JP2018077504A - Engine sound output device and engine sound output method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a passenger of an electric vehicle with an actual running feeling corresponding to a running state and a comfortable driving feeling.SOLUTION: On the basis of a vehicle speed and an accelerator aperture that have been detected, a calculating section 720 calculates a pseudo engine speed ERcorresponding to an engine speed in a case where a drive mechanism is the engine. A generating section 740 generates a characteristic change signal FSDwhose frequency has been shifted (ER/ER) times from an engine sound signal ESD(j=1, 2, ..., N) for each engine speed ERof an engine vehicle. Next, the generating section 740 synthesizes characteristic change signals FSDso as to increase a synthesis proportion for a characteristic change signal corresponding to an engine speed close to the pseudo engine speed ER, while decreasing a synthesis proportion for a characteristic change signal corresponding to an engine speed deviating from the pseudo engine speed ER. The pseudo engine sound based on the thus synthesized signal is output into a vehicle cabin.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an engine sound output device, an engine sound output method, an engine sound output program, and a recording medium on which the engine sound output program is recorded.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a technique for generating a simulated environment in a passenger compartment has been attracting attention in order to give a vehicle occupant a sense of realism and a comfortable drive. As a technique proposed regarding the generation of such a simulated environment, for example, there is a technique that generates an engine sound corresponding to a running state of a vehicle and outputs the engine sound into a vehicle interior (see Patent Document 1: hereinafter, “ It is called “conventional example”).

  In this conventional technology, engine sound is picked up in an engine room of a vehicle (hereinafter referred to as “engine vehicle”) using a gasoline engine or a diesel engine as a drive mechanism, and an engine sound signal indicating the engine sound is generated. To do. Then, the engine sound signal is processed to give distortion according to the engine speed and the accelerator pedal operation speed, and the processed engine sound based on the processed engine sound signal is arranged in the vehicle interior of the engine vehicle. Output from the other speaker.

JP 2008-145659 A

  Recently, electric vehicles such as electric vehicles using a motor as a drive mechanism and hybrid vehicles using a motor as a part of the drive mechanism have appeared one after another from the viewpoint of energy saving and reduction of environmental load. When such an electric vehicle travels, the level of driving sound in the passenger compartment is dramatically lower than that of a conventional engine vehicle. As a result, in the electric vehicle, a situation occurs in which it is not possible to obtain a driving presence and a driving feeling due to the engine sound obtained in the engine vehicle. For this reason, it can be said that the necessity of creating a simulated environment corresponding to the traveling state in the vehicle compartment is higher in the electric vehicle than in the case of the engine vehicle.

  However, in the technology of the conventional example, as described above, the processed engine sound corresponding to the traveling state is output to the vehicle interior space of the engine vehicle, thereby creating a simulated environment in the vehicle interior space. Therefore, during the period when the motor is used as the drive mechanism, the technology of the conventional example cannot be applied to the creation of a simulated environment in the interior space of the electric vehicle corresponding to the traveling state.

  For this reason, the technique which can create the pseudo environment by the pseudo engine sound corresponding to a driving | running | working state also in the vehicle interior space of an electric vehicle is desired. Meeting this requirement is one of the problems to be solved by the present invention.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a new engine sound output device capable of giving a sense of realism and a comfortable driving feeling corresponding to a traveling state to a passenger of an electric vehicle and An object is to provide an engine sound output method.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a plurality of engine sound information from a first acquisition unit that acquires vehicle travel information; and a storage unit that stores a plurality of engine sound information that is information related to engine sound for each engine speed. A synthesized sound information corresponding to the travel information obtained by the first obtaining unit by synthesizing a plurality of signals based on the plurality of engine sound information obtained by the second obtaining unit. An engine sound output, comprising: a generation unit that generates a pseudo engine sound based on the generated synthesized sound information from an output unit disposed in a vehicle interior of the vehicle. Device.

  The invention according to claim 6 is an engine sound output method used in an engine sound output device for outputting an engine sound from an output unit disposed in a vehicle interior of a vehicle, and is a first method for acquiring vehicle travel information. An acquisition step; a second acquisition step of acquiring a plurality of engine sound information from a storage unit that stores a plurality of engine sound information that is information on the engine sound for each engine speed; a plurality of acquired in the second acquisition step; Generating a synthesized sound information corresponding to the travel information acquired in the first acquiring step by synthesizing a plurality of signals based on the engine sound information; and a simulation based on the generated synthesized sound information And a control step of outputting engine sound from an output unit disposed in a vehicle cabin of the vehicle.

  According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer having an engine sound output device that outputs engine sound from an output unit disposed in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, to execute the engine sound output method according to the sixth aspect. This is a characteristic engine sound output program.

  According to an eighth aspect of the invention, an engine sound output program according to the seventh aspect is recorded so as to be readable by a computer included in an engine sound output device that outputs engine sound from an output unit disposed in a vehicle cabin. It is the recording medium characterized by the above.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the engine sound output apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the terminal device and output sound management apparatus which concern on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the structure of the engine sound output apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control unit of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a modulation signal generated by a modulation signal generation unit in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the content of “gear setting information” used by a pseudo engine rotation speed calculation unit in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the content of “gear ratio information” used by the pseudo engine speed calculation unit of FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the contents of a “volume setting table” used by the signal synthesis unit of FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the contents of “amplification information” used by the signal amplification unit in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the content of “modulation degree information” used by the modulation signal generation unit in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a characteristic change signal generation unit in FIG. 4. It is a figure which shows the example of the characteristic change signal FSD which carried out frequency shift of the engine sound signal which the individual characteristic change signal generation part of FIG. 11 produces | generates. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the output process of the pseudo engine sound by the apparatus of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description and drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[First Embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

<Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an engine sound output device 700 according to the first embodiment. This engine sound output device 700 is arranged in an electric vehicle CR (hereinafter referred to as “vehicle CR”) that uses electric energy as all of driving energy.

  In the first embodiment, the vehicle CR is equipped with an output unit 910, a travel information detection unit 920, and a storage unit 930 in addition to the engine sound output device 700.

  The output unit 910 includes a sounding body such as a speaker (hereinafter referred to as “speaker SP”) that outputs a pseudo engine sound toward the inside of the vehicle CR in accordance with an output sound signal sent from the engine sound output device 700. ing.

  The traveling information detection unit 920 detects traveling information of the vehicle CR. The vehicle travel information detected by the travel information detection unit 920 is sent to the engine sound output device 700. In the first embodiment, the object to be detected by the travel information detection unit 920 includes the speed of the vehicle CR (hereinafter also referred to as “vehicle speed”) and the accelerator opening corresponding to the accelerator depression amount, and the detected vehicle speed The accelerator opening is sent to the engine sound output device 700.

In the first embodiment, the storage unit 930 stores a plurality of “engine sound information”, which is information related to the engine sound for each engine speed of the engine vehicle, collected in the engine room of the engine vehicle. Is done. In the first embodiment, "engine sound information ESI _1" of the engine speed ER _1, "engine sound information ESI _2" of the engine speed ER _2, ..., "engine sound information ESI _N" of the engine speed ER _N (ER ₁ <ER ₂ <... <ER _N ) is included.

  If sound reproduction is performed according to the engine sound information, the engine sound corresponding to the engine speed associated with the engine sound information can be reproduced as a pseudo engine sound. The engine sound output device 700 can access the storage unit 930.

