WO1997012450A1

WO1997012450A1 - Electronic audio synthesizer for mobile applications

Info

Publication number: WO1997012450A1
Application number: PCT/US1996/015232
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen G. Schimoler
Original assignee: Schimoler Stephen G
Priority date: 1995-09-26
Filing date: 1996-09-24
Publication date: 1997-04-03
Also published as: AU7164796A

Abstract

A portable electronic sound synthesizer system (22) for a vehicle includes a sheet of flexible material (20) adapted to be attached to a portion of the vehicle accessible to the driver of the vehicle, a sound synthesizer (24) adapted to be mounted in the vehicle, a sensor (26a) attached to the sheet of flexible material and configured to transmit an electrical signal when the layer of flexible material is struck by the driver near the sensor, and a connector (56) that connects the pressure sensor to the sound synthesizer so that the synthesizer receives the electrical signal and converts the signal into a sound signal.

Description

ELECTRONIC AUDIO SYNTHESIZER FOR MOBILE APPLICATIONS Background of the Invention The invention relates to an electronic audio synthesizer for mobile applications.

Digital synthesizers have been used for years to generate audio electronically. Electronic keyboards and electronic drum sets are common sound synthesizing devices. In recent years as electronic components have decreased in size, sound synthesizers have become increasingly portable. The Yamaha DD-9 digital percussion system is an example of a device that may be carried under one's arm and used virtually anywhere that AC power is available.

Sound generation devices also have been used in motor vehicles, primarily in the form of horns or warning sirens. For example, a typical car horn is a sound signal electronically generated when the driver presses a button on the car's steering wheel. Other electronic audio devices include children's toys, such as books and electronic teachers, that generate sound signals in response to certain actions by the child.

Summary of the Invention In general, in one aspect, the invention features a portable electronic sound synthesizer system for a vehicle that includes a sheet of flexible material adapted to be attached to a portion of the vehicle accessible to the driver of the vehicle, a sound synthesizer adapted to be mounted in the vehicle, a sensor attached to the sheet of flexible material and configured to transmit an electrical signal when the layer of flexible material is struck by the driver near the sensor, and a connector that connects the pressure sensor to the sound synthesizer so that the synthesizer receives the electrical signal and converts the signal into a sound signal.

Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The connector may be a cable (e.g., a releasable cable) configured to carry the electrical signal from the sensor to the sound synthesizer. The sensor may be a pressure sensor. The electronic sound synthesizer system may include a second sensor configured to transmit a second electrical signal when the sheet of flexible material is struck near the second sensor. The sound synthesizer may receive the second electrical signal and generate a second sound signal, and the second sound signal may differ from the first sound signal. The system also may include a sound assignment device that allows the driver to assign a type of sound signal to each of the electrical signals. The possible types of sound signals may include percussion sounds, musical sounds, human sounds, and animal sounds. The sheet of flexible material may be adapted to form a sleeve that fastens to a steering wheel.

In another aspect, the invention features an apparatus for generating varying sound signals when a person applies pressure to a vehicle steering device. The apparatus includes a first sensor that transmits one electrical signal when the person applies pressure to the steering device near the first sensor, a second sensor that transmits another electrical signal when the person applies pressure to the steering device near the second sensor, and a conductor that carries the electrical signals to a sound synthesizer that generates different sound signals in response to the electrical signals.

In another aspect, the invention features a method of generating varying sound signals when a person applies pressure to a vehicle steering device by transmitting one electrical signal when the person applies pressure to one area of the steering device, transmitting another electrical when the person applies pressure to a different area of the steering device, and generating different sound signals in response to the electrical signals.

In another aspect, the invention features an apparatus for generating sound signals in an automobile. The apparatus includes a sleeve that attaches to a part of the automobile, sensors attached to the sleeve that detect when the person applies pressure to a corresponding area of the sleeve and that transmits an electrical signal when pressure is detected in the corresponding area, a cable that carries the electrical signals transmitted by the sensors, and a sound synthesizer configured (a) to receive the electrical signals from the cable, (b) to determine which sensor transmitted each received signals, and (c) in response to each received electrical signal to generate a sound signal associated with the sensor that transmitted the electrical signal.

Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features. A sleeve may attach to the automobile steering wheel or to a child's car seat. The sleeve may be detachable. The apparatus may include a sound reproduction device (e.g., the vehicle's stereo system) that plays the sound signals. The cable may extend and retract to accommodate rotation of the steering device. Sensors may be placed inside the sleeve, and each sensor may be associated with a unique sound signal. The apparatus also may include a sound assignment device that allows a user to assign sound signals associated with the sensors. The possible sounds may include percussion sounds, musical sounds, human sounds, and animal sounds. The sounds may be musical sounds from different styles of music.

In another aspect, the invention features an electronic sound synthesizer for an automobile having pressure sensors which are built into the automobile and which generate electrical signals when activated by a person riding in the automobile, and a sound synthesizer that receives the electrical signals from the pressure sensors and generates a unique sound for every one of the sensors from which it receives an electrical signal.

Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The pressure sensors may be built into the automobile's steering wheel or dashboard. At least one of the sensors may be built into the automobile's floorboard. The sound synthesizer may play the sounds through the automobile's stereo system. The sound synthesizer also may be connected to the automobile's horn.

Advantages of the invention may include one or more of the following. The electronic sound system may be used to generate sounds electronically in response to actions by a person in transit. For example, the driver of a car may generate percussion or other sounds through the car's stereo system by tapping on the steering wheel while driving the car. The driver may do so without moving his hands far, if at all, from the steering wheel. A motorcycle rider may generate sound electronically while operating the motorcycle without removing his hands from the handlebars. The electronic sound system also may be transported easily.

Other advantages will become apparent from the following description and from the claims. Brief Description of the Drawing Figure 1 is a front view of an automobile steering wheel and block diagram showing an electronic audio synthesizer system including a detachable steering wheel sleeve.

Figures 2, 3, and 4A through 4C are detailed diagrammatic views of a motion-sensing sleeve.

Figures 5A through 5C show various cable mounting devices for use in the electronic sound system. Figure 6 is a block diagram of a sound synthesizer.

Figure 7 is a front view showing a car steering wheel with a built-in electronic sound system.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a motorcycle with a built-in electronic sound system.

Figure 9 is a side view showing an electronic sound system for a child's car seat.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments Figure 1 shows an electronic sound system that allows the operator of an automobile to create sounds, such as music or percussion sounds, by tapping on the automobile's steering wheel, even while operating the automobile. The driver may generate the sounds without moving his hands far, if at all, from the steering wheel. The sounds generated by the electronic sound system may be played through the automobile's stereo system, with or without music from another source, such as a radio or a CD player.

The sound system includes a flexible sleeve 20, made of a soft material such as PVC elastomeric, that mounts to the automobile's steering wheel 22. The PVC sleeve 20 may be created in a variety of colors and surface textures. The sleeve can extend all the way around the wheel and double as a wheel cover or only part way around, e.g., the top half, as shown in Figure 1. The sleeve 20 contains several direct contact pressure sensors 26a-e that detect the driver's tapping of the steering wheel 22. Every time a sensor 26a-e detects a tap on or near the sensor 26a-e, the sensor 26a-e transmits an electrical signal to a sound synthesizer 24, which generates a corresponding sound signal. The electrical signal is carried by a cable 28a, 28b that runs along the automobile's steering column 30 between the sleeve 20 and the synthesizer 24. The synthesizer 24 preferably is hidden from view, either under the dashboard, under a seat, or in the trunk of the automobile.

When the synthesizer 24 receives an electrical signal from one of the sensors 26a-e, the synthesizer 24 determines which sensor 26a-e sent the signal and generates the sound signal that corresponds to the sensor. The synthesizer 24 provides the sound signal to the automobile's stereo system 32, which in turn amplifies and plays the signal through the automobile's speakers 34. The synthesized sound signals may be played with or without sounds signals generated by other sources 35, such as an AM/FM tuner, a tape deck, or a CD player, connected to the stereo system 32. The electronic sound system of Figure 1 may employ any conventional synthesizer and pressure sensors, but the preferred synthesizer 24.and sensors 26a-e are those used in the Yamaha DD-9 Digital Percussion system, which may generate several hundred musical and non-musical sounds. The number of sounds that may be generated at any given time by the electronic sound system in the figure depends, of course, on the number of sensors 26a-e in the sleeve 20. As described below, the sleeve 20 generally will have five or six sensors, but may have as many as many as twenty-four sensors in most applications. Each of the sensors 26a-e must be sensitive enough to detect light taps near the sensor, but rigid enough to ignore motion in the sleeve 20 when an adjacent sensor is tapped. As shown in Figure 1, the sensors 26a-e are spaced evenly throughout the sleeve 20, with equal distances separating each of the sensors 26a-e from its neighbors. The sensors 26a, 26e at either end of the sleeve must be at least 5cm from the edges of the sleeve. The number of sensors 26a-e in the sleeve 20 is limited only by the length of the sleeve (i.e., the size of the steering wheel) and the minimum distance which must separate the sensors (preferably approximately 5cm) . A typical sleeve 20 covers approximately 50cm of an average 120cm (circumference) steering wheel 22, so five sensors 26a-e placed 5cm from the edges of the sleeve 20 may be separated from each other by 10 cm. However, a sleeve 20 that entirely covers an average 120cm steering wheel 22 may have up to 24 pressure sensors separated by the minimum distance of 5cm.

