Method and apparatus for active noise control in an air induction system

A method for attenuating noise in an air induction system comprising the steps of:

• propagating noise through an air duct housing having an inlet into which air is drawn and an outlet operably connected to an engine;
• generating a predetermined amount of heat within a localized area adjacent to the air duct housing that is sufficient to produce a desired acoustic energy as a result of rapid air expansion at the localized area;
• and
• varying the predetermined amount of heat over time to generate a desired acoustic profile to attenuate the noise.

An active noise attenuation apparatus for an air induction system comprising:

• an air duct housing having an inlet into which air is drawn and an outlet operably connected to an engine that propagates noise back through said air duct housing toward said inlet;
• a sound detector for sensing said noise emanating from said air duct housing and generating a noise signal corresponding to said noise;
• a first curved member mounted inside said air duct housing and circumferentially spaced apart from an interior surface of said air duct housing to form an annular air flow passage that interconnects said inlet and said outlet;
• a first laser array including a plurality of lasers mounted in a predetermined external configuration relative to said air duct housing with each of said lasers selectively transmitting a laser beam toward said first curved member wherein said first curved member reflects said laser beams to a focal point area adjacent to said inlet to generate a predetermined about of heat;
• and
• a controller for determining which of said lasers should be activated in response to said noise signal and transmitting a control signal to said first laser array to selectively activate and deactivate said lasers over time to generate a desired acoustic profile to attenuate said noise.