Noise control device, vehicle having the device, and method for controlling a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a noise control device, a vehicle having a noise control device, and a method for controlling a vehicle to reduce interior noise. According to one aspect of the present invention, when driving a vehicle, the vehicle collects sound by using a sound collector; detects vibrations occurring in the vehicle by using a vibration detector; detects occupants in the vehicle by using an occupant detector; generates a virtual reference signal based on an actual reference signal for the detected vibrations; obtains position information of the ears of the occupants based on the occupant information; generates a virtual error signal based on the obtained ear position information and an actual noise signal for the collected sound; generates a noise control signal based on the virtual error signal and the virtual reference signal; and outputs the generated noise control signal as sound.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a noise control device, a vehicle having the noise control device, and a method for controlling a vehicle to reduce interior noise. Background Art

[0002] A vehicle is a machine that is driven by driving wheels for the purpose of transporting people or goods and travels on a road.

[0003] In recent years, vehicles have evolved into means of entertainment and information communication, rather than just transportation tools.

[0004] With the progress of vehicles and information and communication technologies, the head unit of currently released vehicles is configured to perform various functions as well as audio control functions such as FM / AM and CD and air conditioning control functions. Examples of these various functions include Bluetooth, web browsing, chatting, watching TV, navigation, games, functions of taking pictures or videos through a camera, voice storage functions, and image or video display functions.

[0005] For this reason, vehicle manufacturers are investing a great deal of effort in hardware and software development to provide more complex and diverse functions.

[0006] Generally, various sound absorption and sound insulation agents and low-noise tires are used as methods for reducing the running noise generated during vehicle operation.

[0007] However, the method of reducing road noise through hardware (e.g., sound absorption and sound insulation agents and low-noise tires) not only increases costs but also increases vehicle weight, resulting in poor driving fuel efficiency and difficulty in blocking low-frequency noise. Summary of the Invention

[0008] In view of the above, an aspect of the present invention provides a noise control device, a vehicle having the noise control device, and a method thereof, which generate and output a noise control signal based on a virtual error signal at a virtual microphone and a virtual reference signal at an acceleration sensor.

[0009] According to an aspect of the present invention, a noise control device may include: a virtual reference signal generator configured to generate a virtual reference signal based on a vibration signal indicating vibration detected by a vibration detector and structural information of a vehicle body; a virtual error signal generator configured to generate a virtual microphone based on occupant information detected by an occupant detector and generate a virtual error signal based on a virtual noise signal and an actual noise signal collected from the generated virtual microphone; and an active noise controller configured to generate a noise control signal based on the virtual error signal and the virtual reference signal and control the output of the generated noise control signal.

[0010] The noise control device may further include: a fast Fourier transform (FFT) converter configured to perform a fast Fourier transform on the virtual reference signal and perform a fast Fourier transform on the virtual error signal; a frequency-domain active filter configured to filter the fast Fourier-transformed virtual reference signal and the fast Fourier-transformed virtual error signal; and an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) converter configured to perform an inverse Fourier transform on the signal filtered by the frequency-domain active filter and transmit the inverse Fourier-transformed signal to the active noise controller.

[0011] The virtual error signal generator may obtain an actual secondary path based on the position information of the actual microphone and the noise signal collected from the actual microphone, generate a noise signal in the actual secondary path based on the noise control signal output from the active noise controller and the actual secondary path, and obtain a virtual noise signal in the virtual secondary path based on the noise control signal output from the active noise controller and the virtual secondary path.

[0012] The virtual error signal generator may include: a transfer function that subtracts the noise signal from the virtual secondary path from the noise signal from the actual secondary path.

[0013] The virtual error signal generator may periodically receive the occupant information detected by the occupant detector, determine a change in the occupant sitting posture based on the periodically received occupant information, and generate a virtual microphone when it is determined that there is a change in the occupant sitting posture.

[0014] According to an aspect of the present invention, a vehicle may include: a sound collector configured to collect sound and output a virtual noise signal for the collected sound; a vibration detector configured to detect vibration and output an actual reference signal for the detected vibration; an occupant detector configured to detect an occupant and output occupant information regarding the detected occupant; and a controller configured to generate a virtual reference signal based on the actual reference signal, obtain the position information of the ears of the occupant based on the occupant information, generate a virtual error signal based on the obtained ear position information, generate a noise control signal based on the virtual error signal and the virtual reference signal, and control the output of the generated noise control signal.

[0015] According to an aspect of the present invention, a vehicle may include: a plurality of microphones disposed at different positions in the vehicle; a plurality of acceleration sensors disposed at different positions in the vehicle; a controller configured to diagnose faults of the plurality of acceleration sensors and the plurality of microphones, and when diagnosing that at least one of the plurality of acceleration sensors has a fault, generate a virtual reference signal using the remaining acceleration sensors, and when diagnosing that at least one of the plurality of microphones has a fault, generate a noise control signal using the remaining microphones.

[0016] The controller can post-process the acceleration signals received from the acceleration sensors diagnosed as faulty, and post-process the noise signals received from at least one microphone diagnosed as faulty.

[0017] The vehicle can also include a display, and the controller can control the display to show information about the microphone diagnosed as faulty or the acceleration sensor diagnosed as faulty.

[0018] The controller can generate a virtual error signal by using the microphone among the remaining microphones that is set at the position closest to the microphone diagnosed as faulty, and generate a virtual reference signal by using the acceleration sensor among the remaining acceleration sensors that is set at the position closest to the acceleration sensor diagnosed as faulty.

[0019] The vehicle can also include: a display; and an input unit configured to receive user input; and the controller can control the display of request information for inputting occupant information for each seat, and generate a virtual microphone based on the seat-specific occupant information input in the input when diagnosing a fault in at least one of the multiple acceleration sensors and multiple microphones.

[0020] The occupant information can include occupant identification information, occupant height information, occupant age information, or occupant age-specific information.

[0021] The occupant detector can also include at least one image acquirer for acquiring an indoor image, and wherein the controller obtains the position information of the occupant's ears based on the indoor image.

[0022] The controller can generate an actual secondary path to the actual microphone, generate an actual noise signal in the generated secondary path, generate a virtual secondary path to the virtual microphone, generate a virtual noise signal in the generated virtual secondary path, and generate a virtual error signal based on the actual noise signal and the virtual noise signal.

[0023] The controller can also include: an amplifier (AMP) configured to mix the received audio signal and the noise control signal in response to the received audio signal, and output the mixed signal.

[0024] The vehicle can include: a memory configured to store the structural information of the vehicle body, and the controller can generate a virtual reference signal based on the information stored in the memory and the noise signal indicating the vibration detected by the vibration detector.

[0025] According to an aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a vehicle may include: collecting sound by using a sound collector while driving the vehicle; detecting vibrations occurring in the vehicle by using a vibration detector; detecting occupants in the vehicle by using an occupant detector; generating a virtual reference signal based on an actual reference signal of the detected vibrations; obtaining position information of the ears of the occupants based on the occupant information; generating a virtual error signal based on the obtained ear position information and an actual noise signal of the collected sound; generating a noise control signal based on the virtual error signal and the virtual reference signal; and outputting the generated noise control signal as sound.

