# US 11,308,932 B2 · Virtual test environment for active noise management systems

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,308,932 B2
- Document ID: US11308932B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/955,827
- Filed: 2018-12-20
- Published: 2020-10-29
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-20
- Assignees: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
- Applicants: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
- Inventors: Tingli Cai; Divya Sishtla Venkata; David Trumpy; Aditya Kumar
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11308932B2

## CPC

- G10K 11/17854: {the filter being an adaptive filter}
- H04S 7/302: {Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation (H04S7/301 takes precedence)}
- G10K 11/17873: {using a reference signal without an error signal, e.g. pure feedforward}
- G10K 15/02: Synthesis of acoustic waves (synthesis of speech G10L13/00)
- H04R 1/406: {microphones}
- H04R 3/005: {for combining the signals of two or more microphones (specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)}
- H04S 7/304: {For headphones}
- G05B 2219/23446: HIL hardware in the loop, simulates equipment to which a control module is fixed
- G10K 11/178: by electro-acoustically regenerating the original acoustic waves in anti-phase
- G10K 2210/1081: Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
- G10K 2210/1082: Microphones, e.g. systems using "virtual" microphones
- G10K 2210/1282: Automobiles
- G10K 2210/3028: Filtering, e.g. Kalman filters or special analogue or digital filters
- G10K 2210/3035: Models, e.g. of the acoustic system
- G10K 2210/3052: Simulation
- G10K 2210/504: Calibration
- H04R 2499/13: Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
- H04S 2400/11: Positioning of individual sound objects, e.g. moving airplane, within a sound field (H04S2420/13 takes precedence)
- H04S 2400/15: Aspects of sound capture and related signal processing for recording or reproduction
- H04S 2420/01: Enhancing the perception of the sound image or of the spatial distribution using head related transfer functions [HRTF's] or equivalents thereof, e.g. interaural time difference [ITD] or interaural level difference [ILD]
- 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
- H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS
- 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)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)

## Abstract

A system for evaluating a noise management module of a vehicle includes a controller programmed to filter speaker signals from the noise management module using an auralization model to produce auralized sound signals that create a spatial effect to simulate sound in the vehicle at a predetermined position within the vehicle that is different than the positions corresponding to microphones used by the noise management module.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for evaluating a noise management module of a vehicle, the system comprising:
a controller programmed to:
receive speaker signals from the noise management module and transfer microphone signals to the noise management module;
filter the speaker signals with a vehicle acoustic model to generate sound signals caused by the speaker signals at positions corresponding to locations of microphones in the vehicle that are associated with the noise management module;
combine a sound profile and the sound signals to generate the microphone signals;
filter the speaker signals with an auralization model to produce rendered sound signals that create a spatial listening effect to simulate sound caused by the speaker signals at a predetermined position within the vehicle that is different than the positions corresponding to the locations of the microphones; and
apply a convolution function on a time domain transfer function, via the auralization model, to provide a time-domain signal indicative of a sound at ears of a user.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined position is associated with a seating position within the vehicle and an expected location of a head of a vehicle occupant seated at the seating position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the auralization model is derived from actual speaker data from the vehicle and actual microphone data from evaluation microphones placed proximate the predetermined position in the vehicle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further programmed to combine the rendered sound signals with the sound profile to generate an evaluation sound signal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further programmed to output the evaluation sound signal to an audio output device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the auralization model represents an acoustic environment of the vehicle and defines a transfer function between sound caused by the speaker signals and sound at the predetermined position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle acoustic model is derived from previously recorded speaker data from the vehicle and previously recorded data from microphones associated with the noise management module in the vehicle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the sound profile includes sound signals previously recorded in the vehicle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the sound profile includes synthesized sound data.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further programmed to transfer bus communication data and sensor signals corresponding to and synchronized with the sound profile to the noise management module.

### Claim 11

A method for simulating performance of a noise management module of a vehicle and implemented in a controller, the method comprising:
receiving speaker signals from the noise management module;
generating a sound profile;
outputting, to microphone inputs of the noise management module, sound signals based on the sound profile and a vehicle cabin acoustic model that defines a cabin acoustic transfer function between the speaker signals and microphones located in the vehicle and associated with the noise management module;
outputting, to an audio output device, an audio signal based on the sound profile and an auralization model that defines an auralization transfer function between the speaker signals and a position within the vehicle that is different than locations corresponding to the microphones for rendering sound to create a spatial listening effect that recreates sound impression at the position; and
applying a convolution function on a time domain transfer function, via the auralization model, to provide a time domain signal indicative of a sound at ears of a user.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the sound profile includes sound signals previously recorded in the vehicle.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 further comprising outputting, to the noise management module, bus data and sensor signals associated with the sound profile.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 further comprising generating the auralization model from actual speaker data from the vehicle and data from evaluation microphones placed proximate the position.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the position is associated with a seating position within the vehicle and an expected location of a head of a vehicle occupant seated at the seating position.

### Claim 16

A computer-program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium that is programmed for simulating performance of a noise management module of a vehicle, the computer-program product comprising instructions for:
receiving speaker signals from the noise management module;
transmitting microphone signals to the noise management module;
generating a sound profile;
outputting microphone signals via a microphone interface based on the sound profile and a vehicle cabin acoustic model that defines a vehicle cabin acoustic transfer function between the speaker signals and microphones located in the vehicle and associated with the noise management module;
outputting, to an audio output device, an audio signal based on the sound profile and an auralization model that defines an auralization transfer function between the speaker signals and a position within the vehicle that is different than locations corresponding to the microphones for creating a spatial listening effect that recreates sound impression at the position; and
applying a convolution function on a time domain transfer function, via the auralization model, to provide a time-domain signal indicative of a sound at ears of a user.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The computer-program product of claim 16, further comprising instructions for exchanging data and sensor signals associated with the sound profile between a controller and the noise management module.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The computer-program product of claim 16, wherein the position is associated with a seating position within the vehicle and an expected location of a head of a vehicle occupant seated at the seating position.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The computer-program product of claim 16, wherein the vehicle cabin acoustic model is derived from actual speaker data from the vehicle and actual data from the microphones associated with the noise management module in the vehicle and the auralization model is derived from the actual speaker data and actual microphone data from evaluation microphones placed proximate the position in the vehicle.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The computer-program product of claim 16, wherein the audio output device is headphones.