IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,155,343
Granted Patent B2
US 8,155,343 · App. 11/886,044 · Granted Apr 10, 2012

Engine sound processing system

Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,155,343
App. No.
11/886,044
Granted
Apr 10, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Microphones are provided at an air inlet of the engine and a vehicle-cabin-side wall surface of an engine room, and engine sounds are picked up. The engine sound is processed by a signal processing section, and the processed engine sound is output from a speaker provided in a vehicle cabin. The signal processing section is provided with a filter which simulates a sound insulation characteristic of the vehicle cabin and a transformation section for processing the engine sound according to driving condition. A spectrum transformation characteristic of the transformation section is determined according to values detected by a vehicle speed sensor, an engine speed sensor, and an accelerator depression sensor, and a spectrum of the engine sound is transformed by means of specification of the spectrum transformation characteristic, thereby enhancing an engine sound.

Claims (13)

1. An engine sound processing system comprising:

a microphone which is disposed outside a vehicle cabin of an automobile and which picks up an engine sound of the automobile;

a sensor for detecting driving condition of the automobile;

a signal processing section which processes the engine sound picked up by the microphone in accordance with the detected result by the sensor and outputs the engine sound; and

a speaker for outputting the engine sound subjected to signal processing performed by the signal processing section,

wherein the signal processing section adds distortion to the engine sound picked up by the microphone, and

a degree of the distortion is dynamically changed according to at least either an engine speed or the degree of depression of an accelerator.

2. The engine sound processing system according to claim 1 , wherein a type of the distortion to be added is dynamically changed according to at least either the engine speed or the degree of depression of the accelerator.

3. The engine sound processing system according to claim 1 , including an equalizer section whose frequency characteristic is dynamically changed according to at least either the engine speed or the degree of depression of the accelerator.

4. The engine sound processing system according to claim 1 further comprising an amplifier for outputting to the speaker the engine sound imparted with distortion at a sound volume which is dynamically controlled according to at least the engine speed or the degree of depression of the accelerator.

5. The engine sound processing system according to claim 4 , wherein the distortion imparted by the signal processing section or a manner in which the sound volume of the amplifier is dynamically changed is changed according to a rate of change in engine speed or a rate of change in degree of depression of the accelerator.

6. The engine sound processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processing section controls that a rate of change in the processed engine sound increases when a rate of change in the engine speed or the degree of depression of the accelerator is large.

7. The engine sound processing system according to claim 1 , wherein modes of the distortion, a type of the distortion, frequency characteristics, and volume change are settable by a user.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CONVEYING PARTY NAMES PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL 019876, FRAME 0752. Recorded Oct 24, 2007
From: HONJI, YOSHIKAZU; YOSHIOKA, YASUO; KOBAYASHI, TETSU; TAKAHASHI, AKIO
To: YAMAHA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 020012/0219 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2007
From: HONJI, YOSHIKAZU; YOSHIOKA, YASUO; KOBAYASHI, TETSUO; AKIO TAKAHASHI SIGNED
To: YAMAHA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019876/0752 →
Priority Claims (6)
JP 2005-069726 · Mar 11, 2005 · national
JP 2005-089283 · Mar 25, 2005 · national
JP 2005-134278 · May 2, 2005 · national
JP 2005-189201 · Jun 29, 2005 · national
JP 2005-190903 · Jun 30, 2005 · national
JP 2005-235790 · Aug 16, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080192954A1 · Aug 14, 2008