The portion of the sleeve 20 surrounding each sensor 26a-e is delineated by strips 36 on the outer surface of the sleeve 20. The strips 36 made of a highly-visible, flexible, lightweight material, such as aluminum, which allows the strips 36 to conform to the shape of the wheel. The strips 36 are evenly spaced, equidistant from each of the surrounding sensors 26a-e. Thus, for a typical 50cm sleeve with five sensors, the strips are placed 10cm apart. The sleeve 20 also includes two control panels, a power/volume panel 38 and a sound assignment panel 40, which allow the operator to control the sounds generated by the electronic sound system. The power/volume panel 38 includes a power button 42 that allows the operator to toggle power to the electronic sound system. The panel 38 also includes a volume up button 44 and a volume down button 46 which, when pressed by the operator, cause the synthesizer 24 to adjust accordingly the magnitude of the synthesized sound signals. The sound assignment panel 40 includes adjustment buttons 48, 50 that allow the operator to scroll through, and eventually assign, sounds for each of the pressure sensors 26a-e, as described below. Each control panel 38, 40 consists of a high- density polyethylene or similar plastic. The buttons 42- 50 consist of soft rubber to allow the operator's fingers to find the buttons quickly and easily.

One of the control panels 38, 40 also may include a microphone 51 which detects voice signals and transmits them through the cable 28a-b to a voice recognition module 53 in the synthesizer 24. The voice recognition module 53 may be used in addition to or in lieu of the control buttons 42-50 to control operation of the synthesizer 24. The voice recognition module 53 may be any standard voice recognition system programmed to recognize words associated with the electronic sound system (e.g., on, off, volume, up, down).

To ensure that the electronic sound system is portable, the sleeve 20 is attached only temporarily to the steering wheel 22. Various types of temporary fasteners (not shown in Figure 1) are discussed below. Also, the portion 28a of the cable that extends from the sleeve 20 and the portion 28b that mounts to the steering column 30 are connected by a quick-release harness 52. As a result, the sleeve easily may be removed from the steering wheel 22 and carried to another location.

Figure 2 is an internal view of the sleeve 20. Each of the pressure sensors 26a-e attaches to an inner surface 54 of the sleeve 20. Two wires 56 run along the inner surface 54 of the sleeve 20 from each of the sensors 26a-e and each of the control buttons 42-50 to the quick-release harness 52, and eventually to the synthesizer (not shown in Figure 2) . Because the sleeve in the figure has five sensors 26a-e and five control buttons 42-50, cable 28a, 28b emerging from the sleeve 20 is a twenty conductor cable.

The sleeve 20 also includes a flexible metallic rod 58 that runs along the inner arch 60 of the sleeve 20 to support the plastic control panels 38, 40. As shown in Figure 3, the metallic rod 58 is embedded in the sleeve 20 with a portion 59 of the rod exposed through the sleeve 20. Each plastic control panel 38 (40 is not shown in Figure 3) is permanently affixed to the rod by an adhesive layer 62. The control panel 38 also may be bonded to the metal rod 58 in other ways, such as heat- bonding. The rod 58 should comprise a metal that is sufficiently rigid to support the control panel 38, yet sufficiently flexible to conform to the shape of the steering wheel.