<< Configuration of Engine Sound Output Device 700 >>
Next, the configuration of the engine sound output device 700 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the engine sound output device 700 includes a first acquisition unit 710, a calculation unit 720, and a second acquisition unit 730. The engine sound output device 700 includes a generation unit 740 and a control unit 750.

  Said 1st acquisition part 710 acquires the detection result of the vehicle speed and accelerator opening sent from the driving information detection part 920. FIG. The vehicle speed acquired in this way is sent to the calculation unit 720. The acquired accelerator opening is sent to the calculation unit 720 and the generation unit 740.

The calculation unit 720 receives the detection result of the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening sent from the first acquisition unit 710. Then, the calculation unit 720 calculates “pseudo engine speed ER _P ” corresponding to the engine speed when the drive mechanism of the vehicle CR is an engine based on the detection result of the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening. False engine rotational speed ER _P thus calculated is sent to the generator 740.

The second acquisition unit 730 appropriately acquires “engine sound information ESI ₁ ”, “engine sound information ESI ₂ ”,..., “Engine sound information ESI _N ” from the storage unit 930. Then, the second acquisition unit 730 sends the acquired engine sound information to the generation unit 740. In the first embodiment, the second acquisition unit 730 acquires the engine sound information ESI _j (j = 1, 2,..., N).

The generation unit 740 receives “engine sound information ESI ₁ ”, “engine sound information ESI ₂ ”,..., “Engine sound information ESI _N ” sent from the second acquisition unit 730. The generation unit 740 receives “pseudo engine speed ER _P ” sent from the calculation unit 720. Furthermore, the generation unit 740 receives the “accelerator opening” sent from the first acquisition unit 710.

Then, the generation unit 740 obtains “engine sound information ESI ₁ ”, “engine sound information ESI ₂ ”,..., “Engine sound information ESI _N ”, and “pseudo engine speed ER _P ” and “accelerator opening”. Synthetic sound information is generated based on “degree”. Subsequently, the generation unit 740 sends the generated synthesized sound information to the control unit 750. Details of the synthetic sound information generation processing by the generation unit 740 will be described later.

  The control unit 750 receives the synthesized sound information sent from the generation unit 740. Then, the control unit 750 generates an output sound signal of the pseudo engine sound based on the synthesized sound information. Subsequently, the control unit 750 supplies the generated output sound signal to the output unit 910.

<Operation>
The operation of the engine sound output device 700 configured as described above will be described mainly focusing on the synthetic sound information generation processing for outputting the pseudo engine sound by the generation unit 740.

In this engine sound output device 700, it is assumed that the first acquisition unit 710 has acquired the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening degree sent from the travel information detection unit 920. And the 1st acquisition part 710 shall send the said vehicle speed and accelerator opening to the calculation part 720 sequentially. The calculation unit 720 that receives the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening degree sent from the first acquisition unit 710 sequentially calculates the “pseudo engine speed ER _P ” based on the vehicle speed, the accelerator opening degree, and the like. a pseudo engine speed ER _P, it is assumed that the sending to the generator 740. Moreover, the 1st acquisition part 710 shall send the acquired accelerator opening to the production | generation part 740 one by one.

Further, in the engine sound output device 700, the second acquisition unit 730 acquires “engine sound information ESI ₁ ”, “engine sound information ESI ₂ ”,..., “Engine sound information ESI _N ” from the storage unit 930. It shall be. The engine sound information ESI _j (j = 1, 2,..., N) is assumed to be sent from the second acquisition unit 730 to the generation unit 740.

In such a state, the generation unit 740 generates synthesized sound information for output to the pseudo engine sound. Upon generation of such synthesis sound information, generating unit 740, first, based on the pseudo engine speed ER _P calculated, "engine sound information _{ESI j (j = 1,2, ...} , N) " for each of The “characteristic change signal FSD _j ” is generated by shifting the frequency to the “engine sound signal ESD _j ” by (ER _P / ER _j ) times.

Here, each of the engine sound signals ESD _j (j = 1, 2,..., N) may be a sound signal (t) (t: time) composed of time-series sound data, or a frequency. It may be a spectrum sound signal (f) (f: frequency). When the engine sound signal ESD _j is a sound signal (t) composed of time-series sound data, the time interval between the sound data in the sound signal (t) is set to (ER _P / ER _j ) ^−1. The characteristic change signal FSD _j (T) (T: time) may be generated by doubling. When the engine sound signal ESD _j is a sound signal (f) having a frequency spectrum, the characteristic change signal FSD _j is obtained by multiplying the frequency f of the sound signal (f) by (ER _P / ER _j ) times. (F) (F: frequency) may be generated.

Subsequently, generation unit 740, "characteristic change signal FSD _1" of N obtained by shifting the frequency, the "characteristic change signal FSD _2" - "characteristic change signal FSD _N", based on the pseudo engine speed ER _P predetermined Weighted composition with the ratio of. Such predetermined percentage, the more characteristic change signal FSD corresponding to the engine rotational speed ER close to the pseudo engine speed ER _P by increasing the proportion of weighting synthesis, corresponding to the engine speed away the pseudo engine speed ER _P characteristics Regarding the change signal FSD, the ratio of weighted synthesis is set low, and is determined in advance based on experiments, simulations, and the like.

Next, the generation unit 740 amplifies a signal obtained by weighting and combining “characteristic change signal FSD ₁ ” and “characteristic change signal FSD ₂ ” to “characteristic change signal FSD _N ” in accordance with the accelerator opening. The amplified combined signal GSD is generated.

In parallel with the generation of such amplified composite signal GSD, generator 740, to the frequency of a given order of the signals corresponding to the pseudo engine speed ER _P calculated, the amplitude of the amplitude modulation degree corresponding to the accelerator opening A modulated signal MSD is generated. Then, the generation unit 740 amplitude-modulates the amplified combined signal GSD based on the generated modulation signal MSD. The amplitude-modulated signal is sent to the control unit 750 as synthesized sound information.

  Upon receiving the synthesized sound information sent from the generation unit 740, the control unit 750 generates an output sound signal corresponding to the pseudo engine sound. Then, the control unit 750 supplies the generated output sound signal to the output unit 910.

  Upon receiving the output sound signal, the output unit 910 outputs the pseudo engine sound according to the output sound signal toward the inside of the vehicle CR. As a result, a pseudo engine sound corresponding to the traveling state of the vehicle CR is output from the output unit 910.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the first acquisition unit 710 acquires the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening detected by the travel information detection unit 920, and sends the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening to the calculation unit 720. Then, the calculation unit 720 calculates the pseudo engine speed ER _P based on the vehicle speed, the accelerator opening, and the like sent from the first acquisition unit 710, and generates the calculated pseudo engine speed ER _P Send to 740. In addition, the first acquisition unit 710 sends the accelerator opening detected by the travel information detection unit 920 to the generation unit 740. Upon receiving the pseudo engine speed calculated in this way and the acquired accelerator opening, the generation unit 740 generates synthetic sound information for outputting the pseudo engine sound.