[0026] According to an aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a vehicle includes: collecting sound by using a plurality of microphones located at different positions in the vehicle while driving the vehicle; detecting vibrations occurring in the vehicle by using a plurality of acceleration sensors located at different positions in the vehicle; detecting occupants in the vehicle by using an occupant detector; generating a virtual reference signal based on an actual reference signal of the detected vibrations; obtaining position information of the ears of the occupants based on the occupant information; generating a virtual error signal based on the obtained ear position information and an actual noise signal of the collected sound; generating a noise control signal based on the virtual error signal and the virtual reference signal; and outputting the generated noise control signal as sound. Generating the noise control signal may include diagnosing faults of the plurality of acceleration sensors and the plurality of microphones, generating a virtual reference signal by using the remaining acceleration sensors when diagnosing that at least one of the plurality of acceleration sensors has a fault, and generating a noise control signal by using the remaining microphones when diagnosing that at least one of the plurality of microphones has a fault.

[0027] The method may further include: when diagnosing that at least one of the plurality of acceleration sensors and the plurality of microphones has a fault, controlling the display of request information for inputting occupant information for each seat, generating a virtual microphone based on the occupant information input for each seat in the input, and regenerating a virtual error signal based on the position information of the generated virtual microphone.

[0028] The occupant information may include occupant identification information, occupant height information, occupant age information, or occupant age-specific information. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] These and / or other aspects of the present invention will become apparent and be more readily understood from the following description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

[0030] Figure 1 is an exemplary view of a vehicle equipped with a noise control device according to an embodiment;

[0031] Figure 2is a control configuration diagram of a vehicle equipped with a noise control device according to an embodiment;

[0032] Figure 3 shows Figure 2 a diagram of the arrangement of the occupant detector shown in;

[0033] Figure 4A 、 Figure 4B and Figure 4C are Figure 2 exemplary views of the input shown in;

[0034] Figure 5A and Figure 5B are Figure 2 exemplary views of the display shown in;

[0035] Figure 6 is an exemplary view of the processing signal by the noise control device according to an embodiment;

[0036] Figure 7 is a view showing the noise removal principle of the noise control device according to an embodiment;

[0037] Figure 8 is a block diagram of the control algorithm for generating a noise control signal in the noise control device according to an embodiment;

[0038] Figure 9 is an exemplary view showing the generation of a virtual reference signal in the noise control device according to an embodiment;

[0039] Figure 10 is a flowchart showing the control of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment; and

[0040] Figure 11A 、 Figure 11B and Figure 11C are views showing the acquisition of the virtual secondary path in the noise control device in a vehicle according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] The same reference numerals always refer to the same elements. The present invention does not describe all elements of the embodiments and there is an overlap between the general content of the technical field to which the present invention belongs or the embodiments.

[0042] This specification does not describe all elements of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and may omit detailed descriptions of content known in the art or redundant descriptions of substantially the same configurations. The terms "component", "module", "member", or "block" used in this specification may be implemented in software or hardware, and multiple "components", "modules", "members", or "blocks" may be implemented as one component, and one "component", "module", "member", or "block" may also include multiple components.

[0043] Throughout the specification, when an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it may be directly or indirectly connected to the other element, and "indirectly connected to" includes being connected to other elements through a wireless communication network.

[0044] In addition, when a component is referred to as "including" a certain component, it means that the component may also include other components, without excluding other components, unless otherwise specified.

[0045] Throughout the specification, when a member is located "on" another member, this includes not only when one member is in contact with another member, but also when there is another member between the two members.

[0046] The terms "first", "second", etc. are used to distinguish one component from another component, and the components are not limited by the above terms.

[0047] Unless the context clearly indicates an exception, the singular form includes the plural form.

[0048] In each step, for the convenience of description, identification codes are used, and the identification codes do not describe the order of each step. Each step may not be executed in the specified order, unless the context clearly specifies a specific order.

[0049] Hereinafter, the working principle and embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0050] Figure 1 is an exemplary view of a vehicle equipped with a noise control device according to an embodiment, Figure 2 is a control configuration diagram of a vehicle equipped with a noise control device according to an embodiment, Figure 3 shows Figure 2 the arrangement of the occupant detector shown in Figure 4A 、 Figure 4B and Figure 4C is Figure 2 an exemplary view of the input shown in, and Figure 5A and Figure 5B is Figure 2 an exemplary view of the display shown in.

[0051] The vehicle 1 according to the embodiment may be an internal combustion engine vehicle or an eco-friendly vehicle.

[0052] The vehicle 1 includes: a body having an interior and an exterior; and a chassis in which mechanical devices required for driving are installed in the remaining part of the body other than the body.

[0053] The exterior of the body includes: a front panel, an engine hood, a roof panel, a rear panel, a trunk, front doors and rear doors, and windows provided to open and close on the front doors and rear doors.

[0054] The interior of the body includes seats on which occupants sit, a dashboard, and an instrument panel (i.e., a combination meter) that displays various information about the vehicle state on the dashboard.

[0055] The chassis of the vehicle 1 is a frame that supports the body and may include: front wheels 101 respectively provided on the left and right sides in front of the body, rear wheels 102 provided on the left and right sides behind the body, a power device for applying a driving force to the front wheels 101 and the rear wheels 102, a steering device for changing the traveling direction of the vehicle 1, a braking device for applying a braking force to the front wheels, rear wheels, left wheels, and right wheels to generate a vehicle braking force, and a suspension device 103 for controlling the damping of the vehicle 1.

[0056] The power device is a device that generates a driving force required to drive the vehicle and adjusts the generated driving force, and may include: a power generation device that generates power and a power transmission device that transmits the generated power to the wheels.

[0057] The power generation device may include at least one of an engine and an electric motor that apply a driving force to the wheels.

[0058] The suspension device 103 of the vehicle 1 connects the shaft 104 and the body, and fixes the front wheels 101 and the rear wheels 102 to the chassis of the vehicle 1 so that vibrations or impacts received by the shaft 104 from the road surface are not directly transmitted to the body. The suspension device 103 is a device that prevents damage to the body by controlling the body and improves riding comfort.

[0059] Such a suspension device includes: a chassis spring that reduces impacts from the road surface; and a shock absorber that attenuates and controls the free vibration of the chassis spring to improve riding comfort. Here, the shock absorber may be a shock absorber of an air suspension.

[0060] The suspension device 103 protects the body by increasing the height of the vehicle on a road with an uneven road surface, and reduces air resistance by lowering the vehicle height on a road where high-speed driving is possible (e.g., a highway), thereby improving driving stability.

[0061] The suspension device reduces the damping force of the damper when the road surface is uneven and increases the damping force of the damper when the road surface is smooth.

[0062] In addition, the suspension system increases the damping force when the driving speed is high, reduces the damping force when the driving speed is low, increases the damping force on a multi-curved road, reduces the damping force on a straight road, reduces the damping force of the front damper and increases the damping force of the rear damper during understeer, and increases the damping force of the front damper and reduces the damping force of the rear damper during oversteer.

[0063] This suspension device can give the driver a hard feeling when increasing the damping force of the damper and a soft feeling when reducing the damping force of the damper.

[0064] The engine control device turns the engine on and off based on the start-stop signal and the boost signal of the accelerator pedal.

[0065] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the vehicle 1 includes a noise control device (i.e., the controller 110), and includes a vibration detector 120, a sound collector 130, an occupant detector 140, and a sound output terminal 150 related to the operation of the noise control device.

[0066] Vibrations generated in the tires of the wheels due to friction with the road surface are transmitted to the interior of the vehicle 1 through the shock absorbers and springs of the suspension device 103, and due to the transmitted vibrations, noise may be generated inside the vehicle 1. The noise thus generated has its own phase.

[0067] Therefore, in order to reduce or eliminate road noise generated on the road and entering the vehicle interior, the noise control device (i.e., the controller 110) generates a noise control signal having a phase opposite (anti-phase) to the noise signal of the road surface noise introduced into the vehicle interior, and controls the output of the generated noise control signal.

