JP5625606B2 - Vehicle travel notification device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle travel notification device.

  In recent years, for the purpose of improving fuel consumption and reducing exhaust gas emissions, a vehicle is equipped with an electric motor that operates electrically in addition to the engine as a power source, and the engine and electric motor are operated according to the situation when the vehicle is running. The number of so-called hybrid vehicles that run while appropriately switching the state is increasing. However, when the vehicle is driven with the engine stopped in a hybrid vehicle, no engine operating noise is generated, so the volume generated outside the vehicle is smaller than the volume when driving using engine power. . For this reason, when the hybrid vehicle is running with only the power generated by the electric motor with the engine stopped, for example, when approaching a pedestrian, the pedestrian is compared with the case where the engine is running Therefore, in order to improve the traveling state of such a hybrid vehicle, a technique for improving the perceivability when the hybrid vehicle is traveling has been proposed.

  For example, in the hybrid type vehicle described in Patent Document 1, a pseudo-sound generator to which a speaker is connected is provided. When the engine is stopped and the vehicle is driven only by the power of the electric motor, the operating noise of the engine Etc. are generated by an onomatopoeia generator and output by a speaker. Thereby, even when the hybrid vehicle is running only with the power of the electric motor with the engine stopped, a pedestrian or the like can recognize the approach of the hybrid vehicle by this pseudo sound.

JP 2004-153929 A

  Here, the situation where the vehicle is driven with the engine stopped is also generated in a vehicle other than a hybrid vehicle. For example, when the driver does not request generation of driving force, the engine is stopped and the vehicle is driven inertially. Even when control is performed, engine noise is not generated. However, it is mainly during low-speed traveling that the hybrid vehicle is stopped and the engine is driven only by the power of the electric motor, whereas inertial traveling that is performed while the engine is stopped is performed even during medium-high speed traveling. For this reason, as with a hybrid vehicle, when the engine is stopped, simply outputting a pseudo sound or the like, the impression differs depending on the traveling speed when visually recognizing the traveling vehicle and the pseudo sound heard by the ear. In some cases, the user may feel uncomfortable when viewing a vehicle traveling from the outside, and may not be able to accurately determine the vehicle driving condition.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle travel notification device that can appropriately recognize the travel state of a vehicle around.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a vehicle travel notification device according to the present invention stops a vehicle that travels with the power from a drive source that generates sound when power is generated. in case of travel by inertia, comprises a run Gyoon generating means that a pseudo running sound resembling the running noise is generated at any volume, the running sound generating means, an engine rotation of the vehicle before stopping of the driving source The pseudo running sound is generated based on the number .

In the vehicle travel notification device, it is preferable that the travel sound generating unit corrects the simulated travel sound according to a situation during travel of the vehicle.

The vehicle travel notification device according to the present invention generates the simulated travel sound generated by the travel sound generating means when the drive source is stopped and travels by inertia, so the amount of decrease in travel sound due to the stop of the drive source is reduced. It is possible to complement, and there is an effect that it is possible to appropriately recognize the traveling state of the vehicle around.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle including a vehicle travel notification device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a processing procedure of the vehicle travel notification apparatus according to the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a vehicle travel notification device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment. In addition, constituent elements in the following embodiments include those that can be easily replaced by those skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same.

Embodiment
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle including a vehicle travel notification device according to an embodiment. The vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with an engine 3 that is an internal combustion engine that generates sound when power is generated as a drive source during traveling. The engine 3 is connected to a stepped transmission 8 via a clutch 6. It is connected to. Moreover, the transmission 8 is connected to the final reduction gear 10 via a power transmission path, and the final reduction gear 10 is connected to the drive wheels 12 via a drive shaft. The engine 3 is provided with an engine speed sensor 4 which is a speed detection means for detecting the engine speed, and can detect the speed during operation of the engine 3. Further, the transmission 8 is provided with a vehicle speed sensor 9 which is a vehicle speed detection means for detecting the vehicle speed by detecting the rotational speed of the output side rotating body such as the output shaft.

  Further, in the vicinity of the driver's seat of the vehicle 1, an accelerator pedal 14 capable of adjusting power generated by the engine 3 and a brake pedal capable of adjusting braking force generated by a brake device (not shown) included in the vehicle 1. 17 and a clutch pedal 20 capable of switching between a connected state and a disconnected state of the clutch 6 are provided. Further, in the vicinity of the driver's seat, a shift lever 25 is provided that can select any one of a plurality of shift speeds of the transmission 8 and can select a neutral position that does not select any of the shift speeds. ing.

