JP2006349844A - Simulated engine sound generator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a safe and useful simulated engine sound generator with which any simulated engine sound other than moving sound of a vehicle itself is heard. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicle 1 includes a simulated engine sound selection means for generating any simulated engine sound selected from engine sound data of a real vehicle which is recoded beforehand, by driver's selection. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pseudo engine sound generation apparatus used in, for example, a real vehicle or a game machine, and more particularly to a pseudo engine sound generation apparatus that generates a desired pseudo engine sound arbitrarily selected by a driver.

  In general, the engine sound of an internal combustion engine-type automobile has a timbre unique to each vehicle type, particularly from the explosion sound of the internal combustion engine. Such engine noise has a strong possibility of becoming noise, and usually, when designing a vehicle, the direction is designed so as to reduce the engine noise as much as possible. On the other hand, by emphasizing the engine sound, it is also true that a driving feeling that cannot be obtained by normal driving can be obtained. If the engine sound is emphasized, it becomes possible to experience a sense of speed that exceeds the actual vehicle speed, and it becomes possible to know the engine state in more detail. In a driving game or a simulated vehicle for display, it may be necessary to generate an engine sound in order to realize a simulated running state.

  In addition, among young people and car enthusiasts, for example, sports cars such as supercars and F1 cars, foreign cars with high horsepower, or high-class cars are very interested in the unique engine sounds. Then, I was not satisfied and watched a car race or played a car racing game at a game center.

  However, recently, electric vehicles have been attracting attention in place of engine-powered vehicles using an internal combustion engine that uses gasoline as fuel because of energy problems and air pollution problems. In this electric vehicle, only a quiet electric sound driven by a motor is generated, and it is impossible to hear the engine sound as described above.

  Even in such a situation, there is a strong tendency to seek engine sounds of traditional engine sounds and sports cars, etc. As a result of seeking the engine sounds, the muffler of the own vehicle is modified or replaced This may cause noise pollution to the surroundings. In this way, while sports cars and luxury cars are not available, the act of seeking the engine sound of such vehicles becomes increasingly stronger with the shift to electric vehicles.

  In addition, the quietness in the passenger compartment accompanying the improvement in the performance of the vehicle is preferable for those who want it, but it is not interesting for those who want to experience driving with engine sound. However, it is a heavy burden on the vehicle production side to prepare the vehicle types that meet each of these requirements.

  Furthermore, the above-described electric vehicle is uniformly quiet outside the vehicle. When the driving sound is low or does not occur at all, the pedestrian is less likely to notice the approach of the vehicle due to the traveling sound of the vehicle, and an accident is likely to occur.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, as a vehicle-mounted engine sound effect device, generally, a so-called pseudo-engine that generates engine sound of a specific vehicle type recorded in sound source data from a speaker of a car radio device via a generation circuit. An invention as a sports muffler is disclosed.

Furthermore, as one of the social problems after becoming a car society like this, there are nuisance behaviors such as young people exploding on highways such as Sakai and the Metropolitan Expressway while making an explosive sound. Even though these actions became illegal, it was impossible to completely eliminate such problems. You can see on TV, etc., why you are doing this kind of behavior against youths who are doing the runaway, but many young people want to stand out or feel comfortable listening to the explosion The person who states is conspicuous.
JP-A-11-296185

  However, the apparatus for generating the engine sound for an internal combustion engine type automobile disclosed in Patent Document 1 is not originally intended to link the intensity of the engine sound with the traveling speed of the automobile, but for the driver, There is a sense of incongruity caused by the high and low frequencies of the pseudo-sound, and it does not correspond to the purpose of giving the driver a feeling of comfort obtained while driving the internal combustion engine type automobile while operating the automobile.

  Moreover, since the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 emits the engine sound only inside the host vehicle, no sound is generated outside the vehicle, and pedestrians are not alerted.

