U.S. patent application number 15/253445 was filed with the patent office on 2016-12-22 for vehicle, apparatus for generating driving sound of vehicle, and apparatus and method for controlling driving sound of vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY. The applicant listed for this patent is HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY. Invention is credited to Kyoung Jin CHANG, Seok Gwan HONG, Ki Woong JEONG, Enusoo JO, Ju In KIM, Seonghyeon KIM, Dong Chul PARK.
Application Number | 20160373859 15/253445 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55654891 |
Filed Date | 2016-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160373859 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHANG; Kyoung Jin ; et
al. |
December 22, 2016 |
VEHICLE, APPARATUS FOR GENERATING DRIVING SOUND OF VEHICLE, AND
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DRIVING SOUND OF VEHICLE
Abstract
Disclosed are a vehicle, an apparatus for generating a driving
sound of the vehicle, and an apparatus and method for controlling a
driving sound of the vehicle. The present invention intends to
provide a driving sound of a vehicle having a characteristic
desired by a driver. The vehicle according to an embodiment of the
present invention includes: a voice signal input unit configured to
receive a voice signal; a filter generation unit configured to
extract a characteristic of the voice signal and generate a driving
sound filter considering the characteristic of the voice signal;
and a driving sound control unit configured to generate a default
driving sound based on a driving state of the vehicle and generate
a new driving sound obtained by applying the driving sound filter
to the default driving sound.
Inventors: |
CHANG; Kyoung Jin;
(Suwon-si, KR) ; KIM; Ju In; (Seongnam-si, KR)
; JO; Enusoo; (Hwaseong-si, KR) ; KIM;
Seonghyeon; (Anyang-si, KR) ; PARK; Dong Chul;
(Anyang-si, KR) ; HONG; Seok Gwan;
(Gwangmyeong-si, KR) ; JEONG; Ki Woong;
(Hwaseong-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
55654891 |
Appl. No.: |
15/253445 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14564039 |
Dec 8, 2014 |
|
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15253445 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R 3/04 20130101; G10K
15/02 20130101; H04R 2499/13 20130101; G10L 25/18 20130101; B60Q
9/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04R 3/04 20060101
H04R003/04; B60Q 9/00 20060101 B60Q009/00; G10L 25/18 20060101
G10L025/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 11, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-132362 |
Claims
1. A vehicle comprising: a voice signal input unit configured to
receive a voice signal; a filter generation unit configured to
extract a characteristic of the voice signal and generate a driving
sound filter considering the characteristic of the voice signal;
and a driving sound control unit configured to generate a default
driving sound based on a driving state of the vehicle and generate
a new driving sound obtained by applying the driving sound filter
to the default driving sound.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation patent application of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/564,039, filed on Dec. 8, 2014
which claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application
No. 10-2014-132362, filed on Oct. 1, 2014 in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a vehicle,
and more particularly, to a control of a driving sound of a
vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Noise of a vehicle is a disturbance that distracts the
concentration of a driver and causes an indoor environment to be
unpleasant. However, on the other hand, the noise is one of the
important elements, which may provide emotional satisfaction that
allows a driver to feel dynamics of the vehicle and enables the
driver to feel momentum and maneuverability of the vehicle,
[0004] Accordingly, even upon developing an electric vehicle with
almost no noise and vibration, devices configured to artificially
generate and provide an appropriate vehicle noise according to a
driver's taste and preference have been developed and presented.
Furthermore, some vehicle enthusiasts invest time and money in
implemeting a unique engine sound of a specific model in their
vehicles and put much effort to synthesize their preferred sound
timbre.
SUMMARY
[0005] An aspect of the present inventive concept provides a
driving sound of a vehicle having a characteristic desired by a
driver.
[0006] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the
vehicle includes: a voice signal input unit configured to receive a
voice signal; a filter generation unit configured to extract a
characteristic of the voice signal and generate a driving sound
filter considering the characteristic of the voice signal; and a
driving sound control unit configured to generate a default driving
sound based on a driving state of the vehicle and generate a new
driving sound obtained by applying the driving sound filter to the
default driving sound.
