Electric Vehicle Sound Enhancement Systems And Methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018001818-A1
Application number	US-201615245334-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 24, 2016
Priority date	Jun 30, 2016
Publication date	Jan 4, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An audio system of a vehicle includes: an acceleration state module that sets an acceleration state signal to a first state when a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle is greater than a first predetermined acceleration, where the first predetermined acceleration is positive; a sound control module that selectively sets audio characteristics for an acceleration event in response to determinations that all of: (i) the acceleration state signal is in the first state; (ii) an electric motor is outputting positive torque to a powertrain of the vehicle; and (iii) a driver is applying pressure to an accelerator pedal; and an audio driver module that, based on the audio characteristics, applies power to speakers to output sound within a passenger cabin of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An audio system of a vehicle, comprising:
an acceleration state module that sets an acceleration state signal to a first state when a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle is greater than a first predetermined acceleration, wherein the first predetermined acceleration is positive; a sound control module that selectively sets audio characteristics for an acceleration event in response to determinations that all of:
(i) the acceleration state signal is in the first state;
(ii) an electric motor is outputting positive torque to a powertrain of the vehicle; and
(iii) a driver is applying pressure to an accelerator pedal; and
an audio driver module that, based on the audio characteristics, applies power to speakers to output sound within a passenger cabin of the vehicle.

2 . The audio system of claim 1 wherein the sound control module sets the audio characteristics for the acceleration event in response to determinations that all of:
(i) the acceleration state signal is in the first state;
(ii) the electric motor is outputting positive torque to the powertrain of the vehicle;
(iii) the driver is applying pressure to the accelerator pedal;
(iv) a rate of change of an engine speed of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined rate of change of the engine speed; and
(v) a present gear ratio of a transmission of the vehicle is greater or equal to a predetermined gear ratio.

3 . The audio system of claim 1 wherein the sound control module sets the audio characteristics for the acceleration event in response to determinations that all of:
(i) the acceleration state signal is in the first state;
(ii) the electric motor is outputting positive torque to the powertrain of the vehicle;
(iii) the driver is applying pressure to the accelerator pedal;
(iv) the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle is greater than a second predetermined acceleration,
wherein the second predetermined acceleration is positive and is greater than the first predetermined acceleration; and
(v) a present gear ratio of a transmission of the vehicle is greater or equal to a predetermined gear ratio.

4 . The audio system of claim 1 wherein the sound control module sets the audio characteristics for the acceleration event in response to determinations that all of:
(i) the acceleration state signal is in the first state;
(ii) the electric motor is outputting positive torque to the powertrain of the vehicle;
(iii) the driver is applying pressure to the accelerator pedal;
(iv) a latitudinal acceleration of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined latitudinal acceleration; and
(v) a present gear ratio of a transmission of the vehicle is less than a predetermined gear ratio.

5 . The audio system of claim 1 wherein the sound control module sets the audio characteristics for the acceleration event based on a present torque output of the electric motor.

6 . The audio system of claim 5 wherein:
the audio characteristics include a loudness;
the sound control module increases the loudness for the acceleration event as the present torque output of the electric motor increases; and
the sound control module decreases the loudness for the acceleration event as the present torque output of the electric motor decreases.

7 . The audio system of claim 1 wherein the sound control module sets the audio characteristics for the acceleration event based on a pseudo engine speed.

8 . The audio system of claim 7 wherein:
the audio characteristics include a frequency for outputting predetermined sounds;
the sound control module increases the frequency for the acceleration event as the pseudo engine speed increases; and
the sound control module decreases the frequency for the acceleration event as the pseudo engine speed decreases.

9 . The audio system of claim 1 wherein:
the sound control module further selectively sets second audio characteristics for a regeneration event in response to determinations that both of:
(i) the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle is negative; and
(ii) the electric motor is converting mechanical energy of the powertrain of the vehicle into electrical energy; and

wherein the audio driver module further, based on the second audio characteristics, applies power to the speakers to output sound within the passenger cabin of the vehicle.

10 . The audio system of claim 9 wherein:
the second audio characteristics include a loudness; and
the sound control module sets the loudness of sound output for the regeneration event based on at least one of (i) the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, (ii) whether the driver is applying pressure to a brake pedal, (iii) whether the driver is actuating a regeneration user input device, and (iv) a negative torque output of the electric motor.

11 . A vehicle audio system, comprising:
at least one memory comprising computer executable instructions; at least one processor configured to read and execute the computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions causing the at least one processor to:
set an acceleration state signal to a first state when a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle is greater than a first predetermined acceleration,
wherein the first predetermined acceleration is positive;
set audio characteristics for an acceleration event in response to determinations that all of:
(i) the acceleration state signal is in the first state;
(ii) an electric motor is outputting positive torque to a powertrain of the vehicle; and
(iii) a driver is applying pressure to an accelerator pedal; and,

based on the audio characteristics, apply power to speakers to output sound within a passenger cabin of the vehicle.

12 . The vehicle audio system of claim 11 wherein the computer executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to set the audio characteristics for the acceleration event based on a present torque output of the electric motor.

13 . The vehicle audio system of claim 12 wherein the audio characteristics include a loudness, and
wherein the computer readable instructions further cause the at least one processor to:
(i) increase the loudness for the acceleration event as the present torque output of the electric motor increases; and
(ii) decrease the loudness for the acceleration event as the present torque output of the electric motor decreases.

14 . The vehicle audio system of claim 11 wherein the computer executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to set the audio characteristics for the acceleration event based on a pseudo engine speed.

15 . The vehicle audio system of claim 14 wherein the audio characteristics include a frequency for outputting predetermined sounds, and
wherein the computer executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to:
increase the frequency for the acceleration event as the pseudo engine speed increases; and
decrease the frequency for the acceleration event as the pseudo engine speed decreases.

16 . The vehicle audio system of claim 11 wherein the computer executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to:
set second audio characteristics for a regeneration event in response to determinations that both of:
(i) the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle is negative; and
(ii) the electric motor is converting mechanical energy of the powertrain of the vehicle into electrical energy; and

based on the second audio characteristics, apply power to the speakers to output sound within

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Reilly Scott M
• Valeri Frank C
• Barlow Jr Roger C

Classifications

• B60Q5/005

  automatically actuated · CPC title

• B60Q9/00 Primary

  Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} · CPC title

• H04R3/04

  for correcting frequency response · CPC title

• H04R2499/13

  Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles · CPC title

• H04R2430/01

  Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems · CPC title