Referring to Figure 4A, an upper surface 68 of each pressure sensor 26a has contact pads 64, 66 that provide the sensor's output signals. The wires 56 that connect the sensor 26a to the harness and to the synthesizer (not shown in Figure 4A) are permanently attached to the sensor 26a with solder 70. Once the wires 56 are attached, an insulating adhesive material 72 (e.g., glue) is placed over the upper surface 68 of the sensor 26a, including the contact pads 64, 66, so that the pressure sensor 26a may be attached to the sleeve 20. As shown in Figure 4B, the sleeve 20 is comprised of inner and outer sleeve layers 53a, 53b. Each pressure sensor 26a is glued to the inner surface 54 of the outer sleeve layer 53a with the wires 56 extending from beneath the sensor 26a. The wires 58 are bundled with wires 74 from another sensor (not shown) and affixed to the inner surface 54 of the sleeve layer 53a with tape 76. Other substances, such as glue, also may be used to fasten the wires 56, 74 to the outer sleeve layer 53a.

After all of the sensors and wires are securely fastened to the outer sleeve layer 53a, the inner sleeve layer 53b, which is identical in size and substance to the outer sleeve layer 53a, is heat-bonded or glued to the inner surface 54 of the outer sleeve layer 53a. The second sleeve layer 53b protects the sensors and wires from forces that might otherwise tear these components away from the sleeve.

Once the sleeve layers 53a, 53b are bonded, a velcro-strip 78 is placed along one edge 79 of the sleeve 20 on the outer sleeve layer 53b, and a mating velcro strip 80 is placed along the other edge 81 of the sleeve 20 on the inner sleeve layer 53b. When the sleeve 20 is wrapped around the steering wheel (not shown in Figure 4B) , the velcro strips 78, 80 mate to hold the sleeve 20 to the steering wheel.

As shown in Figure 4C, instead of velcro strips, zipper teeth 82 may be sewn or glued along the edges 79, 81 of the sleeve layers 53a, 53b. A zipper 83 then may be used to fasten the sleeve 20 to the steering wheel temporarily.

To prevent the electronic music system from interfering with operation of the steering wheel, the cable that connects the sleeve to the synthesizer must be able to move with the steering wheel. Figures 5A, 5B, and 5C show alternative embodiments for such a cable. In Figure 5A, the cable 85 is housed in a flywheel type housing 86 mounted to the steering column 30 of the automobile. As the operator of the automobile turns the steering wheel (not shown) from its center position, the cable 85 is drawn from the housing 86. As the steering wheel returns to its center position, the flywheel housing 86 automatically retracts the cable 85. As a result, the cable 85 always reaches as far as necessary to allow unrestricted movement of the steering wheel.

In Figure 5B, a portion of the cable 85 is coiled like a telephone cable. As the driver turns the steering wheel from its center position and places tension on the cable 85, the cable 85 expands to the required length. Then, as the steering wheel returns to its center position and the tension on the cable 85 is released, the cable 85 recoils to return to its original length. Because coiling is not required for the entire length of the cable, a housing 88 is provided to provide an interface between the coiled cable 85 and the straight cable 87, which runs to the synthesizer (not shown). Adhesives such as velcro or glue fasten the housings 86, 88 to the steering column 30.

In Figure 5C, the cable 85 is threaded through the center of the automobile's steering column 30. While this option is not available for all automobiles, it is available for automobiles in which the center of the steering column 30 may be accessed easily.

Referring to Figure 6, the synthesizer 24 receives electronic signals from the sleeve 20 through an input port 89 and provides the signals to a programmable controller 90. Under the instructions of a program 92, the controller 90 deciphers the electrical signals and uses them to access digitized sound packets 94 stored in memory 96. The controller 90 provides the digitized sound packets 94 to a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 98, which converts the digitized sound into analog sound signals 100. The D/A converter 98 sends the analog sound signals 100 to the automobile's stereo system 32, which in turn amplifies the sound signals and plays them through the automobile's speakers 34.

When the programmable controller 90 receives an electrical signal from a pressure sensor (not shown) , it determines which sensor generated the signal and which sound it associated with that sensor. The controller then retrieves the appropriate sound from memory 96 and plays it through the stereo system 32. If power is on and the controller 90 receives a signal from the power on/off button (42 in Figure 1) , the controller 90 shuts off power to the sensors to disable the electronic sound system. The controller 90 restores power to the system when it receives a subsequent electrical signal from the power on/off button (i.e, when the operator subsequently presses the power on/off button) . When the controller 90 receives a signal from one of the volume control buttons (44, 46 in Figure 1) , the controller 90 determines which button sent the signal and adjusts the magnitude of the digitized sound signal accordingly. The controller 90 increases the magnitude of the sound signals when the "up" control button is pressed and decreases magnitude when the "down" control button is pressed.