[0007] The filter generation unit may include a filter synthesis
unit configured to generate the driving sound filter using at least
one resonance frequency of the voice signal; and a filter storage
unit configured to store the driving sound filter.
[0008] The filter synthesis unit may select the at least one
resonance frequency of the voice signal through spectral analysis
of the voice signal.
[0009] The driving sound control unit may include a driving state
detection unit configured to detect a driving state of the
vehicle.
[0010] The driving state detection unit may include at least one of
a revolutions-per-minute (RPM) sensor, a torque sensor, a throttle
position sensor, an accelerator position sensor, and a wheel speed
sensor.
[0011] The driving sound control unit may further include a control
unit configured to control generation of the default driving sound
and generation of the new driving sound.
[0012] A level of the new driving sound may be adjusted by
adjusting decibels of the driving sound filter.
[0013] The voice signal input unit may be a microphone.
[0014] The microphone may be a hands-free microphone.
[0015] The microphone may be a voice control microphone for
inputting a voice.
[0016] The microphone may be a microphone of a mobile communication
terminal.
[0017] The driving sound filter may be a finite impulse response
(FIR) filter.
[0018] The driving sound filter may be an infinite impulse response
(IIR) filter.
[0019] The voice signal may be a cry of a pet.
[0020] The voice signal may be a cry of a wild animal.
[0021] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
a driving sound filter generation device of a vehicle includes: a
filter synthesis unit configured to extract a characteristic of a
voice signal from at least one resonance frequency of the voice
signal to generate a driving sound filter; and a filter storage
unit configured to store the driving sound filter.
[0022] The filter synthesis unit may select the at least one
resonance frequency of the voice signal through spectral analysis
of the voice signal.
[0023] A level of the new driving sound may be adjusted by
adjusting decibels of the driving sound filter.
[0024] In accordance with still another aspect of the present
invention, a driving sound control device of a vehicle includes: a
driving state detection unit configured to detect a driving state
of the vehicle; and a control unit configured to generate a default
driving sound based on the driving state of the vehicle and
generate a new driving sound obtained by applying a previously
provided driving sound filter to the default driving sound.
[0025] The driving state detection unit may include at least one of
a revolutions-per-minute (RPM) sensor, a torque sensor, a throttle
position sensor, an accelerator position sensor, and a wheel speed
sensor.
[0026] A level of the new driving sound may be adjusted by
adjusting decibels of the driving sound filter.
[0027] In accordance with still another aspect of the present
invention, a method of controlling a driving sound of a vehicle,
the method includes: receiving a voice signal; extracting a
characteristic of the received voice signal and generating a
driving sound filter considering the characteristic of the voice
signal; and generating a default driving sound based on a driving
state of the vehicle and generating a new driving sound obtained by
applying the driving sound filter to the default driving sound.
[0028] The driving sound filter may be generated using at least one
resonance frequency of the voice signal.
[0029] The method may further include storing the driving sound
filter.
[0030] At least one resonance frequency of the voice signal may be
selected through spectral analysis of the voice signal.
[0031] A level of the new driving sound may be adjusted by
adjusting decibels of the driving sound filter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] These and/or other aspects of the invention will become
apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings of which:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a view showing a vehicle according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system for
generating a driving sound of a vehicle according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
driving state detection unit as shown in FIG. 2;
[0036] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method of generating a
driving sound filter in controlling a driving sound of a vehicle
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] FIGS. 5A and 5B are views showing selection of a main
resonance frequency and generation of a filter through spectral
analysis;
[0038] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a method of controlling a
driving sound of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0039] FIG. 7 is a view showing a method of generating a new
driving sound by combining a default driving sound of a vehicle and
a driving sound filter according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to
like elements throughout.
[0041] FIG. 1 is a view showing a vehicle according to an
embodiment of the present invention. A vehicle 100 moves by
rotating its wheels due to driving power generated by a driving
engine 102. When the engine 102 is driven, an engine sound is
generated by the engine 102 (an arrow depicted as a dashed line)
and introduced into a passenger compartment 104. The passenger
compartment 104 is an area of a vehicle intended for the seating of
a driver 106. An engine sound generated by the engine 102 may be
different from that desired by the driver 106. The vehicle 100
according to an embodiment of the present invention generates a
driving sound desired by the driver 106 through a driving sound
control device 110 and provides the generated driving sound to the
passenger compartment 104, thus providing a driving sound
satisfying a requirement of the driver 106.