[0068] Here, the out-of-phase signal can be a compensation signal generated by using the phase information of the noise signal of the in-vehicle noise.

[0069] The noise control device (i.e., the controller 110) is also referred to as road noise active noise control (RANC).

[0070] When the vehicle 1 starts or it is determined that the vehicle is in a driving state, the controller 110 can perform control for removing and reducing noise.

[0071] When the in-vehicle audio device is turned on, the controller 110 can mix the audio signal of the audio device with the noise removal signal to be output.

[0072] When the audio device is turned off, the controller 110 may output only a noise control signal for noise removal.

[0073] When the vehicle is started, the controller 110 may diagnose faults in the multiple microphones of the sound collection unit and the multiple acceleration sensors of the vibration detector 120. For example, the controller 110 sends activation messages to the multiple microphones and the multiple acceleration sensors respectively, and diagnoses the faults of the multiple microphones and the multiple acceleration sensors respectively based on whether each microphone and each acceleration sensor responds.

[0074] When it is determined that at least one microphone has a fault, the controller 110 may use the microphones in a normal state to perform a control operation for noise removal.

[0075] When it is determined that at least one acceleration sensor has a fault, the controller 110 may use the acceleration sensors in a normal state to perform a control operation for noise removal.

[0076] When it is determined that there is a fault in at least one microphone or at least one acceleration sensor, the controller 110 may control the display of fault information.

[0077] The controller 110 may check the position information of the microphone or acceleration sensor diagnosed as faulty, and control the display of the confirmed position information of the microphone or acceleration sensor, and control the display of access request information to the service center, and control the display of the position information of the service center.

[0078] The controller 110 may control the display of the position information of the microphone or acceleration sensor diagnosed as faulty, and may also control the display of active noise control performance information. In this case, the display 170 may display images such as "The active noise control performance is reduced due to the fault of the driver microphone" and "The occupant seat control performance is reduced due to the fault of the acceleration sensor".

[0079] When controlling the display of fault information, the controller 110 may perform control for noise removal based on the position information of the seat input to the input 160.

[0080] When the manual mode is executed, the controller 110 may perform control for noise removal based on the seat position information input to the input 160 and the key information of the specific seat occupant.

[0081] When the automatic mode is executed, the controller 110 obtains the position information of the seat where the occupant is sitting and the position information of the occupant's ears from the detection information detected by the occupant detector 140, and performs control for noise removal based on the obtained seat position information and the position information of the ears of the occupants in each seat.

[0082] When the controller 110 determines that a microphone or an acceleration sensor has failed, it can also switch from the automatic mode to the manual mode.

[0083] When the controller 110 determines that a microphone or an acceleration sensor has failed, it can control the display of a manual mode change request message.

[0084] When input information for the manual mode is received through the input 160, the controller 110 can switch the noise control mode to the manual mode.

[0085] The controller 110 can be implemented by a memory (not shown) and a processor. The memory stores data of an algorithm for controlling the operation of components in the noise control device or a program for reproducing the algorithm, and the processor uses the data stored in the memory (not shown) to perform the above operations. In this case, each of the memory and the processor can be implemented as a separate chip. Alternatively, the memory and the processor can be implemented as a single chip.

[0086] The configuration of the controller 110 will be described later.

[0087] The memory 110a can store the position information of each seat, the ear position information of each age group, and the key information of each age group.

[0088] The memory 110a can store the position information of multiple acceleration sensors, the position information of multiple microphones, and the position information of multiple speakers.

[0089] The memory 110a can store the position information of the driver's ears and can also store the driver's key information.

[0090] The memory 110a can store the dimensions, weight, shape, arrangement position, and connection information of the vehicle body. That is, the memory 110a can store the structural information of the vehicle body and the chassis.

[0091] The memory 110a can store a vehicle structure dynamics database.

[0092] The vehicle structure dynamics database can include vehicle structure dynamics information learned using a deep neural network, a surrogate model, and a regression model. That is, the memory 110a can store vehicle structure dynamics information based on a deep neural network, a surrogate model, and a regression model.

[0093] The memory 110a can be implemented as at least one of a non-volatile memory device (e.g., cache, read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), and flash memory), a volatile memory device (e.g., random access memory (RAM)), or a storage medium (e.g., hard disk drive (HDD) and CD-ROM), but is not limited thereto. The memory 110a can be a memory implemented as a chip separate from the processor with respect to the controller 110, or can be implemented as a processor and a single chip.

[0094] When the vehicle 1 is traveling on a road surface, the vibration detector 120 detects vibrations generated due to the friction between the tires of the wheels and the unevenness of the road.

[0095] Here, the vibration is a vibration that an occupant can perceive inside the vehicle 1.

[0096] Vibrations can occur inside and outside the floor of the vehicle 1. The occupant can feel the vibrations generated at this time.

[0097] The vibration detector 120 can detect vibrations generated by factors such as vibrations through the engine or suspension or wind noise introduced during driving.

[0098] The vibration detector 120 can indirectly detect dynamic forces (e.g., acceleration and impact of the vehicle 1) in order to detect vibrations.

[0099] The vibration detector 120 can include at least one of an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a motion sensor, a displacement sensor, and a torque sensor.

[0100] The vibration detector 120 can send a signal of the detected detection information to the controller 110.

[0101] When the vibration detector 120 includes an acceleration sensor, the acceleration sensor detects the longitudinal acceleration and lateral acceleration of the vehicle, and detects the acceleration of the force that attempts to push the vehicle laterally when driving and the acceleration of the force that moves in the longitudinal direction.

[0102] When the vibration detector 120 includes an acceleration sensor, there can be one or more acceleration sensors. Such acceleration sensors can be provided on the front axle or the suspension.

[0103] When multiple acceleration sensors are provided, the multiple acceleration sensors 121 and 122 can be provided on the left and right sides of the axle 104 connecting the front wheels 101, and can be respectively provided on the suspension devices 103 connected to the left front wheel and the right front wheel.

[0104] Here, the left side of the shaft 104 can be the position adjacent to the left front wheel in the shaft, and the right side of the shaft 104 can be the position adjacent to the right front wheel.

[0105] The sound collector 130 can be disposed inside the vehicle, but can be disposed in the ceiling of the upper interior of the vehicle, and the sound collector 130 can be disposed on at least one of the front windshield, the rear windshield, the overhead console, and the rearview mirror.

[0106] The sound collector 130 can include one or more microphones. When a plurality of microphones are provided in the vehicle, the plurality of microphones 131, 132, 133, and 134 can be disposed on the left front side and the right front side of the ceiling, and the left rear side and the right rear side of the ceiling.

[0107] If the vehicle is equipped with a plurality of microphones, the plurality of microphones 131, 132, 133, 134 are disposed on the ceiling, but can be disposed at a position corresponding to the driver's seat, a position corresponding to the passenger seat, a position corresponding to the left side of the rear seat, and a position corresponding to the right side of the rear seat.

[0108] If the vehicle 1 is equipped with a plurality of microphones, some of the plurality of microphones 131 and 132 can be respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the front windshield, or some can be disposed on the left and right sides of the rearview mirror, or some can be disposed on the left and right sides of the instrument panel.

[0109] The remaining microphones 133 and 134 can be respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the rear windshield, and can be respectively disposed on the rear portions of the backs of the driver's seat and the passenger seat.

[0110] Here, each microphone can be directional.

[0111] And each microphone can be implemented as a microphone array.

