Patent Publication Number: US-2010109855-A1

Title: Sounder control circuit, sounder system and method for vehicle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 97142741, filed on Nov. 5, 2008. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of specification. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a sounder system of an alarming sound, in particular, to a sounder system of an alarming sound for a vehicle. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The first automobile came to the world in Germany in 1886. However, it was until 1900 that America began to put the automobiles into a mass production. Up to now, the development history of automobiles is nearly one hundred years, in which breakthroughs and development have been achieved in the fields of safety, comfort, convenience, and even environmental protection and energy saving concerned by the public. Further, more and more high technologies are implemented in a new generation of automobiles in combination with applied technology, such as the technology of automobile navigation or mobile theatre, so that the operation and control of the automobiles is more human-oriented. 
     However, during the long development history of the automobiles, no significant improvement or breakthrough is achieved in the design of a loudspeaker system for external alarming.  FIG. 1  is a circuit block diagram of a conventional automobile loudspeaker system. Referring to  FIG. 1 , generally, a switch  104  of an automobile loudspeaker  102  is arranged on a steering wheel  106  of the automobile. When the switch  104  is pressed by a user, the switch  104  is turned on, so that a loop is formed by a battery  108  and the loudspeaker  102 . Thus, the loudspeaker  102  is driven to give out a sound. 
     It is known that, when the loudspeaker is driven to sound, an alarming sound generated by the loudspeaker is toward all directions, which often causes misunderstanding of other automobile drivers because the alarming sound that should otherwise be generated toward only the objects in a certain direction is heard by others in other directions. Also, the sound wave is propagated in all directions, so when the driver desires to generate the alarming sound toward only a certain direction, the surrounding environment may be influenced by the alarming sound at the same time. Such influence is most obvious on the important roads, seriously affecting the life quality of the households near the roads. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a sounder control circuit for controlling a sounder on a vehicle. 
     The present invention is also directed to a sounder system and method for a vehicle for enabling a vehicle to generate an alarming sound toward a predetermined direction. 
     A sounder control circuit is provided in the present invention. The sounder control circuit is applicable to a vehicle with a plurality of sounders, in which each sounder is used for generating a sound signal toward a different direction. The sounder control circuit of the present invention includes a switch module, a control module, and a driving module. The switch module has a plurality of switches, and outputs an operation signal to the control module according to a status of the switches. Thus, the control module may output a control signal to the driving module according to the operation signal, for driving at least one of the sounders to output the sound signal. 
     In another aspect, a sounder system for a vehicle is provided in the present invention. The sounder system includes a sounder module, an operation panel, and a control circuit. The sounder module has at least a sounder for outputting a sound signal. The operation panel has a plurality of operating units, and is coupled to the control circuit. When one of the operating units is enabled, the control circuit may drive the sounder to output the sound signal, so that the vehicle generates an alarming sound toward a direction corresponding to the enabled operating unit. 
     In another aspect, a sounder method for a vehicle is further provided in the present invention. The sounder method includes providing a plurality of operating units, and generating an alarming sound directionally toward a direction corresponding to an enabled operating unit when one of the operating units is enabled. 
     Only when an operating unit is enabled, the present invention may directionally generate the alarming sound toward a direction corresponding to the enabled operating unit. Thus, the present invention would generate the alarming sound without influencing irrelevant targets, and enables targets that a driver desires to alarm to receive such a message accurately. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a circuit block diagram of a conventional automobile loudspeaker system. 
         FIG. 2  is a system block diagram of a sounder system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an operation panel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram of a control circuit and a sounder module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic configuration diagram of a sounder according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a soundproof shield according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a system block diagram of a sounder system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a system block diagram of a sensing module and a control module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a system block diagram of a sounder system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a system block diagram of a sounder system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic configuration diagram of a sounder according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a waveform diagram of ultrasonic beams at an intersection point. 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic view of an operation panel according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a system block diagram of a sounder system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
       FIG. 2  is a system block diagram of a sounder system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the sounder system  200  provided in this embodiment may be applied in a vehicle such as an automobile. The sounder system  200  includes an operation panel  202 , a control circuit  204 , and a sounder module  206 . The operation panel  202  may be coupled to the control circuit  204 , and the control circuit  204  may be coupled to the sounder module  206 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an operation panel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  together, the operation panel  202  may be disposed on a steering wheel  300  of the vehicle, and the operation panel  202  may further include a plurality of operating units  302 ,  304 ,  306 ,  308 ,  310 ,  312 ,  314 ,  316 , and  318  operated by a user. When one of the operating units is pressed by a vehicle driver, the control circuit  204  may drive the sounder module  206  according to the pressed operating unit, so that the vehicle may generate an alarming sound directionally toward a direction corresponding to the pressed operating unit. 
       FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram of a control circuit and a sounder module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 4 , in the first embodiment, the control circuit  204  includes a switch module  402 , a control module  404 , a driving module  406 , and a battery  408 . The switch module  402  may be coupled to the control module  404  and the battery  408 , and the control module  404  may be coupled to the driving module  406 . Furthermore, the driving module  406  may be coupled to the sounder module  206 . 
     The sounder module  206  may be coupled to the battery  408 , and includes a plurality of sounders  412 ,  414 ,  416 ,  418 ,  420 ,  422 ,  424 , and  426 . These sounders are, for example, loudspeakers, which may be arranged on a shell of the vehicle, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Referring to  FIG. 5  together, in this embodiment, the vehicle may be an automobile  500 , and each sounder  412 ,  414 ,  416 ,  418 ,  420 ,  422 ,  424 , and  426  may be arranged on the shell of the automobile  500 , and may generate a sound signal toward a different direction, respectively. For example, the sounders  412 ,  414 ,  416 ,  418 ,  420 ,  422 ,  424 , and  426  may generate the sound signal toward the front, left front, left, left rear, rear, right rear, right, and right front of the automobile  500  respectively. In this embodiment, the frequency of the sound signals generated by the sounders may be between 20 Hz and 20 KHz. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  again, the switch module  402  also includes a plurality of switches  432 ,  434 ,  436 ,  438 ,  440 ,  442 ,  444 , and  446  corresponding to the sounders  412 ,  414 ,  416 ,  418 ,  420 ,  422 ,  424 , and  426 , respectively, and may be coupled to the operating units  302 ,  304 ,  306 ,  308 ,  310 ,  312 ,  314 ,  316 ,  318  on the operation panel  202  in  FIG. 3  respectively and to the control module  404 . Thus, when one of the operating units (for example, the operating unit  302 ) on the operation panel  202  is pressed, a corresponding switch (for example, the switch  432 ) would be turned on. At this time, the switch module  402  may output an operation signal OP to the control module  404 , and the control module  404  may generate a control signal CTR for the driving module  406  according to the operation signal OP. Thus, the driving module  406  may drive a corresponding sounder (for example, the sounder  412 ) to sound. 
     In this embodiment, an operating unit (for example, the operating unit  318 ) may also be set to a button for driving all the sounder  412 ,  414 ,  416 ,  418 ,  420 ,  422 ,  424 , and  426 . Assuming that when the operating unit  318  is pressed, the control module  404  may control the driving module  406  to drive all the sounders  412 ,  414 ,  416 ,  418 ,  420 ,  422 ,  424 , and  426  to produce a sound signal synchronously for generating an alarming sound. In other words, when the operating unit  318  is pressed, an alarming sound would be generated toward all directions as in a traditional automobile. 
     To enable the sounders  412 ,  414 ,  416 ,  418 ,  420 ,  422 ,  424 , and  426  to sound toward their respective directions accurately, in this embodiment, each sounder may be installed within a soundproof shield.  FIG. 6  shows a sectional view of a soundproof shield according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 6 , just as its name implies, the soundproof shield  600  in this embodiment is made of a soundproof material, and has an opening  602 . When a sounder (for example, the sounder  412 ) generates a sound signal, the sound wave passing through the opening  602  may be propagated out to form the alarming sound, while the sound waves in other directions may be blocked by the soundproof shield  600 . Therefore, the embodiment may achieve the objective of directionally generating the alarming sound. 
       FIG. 7  shows a system block diagram of a sounder system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the quality of the alarming sound generated by the sounder module  206  may be influenced by the characteristic parameters of the vehicle or the environmental parameters surrounding the vehicle. Thus, in this embodiment, a sensing module  702  may also be arranged in the control circuit  204  to detect these parameters. After the sensing module  702  detects these parameters, a sense signal SE may be output to the control module  404 . Therefore, the sensing module  404  may control the driving module  406  to drive the sounder module  206  with reference to the sense signal SE, so as to maintain the quality of the alarming sound. 
       FIG. 8  is a system block diagram of a sensing module and a control module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 8 , in this embodiment, the sensing module  702  may include a temperature sensor  802  and a speed sensor  804 . The temperature sensor  802  may sense a temperature of the surrounding environment of the vehicle, and the speed sensor  804  may sense a current speed of the vehicle. After the temperature sensor  802  senses the temperature of the surrounding environment, a temperature sense signal TSE may be output to the control module  404 . Correspondingly, after the speed sensor  804  senses the current speed of the vehicle, a speed sense signal SSE may be output to the control module  404 . 