[0042] In FIG. 1, a mobile terminal, designated by reference
numeral 108, may be a smartphone or table PC, a pad-type terminal,
or a notebook. In the vehicle 100 according to an embodiment of the
present invention, the driver 106 may start an operation needed to
generate the driving sound through an application running on the
mobile terminal 108. Alternatively, the driver 106 may start the
operation needed to generate the driving sound by using at least
one predetermined button that is provided to the vehicle 100.
[0043] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system for
generating a driving sound of a vehicle according to an embodiment
of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, a control system for
generating a driving sound of a vehicle according to an embodiment
of the present invention may include a microphone 202, a filter
generation unit 210, and a driving sound control device 110.
[0044] The microphone 202 is an example of a voice signal input
unit, which is used to receive a voice signal. The microphone 202
may be a hands-free microphone of the vehicle 100. Alternatively,
the microphone 202 may be a microphone used to receive a voice
signal of the driver 106 to perform voice recognition-based control
of the vehicle 100. If a system for the voice recognition-based
control is provided to the vehicle 100, a device for analyzing a
voice signal to perform voice recognition may be provided. In this
case, spectral analysis of a voice signal according to an
embodiment of the present invention may be carried out using the
device for analyzing a voice signal, without a separate voice
signal analyzer. Alternatively, the microphone 202 may be a
microphone of the mobile terminal 108.
[0045] A voice signal received through the microphone 202 is a
human voice signal. For example, the voice signal may be a voice of
someone including the driver 106. Alternatively, the voice signal
is a cry of a pet. A driving sound filter considering a cry of a
pet (for example, a dog or a cat) raised by the driver 106 may be
generated by inputting the cry of the pet through the microphone
202. Alternatively, the voice signal is a cry of a wild animal. A
driving sound filter considering a cry of a specific wild animal
(for example, a tiger or leopard) may be generated by acquiring the
cry of the animal and inputting the acquired sound through the
microphone 202.
[0046] A sound source of a voice wave form is classified into
periodic vibration of the vocal cords due to continuous opening and
closing of a glottis and noisy air vibration caused by blowing air
to a narrow space formed by a tongue, teeth, a lip, and the like in
a mouth. The vocal-cord-vibration-based sound source includes a
basic vibration sound and harmonic sounds whose frequency is an
integer multiple of the basic vibration sound. A basic frequency of
the vocal cord vibration is inversely proportional to a length of
the vocal cords, is proportional to the square root of a tension of
the vocal cord times the acceleration of gravity, and is inversely
proportional the square root of a specific gravity of the vocal
cords times a cross-section of the vocal cords. Vowel sounds and
voiced consonant sounds are generated by resonating a vocal tract
in which periodic air vibration due to the vocal cords, that is a
sound source, is a resonance system. In the vocal cord vibration,
each harmonic has different amplitudes, and several harmonics are
strengthened by resonance characteristics of the vocal tract. The
resonance characteristics of the vocal tract work as a filter.
Thus, the harmonics are strengthened at some frequencies and
weakened at other frequencies according to a size and a shape of
the vocal tract, that is, a length of the oral cavity, a narrowing
point in the vocal tract, a degree of opening of the vocal tract,
and the like. When a sound is generated while there is not a
narrowing point in the middle of the vocal tract, a resonance
frequency of the generated sound is similar to a case in which the
vocal tract is a cylinder pipe having one closed end, and a
wavelength of the lowest resonance wave is 4 times as long as the
length of vocal tract. Change in a shape of an oral cavity due to
movement of a tongue and a chin leads to a change in the length of
the vocal tract. Among organs of speech, an articulatory organ
includes a pharynx, an esophagus, a uvula, a hard palate, a tongue,
lips, etc. and a resonance organ includes sound-producing organs
including the pharynx, oral cavity, and a nasal cavity. In general,
a voice spectrum is represented as a spectrum of the vocal cord
sound times frequency response characteristics of the vocal tract.
