SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SOUND CHARACTER FOR A VEHICLE

A system for controlling sound character of a vehicle includes one or more performance enhancement systems operable to enhance powertrain performance. Each of the one or more performance enhancement systems includes a performance control input. One or more sound enhancement systems are operable to adjust at least one of an external vehicle sound and an interior sound perceived by vehicle occupants. Each of the one or more sound enhancement system includes a sound enhancement control input. A sound character control system includes a central controller operably connected to at least one performance control input and at least one sound enhancement control input. The central controller coordinates operation of at least two of the one or more performance enhancement systems and the one or more sound enhancement systems to establish one of a desired exterior sound character and an interior sound character.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention relates to the art of vehicles and, more particularly, to a system for establishing and controlling a desired sound character for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Vehicle owners may be concerned with undesirable sounds that may exist in a vehicle interior or externally of a vehicle. Often times, the undesirable noise may be generated by various vehicle components as well as interactions between components and environmental conditions. When present, undesirable noise may detract from the overall enjoyment of the vehicle. Current systems employ one or more speakers to cover undesirable sound or add noise to enhance or provide desirable sounds. Other systems may include exhaust and/or fuel controls. While somewhat effective, speakers and engine controls cannot accommodate all undesirable sounds in a passenger compartment particularly when operated without any coordination. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a system that employs multiple components, all working in harmony to promote a more enjoyable interior environment for the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a system for controlling sound character of a vehicle includes one or more performance enhancement systems operable to enhance powertrain performance. Each of the one or more performance enhancement systems includes a performance control input. One or more sound enhancement systems are operable to adjust at least one of an external vehicle sound and an interior sound perceived by vehicle occupants. Each of the one or more sound enhancement system includes a sound enhancement control input. A sound character control system includes a central controller operably connected to at least one performance control input and at least one sound enhancement control input. The central controller coordinates operation of at least two of the one or more performance enhancement systems and the one or more sound enhancement systems to establish one of a desired exterior sound character and an interior sound character.

In accordance with another aspect of an exemplary embodiment, a vehicle includes a body, and a powertrain supported in the body. The powertrain includes an engine, a transmission and one or more performance enhancement systems operable to enhance powertrain performance. Each of the one or more performance enhancement systems includes a performance control input. One or more sound enhancement systems are operable to adjust at least one of an external vehicle sound and an interior sound perceived by vehicle occupants. Each of the one or more sound enhancement system includes a sound enhancement control input. A sound character control system includes a central controller operably connected to at least one performance control input and at least one sound enhancement control input. The central controller coordinates operation of at least two of the one or more performance enhancement systems and the one or more sound enhancement systems to established one of a desired exterior sound character and an interior sound character.

In accordance with yet another aspect of an exemplary embodiment, a method of controlling a sound character of a vehicle includes monitoring powertrain conditions, determining a status of one or more performance enhancement systems operable to enhance powertrain performance, determining a status of one or more sound enhancement systems operable to adjust at least one of an external vehicle sound and an interior sound perceived by vehicle occupants, and coordinating operation of at least two of the one or more performance enhancement systems and the one or more sound enhancement systems to establish one of a desired exterior sound character and an interior sound character.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. As used herein, the term “module” or “unit” refers to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an electronic circuit, an electronic computer processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, a hardware microcontroller, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality. When implemented in software, a module can be embodied in memory as a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method.

A vehicle, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, is illustrated generally at10inFIG. 1. Vehicle10includes a chassis (not shown) that supports a body12and a powertrain13. Powertrain13includes an engine14operatively coupled to a transmission17. Transmission17is operatively connected to drive wheels (not separately labeled) through a drive shaft (also not shown). Vehicle10also includes an exhaust system20having an exhaust pipe22that extends from fluidically connects between engine14and a sound attenuation device or muffler24. A tail pipe28extends from muffler24and serves to discharge exhaust gases from engine14to ambient. Of course, it should be understood that vehicle10may constitute an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle.

