JP2003095032A - Exhaust noise output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a driver to hear the same exhaust noise as a vehicle using a conventional internal combustion engine corresponding to an operating state of a drive source, in a vehicle using the drive source producing no exhaust noise such as an electric motor, mainly. SOLUTION: The exhaust noise output device is provided with a detecting means 3 for detecting the operating state of the drive source 1 of the vehicle, an exhaust noise signal output means 7 for outputting the exhaust noise signal indicating the exhaust noise corresponding the operating state of the drive source detected from the detecting means 3, and a speaker 5 for outputting the exhaust noise based on the exhaust noise signal output from the exhaust noise signal output means 7. The exhaust noise signal output means 7 comprises a storage part 2 for storing the exhaust noise signal indicating the exhaust noise of the internal combustion engine for the vehicle, and a signal reading output part 4 for reading and outputting the exhaust noise signal corresponding to the operating state of the drive source detected from the detecting means 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an exhaust sound output device for outputting exhaust sound of an internal combustion engine for an automobile, which is mainly used by being mounted on an automobile which is driven by a drive source such as an electric motor which does not generate exhaust gas. Exhaust sound output device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional conventional automobiles are driven by an internal combustion engine, such as a gasoline engine or diesel engine, which generates exhaust gas, as a drive source. In recent years, a gasoline engine and an electric motor have been used together. 2. Description of the Related Art Vehicles that are driven by a drive source that does not generate exhaust gas, such as hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles that are driven only by electric motors, are becoming popular.

[0003]

By the way, in a conventional vehicle that is driven by an internal combustion engine that generates exhaust gas, an exhaust noise is generated when exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine is exhausted to the outside of the vehicle through an exhaust pipe. At the same time, an operating noise of the internal combustion engine itself, that is, an engine noise is generated. And
Many drivers are driving while enjoying such exhaust noise and engine sound, or while observing the operating state of the internal combustion engine from their ears by such exhaust noise and engine sound.

However, in an automobile that is driven by a drive source that does not generate exhaust gas, such as the electric motor described above, when traveling by such a drive source, exhaust noise, engine sound, particularly exhaust noise is not generated. For the driver who was driving while listening to the conventional exhaust noise, the driver feels that it is too quiet and unsatisfactory, and the enjoyment of driving while listening to the exhaust noise is lost, and the driving source operating state from the ear due to the exhaust noise is operating. There are complaints such as not being able to detect.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention is mainly mounted on a vehicle using a drive source such as an electric motor that does not generate exhaust noise, and a vehicle using a conventional internal combustion engine according to the operating state of the drive source. It is an object of the present invention to provide an exhaust sound output device that can hear a similar exhaust sound to a driver or the like.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an exhaust sound output device according to the present invention is an exhaust sound output device which is mounted on a vehicle and outputs the exhaust sound of an internal combustion engine for a vehicle. Detecting means for detecting an operating state of a drive source of an automobile, exhaust sound signal output means for outputting an exhaust sound signal representing the exhaust sound corresponding to the operating state of the drive source detected by the detecting means, and the exhaust sound And a speaker that outputs the exhaust sound based on the exhaust sound signal output from the signal output means.

In the above exhaust sound output device, the exhaust sound signal output means is a storage section for storing an exhaust sound signal representing exhaust sound of an automobile internal combustion engine, and the operating state of the drive source detected by the detecting means. And a signal read output section for reading out and outputting an exhaust sound signal corresponding to the above from the storage section.

Further, in this case, the storage section stores exhaust sound signals representing a plurality of kinds of exhaust sounds, and a predetermined kind of exhaust sound can be selected from the plurality of kinds of exhaust sounds. Different selection means is provided, and the signal read output section reads out an exhaust sound signal representing the exhaust sound of the type selected by the selection means from the storage section and outputs the read exhaust sound signal. it can.

In the exhaust sound output device, the signal read output section generates an exhaust sound signal corresponding to the operating state of the drive source detected by the detecting means, and outputs the generated exhaust sound signal. It may be one that does.