[0112] The sound collector 130 detects the noise that the occupants can hear inside the vehicle, and outputs a signal corresponding to the detected sound to the controller 110. Here, the noise that the occupants can hear can be the noise inside the vehicle.

[0113] The occupant detector 140 can include an image acquisition device that acquires image data inside the vehicle 1. The occupant detector 140 can include one or more image acquisition devices.

[0114] The occupant detector 140 can include a first image acquirer 141 that acquires an image of the front part of the interior of the vehicle 1, and a second image acquirer 142 that acquires an image of the rear part of the interior of the vehicle 1.

[0115] The first image acquirer 141 may be disposed on the window glass at the front of the vehicle, but may be disposed on the window glass inside the vehicle 1, or may be disposed on the rearview mirror, the steering wheel, or the ceiling inside the vehicle. The field of view of the first image acquirer 141 may be directed at the driver's seat and the passenger seat of the vehicle.

[0116] The second image acquirer 142 may be disposed on the window glass at the rear of the vehicle, may be disposed on the window glass inside the vehicle, or may be disposed on the ceiling.

[0117] The field of view of the second image acquirer 142 may be directed at the rear seats (rear seats) of the vehicle.

[0118] The first image acquirer 141 and the second image acquirer 142 include cameras, and may include a CCD or a CMOS image sensor, and may include a KINECT (RGB-D sensor), a TOF (structured light sensor), a stereo camera, etc. It may also include a 3D space recognition sensor.

[0119] The image sensor may include a plurality of photodiodes that convert light into an electrical signal, and the plurality of photodiodes may be arranged in a two-dimensional matrix.

[0120] The first image acquirer 141 and the second image acquirer 142 may be electrically connected to the controller 110. For example, the first image acquirer 141 and the second image acquirer 142 are connected to the controller 110 through a vehicle communication network (NT), or are connected to the controller through a hard wire, or are connected to the controller 110 through a printed circuit board (PCB).

[0121] The first image acquirer 141 and the second image acquirer 142 may send the image data of the front of the vehicle 1 and the image data of the rear of the vehicle 1 to the controller 110.

[0122] The occupant detector 140 may include at least one of a weight detector, a pressure detector, a capacitance detector, or a fastening detector of a seat belt to detect the presence of an occupant according to whether the occupant is seated. The occupant detector 140 may be disposed on the seats and seat belts of the vehicle.

[0123] The occupant detector 140 may further include at least one of a radar, a light detection and ranging (Lidar) sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor.

[0124] As Figure 3 shown, the first image acquirer 141 of the occupant detector 140 may be disposed on the steering wheel or the instrument panel to detect the driver and the occupant.

[0125] When the first image acquirer 141 is a camera, by acquiring the image information of the driver's seat and the passenger seat, the controller 110 can identify the boarding of the driver and the passenger, and can also identify the faces of the driver and the passenger.

[0126] When the first image acquirer 141 is a radar, information regarding whether the driver or the passenger has boarded can be detected by obtaining distance detection information.

[0127] In the occupant detector 140, the second image acquirer 142 is provided on the rear part of the ceiling or the backrest of the driver's seat or the passenger seat to detect the occupants in the rear seats.

[0128] When the second image acquirer 142 is a camera, the occupants can be detected by acquiring the image information of the rear seats, and the faces of the occupants can also be detected.

[0129] When the second image acquirer 142 is a radar, the occupants can be detected by obtaining distance detection information.

[0130] The sound output terminal 150 outputs sound in response to the control command of the controller 110.

[0131] The sound output terminal 150 can output sound to eliminate noise.

[0132] The sound output terminal 150 can include one or more speakers.

[0133] When multiple speakers are provided, some of the speakers 151 among the multiple speakers 151, 152, 153, 154 can be provided in the first pillar arranged between the left front door and the front windshield, and some of the speakers 152 can be provided in the second pillar arranged between the right front door and the front windshield.

[0134] Some of the speakers 151 and 152 can be provided inside the driver's seat door and inside the passenger seat door.

[0135] Some of the speakers 153 and 154 can be respectively provided inside the left door and the right door of the rear seats.

[0136] The remaining speakers 153 and 154 can be respectively provided in the first pillar arranged between the left front door and the left rear door, and in the second pillar arranged between the right front door and the right rear door.

[0137] The remaining speakers 153 and 154 can be respectively provided in the left rear first fender and the right rear second fender.

[0138] The sound output terminal 150 can include an amplifier that amplifies and outputs the compensation signal generated by the controller 110.

[0139] The amplifier converts the sound from digital to analog, amplifies the sound, and outputs the sound through the speaker.

[0140] As Figure 2 shown, the vehicle may further include an input 160 and a display 170.

[0141] The input 160 receives user commands. The input 160 may receive operation commands for various functions that can be performed in the vehicle as user commands. The input 160 may receive a manual mode and an automatic mode in the noise control mode. As Figure 4A shown, the input 160 may be set as a touch panel, and as Figure 4B shown, the input 160 may receive input information of buttons for each seat, and may receive boarding information for each seat as a touch signal based on the seat image displayed on the display.

[0142] The input 160 may receive key information of the occupants in each seat and age information of the occupants in each seat.

[0143] The input 160 may also receive age group information (e.g., newborn, infant, child, adolescent, and adult).

[0144] As Figure 4C shown, the input 160 may be a touch panel and may receive the age group of each seat as a touch signal. For example, the input 160 may receive on-off information as a touch signal in response to whether the occupant of each seat is a child. That is, the input 160 may receive seat selection information and boarding or alighting information of children. In this case, in response to the input of the seat selection information, the display may display a selection window for selecting boarding information or alighting information of children.

[0145] The input 160 may also receive confirmation information corresponding to whether the failure information of the noise control device is confirmed.

[0146] The input 160 may receive operation commands for at least one of the navigation mode and the map display mode. The input 160 may also receive destination information in the navigation mode.

[0147] The input 160 may be set in the head unit and the center instrument panel, may include at least one physical button (e.g., operation on-off buttons for various functions, buttons for changing the setting values of various functions, etc.), and may also include a dial (not shown) or a touch panel for inputting movement commands and selection commands of the cursor displayed on the display 170.

[0148] The display 170 displays information about the functions executed in the vehicle and the information input by the user.

[0149] The display 170 can display the position information of each seat and display user input guidance information for noise control.

[0150] The display 170 can display the information input to the input 160, that is, the information on whether each seat is occupied, the information on the height of the occupant, and the information on the age of the occupant.

[0151] As Figure 5A and Figure 5B shown, the display 170 can also display the fault information of the noise control device. That is, the display 170 can display the inspection information according to the fault, or can display the information corresponding to the execution of the fail-safe mode.

[0152] The display 170 can display a child getting on / off information window in response to the selection of any one of multiple seats.

[0153] The display 170 can also display selectable information for user input. For example, the display 170 can display: an age selection box that displays multiple age information, a key selection box that displays multiple key information, and a seat selection box that displays the position information of multiple seats.

[0154] The age selection box can display age selection boxes such as full-term infants, infants, children, teenagers, and adults. The display 170 displays information about audio, video, navigation, DMB, and radio functions.

[0155] The display 170 displays a map image within a certain range from the current position of the vehicle in the map display mode, displays map information that matches the route information from the current position to the destination in the navigation mode, and displays road guidance information.

[0156] The input 160 and the display 170 can be a user interface (UI). The display 170 can include a display panel, and the input 160 can include a touch panel. That is, a touch screen integrating the touch panel and the display panel can be provided.

[0157] The display 170 can be set on the head unit or the vehicle terminal.

