Vehicle sound emission control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11488472-B2
Application number	US-202017071032-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2020
Priority date	Oct 15, 2020
Publication date	Nov 1, 2022
Grant date	Nov 1, 2022

Abstract

A speed of a target vehicle can be detected. A difference in host vehicle speed and the speed of the target vehicle is determined. A target frequency is specified for a sound to be received at the target vehicle. A sending frequency is determined for the sound based on the target frequency and the difference in host vehicle speed and target vehicle speed. The sound is transmitted at the sending frequency.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for a host vehicle, comprising:
an object detection sensor;
a frequency generator coupled to a speaker; and
a computer that includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the processor is programmed to:
based on data from the object detection sensor, identify targets in respective zones around the host vehicle;
identify a multi-target zone from the plurality of zones that includes two or more of the targets;
select a target to represent the multi-target zone based on prioritizing the two or more targets within the multi-target zone;
detect respective speeds of the targets relative to the host vehicle based on data from the object detection sensor;
specify respective target frequencies for a sounds to be received at the targets vehicle;
determine respective sending frequencies for the sounds based on the target frequencies and the respective relative speeds of the targets; and
transmit the sounds according to a transmission pattern that specifies the sending frequencies and respective times for sending the sounds.

2. A system comprising a computer for a host vehicle that includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the processor is programmed to:
identify targets in respective zones around the host vehicle;
identify a multi-target zone from the plurality of zones that includes two or more of the targets;
select a target to represent the multi-target zone based on prioritizing the two or more targets within the multi-target zone;
detect respective speeds of the targets;
determine differences in a speed of the host vehicle and the speeds of the targets vehicle;
specify respective target frequencies for sounds to be received at the targets;
determine respective sending frequencies for the sounds based on the target frequencies and the difference in host vehicle speed and target speeds; and
transmit the sounds according to a transmission pattern that specifies the sending frequencies and respective times for sending the sounds.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate a first speaker to transmit a first one of the sounds at a first one of the sending frequencies and a second speaker to transmit a second one of the sounds at a second one of the sending frequencies.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate a speaker at a first time to transmit a first one of the sounds at a first one of the sending frequencies and to actuate the speaker at a second time to transmit a second one of the sounds at a second one of the sending frequencies.

5. The system of claim 2 , the instructions further including instructions to:
specify a range of frequencies for one of the sending frequencies; and
transmit one of the sounds within the range of frequencies.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the speed of the host vehicle is determined via a host vehicle speed sensor.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein the speed of at least one of the targets is detected via a host vehicle radar.

8. The system of claim 2 , the instructions further comprising instructions to determine to transmit a second sound based on a distance of one of the targets.

9. The system of claim 8 , the instructions further comprising instructions to transmit the second sound at a volume based on the distance of the of one of the targets.

10. The system of claim 2 , the instructions further comprising instructions to identify the targets based on respective locations of the targets.

11. The system of claim 2 , the instructions further comprising instructions to specify the sending frequencies for the sounds based at least in part on a locations of the targets.

12. The system of claim 2 , the instructions further comprising instructions to specify the target frequencies based at least in part on respective locations of the targets relative to the host vehicle.

13. A method, comprising:
identifying targets in respective zones around the host vehicle;
identifying a multi-target zone from the plurality of zones that includes two or more of the targets;
selecting a target to represent the multi-target zone based on prioritizing the two or more targets within the multi-target zone;
detecting respective speeds of the targets;
determining differences in a speed of the host vehicle and the speeds of the targets;
specifying respective target frequencies for sounds to be received at the targets;
determining respective sending frequencies for the sounds based on the target frequencies and the difference in host vehicle speed and target speeds; and
transmitting the sounds according to a transmission pattern that specifies the sending frequencies and respective times for sending the sounds.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
specifying a range of frequencies for one of the sending frequencies; and
transmitting one of the sounds within the range of frequencies.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the speed of the host vehicle is determined via a host vehicle speed sensor.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the speed of at least one of the targets is detected via a host vehicle radar.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising identifying the targets based on respective locations of the targets.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising specifying the target frequencies based at least in part on respective locations of the targets relative to the host vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Parenti Robert
• Ignaczak Brad Alan

Classifications

• G08G1/165

  for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees · CPC title

• G08G1/166 Primary

  for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes · CPC title

• B60W2420/60

  Doppler effect · CPC title

• G08G1/0125

  Traffic data processing · CPC title

• G01S5/20

  Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders · CPC title