Adaptive Vehicle ANC Using Head-Movement Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing active noise cancellation (ANC) systems in vehicles face challenges due to non-uniform noise and anti-noise distribution around the listener's head, leading to uncomfortable or distracting changes in noise perception as the head moves, and delays in adapting to head movements result in suboptimal noise cancellation.

Innovation Solution

An ANC system that adjusts parameters based on head movement, refraining from generating road and engine noise cancellation components when head movement exceeds certain thresholds, and utilizes virtual microphones to optimize noise cancellation at the listener's ears.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the ANC system continuously generates anti-noise to maintain noise cancellation, then noise cancellation effectiveness is improved, but when the listener's head moves, mismatch between noise and anti-noise occurs causing uncomfortable or distracting noise levels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise cancellation effectivenessVSAvoiduncomfortable noise perception
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the anti-noise generation based on detected head movement. When head movement is detected, the system modifies its operation to prevent mismatch between noise and anti-noise, thereby maintaining comfort while preserving cancellation effectiveness during static periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses head movement detection as feedback to control anti-noise generation. The detected head position and movement state feed back to the ANC controller, which adjusts anti-noise output accordingly - maintaining cancellation when head is stable and reducing/ceasing generation when head moves to avoid uncomfortable mismatch effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the ANC system adapts quickly to head movement to maintain noise cancellation, then noise cancellation uniformity is improved, but system complexity and response delay increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise cancellation uniformity across head positionsVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the operating states into distinct categories (head stationary vs. head moving) and applies different anti-noise generation strategies for each segment. This simplifies the control logic compared to continuous adaptation, reducing system complexity while maintaining uniformity within each operational segment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (anti-noise generation state) based on head movement detection. By switching between discrete parameter states rather than continuously adjusting, the system achieves adaptability across different head positions while keeping the control mechanism relatively simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the ANC system generates anti-noise during rapid head movement, then noise cancellation is maintained, but mismatch between noise and anti-noise increases causing suboptimal cancellation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise cancellation maintenanceVSAvoidnoise cancellation precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system takes preliminary action by detecting head movement and preemptively adjusting anti-noise generation before significant mismatch can occur. This prevents the development of suboptimal cancellation conditions rather than attempting to correct them after they arise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically modulates anti-noise generation based on real-time head movement detection. During rapid movement, the system adjusts its output to match the changing acoustic environment, maintaining reliability of noise cancellation while adapting precision to the dynamic conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Reduces periods of mismatch between noise and anti-noise, minimizing uncomfortable or distracting noise levels and enhancing noise cancellation uniformity and effectiveness across different head positions.

Implementation Method 1

ANC systems generally cancel or reduce unwanted noise by generating cancellation sound waves to destructively interfere with the unwanted audible noise. Destructive interference results when noise and 'anti-noise,' which is identical or similar in magnitude and frequency but opposite in phase to the noise, reduce the sound pressure level (SPL) at a location.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDestructive interference: Interference

Data Source

PatentEP4148725B1Adaptive active noise cancellation based on head movement
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 HARMAN INT IND INC
  • EP4148725B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4148725B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4148725B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Adjustment of active noise cancellation (ANC) systems can include determining a noise within a vehicle; detecting a movement of a head of a listener; adjusting one or more parameters of the ANC system based at least on the noise and the movement of the head of the listener; determining an anti-noise based at least on the adjusted one or more parameters; and outputting the anti-noise.