Method of tuning acoustical absorption in a vehicle interior

• US 20030075383A1
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Ebbitt, Gordon L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,648,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 181/210
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/58 Seat coverings
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 33/00 Seats
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/16 Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general G10K11/36 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle seat cover is designed to facilitate acoustic energy absorption by forming in the cover an optimal size and arrangement of perforations based on a target noise frequency range, the perforations allowing the noise to pass through the cover into the interior structure of the seat where the acoustic energy is dissipated in the form of heat.

Claims

1. A method of tuning acoustic absorption in a vehicle interior, comprising:

determining a target noise frequency range to be absorbed in a vehicle;

providing a cover material to cover vehicle seats for use in the vehicle interior;

selecting an optimal arrangement and size of perforations in the cover material to enhance absorption of noise by the seats in said target frequency range based upon a predetermined relationship between percent open area of the perforations and frequency absorption;

forming said perforations in the cover material; and

covering the vehicle seats with said cover material after said perforations are formed in the cover material.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a target noise frequency range to be absorbed comprises testing an engine on a dynamometer to determine the engine noise signature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a target noise frequency range to be absorbed comprises operating the vehicle in a mode designed to generate a high level of engine noise, and measuring the noise that reaches the interior of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a target noise frequency range to be absorbed comprises road testing a vehicle to determine road noise.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a target noise frequency range to be absorbed comprises testing a vehicle on a chassis dynamometer.

6. A method of optimizing the acoustic energy absorption level of a vehicle interior, comprising:

measuring the acoustic energy absorption of a plurality of vehicle seats with perforated seat covers;

measuring the acoustic energy absorption of at least one other vehicle interior component;

determining the desired overall acoustic energy absorption for the vehicle interior; and

modifying the other vehicle interior component to eliminate unnecessary acoustic energy absorption material.

7. A method of optimizing the acoustic energy absorption performance of a vehicle interior, comprising:

providing perforated seat covers on seats in a vehicle;

measuring the acoustic energy absorption of said seats in the vehicle;

determining the desired overall acoustic energy absorption performance for the vehicle interior; and

selecting another vehicle interior component in a manner to decrease costs by eliminating unnecessary acoustic energy absorption characteristics from said other vehicle interior component as a result of improved overall energy absorption performance due to the perforated seat covers, thereby achieving said desired overall acoustic energy absorption performance as a low cost.