EP1383108A1 - Avertisseur pour génération de son - Google Patents

Avertisseur pour génération de son Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1383108A1
EP1383108A1 EP02255066A EP02255066A EP1383108A1 EP 1383108 A1 EP1383108 A1 EP 1383108A1 EP 02255066 A EP02255066 A EP 02255066A EP 02255066 A EP02255066 A EP 02255066A EP 1383108 A1 EP1383108 A1 EP 1383108A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
diaphragm
horn
switching
circuitry
position sensor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP02255066A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Mark Thomas Coward
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to EP02255066A priority Critical patent/EP1383108A1/fr
Publication of EP1383108A1 publication Critical patent/EP1383108A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • 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
    • G10K9/00—Devices in which sound is produced by vibrating a diaphragm or analogous element, e.g. fog horns, vehicle hooters or buzzers
    • G10K9/12—Devices in which sound is produced by vibrating a diaphragm or analogous element, e.g. fog horns, vehicle hooters or buzzers electrically operated
    • G10K9/13—Devices in which sound is produced by vibrating a diaphragm or analogous element, e.g. fog horns, vehicle hooters or buzzers electrically operated using electromagnetic driving means
    • G10K9/15—Self-interrupting arrangements

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a horn for generating a sound comprising a diaphragm, vibration of which causes a sound to be generated, and switching circuitry connected to vibrate the diaphragm in such a fashion that switching of the circuitry is synchronized with the oscillatory movement of the diaphragm, in which the switching circuitry comprises a main switching device through which a power electrical current passes at a power voltage to effect vibration of the diaphragm.
  • Figure 1 shows an axial sectional view of such a horn.
  • the horn shown in Figure 1 comprises a diaphragm 10 held around its periphery by the lip 12 of a housing 14 so that central regions of the diaphragm are able to vibrate to and fro in an axial direction of the horn.
  • a pole piece 16 is secured to a rear side of the centre of the diaphragm 10. It is formed with a switch protuberance 18 which projects in a radial direction from one side of the pole piece.
  • a coil core 20 is secured to the housing 14 on the interior thereof rearwardly and in registration with the pole piece 16. The coil core is surrounded by a coil 22 which is seated within a cylindrical portion 24 of the housing 14.
  • Two metallic power terminals 26 project rearwardly from the housing 14 on opposite sides of the cylindrical portion 24 thereof.
  • a wire 28 extends from one of the power terminals to the coil, the other end of which is connected via a further wire 30 to one side of a make-and-break contact switch 32.
  • the other side of this make-and-break contact switch 32 is connected to the other power terminal 26 via a further wire 34.
  • a nozzle-shaped horn tube 36 extends axially forwardly from the diaphragm 10.
  • the magnetic field created by the coil 24 magnetizes the coil core 20 which as a result attracts the pole piece 16 towards it.
  • the switching protuberance 18 thereby comes into contact with one side of the make-and-break contact switch 32 so that the contact parts thereof are physically separated. This breaks the circuitry between the power terminals 26.
  • the coil as a result no longer has an electrical current passing through it, a magnetic field is no longer generating along its axis, and the coil core 20 is no longer magnetized, so that the pole piece 16 is no longer drawn towards it and the natural resilience of the diaphragm 10 causes it to be restored towards its rest position and beyond.
  • any switch which is provided to turn the horn on has the full power current passing through it, or else it needs a relay to operate the horn indirectly.
  • the make and break contacts tend to wear through arcing.
  • the present invention seeks to obviate one or both of these disadvantages.
  • the present invention is directed to a horn for generating sound having the construction set out in the opening paragraph of the present specification, in which the switching circuitry further comprises a position sensor arranged to cause a switching signal to be delivered to the main switching device at a switching electrical voltage, in dependence upon the position of the diaphragm.
  • Such a horn may have a greatly extended working life relative to a conventional horn.
  • the main switching device may comprise a field effect transistor.
  • the position sensor may comprise a make and break contact switch. This has the advantage that more of the parts which are already in use in a conventional horn can be used to create a horn in accordance with the present invention. As a result, switching circuitry can be retrofitted into an existing horn to create such an embodiment of the present invention, to convert the horn to a long-life electronic horn.
  • the position sensor may comprise an optocoupler, a Hall effect switch, or a piezo electric device.
  • the switch circuitry may include a pulse width modulator to vary the proportion of time within a given interval for which an electrical voltage is applied across the horn, in dependence upon the level of the voltage applied across the horn.
  • the circuitry shown in Figures 2 and 3 comprises a voltage source 210 connected to a voltage regulator 220.
  • the latter provides a regulated operating voltage of +5 volts DC to a pulse width modulator 230 and also to an oscillator 240.
  • the pulse width modulator 230 is provided with an input connected to receive an output from the oscillator 240, and with a further input to have applied to it a voltage which is dependent upon the voltage level of the voltage source 210.
