U.S. patent application number 15/826617 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-25 for sound control method for hybrid vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY. The applicant listed for this patent is HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA Motors Corporation. Invention is credited to In Soo Jung, Dong Chul Lee.
Application Number | 20190118708 15/826617 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65996497 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-25 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190118708 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Dong Chul ; et
al. |
April 25, 2019 |
SOUND CONTROL METHOD FOR HYBRID VEHICLE
Abstract
Disclosed is a sound control method for a hybrid vehicle having
both an engine and a motor as driving power sources, the method
including: checking a driving condition of the hybrid vehicle;
calculating a first virtual sound optimizing an engine sound by
extracting main order components of the engine based on an engine
RPM and engine load data, and by optimizing an arrangement of the
extracted main order components of the engine or by adjusting
output levels thereof; calculating a second virtual sound
generating an optimized engine sound by extracting order components
of the motor based on a motor RPM and motor load data, converting
the extracted order components of the motor into corresponding main
order components of the engine, and by optimizing an arrangement of
the converted main order components of the engine or by adjusting
output levels thereof; and outputting the calculated first virtual
sound or the second virtual sound to a sound device.
Inventors: |
Lee; Dong Chul; (Anyang-si,
KR) ; Jung; In Soo; (Suwon-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
KIA Motors Corporation |
Seoul
Seoul |
|
KR
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Seoul
KR
KIA Motors Corporation
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
65996497 |
Appl. No.: |
15/826617 |
Filed: |
November 29, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60K 2006/4825 20130101;
B60W 2510/081 20130101; B60W 2510/085 20130101; B60W 20/00
20130101; B60Y 2200/92 20130101; B60Q 5/008 20130101; B60K 6/22
20130101; Y10S 903/904 20130101; B60K 6/48 20130101; B60W 2520/105
20130101; B60W 2510/0638 20130101; B60W 2510/0666 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60Q 5/00 20060101
B60Q005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 20, 2017 |
KR |
10-2017-0136543 |
Claims
1. A sound control method for a hybrid vehicle having both an
engine and a motor as driving power sources, the method comprising:
checking, by a controller, a driving condition of the hybrid
vehicle; when the driving condition of the hybrid vehicle is an
engine driving condition, calculating, by the controller, a first
virtual sound for optimizing an engine sound by extracting main
order components of the engine based on an engine RPM and engine
load data, and by optimizing an arrangement of the extracted main
order components of the engine or by adjusting output levels
thereof; when the driving condition of the hybrid vehicle is a
motor driving condition, calculating, by the controller, a second
virtual sound for generating an optimized engine sound by
extracting order components of the motor based on a motor
revolution per minute and motor load data, converting the extracted
order components of the motor into corresponding main order
components of the engine, and by optimizing an arrangement of the
converted main order components of the engine or by adjusting
output levels thereof; and after calculating the first virtual
sound or the second virtual sound, outputting, by the controller,
the calculated first virtual sound or the calculated second virtual
sound to a sound device of the hybrid vehicle wherein when the
driving condition is switched between an engine driving condition
and a motor driving condition, the method further includes:
calculating, by the controller, a third virtual sound representing
a target driving condition, causing the controller to gradually
alter the virtual sound from the virtual sound of a previous
driving condition to the third virtual sound over a predetermined
time period; and outputting, by the controller, the calculated
third virtual sound and gradual transition to the sound device.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: after calculating the
first virtual sound or the second virtual sound checking, by the
controller, a differential value of a driving speed.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein when the calculated differential
value of the driving speed is 0, the controller ceases outputting
the first virtual sound or the second virtual sound; and when the
differential value of the driving speed is not 0, the method
further includes: adding, by the controller, an acceleration
characteristic to the first virtual sound or the second virtual
sound, and outputting the added virtual sound to the sound
device.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the acceleration characteristic
is calculated based on at least one of an RPM increase in the
engine or the motor, a rate of change in the driving speed, and a
pedal opening rate.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: after calculating the
first virtual sound or the second virtual sound, checking, by the
controller, whether or not a driving mode of the hybrid vehicle is
any one of an ECO mode, a COMPORT mode, and a SPORT mode; and
adding, by the controller, a driving mode characteristic to the
first virtual sound or the second virtual sound according to the
determined driving mode, and outputting the added virtual sound to
the sound device.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the driving mode characteristic is
preset to amplify output levels of the main order components of the
engine, and wherein the driving mode characteristic is set to
gradually increase amplification of the output levels as driving
mode shifts from an ECO mode to a COMPORT mode, to a SPORT
mode.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein in calculating the first virtual
sound, the controller collects the engine load data based on at
least one of an engine vibration sensor, a combustion pressure
sensor, a boost pressure sensor, and an exhaust pressure
sensor.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein in calculating the second virtual
sound, the controller collects the motor load data based on at
least one of a motor vibration sensor, a voltage sensor, and a
current sensor.
