US 8,542,844 B2 · Sound modification system and method

Abstract

A sound modification system and a method of managing sound in a vehicle. The system includes an active noise reduction (ANR) controller, an engine sound enhancement (ESE) controller and a sound modification controller. When the vehicle is in a steady state driving condition, the sound modification controller activates the ANR controller and deactivates the ESE controller. In contrast, when the vehicle is in a non-steady state driving condition, the sound modification controller activates the ESE controller and deactivates the ANR controller. Preferably, when the vehicle switches between the steady state and non-steady state driving conditions, the sound modification controller activates and deactivates the ANR and ESE controllers at a rate that is not noticeable to a human. In summary, the system utilizes the ANR and ESE controllers to achieve an optimal passenger cabin experience for the driver during any driving condition.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of controlling the sound in a vehicle having a passenger compartment comprising the steps of:

sensing a driving condition of the vehicle as being one of a steady state driving condition with the vehicle travelling at a near-constant speed and a non-steady state driving condition, and
based on the sensing of the driving condition, either:
outputting into the passenger compartment a noise cancelling sound wave to cancel at least one sound in the passenger compartment of the vehicle in response to sensing the steady state driving condition with the vehicle travelling at a near-constant speed, or
outputting into the passenger compartment a noise amplifying sound wave to amplify at least one sound in the passenger compartment in response to the vehicle changing from the steady state driving condition with the vehicle traveling at a near-constant speed to the non-steady state driving condition,
wherein the noise amplifying sound wave is a performance sound for a driver of the vehicle.

2 more elements

A sound modification system for a vehicle having a passenger compartment comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing a condition of the vehicle and for generating a condition signal;
at least one controller in communication with said sensor for receiving said condition signal and configured to determine a driving condition of the vehicle as one of a steady state driving condition with the vehicle travelling at a near-constant speed and a non-steady state driving condition and configured to generate a noise cancelling sound wave signal in response to said driving condition of the vehicle being said steady state driving condition and configured to generate a noise amplifying sound wave signal in response to said driving condition of the vehicle being said non-steady state driving condition;
and
based on the sensed condition, outputting via at least one loudspeaker in communication with said controller for receiving said noise cancelling and noise amplifying sound wave signals, either sound waves corresponding to said noise cancelling to cancel a noise in the passenger compartment while the vehicle is in said steady state driving condition, or noise amplifying sound wave signals to amplify a noise in the passenger compartment while the vehicle is in said non-steady state driving
wherein the noise amplifying sound wave signals is a performance sound for a driver of the vehicle.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sound modification system and method

Life of this patent

Sound modification system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20