[0158] Figure 6 is an exemplary view of the signal processing of the noise control device according to the embodiment.

[0159] The acceleration sensor 121 can convert an acceleration signal (analog signal) into a noise signal (digital signal), and then send the converted noise signal to the controller 110. For this purpose, the acceleration sensor can include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 123. Here, the analog-to-digital converter 123 can be set in the controller 110.

[0160] Multiple acceleration sensors connected in daisy chain and a vehicle audio bus (hereinafter referred to as A2B) can be used to connect the controller 110.

[0161] The controller 110 can receive the acceleration signal output from the acceleration sensor in the vibration detector 120 as a reference signal. The controller 110 can be connected to multiple microphones connected in daisy chain via an automotive audio bus (A2B) (hereinafter referred to as A2B).

[0162] A master - slave line topology can be used to transmit audio and control data, as well as clock and power, on a single pair of wires of the vehicle audio bus (A2B).

[0163] The controller 110 can receive the feedback of the error signal output from the sound collector 130.

[0164] The controller 110 uses the vibration detector 120 to pre - identify the vibration that causes indoor noise, uses the sound collector 130 to identify indoor noise, and generates a noise control signal for noise removal based on the noise signal (i.e., the reference signal) of the vibration for identification and the noise signal (error signal) of the noise for identification.

[0165] The noise collected by the sound collector 130 can be the remaining noise that the controller cannot remove from the noise generated by vibration. Here, the noise collected by the sound collector is called error noise or residual noise.

[0166] The noise collected by the sound collector 130 can be used as information for determining whether the noise in the vehicle 1 is normally reduced or removed.

[0167] The controller 110 receives the image information of the occupant detector 140, processes the received image information to check the presence of the occupants in each seat, can identify the face based on the image information corresponding to the seat where the occupant is sitting, and obtains the position information of the occupant's ears based on the face information of the identified face.

[0168] The controller 110 can obtain the position information of the quiet area based on the position information of the occupant's ears, and output a noise control signal based on the obtained position information of the quiet area.

[0169] To collect the noise that may occur in the quiet area, the controller 110 can generate a virtual microphone in the quiet area and obtain a virtual error signal of the noise collected by the virtual microphone.

[0170] The controller 110 can generate a virtual microphone based on the position information of the occupant's ears.

[0171] The controller 110 generates a virtual acceleration signal based on the acceleration signal output from the acceleration sensor, obtains a virtual reference signal corresponding to the generated virtual acceleration signal, and generates a noise control signal based on the obtained virtual reference signal and the obtained virtual error signal.

[0172] The control algorithm of the controller 110 for generating the noise control signal based on the virtual reference signal and the virtual error signal will be described later.

[0173] The virtual acceleration signal may be an acceleration signal detected by a virtual acceleration sensor provided at a virtual position. The virtual position may be a position in the vehicle position where the most vibrations occur or where the most noise occurs.

[0174] The controller 110 may mix the noise control signal and the sound source (i.e., the audio signal), and output it through the speaker of the sound output terminal 150.

[0175] The controller 110 may include a plurality of digital signal processing units (ARNC DSP) and a plurality of A2B communication interfaces.

[0176] Since the noise control device according to the present exemplary embodiment performs digital communication using A2B, the in-vehicle wiring cost for signal transmission can be minimized.

[0177] The controller 110 may send a signal to the amplifier 155 and receive a signal from the amplifier 155 through A2B.

[0178] The controller 110 may use the error signal and the reference signal to generate a digital noise control signal, and send the generated digital noise control signal to the amplifier 155 through A2B communication.

[0179] The amplifier 155 may include: a digital signal processor 155b for mixing the digital sound source provided by the sound source digital signal processor (sound source DSP, 155a) that provides the digital sound source with the digital noise control signal received from the controller 110 for mixing to generate digital active noise control sound through mixing; a digital power amplifier 155c for converting the digital active noise control sound into digital analog, amplifying it, and outputting it through the speaker 151.

[0180] The active noise control sound output through the digital power amplifier 155c may be input back to the microphone and fed back to the controller 110.

[0181] The amplifier 155 may generate a mixed signal by mixing the noise control signal with the audio signal corresponding to the digital sound source, and amplify and output the mixed signal.

[0182] The amplifier 155 may include an amplifier stage (not shown) for amplifying an audio signal obtained by mixing a noise control signal into a mixed signal. In this case, the amplifier stage may include a vacuum tube or a transistor for amplifying the power of the mixed signal (electrical signal).

[0183] The mixed signal amplified by the amplifier 155 may be sent to the speakers 151 - 154.

[0184] The speakers 151 - 154 may reduce or remove the interior noise in the vehicle 1 by outputting the mixed signal amplified by the amplifier 155. In this case, the phase of the noise signal generated inside the vehicle 1 and the phase of the audio signal mixed with the noise control signal may be opposite to each other. Therefore, the noise signal generated inside can be attenuated. Thus, the noise in the vehicle 1 can be reduced or eliminated.

[0185] At least one component may be added or removed to correspond to Figure 6 the performance of the noise control device shown in. Additionally, it is easily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the relative positions of the components may be changed corresponding to the performance or structure of the noise control device.

[0186] Figure 7 is a view showing the noise removal principle of the noise control device according to an embodiment. That is, Figure 7 is a view for explaining the control principle of a controller that removes noise based on signals output from an actual acceleration sensor and an actual microphone.

[0187] The controller 110 obtains a reference signal based on the acceleration signal detected by the acceleration sensor 121, and generates an anti-phase signal (i.e., a noise control signal) to remove noise from the obtained reference signal.

[0188] In this case, the controller 110 may output a sound corresponding to the generated noise control signal through the speaker 151.

[0189] The controller 110 obtains the path from the position where the acceleration sensor 121 is installed to the speaker 151 that outputs the sound as the primary path, and obtains the path from the position where the speaker 151 is installed to the position where the microphone 131 is installed as the secondary path.

[0190] The position where the speaker is installed may be the position where noise is removed, and the position where the microphone is installed may be the position where the remaining noise is collected. That is, the secondary path is the path between the speaker and the microphone.

[0191] Among the sounds output from the speaker, the sound that is not eliminated from the primary path may exist in the secondary path.

[0192] Based on this principle, the controller 110 can obtain a virtual secondary path based on the signals output from the virtual acceleration sensor and the virtual microphone, and remove noise from the obtained virtual secondary path.

[0193] More specifically, the controller 110 generates a virtual acceleration sensor based on the acceleration signal of the actual acceleration sensor and the structural information of the vehicle body, obtains a virtual reference signal based on the acceleration signal of the generated virtual acceleration sensor, and generates a virtual anti-phase signal to remove the noise caused by the obtained virtual reference signal. In this case, the controller can output a sound corresponding to the generated virtual out-of-phase signal through the speaker.

[0194] The controller 110 can obtain the path from the position of the virtual acceleration sensor to the speaker that outputs the sound as the virtual primary path.

[0195] The controller 110 creates a virtual microphone based on the position information or key information of the occupant's ear, obtains the virtual secondary path from the position of the speaker to the position of the virtual microphone, and generates a virtual error signal based on the obtained virtual secondary path.

[0196] The controller 110 can generate a noise control signal based on the virtual error signal and the virtual reference signal.

[0197] Here, the position where the virtual microphone is installed can be the position where the remaining noise is collected.

[0198] Will be referred to Figure 8 Describe the control algorithm of the controller that generates a noise control signal based on the virtual secondary path, the virtual error signal, and the virtual reference signal.