  Therefore, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, the pseudo engine sound can be enjoyed like an internal combustion engine type automobile by allowing the driver to freely select the pseudo engine sound. It was not possible to awaken and to solve these problems at the same time. In addition, there has been no technology for solving these problems at the same time.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a safe and useful pseudo engine sound generation device that can listen to any pseudo engine sound while being in the vehicle separately from the power sound of the host vehicle. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the inventor has a pseudo engine sound selection means for generating an arbitrary pseudo engine sound selected by a driver's selection from prerecorded engine sound data of a real vehicle. Invented a pseudo engine sound generator.

  (1) A pseudo engine sound generating device that generates an arbitrary pseudo engine sound inside and outside a vehicle, the storage means storing a plurality of pseudo engine sound data for generating the pseudo engine sound, and the plurality A pseudo engine sound selection means for accepting an external selection of one or a plurality of pseudo engine sound data for generating a pseudo engine sound inside and outside the vehicle from the pseudo engine sound data, and the pseudo engine sound selection means A pseudo engine sound generating apparatus comprising: sound generating means for extracting the pseudo engine sound corresponding to the one or more simulated engine sound data subjected to the above operation from the storage means and generating the engine engine sound inside and outside the vehicle.

  According to the invention of (1), by having a pseudo engine sound generating device that generates an arbitrary pseudo engine sound different from the power sound of the host vehicle, the pseudo engine sound that is arbitrarily selected by external selection can be obtained. It can be listened to while in the vehicle, and the pedestrian can be alerted by the approach of the vehicle by the arbitrarily selected pseudo engine sound outside the vehicle. Thereby, a safe and useful pseudo engine sound generator can be provided. In addition, according to the present invention, the desire of a person who wants to perform the above-mentioned runaway by making the sound inside the vehicle sound like that of a modified vehicle and outside the vehicle is the sound emitted by a normal vehicle. There is a possibility that it can provide an environment that does not cause inconvenience to people outside the vehicle while meeting the above.

  The vehicle referred to here may include both a real vehicle and a simulated vehicle.

  (2) The pseudo engine sound selection means includes a first selection means for selecting first pseudo engine sound data for in-vehicle use, and a second selection means for selecting second pseudo engine sound data for external use. The sound generation means includes: first sound generation means for generating a pseudo engine sound corresponding to the first pseudo engine sound data in the vehicle of the vehicle; and the second simulation outside the vehicle of the vehicle. The pseudo engine sound generation device according to (1), further comprising: second sound generation means for generating a pseudo engine sound corresponding to the engine sound data.

  According to the invention of (2), different pseudo engine sounds can be selected by the first selection means and the second selection means for the inside and outside of the vehicle. And, by the first selection means and the second sound generation means provided respectively inside and outside the vehicle of the vehicle, for example, inside the vehicle, it is possible to generate a pseudo engine sound of a driver's preference such as a sports car, A pseudo engine sound of a normal internal combustion engine type automobile can be generated. Further, for example, the first sound generating means may transfer the selected in-vehicle simulated engine sound data to a dedicated temporary storage means. The first sound generation means may include a dedicated speaker or a dedicated playback circuit. The same applies to the second sound generating means.

  As a result, the pseudo engine sound of a sports car or the like that may be considered as normal noise can be kept inside the vehicle, and the pseudo engine sound that is relatively insensitive to noise such as an ordinary car is selected outside the vehicle. Thus, it is possible to alert the pedestrian to the attention due to the approach of the vehicle while enjoying the simulated engine sound without causing trouble to the surroundings. Moreover, it is possible to cope with the driver's psychology such as embarrassment that a unique engine sound such as a sports car is emitted from the own vehicle. Thereby, a safe and useful pseudo engine sound generator can be provided.

  (3) The pseudo engine sound generation device according to (1) or (2), wherein the sound generation unit generates a pseudo engine sound according to a rotation state of an engine of the vehicle.

  According to the invention of (3), for example, by generating a pseudo engine sound according to the rotational state of the engine of the vehicle due to the driver's accelerator depression, it is possible to obtain a running sensation that cannot be obtained in normal driving. I can do it. Furthermore, if the engine sound is emphasized, it becomes possible to experience a sense of speed that is higher than the actual vehicle speed, and it is possible to suppress unnecessarily high speed. Thereby, a safe and useful pseudo engine sound generator can be provided.