As such, since the resonance characteristics of the vocal tract
work as a filter and thus the harmonics are strengthened at some
frequencies and weakened at other frequencies according to a size
and a shape of the vocal tract, that is, a length of the oral
cavity, a narrowing point in the vocal tract, a degree of opening
of the vocal tract, and the like, characteristics of voice signals
of people having different vocal cord structures may be variously
exhibited. Furthermore, similar to humans, pets or wild animals
also have the difference between characteristics of voice signals
due to the difference between vocal cord structures. The vehicle
100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may
generate and output a unique and distinctive driving sound of the
vehicle 100 desired by the driver 106 in consideration of
characteristics of a unique voice signal of a human, pet, or wild
animal, thus satisfying a requirement of the driver 106.
[0047] The filter generation unit 210 is used to extract a
characteristic of a voice signal to generate a driving sound filter
considering the characteristic of the voice signal. To this, the
filter generation unit 210 includes a filter synthesis unit 204 and
a filter storage unit 206. The filter synthesis unit 204 is used to
perform spectral analysis on a voice signal (for example, a voice
of driver 106) received through the microphone 202 and select at
least one main resonance frequency of the voice signal. In order to
more accurately extract the characteristic of the voice signal, the
filter synthesis unit 204 may select more main resonance
frequencies. As such, the filter synthesis unit 204 may extract the
main characteristic of the voice signal through the spectral
analysis and the selection of the main resonance frequency. The
filter synthesis unit 204 may generate a driving sound filter
considering the characteristic of the voice signal when the
selected main resonance frequency is used. The driving sound filter
may be a finite impulse response (FIR) filter. The driving sound
filter may be an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter. The filter
storage unit 206 is used to store a completed driving sound filter.
A driving sound filter stored in the filter storage unit 206 may
adjust a level of a target driving sound by adjusting an amplitude
(in decibels) of a resonance frequency.
[0048] The driving sound control unit 110 generates a default
driving sound based on a driving state of a vehicle and generates a
new driving sound in which the driving sound filter is applied to
the default driving sound. To this, the driving sound control unit
110 includes a driving state detection unit 218 and a control unit
212. The driving sound control unit 110 may further include a
speaker 214. The driving state detection unit 218 acquires driving
state information of the vehicle 100 and provides the acquired
driving state information to the control unit 212. The driving
state detection unit 218 will be described in detail below with
reference to FIG. 3. The control unit 212 generates a default
driving sound considering a driving state of the running vehicle
100 on the basis of driving state information of the vehicle 100
that is provided from the driving state detection unit 218. Here,
the default driving sound may be selected from among a plurality of
default driving sounds that are previously provided in
consideration of various driving states of the vehicle 100.
Alternatively, the default driving sound may be generated in
consideration of the current driving state of the vehicle 100 in
real time. The control unit 212 passes the default driving sound to
a driving sound filter of the filter storage unit 206 to generate a
new driving sound by applying a characteristic of the driving sound
filter to the default driving sound. An example of the control unit
is an electronic control unit (ECU) for electronically controlling
the vehicle 100.
[0049] The speaker 214 is used to output a new driving sound
generated by the driving sound control unit 110, and may be, for
example, an audio device provided in the vehicle 100 or a speaker
provided in a multimedia device, a navigation device, and the
like.
[0050] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
driving state detection unit as shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG.
3, the driving state detection unit 218 may include a
revolutions-per-minute (RPM) sensor 302, a torque sensor 304, a
throttle position sensor 306, an accelerator position sensor 308,
and a wheel speed sensor 310.
[0051] The RPM sensor 302 is a sensor used to detect revolutions
per minute (RPM) of the engine 102 and generates a corresponding
number of pulses to the number of cylinders of the engine 102 per
one revolution. For example, the RPM sensor 302 generates four
pulses per one revolution for a four-cylinder engine, six pulses
per one revolution for a six-cylinder engine, and three pulses per
one revolution for a three-cylinder engine. The control unit 212
determines the number of revolutions of the engine 102 by using the
number of pulses per minute that are generated by the RPM sensor
302.
