Control System for Noise Generated by Functional Hardware Components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016284333-A1
Application number	US-201514665208-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 23, 2015
Priority date	Mar 23, 2015
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system includes a microphone, a controller, and a speaker. The microphone is configured to detect noise generated by a functional hardware component due to user interaction with the component. The controller is configured to identify the component from the noise and obtain a noise cancelling signal pre-associated with identification of the component. The speaker is configured to output a noise cancelling sound based on the noise cancelling signal whereby the noise is attenuated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
detecting noise generated by a functional hardware component; identifying the component from the noise; obtaining a noise cancelling signal pre-associated with identification of the component; and outputting a noise cancelling sound based on the noise cancelling signal whereby the noise is attenuated.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the noise is detected using a microphone.

3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
detecting vibrations by a vibration sensor; and
wherein the noise is detected from the vibrations detected.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the component is identified from the noise by comparing the noise with a plurality of pre-stored sounds associated with identification of a plurality of functional hardware components.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the noise cancelling signal is obtained by comparing the identification of the component with identification of a plurality of functional hardware components associated with a plurality of noise cancelling signals.

6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
identifying the component from information communicated on a bus.

7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
outputting a sound masking sound when a noise cancelling signal pre-associated with identification of the component is unavailable.

8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
outputting a noise cancelling sound based on the noise as detected when a noise cancelling signal pre-associated with identification of the component is not available.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the noise cancelling sound includes a sound enhancement sound.

10 . A system comprising:
a microphone configured to detect noise generated by a functional hardware component due to user interaction with the component; a controller configured to identify the component from the noise and obtain a noise cancelling signal pre-associated with identification of the component; and a speaker configured to output a noise cancelling sound based on the noise cancelling signal whereby the noise is attenuated.

11 . The system of claim 10 further comprising:
a vibration sensor configured to detect vibrations; and
wherein the controller is further configured to detect the noise from the vibrations detected.

12 . The system of claim 10 wherein:
the controller is further configured to identify the component from the noise by comparing the noise with a plurality of pre-stored sounds associated with identification of a plurality of functional hardware components.

13 . The system of claim 10 wherein:
the controller is further configured to obtain the noise cancelling signal by comparing the identification of the component with identification of a plurality of functional hardware components associated with a plurality of noise cancelling signals.

14 . The system of claim 10 further comprising:
a bus communicating information regarding the component; and
wherein the controller is further configured to identify the component from the information communicated on the bus.

15 . The system of claim 10 wherein:
the component is one of a switch, a closure, a compartment, a seat adjustor, a pedal, a gear selector, and a tactile interface.

16 . A vehicle comprising:
a functional hardware component within an interior cabin of the vehicle; a microphone configured to detect noise generated by the component due to user interaction with the component; a controller configured to identify the component from the noise and obtain a noise cancelling signal pre-associated with identification of the component; and a speaker configured to output a noise cancelling sound based on the noise cancelling signal whereby the noise is attenuated.

17 . The vehicle of claim 16 wherein:
the controller is further configured to identify the component from the noise by comparing the noise with a plurality of pre-stored sounds associated with identification of a plurality of functional hardware components.

18 . The vehicle of claim 16 wherein:
the controller is further configured to obtain the noise cancelling signal by comparing the identification of the component with identification of a plurality of functional hardware components associated with a plurality of noise cancelling signals.

19 . The vehicle of claim 16 further comprising:
a bus communicating information regarding the component; and
wherein the controller is further configured to identify the component from the information communicated on the bus.

20 . The vehicle of claim 16 wherein:
the component is one of a switch, a closure, a compartment, a seat adjustor, a pedal, a gear selector, and a tactile interface.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Weston Keith

Classifications

• H04R3/02 Primary

  for preventing acoustic reaction {, i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback (specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/453)} · CPC title

• G10K2210/30231

  Sources, e.g. identifying noisy processes or components · CPC title

• G10K2210/1282

  Automobiles · CPC title

• G10K2210/129

  Vibration, e.g. instead of, or in addition to, acoustic noise · CPC title

• G10K11/17873

  using a reference signal without an error signal, e.g. pure feedforward · CPC title