Apparatus and method for influencing oscillations in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and apparatus and method for detecting defects in a motor vehicle

A method for modifying noise oscillations (P) transmitted to a passenger compartment of a vehicle, said noise oscillations (P) being transmitted to said passenger compartment of said vehicle as a result of operation of said vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing memory means for storing a plurality of determined oscillation patterns;
• determining an operating condition (BZ) of said vehicle;
• selecting an oscillation pattern (SM) from said plurality of determined oscillation patterns stored in said memory means;
• said selected oscillation pattern (SM) being selected from said plurality of determined oscillation patterns as a function of said determined operating condition (BZ) of said vehicle;
• generating oscillations (S) into said passenger compartment of said vehicle;
• said oscillations (S) generated into said passenger compartment of said vehicle corresponding to said selected oscillation pattern (SM);
• said oscillations (S) generated into said passenger compartment of said vehicle corresponding to said selected oscillation pattern (SM) are in phase opposition to said noise oscillations (P) transmitted to said passenger compartment of said vehicle as said result of said operation of said vehicle;
• generating an envelope family of curves (H) as a function of said determined operating condition (BZ) of said vehicle;
• the phase of said generated envelope family of curves changing with respect to said noise oscillations (P);
• tripping said output of said oscillations (S) corresponding to said selected oscillation pattern (SM) in said passenger compartment of said vehicle when said generated envelope family of curves (H) has substantially completely covered said noise oscillations (P) for a period of time;
• said vehicle includes a vehicle body, an engine, a throttle for supplying said engine with fuel, and a transmission for transferring power from said engine;
• said determined operating condition (BZ) of said vehicle comprises at least one of:
• a speed of said engine;
• a speed of said vehicle;
• a degree of opening of said throttle;
• a currently engaged gear of said transmission;
• a longitudinal acceleration of said vehicle body;
• a lateral acceleration of said vehicle body;
• and
• a load condition of said vehicle;
• providing monitoring means for monitoring the operation of said method for modifying noise oscillations transmitted to said passenger compartment of said vehicle and for generating a signal indicating improper operation of said method;
• operating said monitoring means to thereby provide to an operator of said vehicle said signal indicating improper operation of said method;
• defining said plurality of oscillation patterns stored in said memory means as a function of a plurality of determined operating conditions of said vehicle;
• superimposing at least:
• said noise oscillations (P);
• and
• said oscillations (S) generated into said passenger compartment of said vehicle and corresponding to said selected oscillation pattern (SM);
• forming a resultant oscillation from said superimposition of said noise oscillations (P) and said oscillations (S) generated into said passenger compartment of said vehicle;
• modifying said selected oscillation pattern (SM) to substantially minimize the amplitude of said resultant oscillation;
• said selected oscillation pattern (SM) being modified over a plurality of frequencies of said selected oscillation pattern (SM);
• comparing the amplitude of said resultant oscillation to a threshold value (T);
• and
• modifying said selected oscillation pattern (SM) to substantially minimize said amplitude of said resultant oscillation.

An apparatus for modifying noise oscillations transmitted to a passenger compartment of a vehicle, said noise oscillations being transmitted to said passenger compartment of said vehicle as a result of operation of said vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• memory means for storing a plurality of oscillation patterns;
• first sensor means for determining at least one operating condition of said vehicle;
• selector means for receiving said at least one operating condition from said first sensor means and for selecting an oscillation pattern from said plurality of oscillation patterns stored in said memory means based upon said at least one operating condition received from said first sensor means;
• oscillation generation means for generating oscillations into said passenger compartment of said vehicle, said generated oscillations generated by said oscillation generation means corresponding to said selected oscillation pattern selected by said selector means from said plurality of oscillation patterns stored in said memory means;
• second sensor means being positioned in said passenger compartment of said vehicle;
• said second sensor means being for the detection of a resultant oscillation resulting from a superimposition of said noise oscillations and said oscillations generated in said passenger compartment of said vehicle by said oscillation generation means for a selected one of said plurality of determined oscillation patterns;
• and
• oscillation pattern modification means for modifying said selected one of said plurality of oscillation patterns to minimize the amplitude of said resultant oscillation.

A method for modifying noise oscillations transmitted to a passenger compartment of a vehicle, said noise oscillations being transmitted to said passenger compartment of said vehicle as a result of operation of said vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing memory means for storing a plurality of determined oscillation patterns;
• determining an operating condition of said vehicle;
• selecting an oscillation pattern from said plurality of determined oscillation patterns stored in said memory means;
• said selected oscillation pattern being selected from said plurality of determined oscillation patterns as a function of said determined operating condition of said vehicle;
• generating oscillations into said passenger compartment of said vehicle;
• said oscillations generated into said passenger compartment of said vehicle corresponding to said selected oscillation pattern;
• superimposing at least:
• said noise oscillations;
• and
• said oscillations generated into said passenger compartment of said vehicle and corresponding to said selected oscillation pattern;
• forming a resultant oscillation from said superimposition of said noise oscillations and said oscillations generated into said passenger compartment of said vehicle;
• and
• modifying said selected oscillation pattern to substantially minimize the amplitude of said resultant oscillation.