Apparatus and method for global noise reduction
First Claim
1. Apparatus for attenuating sound radiated from a vibrating surface intoa control volume surrounded by the vibrating surface, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) means for providing a control signal indicative of the frequency and amplitude of the sound radiated from said vibrating surface into said control volume;
(b) vibrating means directly connected to said vibrating surface for further vibrating said vibrating surface to induce a cancelling sound into said control volume for combining with an attenuating said radiated sound;
(c) detecting means disposed within said control volume for detecting the combination of said cancelling and said radiated sound to provide an error signal indicative thereof; and
(d) control means responsive to said error signal for adaptively modifying said control signal as to phase and amplitude and for applying said modified control signal to drive said vibrating means, whereby said error signal is driven to a minimum level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is disclosed for attenuating sound radiated from a vibrating surface into a control volume as comprised of a source of a control signal indicative of the amplitude and frequency content of the sound transmitted from the vibrating surface. An actuator(s) or shaker is directly connected to the vibrating surface for further vibrating the vibrating surface to induce a cancelling sound into the control volume for combining with and attenuating the transmitted sound. A sensor(s) is also disposed within the control volume for detecting the resultant sound indicative of the combination of the cancelling and the transmitted sound to provide an error signal indicative thereof. A controller in the illustrative form of a computer executing a minimization algorithm, is responsive to the error signal for adaptively modifying the control signal as to phase and amplitude, which modified signal is applied to drive the actuator(s), whereby the error signal is driven to a minimum level and the sound within the control volume is similarly attenuated. One illustrative embodiment of this invention is particularly adapted to attenuate sound within the fuselage of an aircraft, wherein the principle source of noise is derived from the aircraft'"'"'s engine and propeller and is introduced through the aircraft'"'"'s fuselage into the aircraft'"'"'s cabin. The actuator is coupled directly to the fuselage and is energized with the control signal adaptively modified as to phase and amplitude such that the cancelling sound emanating from the actuator(s) combines with and attenuates the engine and propeller noise within the aircraft cabin.
135 Citations
24 Claims
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1. Apparatus for attenuating sound radiated from a vibrating surface intoa control volume surrounded by the vibrating surface, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for providing a control signal indicative of the frequency and amplitude of the sound radiated from said vibrating surface into said control volume; (b) vibrating means directly connected to said vibrating surface for further vibrating said vibrating surface to induce a cancelling sound into said control volume for combining with an attenuating said radiated sound; (c) detecting means disposed within said control volume for detecting the combination of said cancelling and said radiated sound to provide an error signal indicative thereof; and (d) control means responsive to said error signal for adaptively modifying said control signal as to phase and amplitude and for applying said modified control signal to drive said vibrating means, whereby said error signal is driven to a minimum level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for attenuating sound within an aircraft fuselage emanating from an aircraft engine, said aircraft engine transmitting sound along a sound plane intersecting said aircraft fuselage to define a circumferential line intersecting therewith, said fuselage enclosing and surrounding a control volume, said sound attenuating apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for providing a control signal indicative of the frequency and amplitude of the sound transmitted from aircraft engine through said vibrating fuselage and into said control volume; (b) vibrating means directly connected to said aircraft fuselage for vibrating said aircraft fuselage to induce a cancelling sound into said control volume for combining with an attenuating said transmitted sound; (c) means disposed within said control volume for detecting the combination of said cancelling sound and said transmitted sound to provide an error signal indicative thereof; and (d) control means responsive to said error signal for adaptively modifying said control signal as to phase and amplitude and for applying said modified control signal to drive said vibrating means, whereby said error signal is driven to a minimal level and said transmitted sound within said control volume is minimized. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. Apparatus for attenuating noise radiated from a vibrating surface as a radiated noise field at least partially surrounded by said vibrating surface, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) means for providing a control signal indicative of the frequency and amplitude of the noise within said radiated noise field; (a) vibrating means directly connected to said vibrating surface for further vibrating said vibrating surface to induce a cancelling sound into said radiating noise field for combining with and attenuating said radiated noise; (c) a plurality of sensors disposed in an array defining a control volume within said radiation noise field, each sensor for detecting the combination of said cancelling sound and said radiated noise to provide an error singal indicative thereof; and (d) control means responsive to said error signal for adaptively modifying said control signal as to phase and amplitude and for applying said modified control signal to drive said vibrating means, whereby said error signal is driven to a minimum level and said noise within said control volume is attenuated. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification