JPH10201001A - Electric car - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inform pedestrians of the approach of an electric car surely, in the cource of ordinary running, by providing an alarm sound controller for generating alarm sound controller for generating alarm sounds according to running conditions and a loudspeaker. SOLUTION: An alarm sound controller 6 and a loudspeaker 7 are mounted in an electric car 1 which runs by rotating wheels 5 with an electric motor 4 operated by a battery 2, a power source. And the alarm sound controller 6 receives signals concerning running conditions by a motor drive controller 3, and causes the loudspeaker 7 to emit alarm sounds according to the running conditions. It becomes possible to prevent the generation of noises and to heighten the effect of the alarm sounds, by mounting an environment sensor 8 also in addition for detecting environmental sounds light, etc., and performing control so as to vary the quality, volume, etc., of the alarm sound by the alarm sound controller 6 according to environments.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric vehicle capable of protecting a pedestrian from a traffic accident.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the concept of a conventional electric vehicle. The conventional electric vehicle 11 includes a battery 2
Is used as a power source to control the motor 4 by the motor drive control device 13 so as to be in a predetermined running state.
The vehicle travels by driving the wheels 5 with the drive source as a drive source.

However, in an automobile (hereinafter, referred to as a "gasoline-powered vehicle") driven by an internal combustion engine (engine) that burns fuel such as gasoline or light oil, noise due to fuel combustion noise requires a muffler. On the other hand, electric vehicles have a very quiet motor as a driving source, and therefore, when viewed from a pedestrian or a cyclist outside the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as a “pedestrian”), “electric power” It has the disadvantage that it is very hard to notice the approach of a car compared to a "car".

For example, it is extremely dangerous if an electric vehicle approaches at high speed without sound while a “pedestrian” is crossing a road. In particular, if an electric vehicle runs immediately behind a noisy "gasoline-powered vehicle" or an electric vehicle runs in a noisy place, the "pedestrian" can hardly see the approach of the electric vehicle. Recently, "pedestrians"
However, the danger is only increased by listening to the headphone stereo or walking while talking on the mobile phone.

Conventionally, there is a horn in which a driver of an automobile operates a switch to sound an alarm, but this is an alarm device having a characteristic that a "pedestrian" notices a danger only after the driver sounds an alarm. In the case of a conventional electric vehicle, "pedestrians" are unlikely to notice danger unless the driver sounds an alarm.

[0006] Also, horn sounds a loud irritating sound when the danger is really high. If the horn is kept running during running, it means as a warning means when the danger is high. This is not preferable from the viewpoint of preventing noise in addition to disappearing.

[0007] Therefore, in order to surely inform the "pedestrian" of the approach of the electric vehicle during normal driving and to prevent the "pedestrian" from taking dangerous actions, an alarm means other than horn is required. is required.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention reliably informs a "pedestrian" of the approach of an electric vehicle during normal driving, and prevents the "pedestrian" from taking dangerous actions. It is intended to realize an electric vehicle equipped with an alarm device.

[0009]

An electric vehicle according to the present invention is an electric vehicle that runs by driving a wheel with a motor using a battery as a power source. It is characterized by having a loudspeaker.

[0010]

The warning sound control device and the loudspeaker generate a warning sound in accordance with the running condition, and reliably notify the "pedestrian" of the approach of the electric vehicle during normal running.

[0011]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an electric vehicle according to the present invention. The same parts as those in the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. The electric vehicle 1 according to the present invention is equipped with a warning sound control device 6 and a loudspeaker device 7. The warning sound control device 6 receives a signal related to the traveling state from the motor drive control device 3 and generates an electric signal of a sound corresponding to the traveling state. Loudspeaker 7
To send an alarm sound.

For example, the following method can be considered as the alarm sound and how to generate the alarm sound. (1) Generate a sound completely imitating the sound of a "gasoline car". In other words, in addition to imitating the sound quality, volume, etc. of the engine sound of a "gasoline-powered vehicle", the sound is quiet during cruising or at a stop, and loud and high during acceleration. Resemble the engine sound of In other words, it is a way that it is difficult to distinguish from a “gasoline car” if you only hear the sound. "Pedestrians" can easily understand whether the car is rushing while accelerating or running slowly because the engine sound of the "gasoline car" is familiar to the ear. Is considered to be the most suitable method. (2) The method is the same as the above (1), except that no warning sound is generated when there is no particular need, such as during a stop for a traffic light. In this way, the noise of the running electric vehicle can be emphasized, and at the same time, noise and battery consumption can be prevented. (3) The sound quality and sound volume shall be different from the engine sound of "gasoline-powered vehicles".
And (2). This is an effective method when it is necessary to identify an electric vehicle by sound. (4) As shown in FIG. 1, an environment sensor 8 for detecting surrounding sounds, light, and the like is also mounted, and is controlled by the alarm sound control device 6 to change sound quality, volume, and the like according to the environment. For example, (a) at night or while driving in a quiet residential area, the volume is reduced more than during driving in a daytime or a loud place. (B) In a loud place, an alarm sound having a tone quality (tone) different from that of the surrounding noise is generated so that the sound of the electric vehicle can be distinguished from the surrounding noise. By doing so, it is possible to prevent noise and improve the effect of the alarm sound.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the present invention relates to a so-called "hybrid vehicle" equipped with both an engine and a motor. Various changes can be made within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, such as mounting a similar alarm sound generating device, and they all belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0014]

According to the electric vehicle of the present invention, during normal driving, the "pedestrian" side is reliably informed of the approach of the electric vehicle, and the electric vehicle is more likely to cause a traffic accident than the "gasoline vehicle". The risk can be prevented from increasing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of an electric vehicle according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional electric vehicle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 is an electric vehicle 2 is a battery 3 is a motor drive control device 4 is a motor 5 is a wheel 6 is an alarm sound control device 7 is a loudspeaker 8 is an environmental sensor 11 is an electric vehicle 13 is a motor drive control device

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Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electric vehicle which travels by driving wheels with a motor using a battery as a power source, comprising an alarm sound control device for generating an alarm sound according to a running state and a loudspeaker.