  • An output from the pulse width modulator 230 is connected (indirectly) to an input of a power switch 250.
  • the latter is gated by gating switch 260, effectiveness of which is in turn controlled by a diaphragm position sensor 270 arranged in relation to a diaphragm 280 of the horn so that triggering signals issued from the diaphragm position sensor 270 are issued in dependence upon the position of the diaphragm 280.
  • An actuating coil 290 is arranged to intermittently attract a pole piece 300 of the diaphragm 280, the diaphragm 280, the actuating coil 290 and the pole piece 300 being arranged in similar fashion to the diaphragm 10, the actuating coil 24 and the pole piece 16 of the horn shown in Figure 1.
  • the actuating coil 290 is connected to be operated by the voltage source 210 in dependence upon the condition of the output power switch 250.
  • the oscillator 240 comprises one half of a 556 timer 2410 constituting one half of a dual timer chip for the generation of a fixed frequency-square wave signal.
  • the output 2420 of the 556 timer half 2410 is coupled via a capacitor 2430 to a triggering input 2310 of a second half of the 556 timer 2320.
  • the 556 timer half 2320 is connected as a triggerable monostable. It has a control pin 2330 connected indirectly to the voltage source 210.
  • a horn on/off switch 310 is connected indirectly to the switching input of a field effect transistor 2610 of the gating switch 260 via a small gauge, low current signal wire 311.
  • the latter is also provided with a switching transistor 2620 having its switching input connected to the output of the pulse switch modulator 230, and its collector side connected to the source connection of the field effect transistor 2610 (the drain of which is earthed) and also to the switching input of a further switching transistor 2630.
  • the collector of the switching transistor 2620 is also connected via a resistor to the voltage source 210.
  • the collector of the switching transistor 2630 constitutes the output from the gating switch 260.
  • the latter is connected to the switching input of a low internal resistance field effect transistor 2510 of the output power switch 250 via the diaphragm position sensor 270.
  • the diaphragm position sensor 270 causes the circuit through the switching transistor 2630 to be broken. This inhibits the field effect transistor 2510 so that the current through the coil 290 ceases and the pole piece 300 is enabled to return to its rest position by virtue of the resilience of the diaphragm 280 so that the position sensor 270 now causes the circuit through the switching transistor 2630 to be closed, the field effect transistor 2510 to be enabled, a current to be passed through the actuating coil 290, once again causing the pole piece 300 to be attracted towards the coil 290. This therefore causes vibration of the diaphragm 280 in a manner similar to that described with reference to the horn shown in Figure 1, such that the switching of the current through the coil 290 is synchronized with the oscillatory motion of the diaphragm 280.
  • a square wave signal is generated by the oscillator 240 to produce an output from the pulse width modulator 230 for a repeated predetermined period of time at the same frequency as the square wave signal it receives from the oscillator 240.
  • the duration of the predetermined period is set by the voltage applied to the control pin 2330 of the 556 timer half 2320.
  • the variation of the set predetermined period as a function of the voltage source 210 is shown in Figure 4.
  • the predetermined period is the full duration of one cycle of the signal from the oscillator 240.
  • the predetermined period is one half of one cycle of the signal from the oscillator 240. If the voltage is 36 volts, the predetermined period is one-third of the full cycle period.
  • the operating frequency of the oscillator 240 is selected to be as low as possible, so as to minimize radio frequency interference emissions, whilst at the same time being high enough so as not to interfere with the resonance of the diaphragm 280 nor to be audible as an overtone of the horn sound.
  • the pulse width modulator 230 thereby enables the horn to be operated substantially independently of the voltage level of the voltage source 210.
  • the coil will not overheat even with a high voltage source, because the modulated current through the coil has an average value which is the same as what it would be were the coil's nominal rated voltage applied across it.
  • the position sensor 270 may comprise a make-and-break contact, such as that described with reference to Figure 1, although it more preferably comprises a Hall effect switch, an opto-coupler or a piezo electric crystal.
  • circuitry of Figures 2 and 3 may be enclosed in the housing or casing of the horn, such as the housing 14 in Figure 1. Indeed, apart from the interposition of the circuitry shown in Figures 2 and 3 between the contact switch 32 and the coil 22 of the horn shown in Figure 1, the horn of Figures 2 and 3 may be otherwise the same.
  • the circuitry shown in Figures 2 and 3 enables the on/off switch 310 to be operated at low power, such as the power of digital TTL signals or CMOS signal level from, for example, a microcontroller or a control node of a multiplexed electrical system.
  • the voltage source 210 may comprise batteries of a discrete voltage from 6 to 80 volts, inclusive.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Apparatuses For Generation Of Mechanical Vibrations (AREA)
EP02255066A 2002-07-19 2002-07-19 Avertisseur pour génération de son Withdrawn EP1383108A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02255066A EP1383108A1 (fr) 2002-07-19 2002-07-19 Avertisseur pour génération de son

