Patent Application
20120126969
The present invention generally pertains to automotive vehicles and more particularly to a warning system for an electric or hybrid vehicle.
Electric vehicles are extremely quiet during low-speed operation, especially as compared to vehicles having internal combustion engine. The conventional approach to resolve this concern is to add artificial engine noise or activate a monotone warning horn. Examples of such unpleasant warning noises are discussed in “Hybrid Cars Too Quiet for Pedestrian Safety? Add Engine Noise, Says Researchers,” Science Daily (2008). Further conventional disclosures of complicated, microphone-based and annoying noise warnings are disclosed in the following U.S. Patent Publication Nos.: 2010/0245069 entitled “Automobile Equipped With Speaker Unit” which published on Sep. 30, 2010; 2010/0208915 entitled “Vehicle Sound Simulation System” which published on Aug. 19, 2010; 2009/0066499 entitled “External Sound Generated System and Method” which published on Mar. 12, 2009; 2007/0257783 entitled “Vehicle Warning Device” which published on Nov. 8, 2007; and 2007/0229235 entitled “Vehicle-Mounted Sounding Device” which published on Oct. 4, 2007; all of which are incorporated by reference herein.
In accordance with the present invention, a visual and/or audio warning is provided during at least slow forward motion of an automotive vehicle. In another aspect, external music is emitted during only slow movement of an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle. Other aspects of an electric or hybrid vehicle employ warning sounds directly emitted from a vehicular outer body panel and/or an electric drive motor in a multi-functional manner in order to reduce cost and weight of extraneous hardware components.
The present system is ideally suited for warning deaf and blind pedestrians of a quietly approaching vehicle. Furthermore, the present system allows for operator customization of the warning sounds, such as through operator selection of musical songs, as compared to conventional, standardized harsh warning noises. Additional advantages and features of the present invention will be found in the following description and accompanying claims, as well as in the appended drawings.
Referring to
An automotive vehicle warning system 31 includes an electronic unit 33, including a microprocessor-based computer controller 35 and random access memory 37, which is located within an instrument panel 39 inside passenger compartment 17. Nontransient memory, such as RAM, ROM or a removeable storage device, connected to controller 35 includes programmed software (such as that illustrated in
A factory-installed music file is installed in memory 37 for automatic selection by controller 35 if an operator does not load and select a different music file. Nevertheless, the operator is encouraged to download music files from memory stick 43 to memory 37 via port 41, and to then use entertainment system controls 45 to select between desired music song signals to be sent from memory 37 to controller 35 with assistance from the software. For example, the operator may select three different music song files which are played sequentially or in a randomly shuffled manner, (with the operator sending a preference input signal to the software) and the operator may thereafter manually delete the previously selected music files and replace them with newer musical files by inputting associated signals to the software. It is also envisioned that the operator can select only a segment of a musical file for repeated use by controller via selection by the radio controls. For example, the operator can use the software and entertainment controls to mark start and end designations between which are only thirty seconds or less, or twenty bars or less of the musical song. It should be appreciated that the term “music” as used herein includes sound having a melody, harmony and/or rhymn, but does not include a mere repetition of monotone beeps, simulated engine noise or a continuous pitched siren. A musical song may include but is not limited to orchestral symphonies, cellular telephone simulating ring tones having more than two musical notes, percussion instrumentation having multiple notes or varying rhythms, and the like. As used herein, “music” is intended to be a pleasing sound to the vehicle operator.
A speed sensor 51, such as an optical encoder, hall effect sensor or the like senses RPM's from the transmission of the vehicle in order to detect and send a signal to controller 35 indicative of the speed of the vehicle. Controller 35 may actually consist of two or more spaced apart but interconnected microprocessor controllers, including but not limited to a body computer and an entertainment computer. Controller 35 also receives a signal from a shifter assembly 53 to determine if the shifter assembly is in a drive, reverse, park or neutral position, or has sent an associated signal. The controller then determines if the vehicle velocity is within the predetermined slow vehicle speed range, such as between 15-0 miles per hour, and more preferably less than or equal to 5 and greater than 0 miles per hour. If controller 35 determines that the vehicle shifter assembly is in either a drive or reverse mode and the sensed speed falls within the slow speed range, then the controller will access a selected or default music file from memory 37. Controller 35 will accordingly turn on an audio switch 55 within an electrical circuit 57 to send the music signals associated with the music file(s) to a sound emitter, preferably a loud speaker 59. Speaker 59 is water resistant and preferably includes a frusto-conical diaphragm, a voice coil and a magnet, which when energized vibrate the diaphragm to emit musical songs.
Speakers 59 are preferably hidden beneath a vehicular body panel, such as within fenders 21 or beneath a hood 61. Two or more speakers can be employed, one for each side of the vehicle, or alternately one for the front of the vehicle and one for the rear of the vehicle, or just one that is centrally located. The vehicular body panels are preferably made from epoxy resin encapsulated sheets of long-strand glass (or alternately polymeric) fibers, with a honeycomb core located between the sheets of fibers in a composite manner. Thus, speakers 59 emit desired musical songs external to the vehicle to warn pedestrians of the approaching electric or hybrid vehicle which would otherwise be almost silent.
As an additional option, a set of lights 71 is energized by microprocessor controller 35 dependent upon the sensed vehicle speed and transmission shifter mode. This is shown in
Reference should now be made to an alternate embodiment shown in
Another alternate embodiment is illustrated in
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