  (4) A vehicle including a pseudo muffler and the pseudo engine sound generator according to any one of (1) to (3).

  According to the invention of (4), by attaching the pseudo muffler to the vehicle equipped with the pseudo engine sound generating device, it is possible to feel the realistic feeling of a sports car or a luxury vehicle. In addition, it is possible to eliminate a sense of incongruity seen by a third party that the engine sound is generated but the muffler is not attached.

  (5) A game device comprising the pseudo engine sound generating device according to any one of (1) to (3).

  According to the invention of (5), by using the pseudo engine sound generation device for a game machine, the engine sound can be changed according to the player's selection and preference, such as a tune-up in a driving game, for example. You can enjoy a lot of driving games.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it is safe and useful simulation which can enjoy a pseudo engine sound while being in a vehicle by arbitrary selection of a driver, and can alert a pedestrian to approach of a vehicle by a pseudo engine sound. An engine sound generator can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of a vehicle 1 in the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the pseudo engine sound generating apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing for generating a pseudo engine sound according to the present invention.

[overall structure]
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 shown in the present embodiment includes a tire 2, a handle 3, a power unit 4, a speaker 10, a display unit 20, and a pseudo engine sound generator main body 300. The vehicle 1 travels by driving a tire 2 with a power unit 4 (for example, a motor). Note that the power unit 4 is not required when the simulated engine sound generator according to the present invention is used in a simulated vehicle or a game.

  Further, although not mounted on the vehicle 1 shown in the present embodiment, a pseudo muffler may be mounted, and it may be preferable to discharge pseudo smoke that is harmless to the body.

  The simulated engine sound generator main body 300 is connected to the speaker 10, the display unit 20, the power unit 4, and various detection units (301 to 304), and is based on simulated engine sound data of a vehicle type arbitrarily selected by the driver. Then, after the operation state data obtained from the power unit 4 or the like is arithmetically processed, sound and display are output to the speaker 10 and the display unit 20.

  The data obtained from the power unit 4 includes the rotation speed and the throttle opening by the driver. However, in a simulated vehicle or a game, since there is no power unit, a calculation process is performed from data stored in advance. Is detected. In addition, as data indicating other driving states, there are data such as speed, acceleration, and throttle opening. These are obtained by a detection device attached to the vehicle.

  The speaker 10 has an outside speaker 10a and an inside speaker 10b, and the outside speaker 10a only needs to be provided at one of the left and right positions or at the center, and is waterproof and dustproof corresponding to the purpose of use. Those subjected to treatment such as fog prevention are preferred. The in-vehicle speaker 10b may use a speaker of an audio device mounted on the vehicle. When a speaker of an audio device is used, if the audio is equipped with a stereo sound function, it is more effective to use the function.

  The pseudo engine sound generator may be configured to be linked with the navigation system. In this case, when the navigation system is near a guide point, a city area, a railroad crossing, etc., the surrounding sound can be heard with caution. Alternatively, the configuration may be such that the volume of the pseudo engine sound is reduced or eliminated.

  Further, on a road that is relatively speedy, such as a highway, such as a highway, a sense of speed may be enhanced by increasing the sound volume, and a sense of speed may be suppressed.

  The display unit 20 is used for setting value input and output display by a driver or the like, and when an in-vehicle device having a monitor of a navigation system is mounted, the monitor can also be used.

  In addition, when a monitor such as a television receiver is provided, the monitor can be used.

  Further, the display content is not limited to the above, and may be used to display, for example, a tachometer indicating the rotational speed of the power obtained from the power unit 4.

[Pseudo engine sound generator]
As shown in FIG. 2, the pseudo engine sound generator according to the present embodiment includes a rotation speed detection unit 301 that detects the rotation speed of the power unit 4, a speed detection unit 302 that detects the speed of the vehicle, and an acceleration of the vehicle. An acceleration detecting unit 303 for detecting the throttle, a throttle opening detecting unit 304 for detecting the accelerator opening by the driver, and a set value input unit for the user to input various setting parameters to the pseudo engine sound generator main body 300 305, a data calculation unit 311, a sound generation control unit 312, and a display control unit 313. A control unit 310 for controlling these components, an engine sound storage unit 320 for storing engine sounds of an arbitrary vehicle type, a set value, etc. Digital data from the display unit 20 for displaying the sound and the sound generation control unit 312 for acquiring the data from the engine sound storage unit 320 and generating the engine pseudo sound. A D / A converter 330 for converting the log signal, an amplifier unit 340 for controlling the amplification and sound volume of the signal sound, and a speaker 10 for outputting a pseudo noise of the engine sound.

  The rotation speed detection unit 301 acquires the rotation speed from the position where the rotation speed of the power unit of the vehicle is controlled. Note that the detection of the rotational speed is not limited to this. For example, if the motor is a motor, the rotational speed may be detected from the rotating shaft. You may detect according to a state.

  The speed detection unit 302 detects the number of rotations of the tire and the number of rotations of the axle. The detection of the speed is not limited to this, and may be detected based on, for example, a speed signal sent to the speedometer.

  The acceleration detection unit 303 is calculated from the speed difference. The calculated value thus obtained is detected as the acceleration of the vehicle. Note that the detection of acceleration is not limited to this.

  The set value input unit 305 selects an arbitrary simulated engine sound from the vehicle type data stored in the simulated engine sound generation device, changes the simulated engine sound, switches between the simulated engine sound inside and outside the vehicle, and the simulated engine sound. The output is stopped. Also, the volume of the pseudo engine sound can be adjusted. The volume of the pseudo engine sound can also be adjusted by an amplifier 340 of the pseudo engine sound generator main body 300 described later.

  The pseudo engine sound generator main body 300 includes a data calculation unit 311, an engine sound storage unit 320, a sound generation control unit 312, a display control unit 313, a D / A converter 330, and an amplifier 340.

  The data calculation unit 311 calculates pseudo engine sound data corresponding to the driving situation from data in an engine sound storage unit 320 to be described later, based on data detected from various detection units.

  The engine sound storage unit 320 stores, for example, arbitrary data corresponding to the engine speed of a vehicle such as a supercar such as an F1 car or a Ferrari according to the rotational speed, speed, acceleration, and throttle opening.

  The engine sound storage unit 320 can store engine sounds of a plurality of types of vehicles, and is selected by the driver according to the driving situation and mood.

  Further, the engine sound storage unit 320 may have a rewritable memory (for example, a DRAM or the like), for example, from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM storing the pseudo engine sound, a new car model pseudo engine. It is good also as a structure which can read and write a sound.

  Furthermore, it is good also as a structure using the IC card etc. which stored the pseudo engine sound.

  The sound generation control unit 312 receives the digital signal of the pseudo engine sound data created in the data calculation unit based on the data in the engine sound storage unit 320 and sends it to the D / A converter 330.

  The D / A converter 330 converts the digital signal of the pseudo engine sound data obtained above into an analog signal and transmits the sound signal of the pseudo engine sound to the amplifier 340 described later.

  The amplifier 340 amplifies the analog signal sent from the D / A converter 330 and outputs it to the speaker 10. Thereby, a pseudo engine sound is generated. The amplifier 340 can adjust the volume of the pseudo engine sound.

  Next, processing for selecting and generating stored engine sounds will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the setting input unit 305 of the pseudo engine sound generator receives a pseudo engine sound output instruction from the driver (ST10).

  When the instruction is received, control unit 310 reads the vehicle type data of the set vehicle type stored in engine sound storage unit 320 (ST11), and displays the vehicle type list on display unit 20 (ST12).

  Next, the set value input unit 305 receives selection of the set vehicle type by the driver (ST13), and acquires the pseudo engine sound data of the vehicle type selected by the driver from the engine sound storage unit 320 (ST14).

  Next, control unit 310 acquires data on the operating state of the rotation speed, speed, acceleration, and throttle opening from various detection units (ST15).

  Next, based on the data acquired in ST15, control unit 310 extracts corresponding pseudo engine sound data (ST16).