[0199] Figure 8 Is the control algorithm of the controller 110 that generates a noise control signal based on the virtual reference signal and the virtual error signal.

[0200] The controller 110 may include a virtual reference signal generator 111, an active noise controller W, a secondary path model S', a virtual error signal generator 112, FFT (Fast Fourier Transformer) 113, 114, a frequency-domain active filter 115, and an IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transformer) 116.

[0201] As shown in 8 and 9, when receiving multiple actual acceleration signals detected by multiple acceleration sensors, the virtual reference signal generator 111 obtains an actual reference signal (Xp(n)) corresponding to the received multiple actual acceleration signals.

[0202] The actual reference signal Xp(n) can be the sum of multiple acceleration signals.

[0203] The virtual reference signal generator 111 uses the actual reference signal and the vehicle structure dynamics database stored in the memory 110a to obtain the positions of the virtual acceleration sensors, and generates virtual reference signals corresponding to the obtained positions of the virtual acceleration sensors.

[0204] The virtual reference signal generator 111 can use an optimal prediction algorithm based on Kalman filtering (the algorithm of the body structure model and the estimation unit) for the virtual reference signal to generate an optimal virtual reference signal. At this time, the generated optimal virtual reference signals can be generated respectively corresponding to the positions of the virtual acceleration sensors.

[0205] Using the optimal prediction algorithm based on Kalman filtering (the algorithm of the body structure model and the estimation unit) can improve the prediction accuracy of the virtual reference signal.

[0206] The secondary path model S' can include the function of generating the secondary path of the virtual acceleration signal generated by the virtual acceleration sensor.

[0207] The secondary path model S' obtains the reference signal X'(k) in the secondary path based on the reference signal X(k) obtained by fast Fourier transform and the secondary path model S'.

[0208] The active noise controller W generates a final noise control signal based on the virtual reference signal and the virtual error signal, and outputs the generated noise control signal Y(n).

[0209] The virtual error signal generator 112 includes a preset secondary path Sp, an actual secondary path S'p, a virtual secondary path S'v, and a transfer function H.

[0210] When the preset secondary path Sp receives the noise control signal Y(n) output from the active noise controller W, it generates and outputs the noise control signal Y'p(n) in the preset secondary path based on the preset secondary path function.

[0211] The actual secondary path S'p can include the function of generating the actual secondary path based on the position information of the microphone obtained by image information.

[0212] When receiving the noise control signal (Y(n)) output from the active noise controller W, the actual secondary path S'p generates and outputs the noise control signal Y”p(n) in the actual secondary path based on the actual secondary path function.

[0213] The virtual secondary path S'v can include the function of generating the virtual secondary paths of each seat based on at least one of the position information of the occupant's ears and the key information of the occupant (detection information detected by the occupant detector).

[0214] The virtual secondary path S'v may include a function of changing the virtual secondary path of each seat corresponding to a change in the occupant position based on the detection information detected by the occupant detector.

[0215] When receiving the noise control signal (Y(n)) output from the active noise controller W, the virtual secondary path S'v generates and outputs the noise control signal Y”v(n) in the virtual secondary path based on the virtual secondary path function.

[0216] The virtual secondary path S'v may include a function of generating the virtual secondary path of each seat based on at least one of the key information of the occupant of each seat, the age information of the occupant, and the age group information of the occupant input in the input.

[0217] The detection information detected by the occupant detection unit may include the position information of the ears of the occupant obtained through the image information and the key information of the occupant detected by the radar.

[0218] The virtual error signal generator 112 generates the error signal ep(n) remaining in the room based on the noise control signal (Y'p(n)) of the preset secondary path and the actual noise signal (d(n)) collected by the microphone.

[0219] The virtual error signal generator 112 generates the noise control signal (Y”p(n)) in the actual secondary path (S'p) based on the noise control signal (Y(n)) and the actual secondary path (S'p), and obtains the actual noise signal d'p(n) collected by the actual microphone based on the noise control signal (Y”p(n)) obtained in the actual secondary path (S'p) and the error signal (ep(n)).

[0220] The virtual error signal generator 112 obtains the virtual noise signal d'v(n) collected by the virtual microphone based on the transfer function (H) and the actual noise signal (d'p(n)) collected by the actual microphone.

[0221] The transfer function H may be the transfer function between the actual secondary path to the actual microphone and the secondary path to the virtual microphone.

[0222] The virtual error signal generator 112 may generate the virtual error signal e'v(n) based on the noise control signal (Y'v(n)) obtained in the virtual secondary path (S'v) and the noise signal (d'v(n)) collected from the virtual microphone.

[0223] The signals generated by the virtual error signal generator 112 are as follows.

[0224] d'p(n) = ep(n) - Y”p(n) = ep(n) - S'p * Y(n)

[0225] d'v(n) = H * d'p(n)

[0226] e'v(n) = d'v(n) + Y”v(n) = H * d'p(n) + S'v * Y(n)

[0227] e'v(n) = H[ep(n) - S'p * Y(n)] + S'v * Y(n)

[0228] The first Fast Fourier Transformer (FFT) 113 performs a fast Fourier transform on the virtual reference signal Xv(n).

[0229] The second Fast Fourier Transformer (FFT) 114 performs a fast Fourier transform on the virtual error signal e'v(n).

[0230] The frequency-domain active filter 115 filters the virtual error signal e'v(n) generated by the fast Fourier transform and the reference signal X'(k) generated by the fast Fourier transform.

[0231] The inverse fast Fourier transformer 116 performs an inverse fast Fourier transform on the signal filtered by the frequency-domain active filter 115. That is, the inverse fast Fourier transformer 116 can transform the filtered signal from the frequency domain to the time domain.

[0232] After performing the IFFT on the highly filtered signal, the signal generated by the IFFT is transmitted to the adaptive active filter (W).

[0233] The adaptive active filter W can control the output of the signal received from the inverse fast Fourier transformer 116.

[0234] The control algorithm of such a controller can improve the secondary path that actively changes according to the change in the position of the occupant's ear, especially the high-frequency control performance at 300 Hz or higher frequencies.

[0235] Figure 8 The control algorithm shown is an example of a single-channel feedforward filter - x LMS.

[0236] In addition, a multi-channel structure with many additional channels, many additional microphones, and many additional speakers can also be adopted, and an algorithm for such a multi-channel structure can be adopted.

[0237] Figure 10 is a flowchart showing the control of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0238] When the vehicle starts and is determined to be in a driving state (201), the vehicle acquires information about the occupant (202).

[0239] When the vehicle starts, the vehicle can also obtain information about the occupant.

[0240] Here, obtaining occupant information includes: obtaining the position information of the seat on which the occupant is sitting and the position information of the occupant's ears from the detection information detected by the occupant detector 140.

[0241] When the occupant detector 140 is a camera, the vehicle can identify the boarding of the occupant by obtaining the image information of the driver's seat, the occupant seat, and the rear seats, and obtain the position information of the occupant's ears.

[0242] If the occupant detector 140 is a radar, by obtaining the distance detection information, the vehicle can obtain information on whether the occupant has boarded and the key information of the occupant, and based on the obtained key information of the occupant, obtain the position information of the occupant's ears.

[0243] The vehicle can obtain the actual secondary path based on the actual position information of the microphone (sound collector), and obtain the virtual secondary path (203) based on the position information of the occupant's ears. Reference will be made to Figure 11A 、 Figure 11B and Figure 11C for a description of this.

[0244] As Figure 11A shown, the vehicle can obtain the actual secondary path based on the actual microphone position.

[0245] As Figure 11B shown, the vehicle can obtain occupant information based on the detection information of the occupant detector 140.