The detecting means may detect the rotation state of the output rotation of the drive source as the operating state of the drive source, or detect the rotation state of the wheels of the automobile. May be

The signal read output unit may output the read exhaust sound signal as it is when outputting the exhaust sound signal read from the storage unit, or may process the read exhaust sound signal. Then, the exhaust sound signal after processing may be output.

[0012]

As described above, the exhaust sound output device according to the present invention detects the operating state of the drive source of the automobile by the detecting means, and the exhaust sound signal of the internal combustion engine corresponding to the detected operating state of the drive source. The exhaust sound signal output means outputs the exhaust sound signal from the speaker based on the output exhaust sound signal. Therefore, a vehicle using a drive source such as an electric motor that does not generate exhaust gas Alternatively, by installing it in a vehicle in which exhaust gas is generated but exhaust noise is hardly heard in the passenger compartment, a driver or the like can drive a vehicle with a drive source similar to that of a vehicle running while generating exhaust noise by a conventional internal combustion engine. The exhaust sound according to the operating state can be heard and enjoyed, and the operating state of the drive source can be sensed from the ear by the exhaust sound.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an exhaust sound output device according to the present invention.

The illustrated exhaust sound output device is mounted on a vehicle 10 using an electric motor 1 as a drive source, and includes a storage unit 2 for storing a plurality of kinds of exhaust sound signals representing exhaust sound of an internal combustion engine. , Detecting means 3 for detecting the operating state of the electric motor 1, and an exhaust sound signal corresponding to the operating state of the electric motor detected by the detecting means 3 is read from the storage section 2 and the read exhaust sound signal is output. A signal read-out output unit 4, a speaker 5 that outputs an exhaust sound toward the inside of the vehicle compartment 11 based on an exhaust sound signal output from the signal read-out output unit 4, and a user such as a driver exhausts the plurality of types of exhaust gas. Selection means 6 capable of selecting a predetermined type of exhaust sound signal from the sound signals
It has and. The storage unit 2 and the signal read-out output unit 4 constitute exhaust sound signal output means 7, and reference numeral 8 in the drawing denotes a storage battery as a power source of the electric motor 1. In addition,
A fuel cell using hydrogen may be used instead of the storage battery.

The exhaust sound signal representing the exhaust sound of the internal combustion engine, which is stored in the storage unit 2, generates exhaust gas, and thus produces an exhaust sound when exhausting the exhaust gas from the exhaust pipe. Any signal may be used as long as it is a signal of, for example, an exhaust sound signal representing an exhaust sound of a gasoline engine, an exhaust sound of a diesel engine, an exhaust sound of a rotary engine, or the like can be stored. Further, as the exhaust sound signal, only one kind of exhaust sound signal may be stored, but a plurality of kinds of exhaust sound signals may be stored. In this embodiment, four types of exhaust sound signals are stored as an example of a plurality of types. Specifically, an exhaust sound signal of a gasoline engine ordinary car, an exhaust sound signal of Porsche (trademark) and an exhaust sound signal of Ferrari (trademark), which are exhaust sound signals of a sports car of a gasoline engine, and exhaust of a rotary engine. The sound signal is stored. Further, in storing each exhaust sound signal, the exhaust sound signals are stored in association with the operating state of the engine, which is each drive source.
In the present embodiment, as will be described later, as the operating state of the drive source, the rotational state of the output rotary shaft of the electric motor that is the drive source, particularly the rotational speed per unit time and its temporal change rate are detected. From the relationship, the rotational speed per unit time of the output rotary shaft of each of the gasoline engine and the rotary engine and the temporal change rate of the rotational speed are stored in association with each other. In addition, each exhaust sound signal is stored in association with signal type information indicating which kind of exhaust sound signal.

The detection means 2 determines the operating state of the electric motor 1 as a drive source, that is, the rotational state of the output rotary shaft of the electric motor 1, particularly the rotational speed per unit time and the rate of change of the rotational speed with time (the former). Is a speed, and the latter corresponds to acceleration or deceleration), and an encoder for detecting the rotation of the output rotation shaft of the electric motor 1 and the number of rotations per unit time based on the output from the encoder. It is composed of a calculation unit (none of which is shown) for obtaining a temporal change rate of the rotation speed.