The sound assignment buttons (48, 50 in Figure 1) allow the controller 90 to reassign the digitized sound 94 associated with each sensor. When the operator presses and holds one of these buttons, thereby sending a continuous signal to the controller 90, the controller awaits a signal from one of the pressure sensors (i.e., waits for the operator to strike one of the sensors) . If the operator strikes a pressure sensor while pressing one of the sound adjustment buttons, the controller 90 retrieves and plays the sound associated with that sensor. If the operator again strikes the sensor, the controller scrolls through the digitized sounds 94 to retrieve and play the next sound 94 available for that sensor. When the operator releases the adjustment button, the controller 90 stores the new sound as the one associated with the pressure sensor. If, on the other hand, the operator continues to hold the adjustment button and strike the pressure sensor, the controller 90 continues to scroll to subsequent digitized sounds. The two adjustment buttons determine the direction in which the controller 90 scrolls the digitized sounds 94. Alternatively, the sound assignment buttons may cause the controller 90 to assign preset sounds to each of the pressure sensors. Common preset sounds are rock sounds (such as a snare and tom-tom drums and crash and high-hat cymbals) , Latin sounds (such as bongo and conga drums) , and percussion sounds (such as cow bells, wood blocks, cymbals, and timbales) . The sound assignment buttons also may vary the sounds between different types of musical instruments, such as percussion, strings, and piano. Figures 7 through 9 show alternative embodiments for the portable electronic music system. In Figure 7, pressure sensors lOOa-h and control buttons 102a-e (e.g., power on/off, volume, and sound assignment buttons) are built into an automobile's steering wheel 104. The wires 106 that connect the sensors lOOa-h and the buttons 102a- e to the synthesizer (not shown) are threaded through the automobile's steering column 108. The buttons 102a-e are grouped along the spokes 105a-b of the steering wheel 104 so that the driver may access the buttons 102a-e easily without removing his/her hands from the steering wheel 104. The power button 102a and the volume control buttons 102b-c are located on the "10:00" spoke 105a, and the pad assignment buttons 102d-e are located on the "2:00" spoke 105b. The built-in system is particularly useful when the automobile manufacturer provides the electronic sound system.

The automobile also may include a foot sensor 107 mounted in the automobile's floorboard (not shown) . The foot sensor 107 responds to taps by the driver's foot. A cable 109 running along and through the floorboard connects the foot sensor 107 to the synthesizer (not shown in Figure 7) . The foot sensor 107 may be used, for example, to generate the sounds of a bass drum.

In Figure 8, an electronic sound system is built into a motorcycle 110. Pressure sensors 112 are located in plastic panels 114a, 114b that extend from the motorcycle's handlebars 116a, 116b along the handgrips 118a, 188b. Control buttons 120 also are located in the plastic panels 114a, 114b. This allows the motorcycle driver to operate the electronic music system without removing his hands from the handgrips 118a, 188b. A synthesizer/amplifier 122 is located in the body 124 of the motorcycle and is connected to the sensors 112 and control buttons 120 through wires (not shown) that run through the handlebars 116a, 116b and body 124 of the motorcycle. The synthesizer/amplifier 122 may play the sound through a speaker 126 built into the body 124 of the motorcycle 110 or through a headphone jack 128 built into the synthesizer/amplifier 122. Figure 9 shows an electronic music system for use with a child's car seat 130. The system includes a PVC sleeve 132, much like that described above, that fits over a toy steering wheel 134 attached to the car seat 130. Within the sleeve are pressure sensors 136 that detect the tapping of a child's hand. When the child strikes one of the sensors 136, the sensor transmits an electrical signal through a cable 140 to a synthesizer/amplifier 138, which in turn plays a corresponding sound signal through a speaker 142. The sound signals may be musical notes or percussion sounds, as well as non-musical sounds, such as human voices, animal noises, or other entertaining sounds. The synthesizer/amplifier 138 is a portable device that may be placed anywhere near the car seat 130. The synthesizer/amplifier includes a power supply (not shown) , such as a 12-volt battery, that powers the electronic music system. The synthesizer 138 also may include a headphone jack 144 to bypass the speaker 142.

Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the sleeve may cover the entire surface of a steering wheel. Also, instead of a PVC sleeve, the electronic music system may include a lightweight sheet that adheres to the passenger side of an automobile's dashboard. The sound synthesizer may be wired to the automobile's horn so that sounds such as human voices may be used to communicate with pedestrians and other drivers.

