Trends in car computing
Since long small computers have been used to regulate the function of the basic technical parts in a car. A computer chip regulates the work of the motor and the regualtion is controlled by performance parameters that can be set to some extend according to the wishes of the owner.
The brakes are typically regulated to some extend by a computer. An authomatic gearbox of a modern car is commanded by an in-built computer.
A car has several diagnostic sensors and measurement instruments and indications form these sensors ar typically fed into a local computer chip before they are indicated at the dashboard.
Modern cars will typically have a driving computer that resceives all data from sensors and send the data out to the dashboard in a practical style and format and the data is typically fed to a flat computer screen at the dashboard. This driving computer typically also shows a lot of computed data, like fuel echonomy parameters and servise status.
Parameters to adjust the behaviour of the techical units of the car and thereby the performance of the whole car are also typically fed to the driving computer, and held there in a repository before fed into the various units.
Car video and audio equipment are steadily more computerized units.
Modern cars typically have a GPS navigation and MAP unit. This is actually navigation data resceivers coupled to a computer.
Car PCs or car cumputers are multifunctional PCs with all the normal output and intput facilities of an ordinary PC and with wireless internet connection. They are however designed so that they can easily be installed into a car. These PCs can also typically be connected to monitors and keybords at all seats, so that both the driver and the passengers can use the PC.
The trend in car computing is to have connection from the car PC to all the other computers, video-audio-equipment and controlling electronic units in the car and programs that can resceive data from and transmit data to these units. This way it will be possible to perform computations that need data from several units. In this way all the passengers also can use the GPS map system independently.
The trend also goes towards connecting the car computer to all audio and video units so that they can be controlled from the car computer and so that the computer outputs can go to the same screens as the video and audio.
A further trend will be to integrate all functions of the GPS and map system into that computer, but allow for an optional extra screen for map data.
In the near future where all these trends run together, a car will be equipped with the following type of electronic equipment:
There will be a central car computer and that computer will be connected to a wireless resceiver/transmitter that transmits all signals to and from the car, including GPS navigation signals. The computer will be connected to amplifiers and periferials for video, audio and MAP view. These periferials can also be used as the computer monitor or a separate GPS monitor can be used. All map and GPS processing is done by the computer itself, and the computer resceives and distributes all types of music and video files to the different periferials. The memory disk of the computer will also be used for video and audio materials.
From the computer there will be wired connections to all electronic equipment for regulation of the function pf the car's techical parts, like the motor chips, gearbox controller, brake controller and dynamic suspension unit controllers. These units can all be programmed from the computer, so that the characteristics of the car can be individually set by the owner himself.
Some basic facts about sound and speakers
Sound are vibrations with a certain frequency or a blending of vibrations with different frequencies. The frequency is the number of vibrations in each time unit. Audible sound have frequencies from 24 vibrations in each time units and up to 24 vibrations in each time unit. The different frequencies are heard as different tunes.
The vibrations can also vary regarding strength of tha vibration, that is how far to each side the vibrations reach or how great shift in pressure there is in each vibration. How far each vibration reach is called the amplitude of the vibrations.
The strength of the sound is proportional to both the frequency and proportional to the square of the amplitude.
You can get a strong sound with either a high frequency or a strong amplitude.
Since music is a combination of different tunes with each having a specific strength, the amplitude must be adjusted all the time to give each tune the right strength. To get a strong enough low tune, the amplitude must be great.
Small speakers are easy to bring up to a high frequency because they have little mass to accelerate at each vibration, and the sound will also be strong enough because high frequencies carry much energy.
Small speakers can deliver sound with low frequencies also, but they are difficult to bring to swingings with great amplitudes because of the small dimmensions of the speaker.
Therefore small speakers are fine for high frequencies, but bad for small frequencies.
Great speakers are dificult to bring to high frequencies because they have great mass to accelerate. However because of the greater size they can deliver wide amplitudes if they are given enough time at each swing.
Therefore a great speaker is capable of giving law tunes with a great strength.
To get a high quality sound in a car one needs speakers with different sizes so that all frequencies can be delivered with enough strength.
It is however difficult to get great enough speakers for the lowest tunes to fit into the car. This can however be compensated for by using several of the greatest speakers that fit in the car.
It is also important that the speakers you use has a capacity comparable to the capacity of your amplifier. If the total piyput your spealers can deliver is much less than the total output of your amplifier, the surplus energy that the speakers are not able to turn into sound will be converted to movements and heat that destroy your speakers
If your amplifier is not capable of delivering all the energy that the speakers can put out in the shape of sound, you do not get use for all the capcity in the speakers and some of the money you have spent on buying speakers is wasted..