9. (canceled)
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2017-0136543, filed Oct. 20, 2017, the entire
contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this
reference.
BACKGROUND
Technical Field
[0002] The present invention generally relates to a sound control
method for a hybrid vehicle having both an engine and a motor as
driving power sources, whereby an optimized vehicle sound is
provided to a driver according to a driving condition of the hybrid
vehicle.
Description of the Related Art
[0003] Recently, due to the introduction of vehicles such as hybrid
vehicles that use both fossil fuel and a battery as driving power
sources, and electric vehicles that use a battery as a driving
power source, installation of a sound-generating device in an
eco-friendly vehicle has become mandatory because these types of
vehicles generate little sound.
[0004] In the United States, legislation is being considered
requiring that an eco-friendly vehicle generate noise above a
certain level.
[0005] In general, vehicle noise, lack of vehicle noise, or
monotonous vehicle noise may be unpleasant for a driver. In
addition, pedestrians may find vehicle noise unpleasant. However,
vehicle noise may prevent accidents because pedestrians audibly
recognize the proximity of a nearby vehicle through such a
noise.
[0006] In addition, silence or monotone noise within a hybrid
vehicle has a negative impact on a driver. For example, during a
motor driving mode, because there is no unique sound from an
internal combustion engine, the driving experience may be degraded
or the driver may risk falling asleep. In addition, there may be
driving discomfort generated during regenerative braking.
[0007] The foregoing is intended merely to aid in the understanding
of the background of the present invention, and is not intended to
mean that the present invention falls within the purview of the
related art that is already known to those skilled in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0008] The present disclosure addresses the above problems by
providing a sound control method for a hybrid vehicle in which an
interior sound of the hybrid vehicle is consistently maintained,
and a suitable virtual sound is provided to a driver according to a
driving condition, whether or not the driver drives at a steady
speed. Thus, the driver may not feel discomfort due to sound
changes during driving, and thus the driving experience is
improved.
[0009] In order to achieve the above object, according to one
example embodiment, there is provided a sound control method for a
hybrid vehicle having both an engine and a motor as driving power
sources, the method including the steps of: checking, by a
controller, a driving condition of the hybrid vehicle; when the
driving condition of the hybrid vehicle is an engine driving
condition, calculating, by the controller, a first virtual sound
for optimizing an engine sound by extracting main order components
of the engine based on an engine revolution per minute (RPM) and
engine load data, and by optimizing an arrangement of the extracted
main order components of the engine or by adjusting output levels
thereof; when the driving condition of the hybrid vehicle is a
motor driving condition (EV mode), calculating, by the controller,
a second virtual sound for generating an optimized engine sound by
extracting order components of the motor based on a motor RPM and
motor load data, by converting the extracted order components of
the motor into corresponding main order components of the engine,
and by optimizing an arrangement of the converted main order
components of the engine or by adjusting output levels thereof; and
after calculating the first virtual sound or the second virtual
sound, outputting, by the controller, the calculated first virtual
sound or the second virtual sound to a sound device of the hybrid
vehicle.
[0010] In a further embodiment, the sound control method further
includes: after calculating the first virtual sound or the second
virtual sound, checking, by the controller, whether or not a
differential value of the driving speed of the vehicle is 0 (i.e.
the vehicle speed is steady), wherein if the differential value of
the driving speed is 0, the controller ceases outputting the first
virtual sound or the second virtual sound.
[0011] In a further embodiment, When the differential value of the
driving speed is not 0, the sound control method may further
include: adding, by the controller, an acceleration characteristic
to the first virtual sound or the second virtual sound, and
outputting the added virtual sound to the sound device, the
acceleration characteristic being calculated based on at least one
of an RPM increase in the engine or the motor, a rate of change in
the driving speed, and a pedal opening rate.
[0012] In a further embodiment, the sound control method may
further include: after calculating the first virtual sound or the
second virtual sound, checking, by the controller, whether or not a
driving mode of the hybrid vehicle is any one of an ECO mode, a
COMPORT mode, and a SPORT mode; and after the checking of the
driving mode, adding, by the controller, a driving mode
characteristic to the first virtual sound or the second virtual
sound according to the checked driving mode, and outputting the
added virtual sound to the sound device. The driving mode
characteristic may be preset to amplify output levels of the main
order components of the engine. In particular the driving mode
characteristic may be set so that the amplification level gradually
increases between the ECO mode, the COMPORT mode, and the SPORT
mode.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, for calculating the first virtual
sound, the controller may collect engine load data based on at
least one of an engine vibration sensor, a combustion pressure
sensor, a boost pressure sensor, and an exhaust pressure
sensor.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, for calculating the second
virtual sound, the controller may collect motor load data based on
at least one of a motor vibration sensor, a voltage sensor, and a
current sensor.
[0015] In a further embodiment, when the driving condition is
switched from the engine driving condition to the motor driving
condition, or vice versa, the sound control method may further
include: calculating, by the controller, a third virtual sound
representing a target driving condition, and causing the controller
to gradually alter the virtual sound from the virtual sound of a
previous driving condition to the third virtual sound over a
predetermined time period; and outputting, by the controller, the
calculated third virtual sound and gradual transition to the sound
device.
[0016] According to the various embodiments of the sound control
method for the hybrid vehicle configured as described above, a
vehicle sound suitable to the vehicle acceleration experience may
be provided according to an engine driving condition. Therefore,
the driver may enjoy an improved acceleration experience.
[0017] In addition, in a motor driving condition, the acceleration
experience may be improved by generating a virtual engine sound
according to a driving situation.
[0018] In addition, the driving experience may be improved by
gradually changing the sound pressure level during a change in the
driving condition of the hybrid vehicle.
[0019] In addition, the driving experience is improved because a
suitable output level of the virtual sound is provided according to
a speed, an acceleration, a deceleration, and/or a driving mode of
the hybrid vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The above and other objects, features and other advantages
of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a sound control method for a
hybrid vehicle according to an example embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a view showing a sound control system for a hybrid
vehicle according to an example embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a view showing a sound control flow according to
an example embodiment when the hybrid vehicle is in an engine
driving condition;
[0024] FIG. 4 a view showing a sound control flow according to an
example embodiment when the hybrid vehicle is in a motor driving
condition; and
[0025] FIG. 5 is a graph of variation in the sound pressure level
of the hybrid when a virtual sound is output to a sound device
according to an example embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] Hereinbelow, example embodiments of a sound control method
for a hybrid vehicle will be described in detail with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a sound control method for a
hybrid vehicle according to an example embodiment, and
[0028] FIG. 2 is a view showing a sound control system for a hybrid
vehicle according to an example embodiment.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the sound control method for
the hybrid vehicle having an engine 20 and a motor 30 as driving
power sources, may include: checking, by controller 10, a driving
condition of the hybrid vehicle (step S100); when the driving
condition determined in step (S100) is an engine driving condition
(HEV mode), calculating, by the controller 10, a first virtual
sound optimizing an engine sound by extracting main order
components of engine 20 based on an engine RPM and engine load
data, and optimizing an arrangement of the main order components or
adjusting output levels thereof (step S110); when the driving
condition determined in step (S110) is a motor driving condition
(EV mode), calculating, by controller 10, a second virtual sound
generating an optimized engine sound by extracting order components
of motor 30 based on a motor RPM and motor load data, converting
the extracted order components of motor 30 into corresponding main
order components of engine 20, and optimizing an arrangement of the
converted main order components of engine 20 or adjusting output
levels thereof (step S120); and, after calculating the first
virtual sound or the second virtual sound, outputting, by
controller 10, the calculated first virtual sound or the second
virtual sound to a sound device 40 of the hybrid vehicle (step
S160).
[0030] Broadly, in the sound control method for the hybrid vehicle
of according to this example embodiment, when the driving condition
of the hybrid vehicle is set to an HEV mode that uses engine 20 as
the main driving power source, a first virtual sound that is
calculated consistent with the characteristics of engine 20 is
output to sound device 40 of the hybrid vehicle. When the driving
condition of the hybrid vehicle is set to an EV mode that uses
motor 30 as the main driving power source, a second virtual sound
that is calculated consistent with the characteristics of motor 30
is output to sound device 40 of the hybrid vehicle. Therefore, a
vehicle sound that is suitable for a vehicle state is provided.
[0031] In detail, first, in step (S100), controller 10 checks the
driving condition of the hybrid vehicle. In a further example
embodiment, controller 10 may check a driving condition of a
current vehicle by communicating with a hybrid control unit
(HCU).
[0032] When the driving condition is determined to be an engine
driving condition (hybrid electric vehicle mode: HEV mode), noise
is generated during the combustion process of the internal
combustion engine. Therefore, in step (S120), controller 10
calculates a first virtual sound for minimizing combustion noise
and providing a dynamic driving experience to a driver, and outputs
the calculated first virtual sound to sound device 40 in step
(S160).
[0033] FIG. 3 is a view showing a sound control flow according to
an example embodiment when the hybrid vehicle is in an engine
driving condition. Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, when the driving
condition of the hybrid vehicle is an engine driving condition,
controller 10 extracts a main order frequency of engine 20 from an
engine RPM, and extracts main order components required for
controlling a vehicle sound among order components of engine 20 by
performing a fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis based on the
extracted main order frequency and engine load data. Controller 10
adjusts an arrangement of the extracted main order components,
adjusts a level difference between respective order components
according to an engine characteristic, and outputs the adjusted
arrangement and level difference to sound device 40. Thus, a
vehicle sound optimized to the driving condition may be provided.
Herein, the main order component of the engine means a specific
order component required for controlling a vehicle sound among all
measured engine order components such as engine sound, engine
vibration, etc.
[0034] In addition, when the driving condition of the hybrid
vehicle is a motor driving condition (electric vehicle mode: EV
mode), white noise is generated while the motor is rotated.
Controller 10 outputs a virtual engine sound in association with a
driving speed of the hybrid vehicle by using sound device 40 so
that the driver may hear a natural engine sound during the motor
driving condition whereby the driving experience may be
improved.
[0035] FIG. 4 is a view showing a sound control flow according to
an example embodiment when the hybrid vehicle is in a motor driving
condition. Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 4, when the
driving condition of the hybrid vehicle is a motor driving
condition, controller 10 extracts order components of motor 30 from
a motor RPM, and calculates order components of engine 20
corresponding to the extracted order component of motor 30. In a
preferred embodiment, the order components of motor 30 are
converted into the main order components of engine 20 by performing
a FFT analysis based on the calculated order components of engine
20 and motor load data. Then, controller 10 adjusts an arrangement
of the converted main order components of engine 20 and a level
difference between respective order components, and outputs the
adjusted arrangement and the level difference to sound device 40 so
that an optimized vehicle sound may be provided to the driver
during a motor driving condition.
[0036] In particular, in a motor driving condition, controller 10
may calculate in real-time a second virtual sound according to the
main order component of engine 20, and output the calculated second
virtual sound to sound device 40. Alternatively, controller 10 may
be set to store a second virtual sound calculated according to a
motor characteristic, and output the pre-stored second virtual
sound to sound device 40 when a driving situation corresponding to
the stored virtual sound occurs in a motor driving condition.
[0037] Generally, main order components of a four-cylinder engine
are extracted as secondary order components, and main order
components of a six-cylinder engine are extracted as tertiary order
components. In addition, primary order components of motor 30 are
generated every rotation of motor 30, in the example embodiments,
and the generated primary order components are converted into
tertiary order components when engine 20 is an six-cylinder engine.
Thus, a virtual engine sound suitable for the motor characteristic
may be output.
[0038] In a preferred embodiment, sound device 40 may include any
of an engine compartment speaker outputting a sound to the vehicle
cabin, a cabin audio speaker, a specific frequency filtering
speaker, and a pedestrian warning speaker outputting a sound to the
exterior of the vehicle.
[0039] Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, in invention
further example embodiment, after calculating the first virtual
sound or the second virtual sound in steps (S110) or (S120), in
step (S140) controller 10 may check whether or not a differential
value of the driving speed is 0. When the differential value of the
driving speed is determined to be 0 in step (S140), controller 10
may cease outputting the first virtual sound or the second virtual
sound of step (S160).
[0040] In other words, the differential value of the driving speed
is an index representing an instant flow of the driving speed. When
the differential value of the driving speed is determined to be 0,
it may be determined that the driver is driving the hybrid vehicle
at a steady speed.
[0041] When a virtual engine sound is output through sound device
40 while the driver drives the hybrid vehicle at a steady speed as
above, NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) performance of the
hybrid vehicle is degraded. In order to maintain silence for
improving the NVH performance of the hybrid vehicle, outputting the
first virtual sound or the second virtual sound of step (S160) may
be stopped. Alternatively, silence of the hybrid vehicle may be
improved by converting and outputting the first virtual sound or
the second virtual sound into a sound source having a phase
opposite to the measured vehicle interior noise.
[0042] When the differential value of the driving speed is
determined not to be 0 in step (S140), in step (S160) controller
adds an acceleration characteristic to the first virtual sound or
the second virtual sound, and outputs the added virtual sound. The
acceleration characteristic is calculated based on at least one of
an RPM increase in the engine or the motor, a rate of change in the
driving speed, and a pedal opening rate.
[0043] In other words, when the differential value of the driving
speed is not 0, it is determined that the driver is not driving at
a steady speed. Controller 10 determines whether the hybrid vehicle
is in an acceleration state or a deceleration state by using at
least one of an RPM increase in the engine or the motor received
from an engine control unit (ECU) and a motor control unit (MCU), a
rate of change in the driving speed received from a driving speed
sensor, and a pedal opening rate received from an accelerator pedal
sensor (APS), and outputs a suitable corresponding virtual
sound.
[0044] It is preferable to set the acceleration characteristic so
that amplifying amounts of output levels of the main order
components of the engine are increased as acceleration of the
hybrid vehicle increases.
[0045] When controller 10 detects that the hybrid vehicle is in an
acceleration state by using the RPM increase in the engine or the
motor, the rate of change in the driving speed, and the
acceleration pedal opening rate data, in order to provide an engine
sound suitable for the corresponding acceleration characteristic,
controller 10 amplifies the output levels of the main order
components of engine 20, and outputs the amplified output levels to
sound device 40 to provide an improved driving experience to the
driver.
[0046] The sound control method for the hybrid vehicle according to
a further embodiment further includes step (S150) of checking, by
controller 10, whether a driving mode of the hybrid vehicle is an
ECO mode, a COMPORT mode, or a SPORT mode after calculating the
first virtual sound or the second virtual sound of step (5110) or
step (S120).
[0047] After checking the driving mode in step (S150), controller
10 performs step (S160) by adding a driving mode characteristic to
the first virtual sound or the second virtual sound, and outputting
the modified virtual sound. In a preferred embodiment, the driving
mode characteristic is preset so that the output levels of the main
order components of the engine are amplified according to the
driving mode. The driving mode characteristic is set so that
amplification of the output levels gradually increases from ECO
mode to COMPORT mode to SPORT mode.
[0048] In other words, controller 10 provides a vehicle sound that
is suitable to the driving mode of the hybrid vehicle. In an ECO
mode, a silent sound, in a COMPORT mode, a clear sound, and in a
SPORT mode, a dynamic sound is provided so that the driver may feel
different driving experiences according to the driving mode.
[0049] In a preferred embodiment, in calculating the first virtual
sound of step (S110), controller 10 may collect the engine load
data based on at least one of an engine vibration sensor, a
combustion pressure sensor, a boost pressure sensor, and an exhaust
pressure sensor.
[0050] Generally, during operation of engine 20, noise and
vibration are generated due to the power stroke of engine 20, and
the main order components of the engine may be extracted by using
information of the above engine noise and vibration. Therefore, in
order to detect a movement characteristic of engine 20, vibration
of engine 20 may be directly measured by an engine sensor, or may
be indirectly measured by using information about combustion
pressure, boost pressure, and exhaust pressure, so that controller
10 may generate a vehicle sound suitable for the movement
characteristic of engine 20 based on the directly or indirectly
measured vibration data.
[0051] Similarly, in calculating the second virtual sound of step
(S120), controller 10 may collect the motor load data based on at
least one of a motor vibration sensor, a voltage sensor, and a
current sensor.
[0052] In other words, in order to measure a vibration
characteristic generated by operating motor 30, a vibration sensor
may be directly used. Alternatively, the vibration characteristic
of motor 30 may be indirectly measured by using a voltage sensor or
a current sensor in which a vibration characteristic is pre-mapped
according to a voltage or current of motor 30.
[0053] Therefore, controller 10 adjusts a target arrangement of the
main order components of the engine and target output levels
thereof according to the vibration characteristic of engine 20 or
motor 30, and provides to the driver a vehicle sound suitable for
the driving performance of the hybrid vehicle. Thus, the driving
experience of the driver is improved.
[0054] When the driving condition is switched from the engine
driving condition to the motor driving condition, or vice versa, in
step (S100), the sound control method of the hybrid vehicle may
further include step (S130) of calculating, by controller 10, a
third virtual sound representing a target driving condition, and
causing the controller to gradually alter the virtual sound from
the virtual sound of a previous driving condition to the third
virtual sound over a predetermined time period; and outputting, by
the controller, the calculated third virtual sound and gradual
transition to the sound device.
[0055] In other words, because there is a noticeable difference in
a vehicle sound when the hybrid vehicle is in an engine driving
condition or in a motor driving condition, e the driver may
experience discomfort because he or she senses a noticeable
difference in the vehicle sound when the driving condition
switches.
[0056] Using the example embodiment described above, the driving
experience of the driver may be improved because he or she may not
sense any difference in the vehicle sound when the driving
condition switches. By outputting through the third virtual sound
through sound device 40 and gradually changing the sound pressure
during the transition over a predetermined period, noise discomfort
to the driver is minimized.
[0057] FIG. 5 is a graph of the variation in sound pressure level
of the hybrid vehicle when a virtual sound is output to a sound
device according to an example embodiment.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 5, conventionally, when the driving mode is
switched from an EV mode to an HEV mode which uses an internal
combustion engine, a noticeable difference in sound pressure is
generated due to an airborne sound that is transmitted ed from the
engine. However, by applying the example embodiments described
above, the driver may not sense the difference caused by a sound
change because the sound pressure is gradually increased during the
shift from EV mode to HEV mode.
[0059] According to the sound control method for the hybrid vehicle
configured as described above, a vehicle sound suitable for vehicle
acceleration may be provided according to an engine driving
condition. Therefore, the driver may experience an improved
acceleration experience.
[0060] In addition, in a motor driving condition, the acceleration
experience may be improved by generating a virtual engine sound
according to a driving situation.
[0061] In addition, the driver may not experience discomfort caused
by a sound change because a sound pressure level can be gradually
adjusted when the driving condition of the hybrid vehicle is
switched.
[0062] In addition, the driver may feel an improved driving
experience because a suitable output level of the virtual sound is
provided according to a speed, an acceleration, a deceleration,
and/or a driving mode of the hybrid vehicle.
[0063] Although example embodiments have been described for
illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate
that various modifications, additions and substitutions are
possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
* * * * *