  Further, the operation states of the pedals and the shift lever 25 provided as described above are provided so as to be detected by the driving operation detection means. Specifically, the operation state of the accelerator pedal 14 can be detected by the accelerator sensor 15, the operation state of the brake pedal 17 can be detected by the brake sensor 18, and the operation state of the clutch pedal 20 can be detected by the clutch sensor 21. It can be detected. Similarly, the shift lever 25 is provided so that the shift sensor 26 can detect the operation state of the shift lever 25, that is, the selection state of the gear position and neutral position of the transmission 8 selected by the shift lever 25.

  Engines and devices such as the engine 3 provided as described above are mounted on the vehicle 1 and connected to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 40 that controls each part of the vehicle 1. Similarly, sensors such as the engine speed sensor 4, the vehicle speed sensor 9, the accelerator sensor 15, the brake sensor 18, the clutch sensor 21, and the shift sensor 26 are also connected to the ECU 40. Thereby, each part of the vehicle 1 is controlled and operated by the ECU 40 based on the detection results of the sensors. For example, the engine 3 has an intake air amount, a fuel injection amount by an injector (not shown), an ignition timing, an opening degree of an accelerator pedal 14 detected by an accelerator sensor 15, an engine speed detected by an engine speed sensor 4, It operates by being controlled according to the engine coolant temperature and the like.

  In addition, the vehicle 1 disconnects the power transmission path between the engine 3 and the drive wheels 12 while the vehicle 1 is traveling, and further stops the operation of the engine 3 so that the vehicle 1 travels with inertia. A simulated running sound generating device 31 is provided which is a running sound generating means that can perform a run and can generate a generated sound at a free volume during a free run. The simulated running sound generator 31 includes a simulated running sound generator 32 that can generate simulated running sound that is similar to the running sound of the vehicle 1 when the vehicle 1 is driven by the power of the engine 3 as generated sound. There is provided a speaker 33 that can output the simulated running sound generated by the simulated running sound generator 32 toward the outside of the vehicle 1.

  Among these, the simulated running sound generator 32 is provided by an electronic device similarly to the ECU 40, and generates simulated running sound by generating electronic information of sound that emits desired sound quality and volume. The simulated running sound generator 31 provided in this way is also connected to the ECU 40 like the engine 3 and the like, and can be controlled by the ECU 40.

  The ECU 40 to which devices and sensors are connected as described above can exchange information and signals with these devices and the like. The hardware configuration of the ECU 40 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like. Since it is a known configuration including a processing unit having a storage unit and a storage unit such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), the description thereof is omitted.

  Further, the processing unit of the ECU 40 provided in this way is based on detection results of sensors that detect the state of the operation means of the vehicle 1 such as the accelerator sensor 15, the brake sensor 18, the clutch sensor 21, and the shift sensor 26. A driving operation acquisition unit 42 that acquires the state of the driving operation of the driver 100, a traveling control unit 44 that performs traveling control of the vehicle 1 such as control of the engine 3, and the driving operation of the driver 100 acquired by the driving operation acquisition unit 42. The free running determination unit 46 that determines whether or not the conditions for performing a free run are satisfied, and the simulated running sound control unit 48 that controls the simulated running sound generator 31 are included.

  Further, the simulated traveling sound generator 31 and the ECU 40 that controls the simulated traveling sound generator 31 output the simulated traveling sound to the outside of the vehicle 1 when performing the free-run traveling. Is provided as a vehicle travel notification device 30 for reporting the travel status of the vehicle to the outside.

  The vehicle travel notification device 30 according to this embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described below. When the vehicle 1 is traveling, the accelerator opening, which is the amount of operation of the accelerator pedal 14 operated by the driver 100, is detected by the accelerator sensor 15, and the detection result is acquired by the driving operation acquisition unit 42 of the ECU 40. The accelerator opening acquired by the driving operation acquisition unit 42 is transmitted to the travel control unit 44 of the ECU 40.

  The traveling control unit 44 controls the engine 3 based on the accelerator opening acquired by the driving operation acquiring unit 42 and the traveling state of the vehicle 1 acquired by other sensors, thereby obtaining the power required by the driver 100. Generated by the engine 3. At that time, the traveling control unit 44 controls the operation while detecting the operation state of the engine 3 based on the detection result of the engine speed sensor 4 and the like. The power generated in the engine 3 is transmitted to the drive wheels 12 via the transmission 8 and the final reduction gear 10, thereby generating a drive force in the drive wheels 12.

