Abstract:
A device for producing sound amplification having a control module operably associated with a digital sound device, and an amplifier connected to and supporting the digital sound device. The control module provides at least one input signal to the digital sound device, and the digital sound device receives an input signal from the control module, causing the digital sound device to produce a vibration, and causing the amplifier to increase the magnitude of the vibration.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to horns for motor vehicles, and other applications. More specifically, the present invention is a digital horn device which is used for motor vehicles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Currently, almost all horns used for automotive applications are electromechanical. In order to perform as desired, various design parameters are imposed on these various horns. These parameters include specific locations, orientation, mounting and tuning configurations and techniques. In addition, every horn is designed and/or tuned to produce a specific note. As such, horns must be individually designed and/or tuned to produce different notes when used in different applications or locations in a vehicle. Conventional horns for automotive applications are also bulky, and draw a significant amount of power from the vehicle battery. 
         [0003]    The current design of horns used in automotive applications limits the flexibility and increases costs in a variety of ways. First, every horn can only produce one note, or chord. The note of a horn is determined by many factors, including the flexibility of the horn&#39;s diaphragm, physical size, the power of the electromagnet, mass of the diaphragm, mechanical arrangement of the switch contact, the size and shape of the horn&#39;s case, and a number of other contributing factors. Because different types of vehicles have different horn frequency requirements, the same horn cannot be used for every vehicle produced. Even assuming that it is possible to use a single horn design in more than one application, each application requires tuning at a specific mounting location in a vehicle. 
         [0004]    There are also strict guidelines as to the location of where a horn can be placed in the vehicle, in order to maintain functionality and reliability. The trumpet must be oriented so as to avoid water accumulation or solid projections (gravel, dirt, etc.) in the trumpet. In some cases, baffle plates or shields must be installed for protection. Also, a minimum distance from the trumpet&#39;s mouth to other components must be maintained to avoid attenuating the sound. Specific locations in the front end of the vehicle are typically recommended to produce a clear sound. 
         [0005]    There are also specific mounting conditions recommended for electromechanical horns to maintain sound integrity. The horn must be mounted to a bracket with a specific elasticity along the main axis. There must also be a minimum amount of contact area between the bracket and a planar (minimum concavity typically given) mounting surface. 
         [0006]    Thus, it is a goal in the art to cure one or more of the deficiencies in the art which are noted above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is a device for producing sound amplification having a control module operably associated with a digital sound device, and an amplifier connected to and supporting the digital sound device. The control module provides at least one input signal to the digital sound device, and the digital sound device receives an input signal from the control module, causing the digital sound device to produce a vibration, and causing the amplifier to increase the magnitude of the vibration. 
         [0008]    Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a digital audio horn device, according to the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a first sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a digital audio horn device, according to the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a second sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a digital audio horn device, according to the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of a digital audio horn device, according to the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a first sectional view of a second alternate embodiment of a digital audio horn device, according to the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a second sectional view of a second alternate embodiment of a digital audio horn device, according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
         [0017]    A digital audio horn device is generally shown in  FIG. 1  at  10 . The digital audio horn  10  also has a control module (not shown), which can be in the form of a power module, referred to as a TIPM (totally integrated power module). The power module provides the power and also has the ability to send a control signal to create a note. The control signal can be digital input in the form of a digital audio signal. Digital input is specific to the desired output (note). The power module is connected to a connector, which in this embodiment is a power feed  12 , which is used for transmitting the digital audio signal from the power module to a digital sound device  14 . The digital sound device  14  is, in this embodiment, in the form of a digital to analog converter. The digital sound device  14  converts a digital audio signal (stream of numbers) to an analog wave. The digital sound device  14  runs at a specific sampling rate and bit resolution through the process of over sampling, unsampling, and down sampling. The digital sound device is mounted to an amplifier  16 . The amplifier  16  amplifies the analog wave produced by the digital sound device  14 . An existing vehicle component can function as the amplifier  16 . For example, a fender or the hood, or another existing vehicle component can serve as the amplifier  16 , amplifying the analog wave to produce the desired sound. 