[0246] As Figure 11C shown, the vehicle can obtain the position information of the occupant's ears and obtain the virtual secondary path based on the obtained ear position information.

[0247] The vehicle can generate a virtual error signal based on the noise signal collected by the microphone and the virtual secondary path.

[0248] The vehicle can generate a virtual acceleration sensor and generate a virtual reference signal (204) detected by the generated virtual acceleration sensor based on the position information of the actual acceleration sensor (vibration detector) and the structure information of the vehicle.

[0249] The vehicle generates a noise control signal based on the virtual reference signal and the virtual error signal, and outputs the sound for the generated noise control signal through the speaker (205).

[0250] The vehicle periodically or in real time acquires occupant information, checks for changes in the position of the occupant's ears based on the acquired occupant information, generates a virtual microphone based on the confirmed change in ear position, generates a virtual error signal collected by the generated virtual microphone, and generates a noise control signal based on the generated virtual error signal, thereby removing noise inside the vehicle in response to changes in the occupant's sitting posture.

[0251] For example, if the vehicle determines that the position of the ears has changed due to a change in the occupant's sitting posture in the occupant seat, the vehicle generates a virtual error signal based on the position information of the occupant's ears in the occupant seat, generates a noise control signal based on the generated virtual error signal, and outputs a sound for the generated noise control signal through a speaker provided on the occupant side.

[0252] The vehicle diagnoses a failure of at least one of a plurality of microphones and a plurality of acceleration sensors, and when the vehicle determines that at least one device has failed (206), the vehicle displays failure information (207) indicating that at least one device has failed.

[0253] Here, the device includes a plurality of microphones and a plurality of acceleration sensors.

[0254] That is, if the vehicle is diagnosed as having a failure of at least one of the plurality of microphones, the failure information of the at least one microphone that has failed can be displayed, and repair request information can also be displayed.

[0255] If the vehicle is diagnosed as having a failure of at least one of the plurality of acceleration sensors, the vehicle can display the failure information of the at least one acceleration sensor that has failed, and can display repair request information.

[0256] The vehicle determines whether a manual mode is received through an input (208), and if it is determined that the manual mode has not been input, the vehicle executes an automatic mode.

[0257] That is, the vehicle uses a device in a normal state to generate a noise control signal, and outputs a sound corresponding to the generated noise control signal through a speaker (209).

[0258] More specifically, if the vehicle is diagnosed as having a failure of at least one of the plurality of acceleration sensors, the vehicle generates a virtual acceleration sensor based on the position information of any one of the acceleration sensors in a normal state, generates a noise control signal based on a virtual reference signal detected by the generated acceleration sensor, and outputs a sound corresponding to the generated noise control signal through a speaker.

[0259] When it is diagnosed that at least one of the plurality of microphones has failed, based on the position information of any one of the microphones in the normal state, the vehicle generates a virtual microphone, generates a noise control signal based on the virtual error signal collected by the generated virtual microphone, and outputs a sound corresponding to the generated noise control signal through a speaker.

[0260] When it is determined that the manual mode is received through an input, the vehicle executes the manual mode. In this case, the vehicle can display, through a display, information requesting input of occupant information for each seat.

[0261] When the occupant information for each seat is received through an input, the vehicle checks the received occupant information for each seat and obtains the position information of the ears of the occupants for each seat based on the checked occupant information for each seat.

[0262] Here, checking the occupant information for each seat includes checking the age range of the occupants for each seat. At this time, the vehicle can check the key information of the occupants for each seat corresponding to the age group for each seat based on the information stored in the storage unit, and obtain the position information of the ears of the occupants for each seat based on the predicted key information of the occupants for each seat.

[0263] For example, when the selection information for the left side of the rear seat is received through an input and the selection information for a child is received, the vehicle can obtain the ear position information corresponding to the child based on the information stored in the memory.

[0264] Checking the occupant information for each seat may include checking the key information of the occupants for each seat.

[0265] The vehicle can obtain the occupant information for each seat through a camera of the occupant detector.

[0266] The vehicle can obtain a virtual secondary path (210) based on the position information of the ears of the occupants for each seat and the position information of the ears of the occupants obtained based on the seat occupant information input through an input.

[0267] Based on the position information of the faulty device, the vehicle checks the device closest to the faulty device and in the normal state, and generates a virtual reference signal and a virtual error signal for each seat based on the confirmed position information of the device in the normal state and the position information of the ears of the occupants for each seat.

[0268] When a microphone fails, the vehicle generates a virtual microphone based on the position information of the microphone in the normal state and the position information of the ears of the occupants, and regenerates the virtual secondary path based on the position information of the virtual microphone.

[0269] For example, when there is an occupant in the occupant seat and the microphone in the occupant seat malfunctions, the vehicle can generate a virtual microphone and a virtual secondary path based on the position information of the ears of the occupant on the occupant seat, the obtained position information of the ears of the occupant in the occupant seat, and the position information of the microphone in a normal state that is placed closest to the occupant seat.

[0270] That is, the vehicle can generate a virtual error signal based on the virtual secondary path and the noise signal collected by the microphone in a normal state.

[0271] When generating the virtual error signal, the vehicle can post-process the noise signal received by the malfunctioning microphone. For example, the noise signal received from the malfunctioning microphone can be removed.

[0272] When generating the virtual error signal, the vehicle can post-process the reference signal received by the malfunctioning acceleration sensor. For example, the reference signal received from the malfunctioning acceleration sensor can be removed.

[0273] When the acceleration sensor malfunctions, the vehicle generates a virtual acceleration sensor based on the position information of the acceleration sensor in a normal state and the vehicle structure information, and generates a virtual reference signal (211) detected by the generated virtual acceleration sensor.

[0274] The vehicle generates a noise control signal based on the virtual reference signal and the virtual error signal, and outputs, through a speaker, the sound for the generated noise control signal (212).

[0275] According to the present invention, it is possible to focus on a desired seat through manual operation of the display unit, thereby removing noise.

[0276] According to the present embodiment, by transmitting the information of the hand signal recognized by the terminal or the personal mobile tool to the surrounding vehicles, surrounding infrastructure, and the server, it is possible to perform a communication function for road conditions and traffic conditions in connection with other surrounding devices.

[0277] As described above, the present embodiment can improve the quality and product capabilities of the terminal and the personal mobile tool by providing signals to other users, and can also increase user satisfaction and ensure product competitiveness.

[0278] The present invention described above can also be implemented as computer-readable code stored on a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium includes all types of recording media that store data readable by a computing system. Examples of computer-readable recording media include read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic tapes, magnetic disks, flash memories, optical data storage devices, and the like. The controller can be implemented by a processor that performs the above operations by executing the computer-readable code stored on the non-transitory computer-readable recording medium.

[0279] According to an aspect of the present invention, a vehicle and a control method thereof can be provided, which can change the detection range and power consumption of a sensor according to the speed of the vehicle, thereby providing efficient autonomous driving.

[0280] The present invention can reduce the road noise felt by vehicle occupants during driving by outputting a noise control signal that is opposite in phase to the noise generated by road surface friction from a speaker. The present invention can improve the quietness of the vehicle.

[0281] The present invention can lead to the use of sales outlets by developing a vehicle that can maintain better quietness in future autonomous driving vehicles, and can increase synergistic effects through integration with other technologies. That is, the present invention can also be used in an audio system.

[0282] Since the present invention can reduce road noise through software control of a digital signal processor (DSP) without using hardware such as sound absorption and sound insulation agents or low-noise tires, the present invention is economical. In addition, through this point, the present invention can reduce the vehicle weight, thereby improving the driving fuel economy.

