Interior Sensor Placement for Vehicle Active Noise Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing active noise control (ANC) systems in vehicles require sensors to be installed on the exterior to measure vibration signals from the suspension system, leading to increased production and maintenance costs due to the need for external protection against harsh environments.
Innovation Solution
A method to determine and install sensors internally within the vehicle at positions that contribute significantly to noise reduction, using analysis of vibration signal coherence functions to ensure effective noise cancellation without significant performance loss, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are installed on the exterior of the vehicle to measure vibration signals from the suspension system, then the accuracy of vibration signal measurement is improved, but the manufacturing cost and maintenance cost increase due to the need for protective packaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses multiple sensors installed at different interior positions to capture vibration signals that collectively represent the suspension system's vibration characteristics. Instead of relying on a single exterior sensor, the system creates a redundant measurement network inside the vehicle that achieves equivalent measurement accuracy without exposing individual sensors to harsh external environments.
2Measurement precision
If sensors are installed on the exterior of the vehicle, then the vibration signal measurement capability is improved, but the maintenance cost increases due to exposure to harsh environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements redundant sensor placement at multiple interior positions, creating backup measurement paths. If one sensor degrades or fails, other sensors continue to provide vibration signal data, reducing maintenance requirements and increasing system reliability without sacrificing measurement capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If sensors are moved to the interior of the vehicle, then the manufacturing cost is reduced by eliminating protective packaging, but the measurement accuracy may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measurement function across multiple sensor locations within the interior space (e.g., dashboard, door panels, seat structures). By segmenting the measurement task across several positions, the system captures vibration signals from different transmission paths, collectively achieving accurate representation of suspension vibrations without requiring any single sensor to be exposed externally.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple interior sensors create redundant measurement channels that compensate for the lack of direct external contact. The system processes signals from multiple sources to reconstruct the vibration characteristics, ensuring measurement accuracy is maintained even though individual sensors are positioned inside the vehicle away from the suspension system.
4Measurement precision
If multiple candidate sensor positions are evaluated in the interior, then the optimal sensor placement is improved, but the complexity of sensor placement determination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary evaluation of multiple candidate interior positions during the design and installation phase. By pre-assessing which interior locations provide the best vibration signal correlation with suspension activity, the system establishes optimal sensor positions before deployment, avoiding the need for complex real-time adjustments or post-installation modifications.
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
This approach allows for effective noise reduction inside the vehicle while minimizing packaging and maintenance expenses by optimizing sensor placement, maintaining ANC performance and reducing noise levels without the need for external sensor protection.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor for measuring a vibration signal produced from the suspension system
Implementation Method 2
a microphone for measuring a noise signal in the interior of the vehicle caused by the vibration signal
Implementation Method 3
a controller for generating a noise reducing signal having a phase opposite to a phase of the noise signal based on the vibration signal
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a suspension system, a sensor for measuring a vibration signal produced from the suspension system, and a microphone for measuring a noise signal in an interior of the vehicle caused by the vibration signal, wherein the sensor is installed at an interior sensor position determined based on an analysis of a level of contribution of the vibration signal to the noise signal, from among candidate sensor positions in the interior of the vehicle.