Active masking of tonal noise using motor-based acoustic generator to improve sound quality

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10319360-B1
Application number	US-201815913412-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 6, 2018
Priority date	Mar 6, 2018
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for masking a tonal noise of a motor. In certain embodiments, a vehicle includes a drive system and an active masking acoustic signal generator (AMAG). The drive system includes a motor generating a tonal noise. The AMAG is configured to at least facilitate masking the tonal noise, by introducing a complementary harmonic tone, injecting dithering into the motor, or both.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
identifying a tonal noise of a motor of a vehicle;
generating complementary tones with respect to the tonal noise, the complementary tones comprising low-order overlapping harmonics with respect to the tonal noise; and
masking the tonal noise, by introducing the complementary harmonic tones, including the low-order overlapping harmonics with respect to the tonal noise, using the motor as a speaker to create the complementary harmonic tones, including the low-order overlapping harmonics with respect to the tonal noise.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of masking the tonal noise further comprises injecting dithering into the motor.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of injecting dithering into the motor further comprises:
injecting dithering into the motor, thereby increasing a noise floor for the motor and decreasing a tone-to-noise ratio for the motor at the same time as the introducing of the harmonic tones, including the low-order overlapping harmonics with respect to the tonal noise.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of masking the tonal noise further comprises:
introducing a complementary harmonic control signal voltage for the motor for the motor to generate the harmonic tones, including the low-order overlapping harmonics with respect to the tonal noise.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
incrementing a sound pitch for the tonal noise as a function of motor torque.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the complementary tones comprise complementary music tones.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the complementary tones are generated using a same frequency ration as a music major triad.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the complementary tones comprise fourth and twelfth harmonics with respect to the tonal noise.

9. A system comprising:
a motor generating a tonal noise; and
an active masking acoustic signal generator (AMAG) configured to at least facilitate:
generating complementary tones with respect to the tonal noise, the complementary tones comprising low-order overlapping harmonics with respect to the tonal noise; and
masking the tonal noise, by introducing the complementary harmonic tones, including the low-order overlapping harmonics with respect to the tonal noise, including the low-order overlapping harmonics with respect to the tonal noise.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the AMAG is further configured to at least facilitate masking the tonal noise by injecting dithering into the motor at the same time as the introducing of the harmonic tones, including the low-order overlapping harmonics with respect to the tonal noise.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the complementary tones comprise complementary music tones.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the AMAG is configured to generate the complementary tones using a same frequency ration as a music major triad.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the complementary tones comprise fourth and twelfth harmonics with respect to the tonal noise.

14. A vehicle comprising:
a drive system including a motor generating a tonal noise; and
an active masking acoustic signal generator (AMAG) configured to at least facilitate:
generating complementary tones with respect to the tonal noise, the complementary tones comprising low-order overlapping harmonics with respect to the tonal noise; and
masking the tonal noise, by introducing the complementary harmonic tones, including the low-order overlapping harmonics with respect to the tonal noise, including the low-order overlapping harmonics with respect to the tonal noise.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the AMAG is configured to at least facilitate masking the tonal noise by injecting dithering into the motor at the same time as the introducing of the harmonic tones, including the low-order overlapping harmonics with respect to the tonal noise.

16. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein:
the motor comprises an electric motor; and
the vehicle comprises an electric vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle.

17. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein:
the AMAG comprises a processor onboard the vehicle; and
the vehicle further includes a sensor array that is configured to at least facilitate identifying the tonal noise of the motor.

18. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the complementary tones comprise complementary music tones.

19. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the AMAG is configured to generate the complementary tones using a same frequency ration as a music major triad.

20. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the complementary tones comprise fourth and twelfth harmonics with respect to the tonal noise.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• He Song
• Son Yo Chan
• Choi Gilsu
• Secrest Caleb W
• Anjilivelil Aja
• Reilly Scott M
• Miller John P

Classifications

• H02K5/24

  specially adapted for suppression or reduction of noise or vibrations · CPC title

• G10K2210/1282

  Automobiles · CPC title

• B60R16/0373

  Voice control (in general G10L) · CPC title

• G10K2210/51

  Improving tonal quality, e.g. mimicking sports cars · CPC title

• G10K11/175 Primary

  using interference effects; Masking sound · CPC title