In accordance with an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, vehicle10includes a sound character control system60that coordinates activation of various vehicle components to achieve a desired external or exterior sound character and/or internal sound character associated with vehicle10. The term “sound character” should be understood to describe a desired quality, level, and/or tone emitted by powertrain13and perceivable externally of and/or internally to, vehicle10. The “sound character” may also represent desired performance characteristics of vehicle10while maintaining externally perceived sounds within sound emission standards.

As seen inFIG. 2, sound character control system60includes a central controller64having a processor70, a non-volatile memory72and a sound character coordination module or controller74that coordinates operation of various vehicle components to achieve the desired sound character of vehicle10. Central controller64may be operatively coupled to a plurality of performance enhancement systems80and a plurality of sound enhancement systems84. Performance enhancement systems80may be selectively operated to establish desired powertrain performance characteristics for vehicle10and may include one or more of an engine calibration controller (EC)90, a fuel controller (FC)91, a turbocharger waste gate controller (WG)92, a transmission calibration controller (TC)93, an advanced fuel management system (AFM)94that may selectively activate and deactivate operation of cylinders (not shown) in engine14and a drive control module (95) that may allow a user to select between a performance mode, a street mode, and/or other driving modes for vehicle10. Each performance enhancement system80includes at least one corresponding performance control input (not separately labeled) to sound character control system60.

Sound enhancement systems84may be selectively activated to achieve a desired audible response from a vehicle component. Sound enhancement systems84may operate to add sound to existing sound signatures for a component, or may attenuate sound from the existing sound signatures. Sound enhancement systems84may include one or more of an engine sound enhancement system (ENC)104, an exhaust sound quality valve (Exh SQV)105, a mechanical sound enhancer(s) (MECH SE)106, an active noise cancellation system (ANC)107, an exhaust dynamic sound quality system (EDST)108, and an exhaust dynamic noise cancellation system (EDNC)109. ANC107may include one or more transducers112, that may take the form of microphones and/or accelerometers112that capture noise and one or more speakers113that emit sounds. EDST108may include speakers115and EDNC109may include speakers116. Speakers115may be operated to enhance exhaust sounds while speakers116may be operated to attenuate or mask exhaust sounds. Each sound enhancement system84may include one or more sound enhancement control inputs to sound character control system60. Additional transducers120, which may also take the form of microphones and/or accelerometers, arranged in various portions of vehicle10may also be operatively connected to central controller64.

Sound enhancement systems84may also include one or more powertrain inputs130including one or more of an accelerator pedal sensor133, an engine torque sensor (ET)134, an RPM rate of change sensor (RPM RoC)135, and a pedal position sensor136. As will be detailed more fully below, sound enhancement systems84receives one or more of powertrain inputs130to determine a desired sound character. Sound character coordination module74may then derive the desired sound character from values, settings, and the like stored in non-volatile memory72. Sound character coordination module74establishes the desired sound character by coordinating control of one or more of the performance enhancement systems80and the sound enhancement systems84. That is, sound character coordination module74operates as would a conductor to achieve a desired sound character by orchestrating control of multiple sources to achieve a desired sound. At this point, it should be understood that control of a system may include activating a system and may also include allowing a system to exist in a deactivated state.

Reference will now follow toFIG. 3in describing a method200of enhancing a sound character of vehicle10in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. In block202, sound character control system60monitors powertrain inputs130for signals indicating a need for sound character adjustment. In block208, sound character control system60determines a current state of each performance enhancement system80and in block212sound character control system60determines a status of each sound enhancement system84. In block216, sound character coordination module74coordinates control of one or more of performance enhancement systems80and sound enhancement systems84to establish a desired sound character.

In block220, sound character control system60monitors sound through one or more of microphones and/or accelerometers112,120. The monitored signals or sounds captured by transducers112,120may be compared against desired sound characteristics stored in non-volatile memory72and a determination is made, in block224, whether sound character adjustments are indicated. If sound character adjustments are indicated, sound character coordination module74may coordinate operation of one or more of performance enhancement systems80and sound enhancement systems84until the desired sound character is achieved. Once the desired sound character is achieved, sound character control system60continues to monitor powertrain inputs130in block202.