Remote Microphone ANC Group Delay Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) systems, particularly those using remote microphone techniques, face challenges in adapting quickly to dynamic driving scenarios such as fast gear shifts and pavement transitions due to group delays caused by finite impulse response filters, which hinder effective noise cancellation performance.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a system that includes a controller to bypass or modify the PathPR filter during fast-adapting events, such as changing engine orders or pavement transitions, by switching to a predetermined filter like an identity matrix, thereby reducing group delay and enhancing noise cancellation performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a finite impulse response filter (PathPR filter) is used in remote microphone ANC systems, then noise cancellation accuracy is improved, but group delay increases which slows adaptation rate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise cancellation accuracyVSAvoidadaptation rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between two filter configurations based on driving conditions: during steady-state operation, the full PathPR filter is used for accurate noise cancellation, while during fast-adapting events (detected via accelerator pedal position rate of change), the filter is bypassed or reduced to minimize delay and enable faster adaptation to changing noise conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the filter parameters (order and complexity) based on the detected driving event state. The filter order is reduced or the filter is bypassed during fast-adapting events, and restored to full complexity during steady-state operation, thereby optimizing the balance between accuracy and adaptation speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the PathPR filter is bypassed during fast-adapting events, then adaptation speed is improved, but noise cancellation accuracy may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptation speedVSAvoidnoise cancellation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system periodically evaluates the driving conditions (monitoring accelerator pedal position and rate of change) and adjusts filter configuration accordingly. During transient fast-adapting events, the filter is bypassed to enable rapid adaptation, then restored after the event concludes, ensuring both fast response when needed and accurate cancellation during steady-state operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If the system continuously adapts to all changes, then noise cancellation performance is maintained, but system complexity and processing load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise cancellation performanceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adaptation process is segmented into different modes based on detected events: during fast-adapting events, the system uses a simplified adaptation path with reduced filter complexity, while during steady-state operation, the full adaptation path is active. This segmentation allows the system to maintain performance across different conditions without continuously operating at full complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4270380A1Fast adapting high frequency remote microphone noise cancellation
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 HARMAN INT IND INC
  • EP4270380A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4270380A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4270380A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In at least one embodiment, an active noise cancellation (ANC) system is provided. The ANC system includes at least one microphone, a first filter, a first controllable filter, and at least one controller. The at least one microphone provides an error signal indicative of noise and an anti-noise sound within the cabin. The first filter modifies a transfer function between the at least one microphone and at least one remote microphone location to generate an estimated remote microphone error signal based at least on the error signal. The first controllable filter generates the anti-noise signal based on the estimated remote microphone error signal. The controller receives receive a first signal indicative of the vehicle exhibiting a fast-adapting event controls the first filter to execute a predetermined filter based on the first signal to reduce a group delay associated with the first filter.