         [0018]    In operation, the control module provides the power and control signal to create a note to the digital sound device  14  through the use of the power feed  12 . As the signal is delivered to the digital sound device  14 , the signal is converted from a digital audio signal to an analog wave. Once the digital sound device  14  has converted the digital audio signal to an analog wave, the amplifier  16  amplifies the analog wave and produces the desired output note. 
         [0019]    Specific embodiments of the invention are shown in the Figures. In  FIG. 1 , the amplifier  16  is a cross-member  16  of the vehicle frame of an automobile. The digital sound device  14  is connected to the cross-member  16 . 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a portion of a front end module is generally shown at  18 . The front end module  18  has various components that are used in an automobile. The front end module  18  has a carrier  20  for supporting various vehicle components. The carrier  20  has an upper cross-member  22 , a lower cross-member  24 , and lamp supports  26  for supporting a headlamp  28 . The carrier  20  also includes at least one support member  30  and a center support  32  which are used for supporting a top cap or front fascia (not shown). Also included are a fan shroud  34 , a radiator  36 , and a container  38  for holding coolant that flows through the radiator  36 . 
         [0021]    In this embodiment, the digital sound device  14  is connected to the upper cross-member  22 , and the upper cross-member  22  serves as the amplifier  16 . As the control signal, typically in the form of a digital audio signal, is delivered to the digital sound device  14 , the digital sound device converts the digital audio signal into an analog wave, which is then amplified by the amplifier  16 , which in this embodiment is the upper cross-member  22 . 
         [0022]    Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . In this embodiment, the digital sound device  14  is connected to one of the lamp supports  26  of the carrier  20 . A sectional view of the digital sound device  14  and the lamp support  26  is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The lamp support  26  acts as the amplifier  16 , and amplifies the sound produced by the digital sound device  14 . The component which serves as the amplifier is not limited to the vehicle components such as the upper cross-member  22  and the lamp support  26  as previously described; other components of the vehicle could be used as well. 
         [0023]    Another feature of the present invention is that the digital audio horn device  10  of the present invention also has the ability to be tuned to produce a specific type of sound. The horn device  10  could be attached to a vehicle as shown in any of the figures, and the portion of the vehicle the horn is attached to, or the entire vehicle itself, could be placed into an anechoic chamber (also known as a “quiet chamber”). Various signals can be sent to the digital sound device  14 , where the digital sound device can then covert the digital audio signal to an analog wave, where the amplifier  16  will amplify the sound. As the digital audio signal is varied, the sound produced by the amplifier  16  will vary as well. Once the appropriate digital audio signal is sent to the amplifier  16  to produce the desired note, the appropriate signal can then be saved into the control module such that each time the horn device  10  is used, the desired sound is achieved. 
         [0024]    Also, if other sounds are desired for different purposes, the control module can be programmed to store other various digital audio signals for producing other various desired sounds. Certain vehicles also have touchscreens which allow the user to control various operating parameters of the vehicle, such as heating and air conditioning. These touchscreens could also be programmed to allow the user to control the control module to cause the horn device  10  to produce other various sounds as well. 
         [0025]    The present invention solves of the problems associated with a conventional horn because a digital signal is used to create the desired note, not specific hardware. The invention does not require the use of a trumpet, so it is not susceptible to water accumulation. Additionally, the invention does not require that all the conditions regarding the location and mounting bracket exist in order to function as desired. The digital signal can be adjusted based on the mounting conditions on a given vehicle to achieve a desired output signal. The note can be adjusted by simply changing the digital audio signal on the control module or data storage device. A clear sound can still be produced regardless of location (under hood or between components), using the invention. It is the ability to alter the digital signal that allows for common hardware and a variety of environments, without imposing additional design limitations. Another feature of the present invention is the invention can use various planes of the vehicle for manipulation of the sound. For example, the fender or hood of the vehicle can be used as an amplifier to increase the output of the present invention, thereby producing the desired sound. 
         [0026]    The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.