Method For Reducing Audible Noise In A Vehicle

• US 20100082201A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Whitton, David Michael, Pfau, Douglas Allen
• Granted Patent: US 8,260,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00764 the input being a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed B60H1/00828, B60H1/00864 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00828 Ventilators, e.g. speed control B60H1/00864 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/006 Noise reduction

Abstract

A method for reducing noise in a vehicle by adjusting the rotational speed of various rotational components.

Claims

1. A method for reducing audible noise within the interior of a vehicle comprising:

collecting noise levels for a plurality of frequencies;

determining if the noise level for a particular frequency exceeds a preset maximum level;

adjusting the speed of a rotational component to reduce the noise level for a particular frequency.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of regularly repeating said steps of collecting, determining, and adjusting.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of adjusting is time delayed to prevent oscillation of the rotational component.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of adjusting is not performed until multiple cycles of the steps of collecting and determining are performed to prevent oscillation of the rotational component.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said rotational component has a noise frequency profile and step of adjusting the speed of a rotational component moves the noise frequency profile of the rotational component.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of adjusting the speed of the rotational component increases the speed to move the noise frequency profile within other noise frequencies to reduce the noise audible to the occupants of the vehicle.

7. A method for reducing audible noise within the interior of a vehicle comprising

collecting data related to the noise levels within a frequency range;

determining if at least one noise level within said frequency range exceeds a present maximum level;

determining if any rotational components are operating;

determining if the current operational state of any operating rotational components contributes to the at least one noise level within said frequency range;

adjusting the operational state of the rotational component to reduce the at least one noise level with said frequency range.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of adjusting the operational state of the rotational component includes the step of increasing the rotational speed of the rotational component.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of adjusting the operation state of the rotational component includes the step of decreasing the rotational speed of the rotational component.

10. The method of claim 7 further including the step of receiving a status signal from said rotational component before adjusting the operation state of the rotational component.

11. The method of claim 7 further including the step of not performing said step of adjusting the operational state of the rotational component until said status signal is under a specified level

12. A method for reducing audible noise within the interior of a vehicle comprising

collecting noise levels for a plurality of frequencies;

determining if said collected noise exceeds a present maximum noise level; and

adjusting the speed of a rotational component to reduce the audible noise levels when said collected noise is determined to exceed the preset maximum noise level.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said steps of collecting noise levels, determining if said collected noise exceeds a present maximum noise level, and adjusting the speed of a rotational component are repeated until it is determined that the collected noise does not exceed the preset maximum noise level.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said steps of collecting noise levels, determining if said collected noise exceeds a present maximum noise level, and adjusting the speed of a rotational component are initiated in response to a change in a vehicle status signal.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said change in vehicle status signal includes changes relating to at least one of a change in vehicle speed, a change in the open and closed status of a window, a change in engine rpm, a change in vehicle entertainment system status, and a change in climate control status.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of adjusting the speed of rotational component is time delayed to minimize oscillations in speed of the rotational component in response to changes in vehicle status signals.