When generating the synthetic sound information, the generation unit 740 receives a plurality of engine sound information ESI _j (j, which is information related to the engine sound for each engine speed of the engine vehicle, from the storage unit 930 via the second acquisition unit 730. = 1, 2, ..., N). Then, the generation unit 740 generates a “characteristic change signal FSD _j ” obtained by shifting the frequency by (ER _P / ER _j ) times with respect to the engine sound signal ESD _j corresponding to the engine sound information ESI _j . Subsequently, generation unit 740, N pieces of "characteristic change signal FSD _1", the "characteristic change signal FSD _2" - "characteristic change signal FSD _N", the weighted synthesized in a predetermined ratio based on the pseudo engine speed ER _P Then, the amplified combined signal GSD is generated by amplifying according to the accelerator opening.

Further, generating unit 740, generated for the frequency of a given order of the signals corresponding to the pseudo engine speed ER _P calculated, the modulation signal MSD subjected to amplitude modulation of the amplitude modulation degree corresponding to the accelerator opening degree To do. Then, the generation unit 740 amplitude-modulates the amplified combined signal GSD based on the generated modulation signal MSD. The amplitude-modulated signal is sent to the control unit 750 as synthesized sound information.

  Then, upon receiving the synthesized sound information sent from the generating unit 740, the control unit 750 generates an output sound signal of the pseudo engine sound based on the synthesized sound information, and sends the generated output sound signal to the output unit 910. Supply. The output unit 910 outputs the pseudo engine sound according to the output sound signal thus generated toward the inside of the vehicle CR.

  For this reason, in 1st Embodiment, the simulated environment by the pseudo engine sound corresponding to a driving | running | working state can be created in the vehicle interior of an electric vehicle.

In the first embodiment, “engine sound signal ESD _j ” (j = 1, 2,..., N) of engine speed ER _j is shifted by (ER _P / ER _j ) times. A characteristic change signal FSD _j "is generated. Then, the "characteristic change signal FSD _j", as characteristic change signal FSD corresponding to the engine rotational speed close to the pseudo engine speed ER _P by increasing the proportion of weighting synthesis engine apart from the pseudo engine speed ER _P The characteristic change signal FSD corresponding to the number is weighted and combined in such a manner that the weighting ratio is reduced.

As a result, to generate engine discontinuities and the engine sound information for each rotation speed, a so-called pop without taking hear sound, realistic pseudo engine sound that following the change of the calculated pseudo engine speed ER _P Can do.

  In the first embodiment, the pseudo engine sound output into the passenger compartment is amplitude-modulated in accordance with the calculated pseudo engine speed and the accelerator opening, so that a mechanical sound during vehicle acceleration is also produced. be able to.

  Therefore, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to give a sense of driving reality and a comfortable driving feeling corresponding to the driving state to the passenger of the electric vehicle.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

<Configuration>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing configurations of the terminal device 810 and the output sound management device 820 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal device 810 is arranged in a vehicle (electric vehicle) CR, and is connected to an output unit 910 and a travel information detection unit 920 equipped in the vehicle CR. The terminal device 810 and the output sound management device 820 can communicate with each other via the network 850.

  The output sound management device 820 can communicate with other terminal devices configured similarly to the terminal device 810, but only the terminal device 810 is representatively shown in FIG.

<< Configuration of Terminal Device 810 >>
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the terminal device 810 includes a travel information data acquisition unit 811, a transmission unit 812, and a reception unit 815.

  The travel information data acquisition unit 811 acquires the detection result of the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening degree of the vehicle CR sent from the travel information detection unit 920. Then, the travel information data acquisition unit 811 transmits the detection result of the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening to the transmission unit 812 as terminal transmission data.

  The transmission unit 812 receives terminal transmission data transmitted from the travel information data acquisition unit 811. Then, the transmission unit 812 transmits the terminal transmission data to the output sound management apparatus 820 via the network 850.

  The receiving unit 815 receives the output sound signal transmitted from the output sound management device 820 via the network 850. Then, the reception unit 815 supplies the output sound signal to the output unit 910.

<< Configuration of Output Sound Management Device 820 >>
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the output sound management device 820 includes a first acquisition unit 710, a calculation unit 720, a second acquisition unit 730, a generation unit 740, and a control unit 750. The output sound management device 820 includes a reception unit 821, an engine sound information storage unit 822, and a transmission unit 823.

  The reception unit 821 receives terminal transmission data transmitted from the terminal device 810 via the network 850. Then, the receiving unit 821 sends the vehicle speed and accelerator opening of the vehicle CR included in the terminal transmission data to the first acquisition unit 710.

The engine sound information storage unit 822 stores a plurality of “engine sound information” that is information related to the engine sound for each engine speed of the engine vehicle. In the second embodiment, "engine sound information ESI _1" of the engine speed ER _1, "engine sound information ESI _2" of the engine speed ER _2, ..., "engine sound information ESI _N" of the engine speed ER _N (ER ₁ <ER ₂ <... <ER _N ) is included. The engine sound information storage unit 822 can be accessed by the generation unit 740.

  The transmission unit 823 receives an output sound signal for outputting the pseudo engine sound transmitted from the control unit 750. Then, the transmission unit 823 transmits the output sound signal to the terminal device 810 via the network 850.

  In the configuration of the terminal device 810 and the configuration of the output sound management device 820 as described above, the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening of the vehicle CR acquired by the travel information data acquisition unit 811 of the terminal device 810 are the transmission unit 812, the network 850, and the reception. It is sent to the first acquisition unit 710 of the output sound management device 820 via the unit 821.

  Further, the output sound signal of the pseudo engine sound generated by the control unit 750 of the output sound management device 820 is sent to the reception unit 815 of the terminal device 810 via the transmission unit 823 and the network 850.

<Operation>
The synthetic sound information generation process for outputting the pseudo engine sound executed in cooperation by the terminal device 810 and the output sound management device 820 configured as described above will be mainly described.

  In the terminal device 810, when the travel information data acquisition unit 811 acquires the detection result of the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening of the vehicle CR sent from the travel information detection unit 920, the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening are sequentially transmitted to the network 850. Via the first acquisition unit 710 of the output sound management device 820.

  The first acquisition unit 710 that has received the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening detected by the vehicle CR acquires the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening in the same manner as in the first embodiment described above. Then, the first acquisition unit 710 sequentially sends the speed and the accelerator opening to the calculation unit 720 and sends the accelerator opening to the generation unit 740.

The calculation unit 720 that has received the speed and the accelerator opening degree sent from the first acquisition unit 710 sequentially performs “simulation” based on the speed, the accelerator opening degree, and the like in the same manner as in the first embodiment described above. The engine speed ER _P is calculated, and the calculated pseudo engine speed ER _P is sent to the generation unit 740. Further, generating unit 740 which has received the pseudo engine speed ER _P sent from the accelerator opening and the calculation unit 720 is sent from the first obtaining section 710, the engine sound data storage section 822, a second acquisition unit 730 Through the engine sound information ESI _j (j = 1, 2,..., N), and in the same manner as in the first embodiment described above, the engine sound information ESI _j , the accelerator opening, and the pseudo engine speed. based on ER _P, to generate a synthesized speech information. Then, the generation unit 740 sends the generated synthesized sound information to the control unit 750.

  Upon receiving the synthesized sound information sent from the generating unit 740, the control unit 750 generates an output sound signal for outputting a pseudo engine sound based on the synthesized sound information. Then, the control unit 750 sends the generated output sound signal to the receiving unit 815 of the terminal device 810 via the network 850.

