Active noise cancellation of engine noise at sleeping locations on aircraft

In an aircraft that includes a cabin having a bed in a sleeping area, a noise cancellation method comprising:

• receiving head position data from a head location sensor in the sleeping area;
• receiving engine speed data from the engine sensor during operation of the aircraft;
• receiving engine noise signals indicative of engine noise in the sleeping area;
• and
• utilizing the engine noise signals, the head position data from the location sensor, and the engine speed data from the engine sensor to drive a plurality of speakers to generate noise cancellation audio to at least partially cancel engine noise about a head position of the person sleeping in a region above the bed.

In an aircraft that includes a cabin having a bed in a sleeping area, a noise cancellation system comprising:

• an engine sensor to determine engine speed during operation of the aircraft;
• a plurality of microphones, the plurality of microphones arranged proximate to the bed in the sleeping area, the plurality of microphones directed toward a region above the bed in the sleeping area;
• a plurality of speakers, the plurality of speakers arranged proximate to the bed in the sleeping area, the plurality of speakers directed toward the region above the bed in the sleeping area;
• a location sensor, the location sensor located proximate to the bed in the sleeping area and configured to determine a head position of a person sleeping in the region above the bed;
• and
• a noise cancellation controller, the noise cancellation controller:
• coupled to the location sensor to receive head position data from the location sensor;
• coupled to the engine sensor to receive engine speed data from the engine sensor during operation of the aircraft;
• coupled to the plurality of microphones to receive engine noise signals indicative of engine noise in the sleeping area;
• and
• coupled to the plurality of speakers;
• and
• where the noise cancellation controller is configured to utilize the engine noise signals from the plurality of microphones, the head position data from the location sensor, and the engine speed data from the engine sensor to drive the plurality of speakers to generate noise cancellation audio to at least partially cancel engine noise about the head position of the person sleeping in the region above the bed.