The signal read output section 4 is provided with the detection means 3
An exhaust sound signal corresponding to the rotational speed of the electric motor 1 and the temporal change rate of the rotational speed output from the storage unit 2 is read from the storage unit 2 to output the exhaust sound signal. The signal is output to the speaker 5, and at the same time, the exhaust sound signal of the type selected by the selection means 6 described below is read and output.

As shown in FIG. 2, the selecting means 6 is provided in the center console portion of the dashboard 9 on the front side of the vehicle compartment so that the user can operate it from within the vehicle compartment 11. And a selection button 6a for selecting one exhaust sound from among the four kinds of exhaust sounds described above.
The selecting means 6 has a control function for controlling the entire apparatus, and particularly, the volume adjusting knob 6b for adjusting the volume of the exhaust sound output from the speaker 5, the high and low of the exhaust sound (high and low sounds). A sound quality control knob 6c for adjustment and an off button 6d for stopping the operation of the apparatus are provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the speakers 5 are provided on the left and right sides of the dashboard 9 in the front of the passenger compartment 11.

Although not shown in the drawing, when the IG key of the automobile is turned on, the present device is configured so that the switch is turned on in synchronization with it and the operation of the device is started. However, instead of being turned on by the IG key interlocking switch, for example, the off button 6d of the selecting means 6 may be an on / off button, and the switch of the apparatus may be turned on / off by this.

Next, the operation of the above device will be described.

Since the electric motor does not generate exhaust noise while the vehicle is operating, this device outputs the same exhaust noise as in a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle, and the driver starts the vehicle. When the IG gear is turned on to cause the electric motor 1 to turn on, the switch of the present apparatus is turned on, and the detection means 3 detects the rotation state of the electric motor 1 (the number of rotations per unit time and the temporal change rate of the number of rotations). The information on the rotation state is input to the signal reading output unit 4, and the signal reading output unit 4
Reads out an exhaust sound signal corresponding to the rotation state from the storage unit 2 based on the input rotation state. At this time,
The user can select the exhaust sound he or she wants to hear from the four kinds of exhaust sounds stored in the storage unit 2 using the selection button 6a of the selection means, and the information indicating the selected exhaust sound type is selected. Is input from the means 6 to the signal read output section 4,
The signal read output unit 4 reads an exhaust sound signal representing the selected type of exhaust sound. The exhaust sound signal thus read is input to the speaker 5, and the speaker 5 outputs the exhaust sound into the vehicle interior 11 based on the exhaust sound signal. At that time, the user controls the volume and sound quality (high and low) of the exhaust sound output in the vehicle interior 11 by the volume control knob 6b and the sound quality control knob 6b.
It is possible to adjust by c, and the output of exhaust noise can be stopped by the off button 6d when unnecessary.

In the above embodiment, the rotation state of the electric motor is detected as the operating state of the drive source.
The operating state of the drive source is not limited to this, and may be another one, for example, one that detects the rotational state of the wheels of the automobile (the number of revolutions per unit time and the temporal change rate of the number of revolutions). . The rotation state of the wheels does not always correspond exactly to the rotation state of the drive source when there is a clutch between the electric motor and the wheels and when the clutch disengages the electric motor from the wheels. There is no, but when the clutch is on, it corresponds to the rotation state of the drive source,
Moreover, since the ratio of the clutch disengagement time to the whole is very small, it corresponds substantially to the rotation state of the electric motor as a whole, and the rotation state of this wheel can be detected as the operating state of the drive source. it can. Since the operating state of the drive source corresponds to the stepped state of the accelerator pedal 12 shown in FIG. 2, the stepped amount of the accelerator pedal 12 and the time change rate of the stepped amount are taken as the operating state of the drive source. It can also be detected.

In the exhaust sound output device of the present invention, since the operating state of the drive source is reflected in the exhaust sound, the exhaust sound corresponding to the operating state is detected. Since it is intended to output, the operating state of the drive source may be detected within a range in which the purpose can be achieved, and the detection method may be various, whether direct or indirect. Can be detected by the method.