  The receiving unit 815 that has received the output sound signal supplies the output sound signal to the output unit 910. The output unit 910 that has received the output sound signal outputs the pseudo engine sound according to the output sound signal toward the inside of the vehicle CR, as in the case of the first embodiment described above. As a result, a pseudo engine sound corresponding to the traveling state of the vehicle CR is output from the output unit 910.

As described above, in the second embodiment, when the travel information detection unit 920 detects the vehicle speed and accelerator opening of the vehicle CR, the travel information data acquisition unit 811 of the terminal device 810 detects the detected vehicle speed and accelerator opening. Is transmitted to the first acquisition unit 710 of the output sound management device 820. When the first acquisition unit 710 acquires the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening, the first acquisition unit 710 sends the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening to the calculation unit 720. Then, the calculation unit 720 calculates the pseudo engine speed ER _P based on the vehicle speed, the accelerator opening, and the like sent from the first acquisition unit 710, and generates the calculated pseudo engine speed ER _P Send to 740. In addition, the first acquisition unit 710 sends the acquired accelerator opening to the generation unit 740. Upon receiving the pseudo engine speed calculated in this way and the acquired accelerator opening, the generation unit 740 generates synthetic sound information for outputting the pseudo engine sound, as in the first embodiment. Then, the generation unit 740 sends the generated synthesized sound information to the control unit 750. The control unit 750 generates an output sound signal for outputting the pseudo engine sound based on the synthesized sound information sent from the generation unit 740. Then, the output sound signal is sent to the terminal device 810.

  When receiving the output sound signal, the terminal device 810 supplies the output sound signal to the output unit 910. The output unit 910 outputs the pseudo engine sound according to the output sound signal thus supplied toward the inside of the vehicle CR.

  For this reason, in the second embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment described above, it is possible to create a simulated environment with simulated engine sounds corresponding to the running state in the passenger compartment of the electric vehicle.

Further, in the second embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment described above, the frequency is set with respect to the “engine sound signal ESD _j ” (j = 1, 2,..., N) of the engine speed ER _j. A “characteristic change signal FSD _j ” shifted by (ER _P / ER _j ) times is generated. Then, the "characteristic change signal FSD _j", as characteristic change signal FSD corresponding to the engine rotational speed close to the pseudo engine speed ER _P by increasing the proportion of weighting synthesis engine apart from the pseudo engine speed ER _P The characteristic change signal FSD corresponding to the number is weighted and combined in such a manner that the weighting ratio is reduced.

As a result, to generate engine discontinuities and the engine sound information for each rotation speed, a so-called pop without taking hear sound, realistic pseudo engine sound that following the change of the calculated pseudo engine speed ER _P Can do.

  Further, in the second embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment described above, the pseudo engine sound output to the passenger compartment is amplitude-modulated corresponding to the calculated pseudo engine speed and accelerator opening. In addition, it is possible to produce mechanical pseudo engine sound when the vehicle is accelerated.

  Therefore, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as in the first embodiment described above, it is possible to give a driving presence and a comfortable driving feeling corresponding to the driving state to the passenger of the electric vehicle. .

[Modification of Embodiment]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible.

For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, the second acquisition unit acquires the engine sound information ESI _j (j = 1, 2,..., N) stored in the storage unit. On the other hand, the second acquisition unit may acquire only engine sound information for performing weighted synthesis corresponding to the pseudo engine speed. In this case, the second acquisition unit may receive information on the engine speed of the engine sound information for performing weighted synthesis from the generation unit.

  Moreover, in said 1st and 2nd embodiment, when the production | generation part produced | generated the synthetic sound information, although the characteristic change synthetic | combination signal SND was amplified according to the accelerator opening degree, it does not perform the said amplification process It may be.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the generator generates amplitude information corresponding to the accelerator opening with respect to a signal of a predetermined order of the frequency corresponding to the pseudo engine speed when generating the synthesized sound information. The modulation signal MSD subjected to the amplitude modulation of the degree is generated, and the amplified combined signal GSD is amplitude-modulated based on the generated modulation signal MSD. On the other hand, the output sound signal may be generated without performing the amplitude processing.

  In the first and second embodiments, the engine sound information is sound collection data collected in the engine room of the engine vehicle. However, the engine sound information is engine sound information created by an electronic musical instrument or a computer. Also good.

  Moreover, in said 1st Embodiment, it was set as the structure by which an engine sound output device is not provided with an output part, a driving | running | working information detection part, and a memory | storage part. On the other hand, when the equipment that can be used as the output unit, the travel information detection unit, and the storage unit is not arranged in the vehicle, the engine sound output device includes the equipment that is not arranged in the vehicle. May be.

  In the second embodiment, the terminal device is configured not to include the output unit and the travel information detection unit. On the other hand, when the equipment that can be used as the output unit and the travel information detection unit is not arranged in the vehicle, the terminal device may include the equipment that is not arranged in the vehicle.

  In the second embodiment, the output sound management device 820 includes a first acquisition unit, a calculation unit, a generation unit, a control unit, and an engine sound information storage unit. An acquisition part can be made into the component of a terminal device.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the present invention is applied to an apparatus disposed in an electric vehicle. However, the present invention is disposed in a vehicle (for example, a hybrid vehicle) that uses electric energy as part of driving energy. It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to such an apparatus.

  Note that the first acquisition unit, the calculation unit, the second acquisition unit, the generation unit, and the control unit of the engine sound output device of the first embodiment are a central processing unit (CPU), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). ) Etc., and a part or all of the processing of these elements may be executed by executing a program prepared in advance on the computer. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, CD-ROM, or DVD, and is loaded from the recording medium and executed by the computer. The program may be acquired in a form recorded on a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD, or may be acquired in a form distributed via a network such as the Internet. Also good.

  In addition, the travel information data acquisition unit of the terminal device of the second embodiment and the first acquisition unit, the calculation unit, the second acquisition unit, the generation unit, and the control unit of the output sound management device are connected to the central processing unit (CPU). : Central Processing Unit), a computer as a computing unit equipped with a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), etc., and by executing a program prepared in advance on the computer, part or all of the processing of these elements is performed You may make it perform. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, CD-ROM, or DVD, and is loaded from the recording medium and executed by the computer. The program may be acquired in a form recorded on a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD, or may be acquired in a form distributed via a network such as the Internet. Also good.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description and drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[Constitution]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the engine sound output apparatus 100 according to an embodiment. The engine sound output device 100 is an aspect of the engine sound output device 700 (see FIG. 1) of the first embodiment described above.

  The engine sound output device 100 is disposed in an electric vehicle CR (hereinafter referred to as “vehicle CR”) that uses electric energy as all of the driving energy. In the present embodiment, a vehicle interior sound output unit 210 and a vehicle control unit 220 are disposed in the vehicle CR and are connected to the engine sound output device 100.

  The vehicle interior sound output unit 210 includes a speaker SP. The vehicle interior sound output unit 210 receives an output sound signal sent from the engine sound output device 100. Then, the vehicle interior sound output unit 210 outputs the pseudo engine sound from the speaker SP toward the inside of the vehicle CR according to the output sound signal. That is, the vehicle interior sound output unit 210 performs the function of the output unit 910 described above.