  Further, when the vehicle 1 is traveling, the gear stage of the transmission 8 is switched so that the gear ratio of the transmission 8 becomes a gear ratio suitable for the vehicle speed, and the driver 100 operates the shift lever 25 to switch the gear stage. Operate and select any gear.

  Further, when performing a gear shifting operation while the vehicle 1 is traveling, the driver 100 depresses the clutch pedal 20 to disengage the clutch 6 and cut off the transmission of power between the engine 3 and the transmission 8. This is done by operating the shift lever 25 in the state. When the speed change operation is completed, the clutch pedal 20 is returned to change the speed ratio with respect to the rotational speed of the engine 3 before and after the speed change, and the power generated in the engine 3 is transmitted to the drive wheels 12. The vehicle 1 travels by generating the driving force required by the driver 100 when the driver 100 performs these driving operations.

  Further, when it can be determined that the driver 100 does not intend to accelerate the vehicle 1, the vehicle 1 stops the operation of the engine 3 and performs a free run that travels by inertia using inertial energy. In this free run, the driving operation of the driver 100 acquired by the driving operation acquisition unit 42 of the ECU 40 is determined by the free run determination unit 46 of the ECU 40, and the driver 100 determines that there is no intention to accelerate the vehicle 1. This is performed when the operating state of the engine 3 satisfies a predetermined condition.

  Specifically, based on the detection results of the clutch sensor 21 and the shift sensor 26, the driver 100 depresses the clutch pedal 20, disconnects the clutch 6, operates the shift lever 25 to the neutral position, and reconnects the clutch 6. If detected, the free run determination unit 46 determines to perform free run. That is, the fact that the driver 100 has operated the shift lever 25 to the neutral position determines that the driver 100 has no intention of accelerating the vehicle 1 and determines to execute free run.

  Alternatively, even when the driver 100 does not disengage the clutch 6, the shift lever 25 is operated to the neutral position, and the rotation speed of the engine 3 detected by the engine rotation speed sensor 4 is set in advance as the rotation speed used for the determination of the free run. When it is detected that the rotation speed is equal to or lower than the predetermined rotation number stored in the storage unit of the ECU 40, the free-run determination unit 46 determines to perform free-run. That is, even when the driver 100 operates the shift lever 25 to the neutral position without stepping on the clutch pedal 20, the driver 100 expresses an intention to actively operate the shift lever 25 to the neutral position. Determines that there is no intention of accelerating the vehicle 1 and determines whether to run free.

  Alternatively, when it is detected that the driver 100 has disengaged the clutch 6, it is possible to detect that the engine speed has become equal to or lower than the predetermined speed without operating the shift lever 25 to the neutral position. The run determination unit 46 determines to perform a free run. That is, even if the driver 100 does not operate the shift lever 25 to the neutral position, the driver 100 continues to step on the clutch pedal 20 and the driver 100 accelerates the vehicle 1 when the engine speed decreases to a predetermined speed. Judge that there is no intention, and decide whether to run free.

  That is, the free-run determination unit 46 detects the disengagement state of the clutch 6 by the clutch sensor 21 and detects that the transmission 8 is in the neutral position by the shift sensor 26 or the transmission by the shift sensor 26. 8 is detected as a neutral position, and when the rotational speed detected by the engine rotational speed sensor 4 is equal to or lower than a predetermined rotational speed set in advance, or the clutch sensor 21 detects the disengaged state of the clutch 6. When it is determined that the engine speed detected by the engine speed sensor 4 is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed set in advance, it is determined that the free run is performed.

  When the free run determination unit 46 determines that the free run is performed by satisfying the predetermined condition, the travel control unit 44 stops the operation of the engine 3 by stopping the fuel injection control and the ignition control. In this case, since the transmission 8 is in the neutral position or the clutch 6 is in a disengaged state, the drive wheels 12 and the engine 3 are in a state in which torque transmission is disengaged. . As a result, the vehicle 1 does not generate resistance due to the rotation of the engine 3 that does not generate power. Therefore, the vehicle 1 continues coasting by kinetic energy based on the vehicle speed when the free run is started in a state where the traveling resistance is reduced.

