Aperture Controller for Vehicle Buffeting Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles experience uncomfortable buffeting noise due to air oscillations within the cabin when aperture members like windows or sunroofs are open at high speeds, and existing solutions either hinder ventilation or require user intervention.
Innovation Solution
A controller system that receives user inputs and vehicle condition data to select optimization strategies for aperture member positioning, minimizing buffeting while maintaining user-set ventilation levels, using a combination of sensors and actuators to automatically adjust aperture positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If aperture members are kept open for ventilation, then user comfort and air circulation are improved, but buffeting noise increases at high vehicle speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts aperture member positions based on real-time vehicle speed data. At low speeds, apertures remain open for ventilation; at high speeds, the controller automatically adjusts them to minimize buffeting noise while maintaining user-selected ventilation levels through optimized aperture configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The controller changes the operational parameters of aperture members (position, opening degree) in response to varying vehicle speed conditions. The system implements multiple optimization strategies that adjust aperture parameters to balance ventilation requirements against noise reduction at different speed ranges
2Object-affected harmful factors
If aperture members are automatically closed at high speeds to reduce buffeting, then noise levels are reduced, but user-selected ventilation levels are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors vehicle speed and aperture positions, using feedback control to adjust aperture members. The controller receives speed inputs and ventilation level selections from users, then automatically adjusts aperture positions to maintain the desired ventilation level while minimizing buffeting noise through closed-loop control
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic aperture control that adapts to changing vehicle speeds while maintaining user-selected ventilation levels. Multiple optimization strategies provide different approaches to balancing noise reduction and ventilation maintenance based on real-time conditions
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple aperture members are adjusted to minimize buffeting, then noise reduction is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple independent optimization strategies, each handling specific scenarios or aperture configurations. This modular approach allows the controller to select and apply only the necessary strategy for current conditions, managing complexity through functional decomposition of the control logic
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 effectively reduces buffeting noise to comfortable levels, improves usability by maintaining ventilation, and optimizes fuel consumption by adjusting aperture positions based on vehicle speed and user preferences.
Implementation Method 1
Airflow around the vehicle passes over the open aperture causing a mass of air to oscillate within the vehicle cabin. In this circumstance the vehicle cabin functions as a volume in a Helmholtz resonator.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a controller, a system, a method and a vehicle, to receive one or more user inputs from one or more user input units; receive one or more vehicle condition inputs from one or more vehicle condition sensor units; determine if an open position of a aperture member of a vehicle is likely to cause buffeting; select an optimisation strategy from a plurality of optimisation strategies in dependence on the one or more user inputs and/or the one or more vehicle condition inputs, wherein each of the plurality of optimisation strategy comprises different instructions to determine one or more positions for at least one aperture member; and generate an output for the one or more aperture member positioning units to move at least one aperture member based on the selected optimisation strategy.