  The vehicle control unit 220 performs traveling control of the vehicle CR based on detection results obtained by various sensors such as a vehicle speed sensor and an accelerator opening sensor. The vehicle control unit 220 sends the detection result of the vehicle speed SP and the detection result of the accelerator opening AR to the engine sound output device 100. That is, the vehicle control unit 220 is configured to perform the function of the travel information detection unit 920 described above.

<Configuration of Engine Sound Output Device 100>
Next, the configuration of the engine sound output device 100 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the engine sound output device 100 includes a control unit 110 and a storage unit 120.

  The control unit 110 performs overall control of the engine sound output device 100 and executes various processes. The control unit 110 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) and its peripheral circuits as arithmetic means. Various functions as the engine sound output device 100 are realized by the control unit 110 executing various programs. Such functions include the functions of the first acquisition unit 710, the calculation unit 720, the second acquisition unit 730, the generation unit 740, and the control unit 750 in the first embodiment described above.

  Details of the configuration of the control unit 110 will be described later. Details of processing executed by the control unit 110 will be described later.

  The program executed by the control unit 110 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, CD-ROM, or DVD, and is loaded from the recording medium and executed. The program may be acquired in a form recorded on a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD, or may be acquired in a form distributed via a network such as the Internet. Also good.

The storage unit 120 includes a nonvolatile storage device such as a hard disk device, and stores various information data used in the engine sound output device 100. Such information data includes “engine sound information ESI ₁ ”, “engine sound information ESI ₂ ”,..., “Engine sound information ESI ₅ ”. The storage unit 120 can be accessed by the control unit 110. That is, the storage unit 120 performs the function of the storage unit 930 described above.

The “engine sound information ESI _j ” (j = 1 to 5) is obtained for each engine speed of the engine vehicle, which is obtained by analyzing the sound collection data collected in the engine room of the engine vehicle. It is the spectrum data of the sound result. Here, “engine sound information ESI ₁ ” is spectrum data of a sound collection result when the engine speed ER is ER ₁ (= 1000 [rpm]), and “engine sound information ESI ₂ ” is the engine speed. This is spectrum data of a sound collection result when ER is ER ₂ (= 2000 [rpm]).

The “engine sound information ESI ₃ ” is spectrum data of a sound collection result when the engine speed ER is ER ₃ (= 3000 [rpm]), and the “engine sound information ESI ₄ ” is the engine speed ER. Is the spectrum data of the sound collection result when ER ₄ (= 4000 [rpm]). Further, the “engine sound information ESI ₅ ” is spectrum data of a sound collection result when the engine speed ER is ER ₅ (= 5000 [rpm]).

<< Configuration of Control Unit 110 >>
Next, the configuration of the control unit 110 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 110 includes a pseudo engine speed calculation unit 111, a characteristic change signal generation unit 112, and a signal synthesis unit 113. In addition, the control unit 110 includes a signal amplification unit 114, an equalizer unit (EQ) 115, a modulation signal generation unit 116, and a pseudo engine sound signal generation unit 117.

  The pseudo engine speed calculation unit 111 includes gear setting information GSI (see FIG. 6 described later) and gear ratio information GRT (see FIG. 7 described later).

The pseudo engine speed calculation unit 111 receives the vehicle speed SP and the accelerator opening AR sent from the vehicle control unit 220. When the vehicle speed SP and the accelerator opening AR are thus received, the pseudo engine speed calculation unit 111 first sets a gear corresponding to the vehicle speed SP and the accelerator opening AR with reference to the gear setting information GSI. Then, the pseudo engine speed calculation unit 111 reads the gear ratio GR and the final reduction ratio GRF corresponding to the set gear from the gear ratio information GRT. Continuing, the pseudo engine speed calculation unit 111, the "L" as the tire circumference of a vehicle CR, the following equation (1), calculates a pseudo engine speed ER _P.
ER _P [rpm] = SP · GR · GRF / (L · 60) (1)
False engine rotational speed ER _P thus calculated, the characteristic change signal generator 112 is sent to the signal combining unit 113 and a modulation signal generator 116.

  In the above-described equation (1), the unit of the vehicle speed SP is [km / h], and the unit of the tire circumference L is [km].

The characteristic change signal generation unit 112 accesses the storage unit 120 and reads the five engine sound information ESI _j (j = 1 to 5) as the engine sound signal ESD _j (f) (f: frequency). . Further, the characteristic change signal generation unit 112 receives the pseudo engine speed ER _P sent from the pseudo engine speed calculating section 111. The characteristic change signal generator 112, based on the pseudo engine speed ER _P, the engine sound signal ESD _j characteristic change signal to change the frequency characteristic of (f) FSD _j (F): generate (F Frequency) To do. The characteristic change signal FSD _j (F) generated in this way is sent to the signal synthesis unit 113.

  Details of the configuration of the characteristic change signal generator 112 will be described later.

The signal synthesizing unit 113 includes a volume setting table VOT (see FIG. 8 described later). The signal synthesis unit 113 receives the characteristic change signal FSD _j (F) sent from the characteristic change signal generation unit 112. The signal combining unit 113 receives the pseudo engine speed ER _P sent from the pseudo engine speed calculating section 111. Then, the signal synthesizing unit 113, in the proportions indicated in volume setting table VOT corresponding to the pseudo engine speed ER _P, weighted synthesizing the characteristic change signal FSD ₁ (F) ~ characteristic change signal FSD ₅ (F). Subsequently, the signal synthesis unit 113 performs inverse Fourier transform on the weighted and synthesized signal to generate a characteristic change synthesized signal SND (t) (t: time). The characteristic change combined signal SND (t) generated in this way is sent to the signal amplifier 114.

  The signal amplification unit 114 includes amplification information GNI (see FIG. 9 described later). The signal amplification unit 114 receives the characteristic change combined signal SND (t) sent from the signal combining unit 113. Further, the signal amplifying unit 114 receives the accelerator opening degree AR sent from the vehicle control unit 220. Then, the signal amplification unit 114 reads the amplification factor corresponding to the accelerator opening AR from the amplification information GNI, and amplifies the characteristic change combined signal SND (t) with the amplification factor. The amplified signal is sent to the EQ unit 115 as an amplified signal GSD (t).

  The EQ unit 115 receives the amplified signal GSD (t) sent from the signal amplifying unit 114. Then, the EQ unit 115 performs frequency characteristic change processing according to the type of engine vehicle from which the engine sound information ESI is collected. Then, the EQ unit 115 sends the signal with the changed frequency characteristics to the pseudo engine sound signal generation unit 117 as a signal ESD (t). The frequency characteristic change processing performed by the EQ unit 115 is determined in advance based on experiments, simulations, experiences, and the like from the viewpoint of generating a pseudo engine sound with improved reproducibility of the engine sound of the engine vehicle. .

The modulation signal generator 116 includes modulation degree information MDI (see FIG. 10 described later). Modulation signal generator 116, along with receiving the pseudo engine speed ER _P sent from the pseudo engine speed calculation unit 111 receives the accelerator opening AR sent from the vehicle control unit 220. The modulation signal generator 116 uses the 0.5th order of the fundamental frequency f _P [Hz] (= ER _P / 60) of the pseudo engine speed ER _P as the frequency, and the amplitude modulation degree corresponding to the accelerator opening AR The modulation signal MSD (t) subjected to the amplitude modulation process is generated.

