# US 10,770,089 B2 · Sound dampening and pass through filtering

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- Number: US 10,770,089 B2
- Document ID: US10770089B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/976,306
- Filed: 2018-05-10
- Published: 2019-11-14
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-05-10
- Assignees: Caterpillar Inc.
- Applicants: Caterpillar Inc.
- Inventors: Russell Schloss; Justin Douglas Speichinger; Carsten Thees
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10770089B2

## CPC

- G10L 21/0232: Processing in the frequency domain
- B62D 33/0604: {Cabs insulated against vibrations or noise, e.g. with elastic suspension (resilient connections between superstructure sub-units B62D27/04; damping noise in general G10K11/00; for vehicles in general B60R13/08)}
- E02F 9/26: Indicating devices {(E02F5/145 takes precedence)}
- E02F 9/261: {Surveying the work-site to be treated}
- E02F 9/264: {Sensors and their calibration for indicating the position of the work tool}
- G10K 11/1752: {Masking}
- G10L 21/0208: Noise filtering
- H04R 1/403: {loud-speakers}
- H04R 1/406: {microphones}
- H04R 29/002: {Loudspeaker arrays}
- H04R 29/005: {Microphone arrays}
- H04M 9/001: {Two-way communication systems between a limited number of parties}
- H04R 2430/21: Direction finding using differential microphone array [DMA]
- G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00)
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

A sound monitoring system for collecting and processing an environmental noise level surrounding a work machine is disclosed. The sound monitoring system may include an acoustic sensor having a plurality of microphones arranged into a signal detection array to capture the environmental noise level and generate an acoustic output signal. Additionally, the sound monitoring system may include a controller communicably coupled to the acoustic sensor and programmed to perform a signal processing to identify a first portion and a second portion of the acoustic output signal. Furthermore, the controller may be programmed to generate a controller output signal based on the first and second portions of the output level. A speaker may be located on the work machine and communicably coupled to the controller such that the speaker receives and emits the controller output signal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sound monitoring system for collecting and processing an environmental noise level surrounding a work machine, the sound monitoring system comprising:
an acoustic sensor including a plurality of microphones arranged into an acoustic signal detection array configured to detect and capture the environmental noise level and the acoustic sensor generates an acoustic sensor output signal based on the environmental noise level detected;
a controller communicably coupled to the acoustic sensor, the controller programmed to receive and perform a signal processing on the acoustic sensor output signal to identify a first portion of the acoustic sensor output signal and a second portion of the acoustic sensor output signal, wherein the controller is programmed to generate a controller output signal based on the first portion and the second portion of the acoustic sensor output signal;
a speaker located on the work machine and communicably coupled to the controller, wherein the controller transmits the controller output signal to the speaker and the speaker emits the controller output signal; and
a plurality of acoustic sensors and each acoustic sensor of the plurality of acoustic sensors generates a unique acoustic sensor output signal, wherein the controller receives the unique acoustic sensor output signal from each acoustic sensor of the plurality of acoustic sensors, and wherein the signal processing identifies the first portion of the unique acoustic sensor output signal and the second portion of the unique acoustic sensor output signal from each of the unique acoustic sensor output signals.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sound monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic sensor further includes at least one LED indicator, and wherein the controller is programmed to selectively illuminate a color of the at least one LED indicator to communicate a pre-determined message associated with the color.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sound monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic sensor further includes a speaker configured to emit an audio message into an area surrounding the work machine.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sound monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the acoustic sensor output signal is identified as an undesired sound and the signal processing includes a sound dampening portion to dampen the undesired sound of the acoustic sensor output signal, wherein the second portion of the acoustic sensor output signal is identified as a desired sound and the signal processing includes an enhancing portion to enhance the desired sound of the acoustic sensor output signal, and wherein the controller is programmed to filter the undesired sound from the acoustic sensor output signal and amplify the desired sound from the acoustic sensor output signal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The sound monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the desired sound of each unique acoustic sensor output signal includes an overlapping portion and wherein the controller is further programmed to analyze the overlapping portion of each unique acoustic sensor output signal to generate a directional sound field that identifies a location and a direction of origin of the desired sound relative to a location of each acoustic sensor of the plurality of acoustic sensors.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The sound monitoring system of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of speakers arranged on the work machine and communicably coupled to the controller, wherein the desired sound is included in the controller output signal and emitted from the plurality of speakers.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The sound monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of speakers are operably controlled by the controller in a surround sound configuration to emit the directional sound field such that the surround sound configuration is used to communicate the location and the direction of origin of the desired sound.

### Claim 8

A work machine including a sound monitoring system for collecting and processing an environmental noise level surrounding the work machine, the work machine comprising:
a frame configured to support an engine of the work machine and at least one work tool that is operably coupled to the frame;
an acoustic sensor operably coupled to the frame and the acoustic sensor includes a plurality of microphones arranged into an acoustic signal detection array configured to detect and capture the environmental noise level;
an acoustic sensor controller communicably coupled to the acoustic signal detection array, the acoustic sensor controller generates an acoustic sensor output signal based on the environmental noise level captured by the signal detection array;
a machine controller communicably coupled to the acoustic sensor controller, the machine controller programmed to receive and perform a signal processing on the acoustic sensor output signal to identify a first portion of the acoustic sensor output signal and a second portion of the acoustic sensor output signal, wherein the machine controller is programmed to generate a machine controller output signal based on the first portion and the second portion of the acoustic sensor output signal;
a speaker located in an operator compartment of the work machine and communicably coupled to the machine controller, wherein the machine controller transmits the machine controller output signal to the speaker and the speaker emits the machine controller output signal within the operator compartment; and
a plurality of acoustic sensors coupled to the frame of the work machine and each acoustic sensor of the plurality of acoustic sensors generates a unique acoustic sensor output signal, wherein the machine controller receives the unique acoustic sensor output signal from each acoustic sensor of the plurality of acoustic sensors, and wherein the signal processing identifies the first portion of the unique acoustic sensor output signal and the second portion of the unique acoustic sensor output signal from each of the unique acoustic sensor output signals.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The work machine of claim 8, wherein the acoustic sensor further includes at least one LED indicator, and wherein the machine controller is programmed to selectively control the at least one LED indicator to illuminate a color to communicate a pre-determined message associated with the color.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The work machine of claim 8, wherein the acoustic sensor further includes a speaker configured to emit an audio message into an external area from the operating compartment and surrounding the work machine.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The work machine of claim 8, wherein the first portion of the acoustic sensor output signal is identified as an undesired sound and the signal processing includes a sound dampening portion to dampen the undesired sound of the acoustic sensor output signal, wherein the second portion of the acoustic sensor output signal is identified as a desired sound and the signal processing includes an enhancing portion to enhance the desired sound of the acoustic sensor output signal, and wherein the machine controller is programmed to filter the undesired sound from the acoustic sensor output signal and amplify the desired sound from the acoustic sensor output signal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The work machine of claim 8, wherein the desired sound of each unique acoustic sensor output signal includes an overlapping portion, and wherein the machine controller is further programmed to analyze the overlapping portion of each unique acoustic sensor output signal to generate a directional sound field that identifies a location and a direction of origin of the desired sound relative to a location of the work machine.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The work machine of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of speakers arranged within the operator compartment and communicably coupled to the machine controller, wherein the desired sound is included in the machine controller output signal and emitted from the plurality of speakers within the operator compartment.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The work machine of claim 13, wherein the plurality of speakers are operably controlled by the machine controller in a surround sound configuration to emit the directional sound field such that the surround sound configuration is used to communicate the location and the direction of origin of the desired sound.