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02255066A EP1383108A1 (fr) 2002-07-19 2002-07-19 Avertisseur pour génération de son

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1383108A1 true EP1383108A1 (fr) 2004-01-21

Family

ID=29762712

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02255066A Withdrawn EP1383108A1 (fr) 2002-07-19 2002-07-19 Avertisseur pour génération de son

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1383108A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010026074A3 (fr) * 2008-08-25 2010-12-23 Clarton Horn S.A. Générateur acoustique
DE102013221182A1 (de) 2013-10-18 2015-04-23 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Akustisches Signalisierungssystem sowie Anordnung und Verfahren zum Betreiben eines akustischen Signalisierungssystems für ein Kraftfahrzeug
JP2020181115A (ja) * 2019-04-25 2020-11-05 本田技研工業株式会社 ホーン制御装置

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2573559A1 (fr) * 1984-11-22 1986-05-23 Bosch Gmbh Robert Procede pour la commande sans contact de la frequence motrice de l'armature oscillante d'un klaxon electromagnetique
EP0266485A2 (fr) * 1986-11-05 1988-05-11 ELECTRONSYSTEM S.p.A. Trompe électromagnétique avec excitation d'un diaphragme acoustique commandé électroniquement au moyen de capteurs mesurant sa fréquence de résonance
DE4409279A1 (de) * 1994-03-18 1995-09-21 Fer Fahrzeugelektrik Gmbh Schaltungsanordnung für einen akustischen Signalgeber
US5457437A (en) * 1991-06-08 1995-10-10 Mando Machinery Corporation Sparking free circuit of electric horn
DE19833927C1 (de) * 1998-07-28 1999-10-28 Harting Kgaa Elektrisches Steckverbindungsteil zum Anschluß eines elektrischen Verbrauchers
FR2795853A1 (fr) * 1999-06-30 2001-01-05 Composants Electr Soc D Systeme de rupteur magnetique pour avertisseur sonore

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2573559A1 (fr) * 1984-11-22 1986-05-23 Bosch Gmbh Robert Procede pour la commande sans contact de la frequence motrice de l'armature oscillante d'un klaxon electromagnetique
EP0266485A2 (fr) * 1986-11-05 1988-05-11 ELECTRONSYSTEM S.p.A. Trompe électromagnétique avec excitation d'un diaphragme acoustique commandé électroniquement au moyen de capteurs mesurant sa fréquence de résonance
US5457437A (en) * 1991-06-08 1995-10-10 Mando Machinery Corporation Sparking free circuit of electric horn
DE4409279A1 (de) * 1994-03-18 1995-09-21 Fer Fahrzeugelektrik Gmbh Schaltungsanordnung für einen akustischen Signalgeber
DE19833927C1 (de) * 1998-07-28 1999-10-28 Harting Kgaa Elektrisches Steckverbindungsteil zum Anschluß eines elektrischen Verbrauchers
FR2795853A1 (fr) * 1999-06-30 2001-01-05 Composants Electr Soc D Systeme de rupteur magnetique pour avertisseur sonore

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010026074A3 (fr) * 2008-08-25 2010-12-23 Clarton Horn S.A. Générateur acoustique
DE102013221182A1 (de) 2013-10-18 2015-04-23 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Akustisches Signalisierungssystem sowie Anordnung und Verfahren zum Betreiben eines akustischen Signalisierungssystems für ein Kraftfahrzeug
DE102013221182B4 (de) * 2013-10-18 2021-05-06 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Akustisches Signalisierungssystem sowie Anordnung und Verfahren zum Betreiben eines akustischen Signalisierungssystems für ein Kraftfahrzeug
JP2020181115A (ja) * 2019-04-25 2020-11-05 本田技研工業株式会社 ホーン制御装置

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