  Here, in FIG. 5, the modulation signal MSD (t) when the amplitude modulation degree is 0% is indicated by a two-dot chain line, and the modulation signal MSD (t) when the amplitude modulation degree is 50%. It is shown as a solid line. In FIG. 5, the modulation signal MSD (t) when the amplitude modulation degree is 100% is indicated by a dotted line.

  The pseudo engine sound signal generation unit 117 receives the signal ESD (t) sent from the EQ unit 115. The pseudo engine sound signal generator 117 receives the modulation signal MSD (t) sent from the modulation signal generator 116. The pseudo engine sound signal generator 117 multiplies the signal ESD (t) and the modulation signal MSD (t) to generate an output sound signal PED (hereinafter also referred to as “pseudo engine sound signal”). The output sound signal PFD generated in this way is sent to the vehicle interior sound output unit 210.

(Various information used by the control unit 110)
Examples of the contents of the above-described “gear setting information GSI”, “gear ratio information GRT”, “volume setting table VOT”, “amplification information GNI”, and “modulation degree information MDI” employed in the present embodiment will be described. .

  In the “gear setting information GSI”, as illustrated in FIG. 6, gear positions (first to fourth speeds) are registered in association with the vehicle speed SP and the accelerator opening AR. The content of the gear setting information GSI is determined in advance for each type of vehicle CR based on experiments, simulations, and the like.

  In the “gear ratio information GRT”, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the gear ratios of the first to fourth speeds and the final reduction ratio are registered. The content of the gear ratio information GRT is determined in advance for each type of vehicle CR based on experiments, simulations, and the like.

The "volume setting table VOT" above, as illustrated in Figure 8, characteristic in response to the pseudo engine speed ER _P change signal _{FSD j (F) (j =} 1,2, ..., 5) volume Volume setting information VOI _{j for} setting is registered. Then, these volume setting information _{VOI j (j = 1,2, ...} , 5) is corresponding to a change in the pseudo engine speed ER _P, characteristics at the weighted synthesis change signal FSD _j volume factor (F) Information about changes. These volume setting information VOI _j, from the viewpoint of generating a pseudo engine sound that following the change of the calculated pseudo engine speed ER _P, experiments, simulations, based on experience and the like, are predetermined.

In the present embodiment, the volume setting information VOI _1, false engine rotational speed ER _P is greater than 0 [rpm], and when less than 2000 [rpm], 0 is set greater than the volume factor. Then, in the volume setting information VOI _1, false engine rotational speed ER _P to set the maximum volume factor of "1" when a 1000 [rpm]. Also, the volume setting information VOI _2, greater than false engine rotational speed ER _P is 1000 [rpm], and when less than 3000 [rpm], 0 is set greater than the volume factor. Then, in the volume setting information VOI _2, pseudo engine speed ER _P to set the maximum volume factor of "1" when a 2000 [rpm].

Also, the volume setting information VOI _3, pseudo engine speed ER _P is greater than 2000 [rpm], and when less than 4000 [rpm], 0 is set greater than the volume factor. Then, in the volume setting information VOI _3, pseudo engine speed ER _P to set the maximum volume factor of "1" when a 3000 [rpm]. Further, in the volume setting information VOI _4, greater than false engine rotational speed ER _P is 3000 [rpm], and when less than 5000 [rpm], 0 is set greater than the volume factor. Then, in the volume setting information VOI _4, false engine rotational speed ER _P is set to "1" largest volume coefficients when a 4000 [rpm].

Also, the volume setting information VOI _5, greater than false engine rotational speed ER _P is 4000 [rpm], and when less than 6000 [rpm], 0 is set greater than the volume factor. Then, in the volume setting information VOI _5, pseudo engine speed ER _P is set to "1" largest volume coefficients when a 5000 [rpm].

  In the above “amplification information GNI”, as illustrated in FIG. 9, an amplification factor for amplifying a signal according to the accelerator opening AR is registered. The content of the amplification information GNI is determined in advance based on experiments, simulations, experiences, and the like from the viewpoint of generating a simulated engine sound with a sense of travel according to the accelerator opening.

  In the “modulation degree information MDI”, a modulation rate for modulating the amplitude of the signal in accordance with the accelerator opening AR is registered as illustrated in FIG. The contents of the modulation degree information MDI are determined in advance based on experiments, simulations, experiences, and the like from the viewpoint of producing a mechanical pseudo engine sound during acceleration of the vehicle CR.

(Configuration of characteristic change signal generator 112)
The configuration of the characteristic change signal generation unit 112 described above will be described.

As shown in FIG. 11, the characteristic change signal generation unit 112 includes five individual characteristic change signal generation units 211 _j (j = 1, 2,..., 5).

Each of the individual characteristic change signal generation units 211 _j (j = 1, 2,..., 5) holds the value of the engine speed ER _j therein. Each of the individual characteristic change signal generation units 211 _j accesses the storage unit 120 and reads the engine sound information ESI _j as the engine sound signal ESD _j (f). Also, each individual characteristic change signal generator 211 _j, subjected to false engine rotational speed ER _P sent from the pseudo engine speed calculating section 111.

Then, each of the individual characteristic change signal generator 211 _j, based on the values and pseudo engine speed ER _P of the engine speed ER _j, the following (2), (3) equation satisfies the relationship characteristic change signal FSD _j Generate (F).
FSD _j (F) = ESD _j (f) (2)
F = f · (ER _P / ER _j ) (3)
Subsequently, each individual characteristic change signal generation unit 211 _j sends the generated characteristic change signal FSD _j (F) to the signal synthesis unit 113.

Here, FIG. 12 (A) shows an example of the characteristic change signal FSD ₁ (F) obtained by shifting the frequency with respect to the engine sound signal ESD ₁ (f), and FIG. 12 (B) shows the engine change signal FSD ₁ (F). An example of the characteristic change signal FSD ₂ (F) obtained by shifting the frequency with respect to the sound signal ESD ₂ (f) is shown as a representative example for explaining the frequency shift.

[Operation]
The operation of the engine sound output device 100 configured as described above will be described mainly focusing on the pseudo engine sound output processing by the control unit 110.

As a premise, it is assumed that the vehicle control unit 220 has started operation, and the vehicle control unit 220 sequentially sends the detected vehicle speed SP and accelerator opening AR to the control unit 110. Further, in the engine sound output device 100, the characteristic change signal generation unit 112 of the control unit 110 accesses the storage unit 120, and five “engine sound information ESI _j ” (j = 1 to 5) subjected to spectrum analysis. Is read as an engine sound signal ESD _j (f) (see FIG. 4).

  Under such an operating environment, the control unit 110 executes a pseudo engine sound output process. In the pseudo engine sound output process, as shown in FIG. 13, first, in step S11, a new vehicle speed SP and accelerator opening AR are acquired. The pseudo engine speed calculation unit 111 receives the vehicle speed SP acquired in this way. Further, the acquired accelerator opening AR is received by the pseudo engine speed calculation unit 111, the signal amplification unit 114, and the modulation signal generation unit 116. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S12.