  Next, in cooperation with the sound generation control unit 312, the control unit 310 sends the pseudo engine sound data extracted in ST16 to the D / A converter 330 and outputs it to the speaker 10 via the amplifier 340 (ST17). Thereby, a pseudo engine sound is generated.

  Next, when the end instruction (ST18) is received, the output of the pseudo engine sound is stopped and the stop display (ST20) is performed.

  When the end instruction (ST18) is not received and the setting change instruction by the driver is not received (ST19), the pseudo engine sound data is repeatedly acquired according to the driving situation, and the corresponding pseudo engine sound data is output. repeat. That is, engine sound arbitrarily selected by the driver can be generated from the speaker 10 according to driving conditions such as the speed and acceleration of the vehicle 1 and the throttle opening of the driver.

  When an instruction to change the vehicle type is received from the driver (ST19), the pseudo engine sound data is reselected from the set vehicle types and the generated pseudo engine sound data is switched.

  In this way, using the pseudo engine sound arbitrarily selected by the driver, it is possible to enjoy the pseudo engine sound according to the driving situation.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to set the pseudo engine sound inside and outside the vehicle, respectively, but the driver can set each of them, and by providing a switching device for the speaker 10, It is also possible to easily switch the pseudo engine sound outside the vehicle.

[Application to game consoles]
In the present embodiment, a configuration using a real vehicle is used, but the present invention can also be used in a game.

  For example, in a customizable driving game, if you customize your vehicle and replace the engine with points that are obtained by winning the game, etc., if the engine is of a sports car such as Ferrari or Lamborghini The engine sound can be changed at the same time when the engine is replaced. As a result, by stimulating not only vision but also hearing, the consciousness that the own vehicle is further customized becomes stronger, the player's interest increases, and the fun of the game also increases.

  When the present invention is implemented in a game machine, the basic configuration is the same as in this embodiment, but the power unit 4 as in this embodiment is not required. As for the speaker 10, for example, when playing at a game center, if there are many galleries and it is embarrassing, the in-car simulated engine sound can be heard only by yourself using headphones or the like. May be.

It is a top view which shows the structure of the vehicle 1 in this embodiment. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the pseudo | simulation engine sound generator based on this invention. It is the flowchart figure which showed the process which generates the pseudo engine sound which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 4 Power part 10 Speaker 10a Speaker outside car 10b Speaker in car 20 Display part 300 Pseudo engine sound generator main body 301 Rotation speed detection part 302 Speed detection part 303 Acceleration detection part 304 Throttle opening degree detection part 305 Set value input part 310 Control part 311 Data operation unit 312 Sound generation control unit 313 Display control unit 320 Engine sound storage unit

Claims (5)

A pseudo engine sound generating device that generates an arbitrary pseudo engine sound inside and outside a vehicle,
Storage means for storing a plurality of simulated engine sound data for generating the simulated engine sound;
A pseudo engine sound selection means for accepting an external selection of one or a plurality of pseudo engine sound data for generating a pseudo engine sound inside and outside the vehicle from the plurality of pseudo engine sound data;
A pseudo engine comprising: sound generating means for extracting the pseudo engine sound corresponding to one or a plurality of pseudo engine sound data selected by the pseudo engine sound selecting means from the storage means and generating the sound inside and outside the vehicle. Sound generator. The pseudo engine sound selection means includes first selection means for selecting first pseudo engine sound data for in-vehicle use, and second selection means for selecting second pseudo engine sound data for external use. ,
The sound generation means includes first sound generation means for generating a pseudo engine sound corresponding to the first pseudo engine sound data inside the vehicle, and the second pseudo engine sound data outside the vehicle. The pseudo engine sound generation device according to claim 1, further comprising second sound generation means for generating a corresponding pseudo engine sound.   The pseudo engine sound generation device according to claim 1, wherein the sound generation unit generates a pseudo engine sound according to a rotation state of an engine of the vehicle. Pseudo muffler,
A vehicle comprising: the pseudo engine sound generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A game device comprising the pseudo engine sound generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images