Noise management system, a window system and related methods

A noise management system for a window, the system comprising:

• an active noise control (ANC) module disposed in or adjacent to a ventilation channel of the window and configured to substantially cancel low-frequency noise entering the ventilation channel;
• and
• a passive sound absorbing module disposed in or adjacent to the ventilation channel and configured to absorb both high-frequency noise entering the ventilation channel and harmonic sounds generated by the ANC module,
• wherein the passive noise absorbing module comprises mechano-electrical conversion elements and/or electro-thermal conversion elements.

A method of managing noise, comprising:

• detecting low-frequency noise entering a ventilation channel of a window using a reference microphone;
• substantially cancelling the low-frequency noise using an active noise control (ANC) module disposed in or adjacent to the ventilation channel;
• absorbing high-frequency noise entering the ventilation channel using a passive sound absorbing module disposed in or adjacent to the ventilation channel;
• and
• absorbing harmonic sounds generated by the ANC module using the passive sound absorbing module,
• wherein the ANC module comprises at least one multi-cell transparent electroactive film speaker comprising a plurality of electroactive cells, and wherein substantially cancelling the low-frequency noise comprises individually operating each cell to generate a sound signal anti-phase to the low-frequency noise based on the detection.

A method of installing a noise management system on a window, the method comprising:

• disposing an active noise control (ANC) module in or adjacent to a ventilation channel of the window, wherein the ANC module is configured to substantially cancel low-frequency noise entering the ventilation channel;
• and
• disposing a passive sound absorbing module in or adjacent to the ventilation channel, wherein the passive sound absorbing module is configured to absorb both high-frequency noise entering the ventilation channel and harmonic sounds generated by the ANC module,
• wherein the ANC module comprises a plurality of multi-cell transparent electroactive film speakers, and wherein disposing the ANC module comprises spatially distributing the speakers at different locations along the ventilation channel.

A method of managing noise, comprising:

• substantially cancelling low-frequency noise entering a ventilation channel of a window using an active noise control (ANC) module disposed in or adjacent to the ventilation channel;
• absorbing high-frequency noise entering the channel using a passive sound absorbing module disposed in or adjacent to the ventilation channel;
• and
• absorbing harmonic sounds generated by the ANC module using the passive sound absorbing module,
• wherein the passive sound absorbing module comprises a sound absorption coefficient selected to absorb both the high-frequency noise entering the channel and the harmonic sounds generated by the ANC module.