Systems and methods for mitigating open vehicle window throb

• US 10,487,562 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2017
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Wheeler, Joshua, Gulker, William S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rephann, Justin B
• Application Number:
  US15/784,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20190112861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/00 Windows; Windscreens; Accessories therefor B60J10/00 takes precedence; air curtains instead of windows B60J9/04 ; sealing strips for windshields B60J10/70; sealing sash guides for sliding window panes B60J10/74; glass partitions inside vehicles to protect occupants against personal attack B60R21/12
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/695 Control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/71 responsive to temperature changes, rain, wind or noise
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/763 using acoustical sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/42 for multiple openings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors therefore E05Y2400/322, E05Y2400/33, E05Y2400/55, E05Y2400/56, E05Y2400/852 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/422 against vibration or noise
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for determining and mitigating wind throb caused by an open vehicle window. An example vehicle includes a plurality of windows corresponding to a plurality of seats having respective occupancy sensors, a microphone, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine that a first window is open, determine, based on microphone data, that a sound pressure level is above a threshold level, and responsively open a second window selected based on occupancy data determined by the occupancy sensors.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a plurality of windows corresponding to a plurality of seats having respective occupancy sensors;

a microphone; and

a processor configured to;

determine that a first window of the plurality of windows is open;

determine, based on microphone data, that a sound pressure level is above a threshold level; and

responsively open a second window selected based on occupancy data determined by the occupancy sensors.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the microphone is an active noise cancellation microphone positioned in a vehicle cabin.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the first window is open while the vehicle is travelling above a threshold speed.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the sound pressure level is below 50 Hz and is greater than 115 decibels.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a first seat of the plurality of seats corresponding to the first window;

determine, based on the first seat and the occupancy data, a nearest unoccupied seat of the plurality of seats; and

responsively open the second window, wherein the second window corresponds to the nearest unoccupied seat.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to open the second window by two inches.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a first distance that the first window is open; and

open the second window a second distance that matches the first distance.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the sound pressure level is a first sound pressure level, and wherein the processor is further configured to:

open the second window by a first amount;

responsively determine a second sound pressure level after the second window has been opened by the first amount; and

open the second window by a second amount based on a difference between the first sound pressure level and the second sound pressure level.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a vehicle speed, and open the second window by an amount corresponding to the vehicle speed.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the plurality of seats are occupied, wherein the second window is a sunroof.

11. A method comprising:

determining that a first window of a plurality of windows is open, of a vehicle having the plurality of windows, the plurality of windows corresponding to a plurality of vehicle seats having respective occupancy sensors;

determining, based on vehicle microphone data, that a sound pressure level is above a threshold; and

responsively opening a second window based on occupancy data determined by the occupancy sensors.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the microphone data is captured by an active noise cancellation microphone positioned in a cabin of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining that the first window is open while the vehicle is travelling above a threshold speed.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining that the sound pressure level is below 50 Hz and is greater than 115 decibels.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a first vehicle seat of the plurality of vehicle seats, corresponding to the first window;

determining, based on the first vehicle seat of the plurality of vehicle seats, and the occupancy data, a nearest unoccupied seat of the plurality of vehicle seats; and

responsively opening the second window, wherein the second window corresponds to the nearest unoccupied seat of the plurality of vehicle seats.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising opening the second window by two inches.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a first distance that the first window is open; and

opening the second window a second distance that matches the first distance.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the sound pressure level is a first sound pressure level, the method further comprising:

opening the second window by a first amount;

responsively determining a second sound pressure level after the second window has been opened by the first amount; and

opening the second window by a second amount based on a difference between the first sound pressure level and the second sound pressure level.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a vehicle speed, and opening the second window by an amount corresponding to the vehicle speed.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining that the plurality of vehicle seats are occupied, and responsively opening a sunroof.