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.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A vehicle capable of running with electrical power comprising:
 an electric motor configured to drive the vehicle;   a sound source configured to generate sound in the rear of the vehicle;   an operating portion for operation of the vehicle; and   a controller configured to have the sound source generate the sound in reverse travel of the vehicle according to the operating portion.   
     
     
         22 . The vehicle according to  claim 21 , wherein the operating portion is for selective operation of the vehicle for the reverse travel, wherein the sound source is configured to generate the sound outside the vehicle for pedestrians to hear the vehicle and the sound source includes a sounding unit configured to generate the sound for one of the pedestrians behind the vehicle, and wherein the controller is configured to have the sounding unit generate the sound for the pedestrians behind the vehicle to hear the vehicle traveling in reverse according to the operating portion. 
     
     
         23 . The vehicle according to  claim 22 , wherein the controller is configured to have the sounding unit generate the sound when the operating portion is operated to select the reverse travel. 
     
     
         24 . The vehicle according to  claim 22 , wherein the operating portion is further capable of selective operation of the vehicle for forward travel of the vehicle, and wherein the controller is further configured to reduce or mute the sound when the operating portion is operated to select the forward travel. 
     
     
         25 . The vehicle according to  claim 22 , wherein the sound source further includes a second sounding unit configured to generate the sound for one of the pedestrians in front of the vehicle, wherein the operating portion is further capable of selective operation of the vehicle for forward travel of the vehicle, and wherein the controller is further configured to have the second sounding unit generate the sound for the pedestrians in front of the vehicle to hear the vehicle traveling in forward according to the operating portion. 
     
     
         26 . The vehicle according to  claim 25 , wherein the controller is configured to have the second sounding unit generate the sound when the operating portion is operated to select the forward travel. 
     
     
         27 . The vehicle according to  claim 25 , wherein the controller is further configured to reduce or mute the second sounding unit when the operating portion is operated to select the reverse travel. 
     
     
         28 . The vehicle according to  claim 22  further comprising a blinker operating portion, wherein the sound source further includes a third sounding unit configured to generate the sound for one of the pedestrians on one side of the vehicle, and wherein the controller is further configured to have the third sounding unit generate the sound for the pedestrians on one side of the vehicle to hear the vehicle when the blinker operating portion is operated. 
     
     
         29 . The vehicle according to  claim 28 , wherein the third sounding unit is for one of the pedestrians on left side of the vehicle, wherein the sound source further includes a fourth sounding unit configured to generate the sound for one of the pedestrians on right side of the vehicle, and wherein the controller is further configured to have the fourth sounding unit generate the sound for the pedestrians on the right side of the vehicle to hear the vehicle when the blinker operating portion is operated to the right. 
     
     
         30 . The vehicle according to  claim 29 , wherein the controller is configured to change balance of the generated sound between the third and fourth sounding units or to mute one of the third and fourth sounding units in accordance with the blinker operating portion. 
     
     
         31 . The vehicle according to  claim 22 , wherein the sound source includes a plurality of sounding units configured to generate the sound for the one of the pedestrians to hear the vehicle regardless of the location of the one of the pedestrians, behind the vehicle or in front of the vehicle or on one side of the vehicle. 
     
     
         32 . The vehicle according to  claim 31 , wherein the controller is configured to change balance of the generated sound among the plurality of sounding units or to mute at least one of the third and fourth sounding units in accordance with operating portion. 
     
     
         33 . A vehicle capable of running with electrical power comprising:
 an electric motor configured to drive the vehicle;   a sound source configured to generate sound, the sound source including a plurality of sounding units; and   a controller configured to change balance of the generated sound among the plurality of sounding units.   
     
     
         34 . The vehicle according to  claim 33  further comprising an operating portion for controlling travel of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to change the balance of the generated sound among the plurality of sounding units in accordance with the operating portion. 
     
     
         35 . The vehicle according to  claim 34  wherein the controller is configured to change the balance of the generated sound according to left turn or right turn of the vehicle. 
     
     
         36 . A vehicle capable of running with electrical power comprising:
 an electric motor configured to drive the vehicle;   a sound source configured to generate sound outside the vehicle for a pedestrian to hear the vehicle;   an operating portion; and   a controller configured to have the sound source generate the sound for the pedestrian to hear the vehicle in response to operation of the operating portion.   
     
     
         37 . The vehicle according to  claim 36 , wherein the operating portion is a blinker operating portion. 
     
     
         38 . The vehicle according to  claim 37 , wherein the controller is configured to have the sound source generate the sound as audible indication in cooperation with the visible indication by means of blinking for the pedestrian on one side of the vehicle to note the vehicle. 
     
     
         39 . The vehicle according to  claim 37 , wherein the sound source includes a first sounding unit configured to generate the sound for the pedestrians on left side of the vehicle and a second sounding unit configured to generate the sound for another pedestrian on right side of the vehicle, and wherein the controller is configured to have one of the first and second sounding units generate the sound for the pedestrians on the left or right side of the vehicle to hear the vehicle according to the blinker operating portion. 
     
     
         40 . The vehicle according to  claim 39 , wherein the controller is configured to change balance of the generated sound between the first and second sounding units or to mute one of the first and second sounding units in accordance with the blinker operating portion.