Acoustic System Humidity Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle acoustic systems face challenges in maintaining sound quality due to high temperature and humidity changes, which affect the mechanical properties of trim parts and exciters, leading to sound imperfections.

Innovation Solution

An acoustic system that includes a humidity sensor coupled to a control unit to adjust control signals for an exciter attached to a trim part, allowing for real-time tuning of sound output based on humidity measurements, ensuring the system's performance is less sensitive to environmental changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If trim parts and exciters are used in vehicle acoustic systems, then sound generation is achieved, but sound quality deteriorates due to humidity-induced changes in mechanical properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound qualityVSAvoidhumidity influence
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs humidity sensors to continuously monitor the humidity level of the trim part and exciter, with the control unit receiving this feedback and adjusting the control signals accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables real-time compensation for humidity-induced mechanical property changes, maintaining stable sound quality across varying environmental conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit dynamically adjusts the control signals sent to the exciter based on measured humidity levels. By changing the parameters of the control signals in response to humidity variations, the system compensates for the changing mechanical properties of the trim part and exciter, ensuring consistent acoustic performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If humidity sensors are placed close to the trim part and exciter, then accurate humidity measurement is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehumidity measurement accuracyVSAvoidsensor arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The humidity sensors are integrated into or mounted directly on the trim part and/or exciter, combining the measurement function with the acoustic components. This merging approach enables direct humidity measurement at the sound generation interface while minimizing the addition of separate, complex measurement systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system maintains improved sound quality by compensating for humidity-induced changes in the trim part and exciter's mechanical properties, ensuring consistent sound emission across varying environmental conditions.

Implementation Method 1

an exciter (18) coupled to the trim part (12) for inducing vibrations to the trim part (12) so that the trim part (12) emits sound

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

a sensor (24) for measuring humidity, wherein the sensor (24) for measuring humidity are arranged so as to measure humidity of the trim part (12) and/or the exciter (18)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHumidity sensing: Hygrometer

Data Source

PatentEP3745738B1Acoustic system
Publication Date: 2024.10.30 FAURECIA INNENRAUM SYSTEME GMBH
  • EP3745738B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3745738B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3745738B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An acoustic system (16) for generating sound comprises a trim part (12), an exciter (18) coupled to the trim part (12) for inducing vibrations to the trim part (12), a sensor (22) measuring temperature and/or a sensor (24) measuring humidity, and a control unit (20) being configured so as to determine control signals for the exciter (18) depending on temperature and/or humidity. The acoustic system (16) is in particular suitable for use in an automotive interior.