Engine sound synthesizer, motor vehicle and game machine employing the engine sound synthesizer, engine sound synthesizing method, and recording medium containing computer program for engine sound synthesis

A motor vehicle comprising:

• an input section for inputting driving state specification information specifying a driving state of a virtual engine;
• an engine sound synthesizer which generates synthetic engine sound data on the basis of the driving state specification information input from the input section;
• and
• an output section which outputs a synthetic engine sound on the basis of the synthetic engine sound data generated by the engine sound synthesizer,
• wherein the engine sound synthesizer comprises:
• a storage unit which stores therein plural groups of plural entities of engine sound data recorded in different driving states, the plural groups of plural engine sound data entities being stored therein in correspondence with predetermined plural driving state ranges;
• and
• a synthetic engine sound data generating unit which generates the synthetic engine sound data by selectively reading out of the storage unit plural engine sound data entities in a group corresponding to one of the driving state ranges specified by the driving state specification information input from the input section and selectively combining the read engine sound data entities;
• wherein
• the plural engine sound data entities in a group corresponding to the one driving state range all have a similar throttle opening degree range and a similar engine rotation speed range.

A game machine comprising:

• an operation section for inputting driving state specification information specifying a driving state of a virtual engine;
• an engine sound synthesizer which generates synthetic engine sound data on the basis of the driving state specification information input from the operation section;
• and
• an output section which outputs a synthetic engine sound on the basis of the synthetic engine sound data generated by the engine sound synthesizer,
• wherein the engine sound synthesizer comprises:
• a storage unit which stores therein plural groups of plural entities of engine sound data recorded in different driving states, the plural groups of plural engine sound data entities being stored therein in correspondence with predetermined plural driving state ranges;
• and
• a synthetic engine sound data generating unit which generates the synthetic engine sound data by selectively reading out of the storage unit plural engine sound data entities in a group corresponding to one of the driving state ranges specified by the driving state specification information input from the operation section and selectively combining the read engine sound data entities;
• wherein
• the plural engine sound data entities in a group corresponding to the one driving state range all have a similar throttle opening degree range and a similar engine rotation speed range.

An engine sound synthesizing method comprising the steps of:

• preliminarily storing plural groups of plural entities of engine sound data recorded in different driving states in a storage unit, the plural groups of plural engine sound data entities being stored in correspondence with predetermined plural driving state ranges in the storage unit;
• receiving driving state specification information specifying a driving state of a virtual engine;
• and
• generating synthetic engine sound data by selectively reading out of the storage unit plural engine sound data entities in a group corresponding to one of the driving state ranges specified by the driving state specification information and selectively combining the read engine sound data entities;
• wherein
• the plural engine sound data entities in a group corresponding to the one driving state range all have a similar throttle opening degree range and a similar engine rotation speed range.

A computer readable medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to operate as an engine sound synthesizer for synthesizing an engine sound,

• the computer comprising a storage unit which stores therein plural groups of plural entities of engine sound data recorded in different driving states, the plural groups of plural engine sound data entities being stored therein in correspondence with predetermined plural driving state ranges,
• the computer program causing the computer to function as:
• a driving state specification information receiving unit which receives driving state specification information specifying a driving state of a virtual engine;
• and
• a synthetic engine sound data generating unit which generates synthetic engine sound data by selectively reading out of the storage unit plural engine sound data entities in a group corresponding to the driving state range specified by the driving state specification information received by the driving state specification information receiving unit and selectively combining the read engine sound data entities;
• wherein
• the plural engine sound data entities in a group corresponding to the one driving state range all have a similar throttle opening degree range and a similar engine rotation speed range.

A computer readable medium storing a game program for causing a computer to function as a game machine, the game program incorporating a computer program for causing the computer to function as an engine sound synthesizer, the computer comprising a storage unit which stores therein plural groups of plural entities of engine sound data recorded in different driving states, the plural groups of plural engine sound data entities being stored therein in correspondence with predetermined plural driving state ranges, the computer program causing the computer to function as:

• a driving state specification information receiving unit which receives driving state specification information specifying a driving state of a virtual engine;
• and
• a synthetic engine sound data generating unit which generates synthetic engine sound data by selectively reading out of the storage unit plural engine sound data entities in a group corresponding to the driving state range specified by the driving state specification information received by the driving state specification information receiving unit and selectively combining the read engine sound data entities;
• wherein
• the plural engine sound data entities in a group corresponding to the one driving state range all have a similar throttle opening degree range and a similar engine rotation speed range.