In step S12, the pseudo engine speed calculation unit 111 calculates “pseudo engine speed ER _P ” corresponding to the engine speed when the drive mechanism of the vehicle CR is an engine. When calculating the “pseudo engine speed ER _P ”, the pseudo engine speed calculation unit 111 first sets a gear corresponding to the vehicle speed SP and the accelerator opening AR with reference to the gear setting information GSI. Continuing, the pseudo engine speed calculation unit 111, the gear ratio GR and the final reduction ratio GRF correspond to the set gear, reading from the gear ratio information GRT, by the above-mentioned (1), a pseudo engine speed ER _P calculate. The false engine speed calculating section 111 sends a pseudo engine speed ER _P calculated, characteristic change signal generation unit 112, to the signal combining unit 113 and a modulation signal generator 116.

Next, in step S13, the characteristic change signal generation unit 112 changes the frequency characteristic of “engine sound signal ESD ₁ (f)” to “engine sound signal ESD ₅ (f)” to “characteristic change signal FSD ₁ ( F) "- generates a" characteristic change signal FSD ₅ (F) ". Upon generation of such a "characteristic change signal FSD _j (F)", each of the individual characteristic change signal generator 221 _j, first, based on the value of the pseudo engine speed ER _P and the engine speed ER _j calculated, The value ER _P / ER _j is calculated. Subsequently, each of the individual characteristic change signal generation units 221 _j shifts the frequency f to (ER _P / ER _j ) times with respect to the “engine sound signal ESD _j (f)”, thereby the “characteristic change signal FSD _j ( F) ". Then, the characteristic change signal generation unit 112 sends the generated “characteristic change signal FSD ₁ (F)” to “characteristic change signal FSD ₅ (F)” to the signal synthesis unit 113 (see FIG. 11).

For example, when the false engine rotational speed ER _P calculated by the pseudo engine speed calculation unit 111 is 1800 [rpm], the individual characteristic change signal generation unit 221 _1, to the engine sound signal ESD ₁ (f), the frequency Is shifted by 1.8 (= 1800/1000) times to generate a characteristic change signal FSD ₁ (F) ”. Further, the individual characteristic change signal generation unit 221 ₂ shifts the frequency by 0.9 (= 1800/2000) times with respect to the engine sound signal ESD ₂ (f), and generates the characteristic change signal FSD ₂ (F) ”. Generate (see FIG. 12).

Further, the individual characteristic change signal generation unit 221 ₃ shifts the frequency by 0.6 (= 1800/3000) times with respect to the engine sound signal ESD ₃ (f) to thereby change the characteristic change signal FSD ₃ (F) ”. Is generated. Further, the individual characteristic change signal generation unit 221 ₄ shifts the frequency by 0.45 (= 1800/4000) times with respect to the engine sound signal ESD ₄ (f) to generate the characteristic change signal FSD ₄ (F) ”. Generate. Further, the individual characteristic change signal generation unit 221 ₅ shifts the frequency by 0.36 (= 1800/5000) times with respect to the engine sound signal ESD ₅ (f), so that the characteristic change signal FSD ₅ (F) ”. Is generated.

Subsequently, in step S14, the signal synthesizing unit 113, indicated a "characteristic change signal FSD ₁ (F)" - "characteristic change signal ESD ₅ (F)", the volume setting table VOT corresponding to the pseudo engine speed ER _P The weighted composition is performed at the ratio (see FIG. 4).

For example, when the false engine rotational speed ER _P calculated by the pseudo engine speed calculation unit 111 is 1800 [rpm], the volume setting information value of volume coefficients which can be read from VOI ₁ is "0.3", and volume setting information VOI _The volume coefficient value that can be read from ₂ is “0.7”. Also, the value of the volume coefficient that can be read from each of the volume setting information VOI ₃ , the volume setting information VOI ₄ , and the volume setting information VOI ₅ is “0” (see FIG. 8)). In such a case, the signal synthesizer 113 weights and synthesizes the characteristic change signal FSD ₁ (F) and the characteristic change signal FSD ₂ (F) at a ratio of 3 to 7.

  Subsequently, the signal synthesis unit 113 performs inverse Fourier transform on the weighted and synthesized signal to generate a characteristic change synthesized signal SND (t). Then, the signal synthesis unit 113 sends the characteristic change synthesis signal SND (t) to the signal amplification unit 114.

  Next, in step S15, the signal amplifying unit 114 amplifies the characteristic change combined signal SND (t) with an amplification factor corresponding to the accelerator opening degree AR indicated in the amplification information GNI. Then, the signal amplifying unit 114 sends the amplified signal GSD (t) to the EQ unit 115 (see FIG. 4). Subsequently, in step S16, the EQ unit 115 performs a frequency characteristic changing process on the amplified signal GSD (t) to generate a signal ESD (t). Then, the EQ unit 115 sends the signal ESD (t) to the pseudo engine sound signal generation unit 117 (see FIG. 4). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S17.

In step S <b> 17, the modulation signal generation unit 116 determines the basic frequency f _P [Hz] (= ER of the pseudo engine speed ER _P based on the calculated pseudo engine speed ER _P and the acquired accelerator opening AR. A modulation signal MSD (t) is generated by using the 0.5th order of _P / 60) as a frequency and performing amplitude modulation with an amplitude modulation degree corresponding to the accelerator opening degree AR (see FIG. 5). Then, the modulation signal generating unit 116 sends the generated modulation signal MSD (t) to the pseudo engine sound signal generating unit 117 (see FIG. 4).

  Subsequently, in step S18, the pseudo engine sound generation unit 117 multiplies the signal ESD (t) sent from the EQ unit 115 by the modulation signal MSD (t) sent from the modulation signal generation unit 116. The pseudo engine sound signal PFD is generated. Then, the pseudo engine sound generation unit 117 sends the generated pseudo engine sound signal PFD to the vehicle interior sound output unit 210. Thereafter, the process returns to step S11.

  As a result, the pseudo engine sound according to the pseudo engine sound signal PFD is output from the vehicle interior sound output unit 210 toward the inside of the vehicle CR.

  Thereafter, the processes of steps S11 to S18 are repeated, and the output process of the pseudo engine sound output process is performed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the control unit 110 sequentially acquires the vehicle speed and the accelerator opening detected by the vehicle control unit 220. In the control unit 110, the pseudo engine speed calculation unit 111 calculates the pseudo engine speed ER _P based on the detected vehicle speed, accelerator opening, and the like, and the calculated pseudo engine speed ER _P. To the characteristic change signal generation unit 112, the signal synthesis unit 113, and the modulation signal generation unit 116.

Subsequently, the characteristic change signal generation unit 112 reads the engine sound information ESI _j for each engine speed ER _j (j = 1 to 5) of the engine vehicle from the storage unit 120 as the engine sound signal ESD _j (f). The characteristic change signal generation unit 112 generates a “characteristic change signal FSD _j (F)” obtained by shifting the frequency by (ER _P / ER _j ) times with respect to the engine sound signal ESD _j (f). Then, the signal synthesizing unit 113, in the proportions indicated in volume setting table VOT corresponding to the pseudo engine speed ER _P, characteristic change signal FSD ₁ (F) ~ characteristic change signal FSD ₅ (F) is then weighted and combined The characteristic change composite signal SND (t) is generated. Then, after the signal amplifying unit 114 amplifies the characteristic change composite signal SND (t) at an amplification factor corresponding to the accelerator opening AR indicated in the amplification information GNI, the EQ unit 115 performs frequency characteristic change processing. To generate a signal ESD (t).