[0283] By actively removing noise using an acceleration sensor or a microphone in a steady state, or by manually setting to remove noise when at least one of the acceleration sensor and the microphone fails, the performance of load noise control can be improved.

[0284] The present invention outputs guidance information when at least one of the acceleration sensor and the microphone fails, enabling a user to easily identify the failure, thereby improving user satisfaction.

[0285] The present invention can break away from the layout limitations of the existing installation of acceleration sensors in places with strong vibrations. That is, in the present invention, since noise can be removed based on the acceleration signal generated at the position of the virtual acceleration sensor, it is easy to install the acceleration sensor, and it is also easy to manufacture the vehicle.

[0286] The present invention can provide great convenience to users, improve the marketability of the vehicle, and can also improve user satisfaction, improve user convenience and reliability, and ensure product competitiveness.

[0287] Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art should understand that these exemplary embodiments can be changed without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is defined in the claims and the like.

Claims

1. A noise control device, comprising: A virtual reference signal generator, configured to: generate a virtual reference signal based on a vibration signal indicating vibration detected by a vibration detector and structural information of a vehicle body; A virtual error signal generator, configured to: generate a virtual microphone based on occupant information detected by an occupant detector, and generate a virtual error signal based on a virtual noise signal collected from the generated virtual microphone and an actual noise signal; And An active noise controller, configured to: generate a noise control signal based on the virtual error signal and the virtual reference signal, and control the output of the generated noise control signal.

2. The noise control device according to claim 1, further comprising: A fast Fourier transform (FFT) converter, configured to: perform a fast Fourier transform on the virtual reference signal and perform a fast Fourier transform on the virtual error signal; A frequency-domain active filter, configured to: filter the fast Fourier transformed virtual reference signal and the fast Fourier transformed virtual error signal; And An inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) converter, configured to: perform an inverse Fourier transform on the signal filtered by the frequency-domain active filter and transmit the inverse Fourier transformed signal to the active noise controller.

3. The noise control device according to claim 1, wherein The virtual error signal generator obtains an actual secondary path based on position information of an actual microphone and a noise signal collected from the actual microphone, generates a noise signal in the actual secondary path based on the noise control signal output from the active noise controller and the actual secondary path, and obtains a virtual noise signal in the virtual secondary path based on the noise control signal output from the active noise controller and the virtual secondary path.

4. The noise control device according to claim 3, wherein The virtual error signal generator includes: a transfer function that subtracts a noise signal from the virtual secondary path from a noise signal from the actual secondary path.

5. The noise control device according to claim 1, wherein The virtual error signal generator periodically receives occupant information detected by the occupant detector, determines a change in an occupant sitting posture based on the periodically received occupant information, and generates the virtual microphone when it determines a change in the occupant sitting posture.

6. A vehicle, comprising: A sound collector, configured to: collect sound and output a virtual noise signal for the collected sound; A vibration detector, configured to: detect vibration and output an actual reference signal for the detected vibration; An occupant detector, configured to: detect an occupant and output occupant information about the detected occupant; And A controller, configured to: generate a virtual reference signal based on the actual reference signal, obtain position information of the ears of the occupant based on the occupant information, generate a virtual error signal based on the obtained ear position information, generate a noise control signal based on the virtual error signal and the virtual reference signal, and control the output of the generated noise control signal.

7. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein The occupant detector further includes at least one image acquirer that acquires an indoor image, and wherein the controller obtains the position information of the ears of the occupant based on the indoor image.

8. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein The controller generates an actual secondary path to an actual microphone, generates an actual noise signal in the generated secondary path, generates a virtual secondary path to a virtual microphone, generates a virtual noise signal in the generated virtual secondary path, and generates the virtual error signal based on the actual noise signal and the virtual noise signal.

9. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein The controller further includes: an amplifier configured to mix the received audio signal and the noise control signal in response to the received audio signal and output the mixed signal.

10. The vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising: a memory configured to store structure information of the vehicle body, and wherein the controller generates the virtual reference signal based on the information stored in the memory and a noise signal indicating the vibration detected by the vibration detector.

11. A vehicle, comprising: a display; and an input configured to receive user input; a plurality of microphones disposed at different positions in the vehicle; a plurality of acceleration sensors disposed at different positions in the vehicle; and a controller configured to diagnose faults of the plurality of acceleration sensors and the plurality of microphones, and when diagnosing that at least one of the plurality of acceleration sensors has a fault, generate a virtual reference signal using the remaining acceleration sensors, and when diagnosing that at least one of the plurality of microphones has a fault, generate a virtual error signal using the remaining microphones, and generate a noise control signal based on the virtual error signal and the virtual reference signal; wherein when diagnosing that at least one of the plurality of acceleration sensors and the plurality of microphones has a fault, the controller controls the display of request information for inputting occupant information for each seat, generates a virtual microphone based on the occupant information for each seat input in the input, and regenerates the virtual error signal based on the position information of the generated virtual microphone.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, whereinThe controller post-processes the acceleration signal received from the acceleration sensor diagnosed as having a fault, and post-processes the noise signal received from the at least one microphone diagnosed as having a fault.

13. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein, The controller controls the display to display information about the microphone diagnosed as having a fault or the acceleration sensor diagnosed as having a fault.

14. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein, The controller generates the virtual error signal by using the microphone among the remaining microphones that is disposed at the position closest to the microphone diagnosed as having a fault, and generates the virtual reference signal by using the acceleration sensor among the remaining acceleration sensors that is disposed at the position closest to the acceleration sensor diagnosed as having a fault.

15. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein, The occupant information includes occupant identification information, occupant height information, occupant age information, or occupant age information.

16. A method for controlling a vehicle, the method comprising: When driving the vehicle, sound is collected by using a sound collector; vibration occurring in the vehicle is detected by using a vibration detector; occupants in the vehicle are detected by using an occupant detector; a virtual reference signal is generated based on an actual reference signal for the detected vibration; position information of the ears of the occupant is obtained based on the occupant information; a virtual error signal is generated based on the obtained ear position information and an actual noise signal for the collected sound; Generate a noise control signal based on the virtual error signal and the virtual reference signal; and Output the generated noise control signal as sound.

17. A method for controlling a vehicle, the method comprising: When driving the vehicle, collect sound using a plurality of microphones located at different positions in the vehicle; Detect vibrations occurring in the vehicle using a plurality of acceleration sensors located at different positions in the vehicle; Detect an occupant in the vehicle by using an occupant detector; Generate a virtual reference signal based on an actual reference signal for the detected vibration; Obtain position information of the ears of the occupant based on the occupant information; Generate a virtual error signal based on the obtained ear position information and an actual noise signal for the collected sound; Generate a noise control signal based on the virtual error signal and the virtual reference signal; and Output the generated noise control signal as sound, wherein generating the noise control signal includes diagnosing faults of the plurality of acceleration sensors and the plurality of microphones, and when diagnosing that at least one of the plurality of acceleration sensors has a fault, generating a virtual reference signal using the remaining acceleration sensors, and when diagnosing that at least one of the plurality of microphones has a fault, generating a noise control signal using the remaining microphones.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising: When diagnosing that at least one of the plurality of acceleration sensors and the plurality of microphones has a fault, control the display of request information for inputting occupant information for each seat, Generate virtual microphones based on the input occupant information for each seat, and Regenerate the virtual error signal based on the position information of the generated virtual microphones.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein, The occupant information includes occupant identification information, occupant height information, occupant age information, or occupant age information.

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