Fan Noise Reshaping to Mask High-Pitch Tones in Electronics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices with fans generate acoustic noise that is irritating to users, particularly during high workload operations, due to high pitch tones and harsh noise profiles, which affect user comfort and system performance.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilizes microphones and sound transducers to detect and reshape fan noise by adding energy to alter its color and smooth high tones, using algorithms to generate a noise reshaping signal that masks the irritating frequencies, improving human perception and allowing higher system performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If fan speed is increased to improve cooling performance, then productivity is improved, but acoustic noise increases making users uncomfortable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidacoustic noise

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful high-pitch fan noise into a beneficial lower-pitch sound by adding acoustic energy at frequencies below the blade passing frequency. This transforms the irritating high-frequency noise into a more acceptable low-frequency rumble, allowing the fan to operate at higher speeds for improved cooling while maintaining user comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the spectral parameters of the fan noise by injecting acoustic energy at specific frequency ranges (below the blade passing frequency). This modifies the noise profile from high-pitch to low-pitch characteristics, enabling higher fan speeds without compromising user comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If thicker fan design with larger blower is used to reduce noise, then acoustic noise is reduced, but device thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic noiseVSAvoiddevice thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of using a thicker fan design with an acoustic signal processing approach. Instead of physically modifying the fan structure to reduce noise, the system uses sound transducers and signal generation to reshape the noise profile, maintaining thin device design while achieving noise reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If performance is capped to reduce cooling needs, then acoustic noise is reduced, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic noiseVSAvoidsystem performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows the fan to operate at higher speeds for improved performance by converting the harmful high-pitch noise into beneficial low-pitch sound. This eliminates the need to cap performance, as the noise reshaping enables high-speed operation without user discomfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If noise cancellation signals are played at cutwater region, then acoustic noise is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic noiseVSAvoidnoise cancellation system

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of attempting to cancel the fan noise using anti-phase signals as in traditional active noise cancellation, the patent inverts the approach by adding constructive acoustic energy at lower frequencies. This reshapes the noise profile rather than attempting to eliminate it, simplifying the system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 noise reshaping system effectively reduces the annoyance of fan noise, enabling electronic devices to operate at higher power and performance levels without discomforting users by blending and reshaping acoustic signals into more aesthetically pleasing sounds.

Implementation Method 1

add energy to alter its color and smooth high tones

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic energy addition: Sound

Implementation Method 2

utilizes microphones and sound transducers to detect and reshape fan noise

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic detection: Sound

Data Source

PatentEP4009141B1System and methods to reshape fan noise in electronic devices

Publication Date: 2026.03.04 INTEL CORP

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AI summary

Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture, methods are disclosed to reshape fan noise of a fan of an electronic device. An example system includes a microphone to detect a first acoustic signal including fan noise. The example system also includes a processor to: identify a tone in the first acoustic signal; and determine a gain to add to the first acoustic signal to mask the tone. In addition, the example system includes a sound transducer to present a second acoustic signal including the gain.