[0052] The torque sensor 304 is a sensor used to detect a torque of
the engine 102. The control unit 212 may determine a degree of load
of the engine 102 through the torque sensor 304.
[0053] The throttle position sensor 306 is a sensor used to detect
a position of a throttle valve according to an operation
(acceleration) of an accelerator pedal by a driver. The throttle
position sensor 306 is a variable resistor element that rotates
with a throttle shaft of a throttle body, and detects the position
of the throttle valve. A resistance of the throttle position sensor
306 varies depending on the rotation of the throttle valve and thus
an output voltage of the throttle position sensor 306 changes. The
control unit 212 determines the position of the throttle valve
through the change in the output voltage. The control unit 212
determines an operation mode of the engine 102 from information
such as the output voltage (that is, the position of the throttle
valve) and an engine rotation number. Furthermore, the control unit
212 may allow a vehicle driving sound appropriate for an operation
mode of the engine 102 to be generated by determining a driving
control value of a vibration generator 214 according to the
position of the throttle valve,
[0054] The accelerator position sensor 308 is a sensor used to
detect an amount of operation of the accelerator pedal. That is, if
the amount is set as 0% when the driver 106 does not press the
accelerator pedal, and set as 100% when the driver 106 presses the
accelerator pedal to the floor, the accelerator pedal sensor
recognizes the amount of operation of the accelerator pedal by the
driver 106 as a value between 0% and 100%. The accelerator position
sensor 308 is a set of two sensors: one is used to detect the
amount of operation of the accelerator pedal, and the other is used
to detect (monitor) a failure.
[0055] The wheel speed sensor 310 is a sensor used to detect a
speed of revolutions of a wheel of the vehicle 100.
[0056] The control unit 212 receives detection values from the RPM
sensor 302, the torque sensor 304, the throttle position sensor
306, the accelerator position sensor 308, and the wheel speed
sensor 310 included in the driving state detection unit 218 and
controls running of the vehicle 100. The driving state detection
unit 218 may further include another sensor in addition to the RPM
sensor 302, the torque sensor 304, the throttle position sensor
306, the accelerator position sensor 308, and the wheel speed
sensor 310. In addition, the control unit 212 generates a default
driving sound considering a current driving state of the vehicle
100 on the basis of the driving state information of the vehicle
100. A new driving sound is generated by passing the default
driving sound to the driving sound filter according to an
embodiment of the present invention before the default driving
sound is output through the speaker 214, and then output through
the speaker 214.
[0057] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method of generating a
driving sound filter in controlling a driving sound of a vehicle
according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in
FIG. 4, the method includes first receiving a voice signal through
a microphone 202 that is a voice signal input unit in order to
generate a driving sound filter considering a characteristic of the
voice signal (402). The voice signal is a voice of a driver 106 or
someone else or a cry of a pet or wild animal. When the voice
signal is received, a filter synthesis unit 204 performs spectral
analysis on the received voice signal (404). The filter synthesis
unit 204 selects at least one main resonance frequency of the voice
signal from a result of the spectral analysis performed on the
received voice signal (406). In order to generate a driving sound
filter having a better quality, it is preferable to select more
main resonance frequencies. It will be described in detail below
with reference to FIG. 5. When at least one main resonance
frequency is selected, the filter synthesis unit 204 calculates an
energy level of the selected main resonance frequency (408). The
filter synthesis unit 204 uses the selected main resonance
frequency to generate a driving sound filter considering the
characteristic of the voice signal and stores the main driving
sound filter in the filter storage unit 206 (410). As such, the
driving sound filter stored in the filter storage unit 206 is
provided to the driving sound control unit 110 and used to generate
a driving sound desired by the driver 106 when the driver 106
desires the new driving sound considering the characteristic of the
voice signal while the vehicle 100 is running.