Loadspeaker technology
The basic part in a loadspeaker that generates the sound is a vibrating diaphragm, usually funnel- shaped. The diafragm is fixed to a cylindrical electromagnet in the middle. Around the cylindrical electromagnet is another hollow magnet, usually a permanent magnet.
There are also arrangements that hold the electromagnet exactly at place in the middle of the other magnet, that ensures that it can pendulate in and out, but also ensures that the electromagnet will fall to a neutral position when not moved by forces. The whole arrangement is surrounded by a perforated rigid basket.
When the currunt varies with the same frequency and amplitude as the intended sound, the magnetic field from the electromagnet will vary likewise and a force between the electromagnet and the surrounding magnet will also thus vary. The varying force creates vibrational motion that transmits to the diafragm. The diafragm will then set the air in front of it in vibration so that sound of the intended frequencies and amplitudes will propagate from it.
The suspension of the diaphragm must be so firm and so elstic that as much of the energy input to the electromagnet as possible tranlates into vibrational motions in the diaphragm.
The vibrations in the diaphragm must however meet some resistance so that vibrations from old input do not continue when they are not longer intended. The material in the diaphragm will cause much of this damping. Damping arrangements in the suspension of the electromagnet will also do some of the job.
Vehicle third part companies
When searching for car parts, it is easy to forger exactly how the name of the manufactorer is spelled. Here are a kist of a lot manyfactorers that can aid whwn you are in doubt how to spell the name:
A1, Cardone, Accel, Access, ACT Clutch, Addco, AEM, AFE Intake, Aftermarket, Airaid Intake, Airtex, Akebono Brakes, American Racing, Ansa, APC, Apexi, ATE, Autometer, Autotecnica.
B&G, B&M, Baer Brakes, Balo, Banks, BBK, Bedrug, Behr, Bendix, Bestop, Better Built, Big Game, Bilstein, Borla Exhaust, Bosal, Bosch, Brembo Rotors, Bullett, Bully Dog, Bushwacker.
Coast to Coast, California Car Duster, Catco, Centerforce, Centric, Chilton, CIPA, City Pro, Cloyes, Conti, Corsa Exhaust, Covercraft, Coverking, Crane, Dayco.
DBA, DC Sports, DEC, Dee Zee, Deflecta Shield, Denso, Dynomax.
Eastern, EBC Brakes, Edelbrock, Edge Products, EGR, Eibach, Elegante, Energy Susp, Exedy Clutch.
Extang, Fabtech, Felpro, Fey Tuffbar, Firestone, Flexalite, Flowmaster, Flowtech, Ford Racing, Fram, Freedom Design.
Gates, Gibson Exhaust, GMB, Go Rhino, Goldline, Granatelli, Grant, Green Filters, Grille Craft, Ground Force, GT Styling.
Hastings, Hawk Brakes, Haynes, Hays, Hedman, Hella, Hidden Hitch, Highland Mats, Holley, Hooker, Hoppy, HP, Hurst, Husky Liners, Hypertech.
Injen Intake, Intrax, IPCW lights, JBA Headers, Jet Chips, JSP.
K&N Filters, Keeper, Kleen Wheels, Koni Shocks, KYB Shocks, Lebra, LRV, Lund, Magnaflow, Manik, Mean Green, Mile Marker, Monroe Shocks, Moog, Motorcraft, MSD Ignition.
Neuspeed, NGK, Nifty Products, Nology Wires, NOS, Pace Edwards, Pacesetter, Pagid, Painless, PBR, Performance Friction, Perrycraft, PIAA Light, Pilot, Power Flow, Power Slot, Powerdyne, Powerstop Rotors, Pro Comp, Putco.
Rancho Shocks, Raybestos, Reese, Remus, Replacement, Roush, Rugged Mat, Russell, S&B, Sachs, Silla, Skunk 2, Skyjacker, Smittybilt, SNG, Sport Master, Spyder, Standard, Stant, Stillen, Street Performance, Street Scene, Superchips, Superwinch.
Tanabe, Taylor Cable, Textar, Timken, Tokico Shocks, Tornado, Torza, Toucan, Trail FX, Trailmaster, Transwheel, Trenz, Trico, True Flow, Truxedo, TRW, Turbonetics,
Undercover, Unichip, Unorthodox Racing, Valley, Venom, Ventshade, Vibrant, Volant Intake, WAAG, Wade Auto, Walker, Warn Winch, Weapon R,Weathertech, Weber Carburetor, Westar, Westin, Xenon, Zimmermann.