The modulation signal generator 116, relative to the 0.5-order signal of a frequency corresponding to the pseudo engine speed ER _P calculated, the modulation signal MSD (t subjected to modulation according to the accelerator opening ) Is generated. Then, the pseudo engine sound signal generation unit 117 multiplies the signal ESD (t) sent from the EQ unit 115 by the modulation signal MSD (t) sent from the modulation signal generation unit 116, and the pseudo engine A sound signal PFD is generated. The vehicle interior sound output unit 210 outputs the pseudo engine sound according to the pseudo engine sound signal PED generated in this way toward the inside of the vehicle CR.

  For this reason, in a present Example, the simulated environment by the simulated engine sound corresponding to a driving | running | working state can be created in the vehicle interior of an electric vehicle.

Further, in this embodiment, the frequency is shifted by (ER _P / ER _j ) times with respect to the “engine sound signal ESD _j (f)” (j = 1, 2,..., N) of the engine speed ER _j. “Characteristic change signal FSD _j (F)” is generated. Then, the "characteristic change signal FSD _j (F)", as characteristic change signal FSD corresponding to the engine rotational speed close to the pseudo engine speed ER _P by increasing the proportion of weighting synthesis, apart from the pseudo engine speed ER _P The characteristic change signal FSD corresponding to the engine speed is weighted and combined in a manner that reduces the weighting ratio.

As a result, to generate engine discontinuities and the engine sound information for each rotation speed, a so-called pop without taking hear sound, realistic pseudo engine sound that following the change of the calculated pseudo engine speed ER _P Can do.

  In this embodiment, the pseudo engine sound output to the passenger compartment is amplitude-modulated in accordance with the calculated pseudo engine speed and the accelerator opening, so that a mechanical sound during vehicle acceleration is also produced. Can do.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to give a sense of realism and a comfortable driving feeling corresponding to the traveling state to the passenger of the electric vehicle.

[Modification of Example]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, all the components of the engine sound output device 100 are mounted on the vehicle CR. However, as in the second embodiment described above, the communication with the terminal device mounted on the vehicle CR is performed. A possible server device may be provided with some functions of the components of the engine sound output device 100.

In the above embodiment, the storage unit 120 includes five pieces of “engine sound information ESI ₁ ”,..., “Engine sound information ESI ₅ ” for every 1000 rpm. On the other hand, the number of engine sound information may be 2 or more, 4 or less, or 6 or more, and the interval of the engine speed of the engine vehicle at the time of data collection is 1000 [rpm]. It is not limited to this, and an arbitrary interval may be used.

In the above embodiment, the engine sound information ESI _j (f) (j = 1, 2,..., 5) stored in the storage unit 120 is the sound collection data collected in the engine room of the engine vehicle. Was obtained as spectral data. On the other hand, the engine sound information may be an engine sound signal (t) composed of time-series sound data.

When the engine sound information is an engine sound signal (t) composed of time-series sound data, the individual characteristic change signal generation unit sets the time interval between the sound data in the engine sound signal (t) ( The characteristic change signal (T) may be generated by multiplying ER _P / ER _j ) ⁻¹ .

  When the characteristic change signal is generated from the engine sound signal (t) composed of time-series sound data, the characteristic change signal in the control unit is not used when the above-described process for changing the time interval between the sound data is not performed. You may make it perform the spectrum analysis of the said engine sound signal (t) in the front | former stage of a production | generation part.

  In the above embodiment, the engine sound information is collected within the engine room of the engine vehicle. However, the engine sound information may be collected outside the engine room.

In the above-described embodiment, the control unit acquires engine sound information ESI _j (j = 1 to 5) stored in the storage unit 120 when outputting the pseudo engine sound. On the other hand, the control unit may acquire only engine sound information for performing weighted synthesis corresponding to the pseudo engine speed.

In the above embodiment, when generating the pseudo engine sound signal, the signal combining unit, to increase the rate of property change signal FSD higher weighting synthesis corresponding to the engine rotational speed close to the pseudo engine speed ER _P, the pseudo With respect to the characteristic change signal FSD corresponding to the engine speed ER _P away from the engine speed ERP, the characteristic change signal FSD _j (F) (j = 1 to 5) is weighted and synthesized in such a manner that the ratio of weighting synthesis is reduced. It was decided. On the other hand, the signal synthesizer may synthesize the characteristic change signal FSD _j (F) (j = 1 to 5) with a constant synthesis rate.

  In the above embodiment, when generating the pseudo engine sound signal, the signal amplifying unit amplifies the characteristic change composite signal SND (t) according to the accelerator opening, but does not perform the amplification process. May be. In this case, the signal amplifier in the control unit can be omitted as a component of the engine sound output device.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, when generating the pseudo engine sound signal, the EQ unit performs a frequency characteristic changing process on the amplified signal GSD (t) according to the vehicle type of the collection source engine vehicle. However, the processing of the EQ unit may not be performed. In this case, the EQ unit in the control unit can be omitted as a component of the engine sound output device.

  Further, in the above embodiment, when generating the pseudo engine sound signal, the modulation signal generation unit modulates the 0.5th order signal of the frequency corresponding to the pseudo engine speed according to the accelerator opening. The modulation signal MSD (t) subjected to is generated. Then, a pseudo engine sound modulated based on the modulation signal is output. On the other hand, the pseudo engine sound may be output without performing the modulation based on the modulation signal. In this case, the modulation signal generator in the control unit can be omitted as a component of the engine sound output device.

  In addition, the contents of the volume setting table VOT, the amplification information GNI, and the modulation degree information MDI in the above embodiment are merely examples, and it is needless to say that other contents may be used.

  Moreover, although the engine sound output apparatus of said Example memorize | stored engine sound information, you may make it acquire the said engine sound information from another apparatus.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the engine sound output device includes the storage unit. On the other hand, when equipment that can be used as a storage unit is arranged in the vehicle, the equipment may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a device disposed in an electric vehicle. However, the present invention is applied to a device disposed in a vehicle (for example, a hybrid vehicle) that uses electric energy as part of driving energy. Of course, can be applied.

  Moreover, about said Example, the deformation | transformation similar to the deformation | transformation with respect to 1st Embodiment mentioned above can be given suitably.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Engine sound output device 110 ... Control unit (1st acquisition part, calculation part, 2nd acquisition part, production | generation part, control part)
120 ... Storage unit (storage unit)
210 ... Car interior sound output unit (output unit)
700 ... Engine sound output device 710 ... First acquisition unit 720 ... Calculation unit 730 ... Second acquisition unit 740 ... Generation unit 750 ... Control unit 910 ... Output unit 930 ... Storage unit

Claims (1)

A first acquisition unit for acquiring vehicle travel information;
A second acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of engine sound information from a storage unit that stores a plurality of engine sound information that is information about the engine sound for each engine speed;
A generating unit that synthesizes a plurality of signals based on the plurality of engine sound information acquired by the second acquiring unit and generates synthesized sound information corresponding to the travel information acquired by the first acquiring unit;
A control unit that outputs a pseudo engine sound based on the generated synthesized sound information from an output unit disposed in a vehicle interior of the vehicle;
An engine sound output device comprising:

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