Acoustic Device Road Noise Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods struggle to effectively control playback sound in vehicles, as low-frequency components are masked by road noise, and high-frequency components are also masked by high-frequency road noise, making it difficult to ensure both frequencies are appropriately heard.

Innovation Solution

An acoustic device and processing method that utilize a road noise correction unit to analyze and adjust the frequency characteristics of audio signals based on human auditory sensitivity, using conversion coefficients like the A characteristic to enhance perception of road noise frequencies, thereby suppressing masking effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the sound volume of the playback sound in the low frequency is increased to dissolve masking due to road noise, then the masking effect is reduced, but it becomes difficult to control the playback sound appropriately in the low frequency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemasking effect of road noiseVSAvoidcontrol of playback sound
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the equalization characteristics based on vehicle speed. At low vehicle speeds, the system applies stronger low-frequency equalization to counteract road noise masking, while at high vehicle speeds, it reduces or disables low-frequency equalization to maintain natural sound quality and prevent excessive bass enhancement. This speed-dependent parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between masking suppression and playback control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the sound volume of the playback sound in the high frequency is increased to dissolve masking by high frequency road noise, then the masking effect is reduced, but it becomes difficult to control the playback sound appropriately in the high frequency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemasking effect of high frequency road noiseVSAvoidcontrol of playback sound
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the high-frequency equalization characteristics based on vehicle speed. At low vehicle speeds, the system applies moderate high-frequency equalization to counteract road noise masking, while at high vehicle speeds, it reduces or disables high-frequency equalization to maintain natural sound quality and prevent excessive treble enhancement. This speed-dependent parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between masking suppression and playback control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3079376B1Acoustic device, acoustic processing method, and acoustic processing program
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 JVC KENWOOD CORP
  • EP3079376B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3079376B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3079376B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

With an acoustic device according to an embodiment, an acquiring unit acquires a frequency characteristic of external noise caused by road noise or the like and a converting unit converts a frequency characteristic of the acquired external noise to an auditory sensitivity characteristic in accordance with a frequency characteristic of auditory sensitivity. In the acoustic device, a setting unit sets a parameter (401) that is in accordance with an auditory sensitivity characteristic in an equalizer (12). The equalizer corrects, in accordance with the parameter that is set by the setting unit, a frequency characteristic of an audio signal that is played back by a playback unit (10).