Vehicle capable of low noise runs

Abstract

A vehicle comprises electric motor, generator of simulated engine sounds, decider of whether or not to generate simulated engine sounds and controller of the level of simulated engine sounds. The controller smoothly increases level of simulated engine sounds upon decision of sound generation on detection of pedestrian, crosswalk, narrow road, or road with no sidewalk. The decider is responsive to vehicle navigation system, or ETC, or camera of EDR. EDR records the decision as circumstantial evidence. The decision may be optionally possible, but is forcibly made upon necessity. Simulated engine sounds can be greater than, or equal to, or less than real engine sounds. The controller makes a soft peak of simulated engine sound upon brake or accelerator operated. Balance of simulated engine sounds among front, rear, right and left of vehicle is changeable in response to shift lever or blinker lever operation. The decision is visually indicated inside vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle capable of low noise runs comprising:
 an electric motor for driving the vehicle;   a sound generator arranged to generate simulated engine sounds outside the vehicle for pedestrians to hear the vehicle;   a decider arranged to decide whether or not to have the sound generator generate the simulated engine sounds; and   a controller arranged to change the level of the simulated engine sounds in accordance with a predetermined manner.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is arranged to smoothly increase the level of the simulated engine sounds when the decider decides to have the sound generator start generating the simulated engine sounds. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the decider is arranged to have the sound generator generate the simulated engine sounds in response to a detection of a pedestrian in the vicinity of the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the decider is arranged to have the sound generator generate the simulated engine sounds in response to a detection that the vehicle is close to a crosswalk. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the decider is arranged to have the sound generator generate the simulated engine sounds in response to a detection that the vehicle is on narrow road. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the decider is arranged to have the sound generator generate the simulated engine sounds in response to a detection that the vehicle is on a road with no sidewalk. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle according to  claim 1  further comprising a vehicle navigation system unit, wherein the decider is arranged to make the decision in response to the vehicle navigation system unit. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle according to  claim 1  further comprising an electronic toll system unit, wherein the decider is arranged to make the decision in response to the electronic toll system unit. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle according to  claim 1  further comprising a camera unit, wherein the decider is arranged to make the decision in response to the camera unit. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle according to  claim 1  further comprising an event data recorder unit arranged to record the decision by the decider. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle according to  claim 10  further comprising a manually setting unit, wherein the decider is arranged to make the decision in response to the manually setting unit. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle according to  claim 1  further comprising a manually setting unit, wherein the decider is arranged to normally make the decision in response to the manually setting unit and to have the sound generator generate the simulated engine sounds under a predetermined condition regardless of the manually setting unit. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is arranged to make a peak of the level of the simulated engine sounds by softly increasing and then decreasing the simulated engine sounds. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle according to  claim 13  further comprising an operating portion for operation of one of a brake and an accelerator, wherein the controller in arranged to make the peak in response to the operation at the operating portion. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle according to  claim 1  further comprising a gasoline engine for driving the vehicle, wherein the controller is arranged to set the level of the simulated engine sounds to one of a level greater than the real gasoline engine sounds, a level substantially equal to the real gasoline engine sounds and a level less than the real gasoline engine sounds. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle according to  claim 1 , further comprising an operating portion for operation of the vehicle, wherein the sound generator includes a plurality of generating portions, and wherein the controller is further arranged to change the balance among the level of the simulated engine sounds from the plurality of generating portions in response to the operation at the operating portion. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle according to  claim 1 , further comprising a visual indicator arranged to inform the driver inside the vehicle of the decision by the decider. 
     
     
         18 . A vehicle capable of low noise runs comprising:
 an electric motor for driving the vehicle;   a sound generator arranged to generate simulated engine sounds outside the vehicle for pedestrians to hear the vehicle including a plurality of generating portions;   an operating portion for operation of the vehicle; and   a controller arranged to change the balance among the levels of the simulated engine sounds from the plurality of generating portions in response to the operation at the operating portion.   
     
     
         19 . The vehicle according to  claim 18 , wherein the controller is arranged to change one of the balances of the simulated engine sounds between the front and the rear of the vehicle and between the right and the left of the vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . A vehicle capable of low noise runs comprising:
 an electric motor for driving the vehicle;   a sound generator arranged to generate simulated engine sounds outside the vehicle for pedestrians to hear the vehicle;   a decider arranged to decide whether or not to have the sound generator generate the simulated engine sounds; and   a visual indicator arranged to inform the driver inside the vehicle of the decision by the decider.