Aural Smoothing System for Vehicle Powertrain Transition Noise

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Solution Overview

Problem

Abrupt changes in vehicle sounds caused by powertrain transitions between engine and motor operation are undesirable for vehicle operators, leading to an unsatisfactory soundscape.

Innovation Solution

An aural smoothing system that monitors engine torque and selectively controls the generation of tones to mask or blend sounds associated with powertrain transitions, using a processor-based method involving a transition determination module, tone manager module, and speaker manager module to manage sound emissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the powertrain transitions between engine and motor operation to improve fuel economy, then fuel efficiency is improved, but abrupt sound changes occur that are undesirable to vehicle operators

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel economyVSAvoidabrupt sound changes

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system generates counteracting tones before and during powertrain transitions to preemptively offset abrupt sound changes. The tone manager module calculates and applies anti-phase tones that cancel out the harmful acoustic transitions, allowing the powertrain to switch between engine and motor operation for fuel economy without creating undesirable sound variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The aural smoothing system acts as an intermediary between the powertrain transition and the vehicle operator's auditory experience. By introducing generated tones as a mediating acoustic element, the system masks the abrupt sound changes caused by powertrain switching, enabling fuel economy improvements while maintaining acceptable soundscape quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Power

If the vehicle control system transitions between engine and motor operation during power consumption changes, then powertrain efficiency is improved, but the soundscape quality deteriorates due to unexpected sound changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepowertrain efficiencyVSAvoidsoundscape quality

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system preemptively generates counteracting tones in response to detected powertrain transitions. When the vehicle control system switches between engine and motor operation to optimize powertrain efficiency, the aural smoothing system immediately applies anti-phase acoustic signals that cancel the harmful sound changes, preserving soundscape quality during efficiency-optimizing transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors powertrain operation and sound emissions, using this feedback to dynamically adjust the generated counteracting tones. This closed-loop approach ensures that as the powertrain transitions between engine and motor modes for efficiency, the aural smoothing system adapts in real-time to maintain optimal soundscape quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9214153B2Aural smoothing of a vehicle

Publication Date: 2015.12.15 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A method of controlling sounds associated with a vehicle is provided. The method includes: performing on a processor, monitoring engine torque; and selectively controlling the generation of one or more tones associated with the vehicle based on the engine torque.