Wind noise reduction apparatus and method

• US 10,421,403 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2017
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Barnes, III, Nolen Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Stephone B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abdur, Rahman
• Application Number:
  US15/411,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20180208119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 359843
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/062 with remote control for adjusting position B60R1/0607 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2306/09 Reducing noise

Abstract

A wind noise reduction apparatus for a motor vehicle includes a mirror housing, a mirror held in the mirror housing and a control module. That control module is configured to displace the mirror housing to reduce wind noise while simultaneously displacing the mirror to maintain a constant visual field.

Claims

1. A wind noise reduction apparatus for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a mirror housing;

a mirror held in said mirror housing;

a control module including a controller, said control module configured to displace said mirror housing to reduce wind noise and displace said mirror to maintain a constant visual field as said mirror housing is displaced in response to sound pressure in a passenger compartment of said motor vehicle exceeding a predetermined threshold level indicative of at least one of wind noise, wind noise throb and wind buffeting experience through an open window; and

a sound pressure monitoring device providing sound pressure data from said passenger compartment to a data input of said controller.

2. The wind noise reduction apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control module includes a first actuator responsive to said controller and connected to said mirror housing is displaced to reduce wind noise.

3. The wind noise reduction apparatus of claim 2, wherein said control module also includes a second actuator responsive to said controller and connected to said mirror whereby said mirror is displaced within said mirror housing to maintain said constant visual field.

4. The wind noise reduction apparatus of claim 3, wherein said sound pressure monitoring device includes a first microphone.

5. The wind noise reduction apparatus of claim 4, wherein said sound pressure monitoring device includes a second microphone.

6. A method of reducing wind noise in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising:

monitoring, by sound pressure monitoring device, current sound pressure in said passenger compartment of said motor vehicle;

displacing, by control module, a mirror housing carried on said motor vehicle to reduce wind noise; and

displacing, by said control module, a mirror held in said mirror housing in order to maintain a constant visual field in said mirror as said mirror housing is displaced; and

configuring a controller of said control module to displace said mirror house to reduce wind noise and displace said mirror to maintain the constant visual field as said mirror housing is displaced in response to current sound pressure exceeding a predetermined threshold value indicative of at least one of wind noise, wind noise throb and wind buffeting experienced through an open window.

7. The method of claim 6, further including displacing said mirror housing only after said current sound pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold level.

8. The method of claim 6, further including displacing said mirror housing only after said sound pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold level when a window of said motor vehicle is open.

9. The method of claim 8, including sending current sound pressure data from said sound pressure monitoring device to said control module.