Vehicle Active Sound Management via Noise Cancellation and Synthesis
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for improved acoustic noise management in vehicles, particularly for vehicles with hybrid drivetrains, as existing systems fail to provide uniform and comfortable sound experiences due to varying noise levels and modes of operation, which can be distracting or annoying for passengers.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for active sound management that determines the vehicle's operation state and powertrain operation, detects sound frequencies, synthesizes and blends sine-wave generator output with a wave file to cancel unwanted noise and generate desired sounds, using a control device with components like sound frequency control, localization, and engine order cancellation units to provide simultaneous cancellation and synthesis across frequency ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If active noise cancelation is used to reduce powertrain noise, then noise levels decrease, but sound uniformity and passenger comfort worsen due to non-uniform noise distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines active noise cancelation with electronic sound synthesis into a unified sound management system. The noise cancelation pathway generates anti-phase signals to reduce powertrain noise, while the synthesis pathway creates desirable artificial sounds. Both pathways are merged and blended together to achieve simultaneous noise reduction and sound enhancement, resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and passenger comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts multiple parameters including cancelation signal amplitude, synthesis signal frequency, blending ratios, and randomization variance based on vehicle operating conditions such as speed and powertrain state. This allows the system to optimize the balance between noise reduction and sound uniformity for different driving scenarios, improving passenger comfort while maintaining noise control.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If noise cancellation is applied, then unwanted powertrain noise decreases, but sound uniformity across different operating states worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic adaptation to different vehicle operating states (off, park, drive, reverse) and powertrain modes (combustion engine, electric power, combination). The control device adjusts the characteristics of both cancelation and synthesis signals in real-time based on detected operating conditions, ensuring sound uniformity is maintained across all states while continuously reducing unwanted noise.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple controllable parameters are adjusted based on operating state including the variance of randomization applied to synthesized waves, pitch shifting parameters, and blending ratios. This dynamic parameter adjustment ensures that the sound remains uniform and natural-acrossing different vehicle modes and powertrain operations.
3Reliability
If synthesized sound output is controlled to provide simultaneous cancellation and synthesis, then noise management effectiveness improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device is designed as a multi-functional unit that simultaneously performs noise detection, cancelation signal generation, sound synthesis, parameter adjustment, and output blending. This universal controller handles multiple functions within a single device, improving noise management effectiveness while managing system complexity through functional integration rather than separate dedicated components for each function.
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 system effectively manages noise by creating a cohesive and comfortable sound experience across different vehicle modes, ensuring non-repetition of sound output and adapting to speed variations, thus enhancing passenger comfort and auditory feedback.
Implementation Method 1
blending sine-wave generator output with the synthesized wave file to cancel unwanted powertrain noise and generate desired sounds for vehicles
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for active sound management for vehicles. In one embodiment, a process for active sound management for a vehicle includes determining vehicle operation state and powertrain operation for the vehicle, and detecting sound generated by the powertrain operation of the vehicle. A synthesized sound may be determined for output based on selection of at least one frequency of the sound generated by the powertrain to drive a frequency of a sine-wave generator, synthesizing an output wave file with pitch shifting of frequency based on powertrain operation, and blending sine-wave generator output with the synthesized wave file to cancel unwanted powertrain noise and generate desired sounds for vehicles. Output of the synthesized sound may be controlled to provide simultaneous cancellation and synthesis in at least one same frequency range.