  In addition, when the free run determination unit 46 determines that the free run is performed in this way, the simulated running sound generation device 31 controls the simulated running sound generation device 31 so that the simulated running sound generation device 31 performs the simulated running. Generate sound. When the simulated traveling sound generator 31 generates the simulated traveling sound, the simulated traveling sound generator 32 generates an operating sound generated from the engine 3 during operation of the engine 3 or when exhaust gas is exhausted from the exhaust pipe. A sound resembling the generated exhaust sound is generated as a simulated traveling sound, and the generated simulated traveling sound is output from the speaker 33. As a result, the simulated running sound generating device 31 outputs the simulated running sound that is similar to the running sound when the engine 3 is operated and the vehicle 1 is driven by the power generated by the engine 3 toward the outside of the vehicle 1. .

  As described above, the simulated running sound generating device 31 generates a simulated running sound during free run. The simulated running sound generating device 31 generates a simulated running sound generated during free run, that is, when the engine 3 is stopped. It is generated based on a change in running sound accompanying a change in the speed of the vehicle 1 before the engine 3 is stopped.

  That is, the storage unit of the ECU 40 stores in advance data indicating the relationship between the operating state of the engine 3 and the sound quality and volume of the running sound resulting from the operation of the engine 3. As a result, the simulated running sound control unit 48 controls the engine 3 such as the control signal when the running control unit 44 controls the engine 3, the engine speed detected by the engine speed sensor 4, the vehicle speed sensor 9. By acquiring the vehicle speed and the like detected at, it is possible to estimate the running sound during operation of the engine 3.

  The pseudo running sound control unit 48 provided in this way acquires the control state, the driving state, and the vehicle speed of the engine 3 at that time from the travel control unit 44 when the free run determination unit 46 determines that the free run is performed. Thus, the change in sound quality due to the volume or speed change of the running sound before the engine 3 is stopped is estimated based on the running sound data stored in the storage unit.

  In this state, when the engine 3 is stopped and the free run is started, the simulated running sound control unit 48 changes based on the change in the engine speed and the change in the vehicle speed before the engine 3 is stopped. A traveling sound that is continuous with the traveling sound to be performed is estimated, and a control signal is transmitted to the simulated traveling sound generator 31.

  Upon receiving the control signal, the simulated traveling sound generator 31 generates the estimated traveling sound as the simulated traveling sound by the simulated traveling sound generator 32 based on the control signal from the simulated traveling sound control unit 48. The simulated traveling sound generated by the simulated traveling sound generator 32 is transmitted to the speaker 33 as an electrical signal and output from the speaker 33. As a result, the amount of decrease in travel sound that accompanies the stop of the engine 3 is supplemented by the simulated travel sound generated by the simulated travel sound generator 31. For this reason, the traveling sound generated with respect to the outside of the vehicle 1 during traveling of the vehicle 1 is a sound that continuously changes before and after the engine 3 is stopped to perform free run.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a processing procedure of the vehicle travel notification apparatus according to the embodiment. Next, a control method of the vehicle travel notification device 30 according to the embodiment, that is, an outline of a processing procedure of the vehicle travel notification device 30 will be described. The following processing is a processing procedure when performing a free run, and is called and executed every predetermined period when each unit is controlled during operation of the vehicle 1.

  In the processing procedure of the vehicle travel notification device 30 according to the embodiment, first, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is in a free run (step ST101). This determination is performed by the simulated running sound control unit 48. The simulated running sound control unit 48 determines whether or not the running control unit 44 has stopped the operation of the engine 3 by determining that the above-described conditions for performing a free run are satisfied by the free run determination unit 46. It is determined whether or not a free run is in progress. As a result of this determination, the free running determination unit 46 determines that the conditions for performing a free run are not satisfied, so that the simulated running sound control unit 48 determines that the engine 3 is not stopped and is not in a free run. If this is the case (step ST101, No determination), the processing procedure is exited.

  On the other hand, the operation of the engine 3 is stopped by determining that the conditions for performing the free run are satisfied by the free run determination unit 46, and the simulated running sound control unit 48 determines that the free run is being performed. If so (step ST101, Yes determination), a simulated running sound suitable for free-running is then generated (step ST102). That is, by controlling the simulated running sound generation device 31 with the simulated running sound control unit 48, simulated running sounds that are continuous with running sounds such as exhaust sounds and operating sounds due to operation of the engine 3 before the engine 3 is stopped are simulated running. Generated by the sound generator 31. Thus, during free-run traveling in which the engine 3 is stopped and coasting with inertia, the vehicle 1 generates a traveling sound similar to that during operation of the engine 3, and the engine 3 is stopped and traveling with inertia. In addition, the driving situation of the vehicle 1 is actively notified to the surroundings.