     The control module  404  may include a logic controller  812 , a central processing unit  814 , and a frequency modulator  816 . The logic controller  812  may be coupled to the sensing module  702 , and coupled to the central processing unit  814 . Furthermore, the central processing unit  814  may be coupled to the frequency modulator  816  and the driving module  406 . The logic controller  812  may receive the sense signals SE, such as the temperature sense signal TSE and/or the speed sense signal SSE, from the sensing module, and send the sense signals SE to the central processing unit  814 . After the central processing unit  814  receives the output of the logic controller  812 , a computation may be performed on the sense signals to generate an operation result RSL for the frequency modulator  816 . Thus, the frequency modulator  816  may control the driving module  406  according to the operation result RSL, to modulate a frequency of the sound signals generated by the sounder module  206 . 
     Furthermore, the above embodiments may be extended for application. Persons of ordinary skill in the art can understand that another volume operating unit may also be arranged on, for example, the panel  202  in  FIG. 2 , to adjust a volume of the sound signals generated by the sounder module  206 . 
       FIG. 9  is a system block diagram of a sounder system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 9 , in this embodiment, the sounder module  206  may also be implemented as a single sounder  902 . When one of the operating units in  FIG. 3  is pressed by the driver, the control module  404  may control the driving module  406  to make the sounder module  206  turn to a direction corresponding to the pressed operating unit, and make the sounder  902  generate the sound signal toward the direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, the sounder module  206  may be installed on the top of the vehicle to generate the sound signal toward every direction. 
       FIG. 10  is a system block diagram of a sounder system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 10 , in this embodiment, the sounders in the sounder module  206  may be implemented as multidirectional ultrasonic transmitters, e.g.,  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006 , and  1008 . The multidirectional ultrasonic transmitters may transmit ultrasonic beams toward multiple directions, and the phases and/or waveforms of the ultrasonic beams may be different. 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic configuration diagram of a sounder according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11  together, the ultrasonic transmitters in this embodiment may generate the ultrasonic beams toward three directions, but the present invention is not limited to be so. When the driver of the vehicle  1102  desires to generate the alarming sound toward the front, the operating unit  302  in  FIG. 3  may be pressed as well. At this time, the switch module  402  may output the operation signal OP to the control module  404 , and make the control module  404  output the corresponding control signal CTR to the driving module  406 . Thus, the driving module  406  may control a part of the ultrasonic transmitters, e.g.,  1002  and  1008 , to transmit the ultrasonic beams toward an intersection point P 1  at the external of the vehicle  1102  together. 
       FIG. 12  is a waveform diagram of the ultrasonic beams at the intersection point. Referring to  FIG. 12 , the phases and/or waveforms of the ultrasonic beams transmitted by each ultrasonic transmitter  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006 , and  1008  are different, so when a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters generates the ultrasonic beams toward the intersection point together, the ultrasonic beams would interfere with each other at the intersection point to generate a harmonic wave  1202 . The frequency of the harmonic wave is in a range which may be heard by human ears, so an alarming sound may be generated. In this embodiment, the frequency of the ultrasonic beams generated by the ultrasonic transmitters  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006 , and  1008  may be, for example, between 250 KHz to 25 MHz. 
     Furthermore, this embodiment may be extended for application. The automobile driver may often encounter some traffic situation, e.g., may come across an animal, such as a dog, a cat and the like, in the front in driving, which may cause an incident and seriously influence the driving safety. The cat may hear a frequency of 250 KHz, and the dog may hear a frequency of 350 KHz. Therefore, the driver may utilize the ultrasonic beams at above frequencies transmitted by the ultrasonic transmitters in this embodiment to expel the cat, the dog, and other animals, so as to guarantee the life of these animals and guarantee the driving safety of the driver. Among others, the present invention further provides an embodiment of an operation panel, as shown in  FIG. 13 . Referring to  FIG. 13 , in this embodiment, a hot key  1302  may be arranged on the operation panel  202 . When the hot key  1302  is pressed by the driver, the frequency modulator  816  in  FIG. 8  makes the ultrasonic transmitters generate a sound signal that can be heard by cat ears or dog ears, thereby expelling the animals that may the driving safety. This embodiment may also be applied in an aeroplane for expelling birds. 
     Besides, the sounder system in  FIG. 10  generates the alarming sound by utilizing the interference between the ultrasonic beams. Thus, in these embodiments, a distance between the intersection point and the vehicle may be adjusted by merely adjusting an angle for transmitting the ultrasonic beams. In other words, according to this embodiment, the alarming sound may be generated at a closer or farther distance. 
       FIG. 14  is a system block diagram of a sounder system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 14 , in this embodiment, the control circuit  204  may be accomplished by wiring, so no complicated control is needed. 
     To sum up, the present invention has some advantages, for example, the present invention can accurately alarm the objects desired by the driver without influencing the peace of the environment or causing a misunderstanding, because the present invention may generate the alarming sound directionally toward a direction. Furthermore, the present invention may use the ultrasonic transmitters as the sounders, so the present invention may also expel the animals impairing the traffic to ensure the driving safety. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.