# US 12,109,945 B2 · Virtual engine sound system and control method for the same

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- Number: US 12,109,945 B2
- Document ID: US12109945B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/976,294
- Filed: 2022-10-28
- Published: 2023-06-22
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2021-12-16
- Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
- Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
- Inventors: Keun Jin Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109945B2

## CPC

- B60Q 5/008: {for signaling silent vehicles, e.g. for warning that a hybrid or electric vehicle is approaching}
- B60R 19/52: Radiator or grille guards {; Radiator grilles (cooling aspects B60K11/08)}
- G10K 9/22: Mountings; Casings
- G10K 11/004: {Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device (mountings specially adapted to a particular sound-producing device, see the preceding groups G10K1/00 - G10K9/00, e.g. G10K1/26, G10K1/28, G10K9/22; arrangements of sonic watch equipment on submarines B63G8/39; buoys B63B22/00)}
- G10K 15/04: Sound-producing devices (G10K15/02 takes precedence)
- B60K 11/085: {with adjustable shutters or blinds}
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES

## Abstract

A virtual engine sound system includes a cooling module air guard, a virtual noise speaker generating a virtual noise inside the cooling module air guard, a radiator mounted inside the cooling module air guard, and an active air flap emitting the virtual noise between the cooling module air guard and the radiator to the outside.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A virtual engine sound system including:
a cooling module air guard;
a virtual noise speaker generating a virtual noise inside the cooling module air guard;
a radiator mounted inside the cooling module air guard;
an active air flap emitting the virtual noise between the cooling module air guard and the radiator to the outside;
a vehicle speed sensor configured for measuring a speed of a vehicle and outputting a corresponding output signal;
a virtual noise controller configured for controlling operation of the virtual noise speaker;
a cooling fan module mounted behind the radiator; and
a vehicle controller configured to control operation of the cooling fan module,
wherein the virtual noise controller is configured to control the virtual noise speaker to operate when a current vehicle speed is below a predetermined noise generation reference speed according to the output signal of the vehicle speed sensor, and
wherein when the virtual noise controller concludes that the cooling fan module is operated according to an output signal of the vehicle controller, the virtual noise controller is configured to output an amplified fan operation output signal than an output signal generated when the cooling fan module does not operate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The virtual engine sound system of claim 1, further including:
at least two noise guide plates mounted inside the cooling module air guard to form a noise amplifying unit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The virtual engine sound system of claim 2, wherein the at least two noise guide plates form at least two or more noise amplifying units.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The virtual engine sound system of claim 2,
wherein the at least two noise guide plates form at least two noise amplifying units, and
wherein a formation length of at least one noise amplifying unit is formed to be different from a formation length of at least another noise amplifying unit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The virtual engine sound system of claim 4, wherein a maximum formation length of each noise amplifying unit is 0.6 m or less than 0.6m.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The virtual engine sound system of claim 1, further including
an accelerator pedal sensor configured for measuring operation of an accelerator pedal and outputting a corresponding output signal,
wherein the virtual noise controller is configured to control an output of the virtual noise speaker according to the output signal of at least one of the accelerator pedal sensor and the vehicle speed sensor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The virtual engine sound system of claim 1,
wherein the vehicle controller is configured to control operation of the active air flap, and
wherein when the virtual noise controller concludes that the active air flap is closed according to the output signal of the vehicle controller, the virtual noise controller is configured to output a signal to open the active air flap to the vehicle controller.

### Claim 8

A control method for a virtual engine sound system including a cooling module air guard, a virtual noise speaker that generates virtual noise inside the cooling module air guard, a radiator mounted inside the cooling module air guard, an active air flap that radiates out the virtual noise between the cooling module air guard and the radiator, at least two noise guide plates mounted inside the cooling module air guard to form a noise amplifying unit, a vehicle speed sensor that measures a speed of a vehicle and outputs a corresponding output signal, and a virtual noise controller to control operation of the virtual noise speaker, the control method including:
controlling, by the virtual noise controller, to operate the virtual noise speaker when a current vehicle speed is less than or equal to a predetermined noise generation reference speed according to the output signal of the vehicle speed sensor,
wherein the virtual engine sound system further includes a cooling fan module mounted on rear of the radiator, and a vehicle controller to control operation of the cooling fan module,
wherein, the control method further includes:
when the virtual noise controller determines that the cooling fan module is operated according to an output signal of the vehicle controller, outputting an amplified fan operation output signal than an output signal generated when the cooling fan module does not operate.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The control method of claim 8,
wherein the vehicle controller is configured to control operation of the active air flap, and
wherein when the virtual noise controller concludes that the active air flap is closed according to the output signal of the vehicle controller, the virtual noise controller is configured to output a signal to open the active air flap to the vehicle controller.