sound generator for a motor-driven vehicle. The running simulated sound generating means is provided at a plurality of locations of the motor-driven vehicle,
The person detecting means detects a position of a person around the motor-driven vehicle;
When the person detecting means detects a person around the motor-driven vehicle, the control means is the most suitable driving simulation among the driving simulation sound generating means provided at the plurality of locations from the positional relationship of the person. 5. The simulated driving sound generator for a motor-driven vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the volume of the simulated traveling sound generated by the sound generating means is increased.

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