[0058] FIGS. 5A and 5B are views showing selection of a main
resonance frequency and generation of a filter through spectral
analysis. First, FIG. 5A shows a spectrum of the received voice
signal. In FIG. 5A, a horizontal axis indicates time, a vertical
axis indicates frequency, and brightness of shadow indicates an
energy level. The energy level is higher as the shaded area is
brighter, and the energy level is lower as the shaded area is
darker. As seen from FIG. 5A, the energy level around about 525 Hz
is about 12 dB, which is the highest level. In addition, the energy
levels around about 310 Hz and about 1250 Hz are about 6 dB, which
is the second highest level. As the result of the spectral
analysis, a driving sound filter having a characteristic as shown
in FIG. 5B may be generated by selecting 525 Hz, 310 Hz, and 1250
Hz as the main resonance frequencies and then combining the
frequencies. It can be seen through the characteristic of the
driving sound filter of FIG. 5B that 525 Hz, 310 Hz, and 1250 Hz
are the main resonance frequencies.
[0059] As such, the number and bands of main resonance frequencies
may vary depending on a vocal cord structure of a provider of the
voice signal. For example, voice signals of humans and animals have
respective different unique characteristics because of a difference
between vocal cord structures of humans and animals, and the
difference may be acquired through spectral analysis of the voice
signals.
[0060] As shown in FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B, when the driving sound
filter is completely generated and stored, the driving sound
control unit 110 may be operated by selection of the driver 106
during actual running of the vehicle 100 to generate a new driving
sound to which the driving sound filter has been applied. FIG. 6 is
a flowchart showing a method of controlling a driving sound of a
vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. The
driving sound control unit 110 of the vehicle 100 may be operated
to output a driving sound desired by the driver 106 in response to
an operation of the driver 106 according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0061] As shown in FIG. 6, when an operation of the driver 106
occurs in order to output the driving sound desired by the driver
106, the control unit 212 of the driving sound control unit 110
receives driving state information of the vehicle 100 from the
driving state detection unit 218 (602). The control unit 212
receives default driving sound information corresponding to the
current driving state of the vehicle 100 from the driving state
information of the vehicle 100 (604). The control unit 212 combines
the default driving sound according to the acquired default driving
sound information with a driving sound filter stored in the filter
storage unit 206 (606). That is, a new driving sound may be
generated by passing the default driving sound through the driving
sound filter to combine a characteristic of the driving sound
filter with the default driving sound. When the new driving sound
is generated, the generated driving sound may be output through a
speaker, thus allowing the driver 106 of the passenger compartment
104 to listen to the new driving sound output through a
speaker.
[0062] FIG. 7 is a view showing a method of generating a new
driving sound by combining a default driving sound of a vehicle and
a driving sound filter according to an embodiment of the present
invention. In FIG. 7, a wave form designated by reference numeral
704 indicates a characteristic of a default driving sound
considering a driving state of the vehicle 100, and a wave form
designated by reference number 706 indicates a result obtained by
passing the default driving sound 704 through the driving sound
filter 702, that is, a new driving sound.
[0063] To provide a detailed description of FIG. 7 with reference
to the above-described FIG. 2, when the vehicle 100 is running with
a driving sound filter being stored in the filter storage unit 206,
the control unit 212 generates the default driving sound 704
considering a driving state of the vehicle 100 on the basis of the
driving state information of the vehicle 100 that is detected by
the driving state detection unit 218. In this case, the control
unit 212 does not output the default driving sound without any
processing thereof, passes the default driving sound through the
driving sound filter previously stored in the filter storage unit
206 to allow the default driving sound to reflect a unique
characteristic of the driving sound filter, and then outputs the
default driving sound considering the unique characteristic, thus
allowing a new driving sound having a characteristic desired by the
driver 106 to be generated and output.
[0064] As such, when the driver 106 is not satisfied with the
default driving sound considering the driving state of the vehicle
100, the driver 106 can add his/her voice, someone's voice, a cry
of a pet of the driver 106, or a cry of a wild animal preferred by
the driver 106 to the driving sound of the vehicle 100, thus
significantly increasing satisfaction during running of the vehicle
100.
[0065] According to an aspect, it is possible to significantly
increase satisfaction of a driver during running of a vehicle by
providing a driving sound of the vehicle having a characteristic
desired by the driver.
[0066] Although a few embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without
departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *