# US 10,482,687 B2 · Diagnosis of an acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS) based on existing sensors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,482,687 B2 - Document ID: US10482687B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/485,172 - Filed: 2017-04-11 - Published: 2018-10-11 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-11 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Kenneth James Miller; Aed M. Dudar; Douglas Raymond Martin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10482687B2 ## CPC - G07C 5/08: Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time - B60Q 5/008: {for signaling silent vehicles, e.g. for warning that a hybrid or electric vehicle is approaching} - B60Q 9/00: Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} - G07C 5/008: {communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C)} - H04R 29/001: {for loudspeakers (H04R29/007 takes precedence)} - H04R 29/002: {Loudspeaker arrays} - H04R 2499/13: Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract Method and apparatus are disclosed for an acoustic vehicle altering system (AVAS) based on existing sensors. An example vehicle includes speakers, sensors, and an acoustic vehicle alerting system. The speakers are positioned to play sound to an area external to the vehicle. The sensor is not part of an acoustic vehicle alerting system. Additionally, the acoustic vehicle alerting system plays a test frequency on the speakers, evaluates feedback from the sensor to determine whether there is an error in the acoustic vehicle alerting system, and when there is an error, displays an alert. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: speakers positioned to play sound to an area external to the vehicle; a sensor not part of an acoustic vehicle alerting system; and the acoustic vehicle alerting system including a processor configured to: play a test frequency on the speakers; evaluate feedback from the sensor to determine whether there is an error in the acoustic vehicle alerting system; and when there is the error, display an alert, wherein the sensor is an engine knock sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the test frequency is a natural frequency of an engine of the vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to wait until the vehicle is not in motion before playing the test frequency on the speakers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein to evaluate the feedback from the sensor, the processor is configured to compare a signal generated by the sensor to one or more thresholds. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to establish the thresholds based on a plurality of samples of the signal generated by the sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the thresholds are based on a mean value of the plurality of samples and a standard deviation of the plurality of samples. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to: determine when the error is correctable by increasing a gain of the speaker; store the increased gain; apply the increased gain when the speaker is activated in normal operation. ### Claim 8 A vehicle comprising: speakers positioned to play sound to an area external to the vehicle; an ultrasonic sensor not part of an acoustic vehicle alerting system; and the acoustic vehicle alerting system including a processor configured to: play a test frequency on the speakers; evaluate feedback from the sensor to determine whether there is an error in the acoustic vehicle alerting system; and when there is the error, display an alert, wherein the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor. ### Claim 9 A vehicle comprising: speakers positioned to play sound to an area external to the vehicle; a sensor not part of an acoustic vehicle alerting system; the acoustic vehicle alerting system including a processor configured to: play a test frequency on the speakers; evaluate feedback from the sensor to determine whether there is an error in the acoustic vehicle alerting system; and when there is the error, display an alert; and a grille assembly with a fresh air opening with shutters that, when closed, block the fresh air opening to create a sound wall for sound generated by the speakers to reverberate against. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to close the shutters before playing the test frequency on the speakers. ### Claim 11 A vehicle comprising: speakers positioned to play sound to an area external to the vehicle; sensors not part of an acoustic vehicle alerting system, wherein the sensors include an engine knock sensor and an ultrasonic sensor; a dedicated short range communication module to communicate with an external object that has a microphone; and the acoustic vehicle alerting system including a processor configured to: play a test frequency on the speakers; receive feedback from the sensors and the external object; determine there is an error in the acoustic vehicle alerting system based on a majority of the feedback indicating that there is the error; and when there is the error, activate a diagnostic light. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the external object is a roadside unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the external object is at least one of an unmanned ground vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the feedback from the external object includes an indication of whether the test frequency is audible to the external object.