  When the vehicle running notification device 30 performs a free run in which the engine 3 is stopped and the vehicle 1 runs coasting, the simulated running sound generator 31 generates a simulated running sound, thereby stopping the engine 3. The accompanying reduction in running noise can be supplemented. As a result, when a loud running sound is generated by running the vehicle 1 in a relatively high speed range, the running sound corresponding to the vehicle speed is maintained even when the engine 3 is stopped and a free run is performed. It is possible to make a continuous running sound before and after the engine 3 is stopped. Accordingly, even when the pedestrian or the like visually recognizes the vehicle 1 that is free running from the outside, the traveling state of the vehicle 1 being viewed matches the traveling sound heard by the ear. The traveling state of the vehicle 1 can be grasped with the ear. As a result, the traveling state of the vehicle 1 can be appropriately recognized around.

  In addition, when the driver does not request generation of driving force, when the fuel consumption is improved by stopping the engine 3 and coasting, the amount of reduction in traveling sound due to the stop of the engine 3 is simulated. Since the sound is complemented, the mileage can be improved without causing the pedestrian to feel uncomfortable regardless of the vehicle speed. As a result, it is possible to achieve both improvement in the fuel consumption of the own vehicle and suppression of a sense of incongruity when viewed from the outside.

  Further, the generated sound generated by the simulated traveling sound generator 31 is a simulated traveling sound resembling the traveling sound when the vehicle 1 is driven by the power generated by the engine 3. When performing a free run with 3 stopped, it is difficult for a pedestrian or the like to notice that the vehicle 1 has stopped the engine 3. Thereby, a pedestrian etc. can grasp | ascertain the driving | running | working condition of the vehicle 1 including a driving | running sound without a sense of incongruity. As a result, the traveling state of the vehicle 1 can be recognized more appropriately by the surroundings.

  In addition, the simulated traveling sound generator 31 generates a simulated traveling sound that is generated when the engine 3 is stopped based on a variation in traveling sound that accompanies a change in the speed of the vehicle 1 before the engine 3 is stopped. The simulated running sound at the time of switching from the running state to the free run and the speed change during the free run can be made a continuous sound before the engine 3 is stopped. In addition, by generating the simulated running sound based on the change in the running sound accompanying the speed change before the engine 3 is stopped in this way, it is suitable for the vehicle speed regardless of the vehicle speed, regardless of the vehicle speed. The simulated running sound can be generated. Therefore, the running sound can be more reliably made continuous running sound regardless of the vehicle speed before the engine 3 is stopped and during the free run. As a result, the traveling state of the vehicle 1 can be recognized more appropriately by the surroundings.

  Further, in the case of the vehicle 1 using only the engine 3 as a drive source, the engine 3 is stopped while the vehicle 1 is running, unlike a so-called hybrid vehicle that uses the engine 3 and an electric motor (not shown) as the drive source. In this case, the driving source basically does not generate sound. That is, in the case of a hybrid vehicle, if the electric motor is operated even when the engine 3 is stopped, an operating noise of the electric motor, an operating noise of an inverter (not shown) used for operating the electric motor, etc. are generated. In the vehicle 1 using only the engine 3 as a source, when the engine 3 is stopped during traveling, no sound is generated from the drive source. As a result, the running sound when the engine 3 is stopped in the vehicle 1 using only the engine 3 as a drive source is compared to the running sound when the engine 3 is stopped in the hybrid vehicle and the vehicle is driven with the power generated by the electric motor. Becomes smaller. For this reason, when a free run is performed with such a vehicle 1, it is less likely to be recognized by a person outside the vehicle 1 than when a hybrid vehicle is driven only by the power of an electric motor. A vehicle travel notification device 30 is provided in a vehicle 1 that uses only the engine 3 as a drive source, and a simulated traveling sound is generated during free run, so that surrounding people can appropriately recognize the traveling state of the vehicle 1. It becomes possible. As a result, it is possible to improve fuel efficiency without reducing safety.

  In the vehicle travel notification device 30 according to the embodiment, the simulated travel sound is generated based on changes in the engine speed and the vehicle speed before the engine 3 is stopped. You may correct | amend the produced | generated simulated driving | running | working sound further according to the condition at the time of driving | running | working of the vehicle 1. FIG. For example, when the operation of an auxiliary device that can recognize a poor visibility state is detected, and this auxiliary device is activated, it is determined that the visibility is poor and the volume is increased, or a frequency that is easy for humans to hear is detected. The simulated running sound may be corrected so that the sound quality is changed so that many components are included. As an auxiliary machine capable of recognizing this poor visibility state, a wiper (not shown) that removes water droplets or the like adhering to the windshield of the vehicle 1 and a fog lamp (not shown) that is turned on in dense fog can be used. When the wiper is operated, it can be determined that there is rainfall or snowfall, and when the fog lamp is turned on, it can be determined that dense fog is generated. When an auxiliary machine that can recognize these poor visibility states is operating, it corrects the simulated running sound and generates a simulated running sound that is easy for humans to recognize. It becomes easy for a person outside the vehicle 1 to recognize the vehicle 1. As a result, it is possible to improve safety when the vehicle 1 is traveling.

  Further, the generated sound generated when the engine 3 is stopped and the vehicle 1 travels by inertia may be a sound other than the simulated traveling sound based on the sound during operation of the engine 3. If the generated sound can complement the amount of decrease in the traveling sound due to the stop of the engine 3 and a person outside the vehicle 1 can properly recognize the traveling state of the vehicle 1 without a sense of incongruity, the type of sound is It is not limited to simulated running sound. In other words, the generated sound may be different in tone color from the sound generated during running such as the friction sound of the engine 3 and the tires and the wind noise. If the sound output and the sound pressure that complement the volume reduction after the engine stop are output, it is possible to make the pedestrian and the like roughly recognize the position of the vehicle 1 and the approach speed.

  In addition, as a determination condition for stopping the engine 3 while the vehicle 1 is traveling, an elapsed time after the shift lever 25 is in the neutral position or an elapsed time since the clutch 6 is in the disconnected state is set. May be. In this case, the elapsed time may be changed according to the traveling state of the vehicle 1 or the like, or may be arbitrarily changed by the driver. Alternatively, the determination for stopping the engine 3 is comprehensively determined from the vehicle speed, the clutch 6 disengagement time, the neutral position holding time of the shift lever 25, the steering angle of the steering, or the determination conditions are appropriately set. You may judge.

  Further, in the vehicle travel notification device 30 according to the above-described embodiment, during the free run in which the operation of the engine 3 is stopped and the transmission of torque between the engine 3 and the drive wheels 12 is cut while the vehicle 1 is traveling. The simulated traveling sound generator 31 generates the simulated traveling sound, but the simulated traveling sound may be generated other than during the free run. For example, while the vehicle 1 is traveling, the fuel supplied to the engine 3 is stopped while the torque is transmitted between the engine 3 and the drive wheel 12, and a simulated traveling sound may be generated during a normal fuel cut. . When the fuel cut is performed, the running resistance increases compared to the free run. However, when the fuel cut is performed, the operation of the engine 3 is stopped, so the vehicle 1 travels by inertia, and moreover than when the engine 3 is operated. In this case as well, the simulated traveling sound may be generated by the simulated traveling sound generating device 31.

  The fuel cut is performed even in a relatively high speed region, but by generating a simulated running sound even during the fuel cut, the amount of reduction in running noise caused by stopping the engine 3 by the fuel cut is complemented by the simulated running sound. can do. Thereby, the driving | running | working condition of the vehicle 1 can be recognized appropriately also at the time of a fuel cut.

  As described above, the vehicle travel notification device according to the present invention is useful for a vehicle that performs control to travel with inertia by stopping a drive source, and is particularly suitable for a vehicle including only an engine as a drive source.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 3 Engine 6 Clutch 8 Transmission 20 Clutch pedal 21 Clutch sensor 25 Shift lever 26 Shift sensor 30 Vehicle travel notification device 31 Simulated travel sound generator 32 Simulated travel sound generator 33 Speaker 40 ECU
42 driving operation acquisition unit 44 travel control unit 46 free run determination unit 48 simulated travel sound control unit

Claims (2)

The vehicle traveling by the motive power from the driving source to produce sound in the event of power, in the case of traveling by inertia by stopping the driving source, run a simulated running sound resembling the running noise that is generated at any volume Equipped with a sound generation means ,
The travel sound generating means generates the simulated travel sound based on the engine speed of the vehicle before the drive source is stopped . The vehicle travel notification device according to claim 1 , wherein the travel sound generation unit corrects the simulated travel sound according to a situation during travel of the vehicle.

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