Further, although the above-described embodiment is mounted on a vehicle using an electric motor as a drive source, the device of the present invention can be mounted on a vehicle using any drive source. For example, it can be mounted in a vehicle that uses a gasoline engine but produces very low exhaust noise, or a hybrid vehicle that uses both an electric motor and a gasoline engine. When mounted on a hybrid vehicle, the detection means may be configured to detect the rotational state of the output rotary shaft that is rotated by both the electric motor and the gasoline engine as the operating state of the drive source.

In the above embodiment, the speaker 5 is installed in the passenger compartment.
Although the exhaust sound is provided inside the vehicle 11, the exhaust sound may be output not only inside the vehicle compartment 11 but also outside the vehicle. By doing so, it is possible to make people outside the vehicle notice that the vehicle is approaching, etc., and it is possible to improve safety. In this case, it is desirable to provide, for example, an outside exhaust sound on / off button (not shown) in the selecting means 6 so that the exhaust sound output to the outside of the vehicle can be turned on and off independently of the exhaust sound output to the inside of the vehicle compartment 11. Moreover,
The speaker 5 may be provided so as to be able to output exhaust sound only outside the vehicle. In that case, for example, instead of the off button 6d of the selecting means 6, an on / off button for controlling on / off of exhaust sound output to the outside of the vehicle can be provided. . The speaker 5 that outputs the exhaust sound into the vehicle interior 11 can also be used as, for example, a radio or audio speaker provided in the vehicle interior.

In the above embodiment, the exhaust sound signal output means 7 is composed of the storage unit 2 and the signal read output unit 4. However, the storage unit 2 storing such exhaust sound signal should be used. Alternatively, an exhaust sound signal output means for generating and outputting an exhaust sound signal according to the operating state of the drive source by an exhaust sound signal generation program prepared in advance can be used. When the storage unit 2 is used as described above, the signal read output unit 4 is
It is also possible to appropriately process the read exhaust sound signal and output the processed exhaust sound signal.

In the above embodiment, the exhaust sound corresponding to the operating state of the drive source is output.
Not only the exhaust sound, but also the operating sound of the internal combustion engine for automobiles, so-called engine sound, is stored in the storage unit in association with the operating state of the drive source, and is also associated with the operating state of the drive source together with the exhaust sound. It can also be configured to output from a speaker.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an exhaust sound output device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a dashboard portion on the front surface of the vehicle interior in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 drive source 2 memory 3 detection means 4 Signal read output section 5 speakers 6 selection means 7 dashboard 10 cars

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An exhaust sound output device mounted on a vehicle for outputting exhaust sound of an internal combustion engine for a vehicle, comprising: detecting means for detecting an operating state of a drive source of the vehicle; An exhaust sound signal output means for outputting an exhaust sound signal representing the exhaust sound corresponding to the operating state of the drive source; and a speaker for outputting the exhaust sound based on the exhaust sound signal output from the exhaust sound signal output means. An exhaust sound output device comprising: 2. A storage unit in which the exhaust sound signal output means stores an exhaust sound signal representing exhaust sound of an internal combustion engine for an automobile,
The exhaust sound output device according to claim 1, further comprising: a signal read output unit that reads out and outputs an exhaust sound signal corresponding to an operating state of the drive source detected by the detection unit from the storage unit. . 3. The storage section stores exhaust sound signals representing a plurality of kinds of exhaust sounds, and a selection capable of selecting a predetermined kind of exhaust sound from the plurality of kinds of exhaust sounds. Means for reading the exhaust sound signal representing the exhaust sound of the type selected by the selecting means from the storage portion, and outputting the read exhaust sound signal. The exhaust sound output device according to claim 2. 4. The exhaust sound signal output means generates an exhaust sound signal corresponding to the operating state of the drive source detected by the detecting means, and outputs the generated exhaust sound signal. The exhaust sound output device according to claim 1. 5. The exhaust gas according to claim 1, wherein the detection means detects a rotational state of output rotation of the drive source as an operating state of the drive source. Sound output device. 6. The exhaust sound output according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the detection means detects a rotation state of wheels of the automobile as an operating state of the drive source. apparatus.