What is claimed is:

Claims

1. A portable electronic sound synthesizer system for a vehicle comprising: a sheet of flexible material adapted to be attached to a portion of the vehicle accessible to the driver of the vehicle; a sound synthesizer adapted to be mounted in the vehicle; a sensor attached to the sheet of flexible material and configured to transmit an electrical signal when the layer of flexible material is struck by the driver near the sensor; and a connector that connects the pressure sensor to the sound synthesizer so that the synthesizer receives the electrical signal and converts the signal into a sound signal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the connector comprises a cable configured to carry the electrical signal from the sensor to the sound synthesizer.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the connector comprises a releasable connector.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second sensor configured to transmit a second electrical signal when the sheet of flexible material is struck near the second sensor.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the sound synthesizer receives the second electrical signal and generates a second sound signal.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the second sound signal differs from the first sound signal.

8. The system of claim 6 further comprising a sound assignment device that allows the driver to assign a type of sound signal to each of the electrical signals.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the possible types of sound signals include the following: percussion sounds, musical sounds, human sounds, and animal sounds.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the sheet of flexible material is adapted to form a sleeve that fastens to a steering wheel.

11. An electronic sound synthesizer system for an automobile comprising: a sound synthesizer that generates sounds through the automobile's stereo system; and a flexible sleeve adapted to mount to the automobile's steering wheel comprising pressure sensors, each of which transmits an electrical signal to the sound synthesizer when activated by the driver of the automobile, each electrical signal causing the sound synthesizer to generate one of the sounds; a control panel having buttons that allow the user to control the sounds generated by the sound synthesizer; a releasable cable connecting the sensors and the buttons to the sound synthesizer; and a connector adapted to releasably mount the sleeve to the automobile's steering wheel.

12. Apparatus for generating varying sound signals when a person applies pressure to a vehicle steering device, comprising: a first sensor that transmits one electrical signal when the person applies pressure to the steering device near the first sensor; a second sensor that transmits another electrical signal when the person applies pressure to the steering device near the second sensor; and a conductor that carries the electrical signals to a sound synthesizer that generates different sound signals in response to the electrical signals.

13. A method of generating varying sound signals when a person applies pressure to a vehicle steering device, comprising: transmitting one electrical signal when the person applies pressure to one area of the steering device; transmitting another electrical signal when the person applies pressure to a different area of the steering device; and generating different sound signals in response to the electrical signals.

14. Apparatus for generating sound signals in an automobile, comprising: a sleeve that attaches to a part of the automobile; sensors attached to the sleeve, each positioned to detect when the person applies pressure to a corresponding area of the sleeve and configured to transmit an electrical signal when pressure is detected in the corresponding area; a cable that carries the electrical signals transmitted by the sensors; and a sound synthesizer configured a) to receive the electrical signals from the cable, b) to determine which sensor transmitted each received signal, and c) in response to each received electrical signal, to generate a sound signal associated with the sensor that transmitted the electrical signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sleeve attaches to the automobile's steering wheel.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sleeve attaches to a child's car seat.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sleeve is detachable.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the cable extends and retracts to accommodate rotation of the steering device.

19. The apparatus of. claim 14 further comprising a sound reproduction device that plays the sound signals.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the sound reproduction device is a stereo system built into the vehicle.

21. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sensors are inside the sleeve.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein each sensor is associated with unique sound signal.

23. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a sound assignment device that allows a user to assign sound signals associated with the sensors.

24. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sounds comprise at least one of the following: percussion sounds, musical sounds, human sounds, and animal sounds.

25. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sounds are musical sounds from different styles of music.

26. An electronic sound synthesizer for an automobile comprising: pressure sensors which are built into the automobile and which generate electrical signals when activated by a person riding in the automobile, and a sound synthesizer that receives the electrical signals from the pressure sensors and generates a unique sound for every one of the sensors from which it receives an electrical signal.

27. The electronic sound synthesizer of claim 26 wherein the pressure sensors are built into the automobile's steering wheel.

28. The electronic sound synthesizer of claim 26 wherein the pressure sensors are built into the automobile's dashboard.

29. The electronic sound synthesizer of claim 26 wherein at least one of the sensors is built into the automobile's floorboard.

30. The electronic sound synthesizer of claim 26 wherein the sound synthesizer plays the sounds through a stereo system built into the automobile.

31. The electronic sound synthesizer of claim 26 wherein the sound synthesizer is connected to the automobile's horn.