Apparatus and method for influencing oscillations in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and apparatus and method for detecting defects in a motor vehicle
First Claim
1. An apparatus for modifying noise oscillations transmitted to a passenger compartment of a vehicle, said noise oscillations being transmitted to said passenger compartment of said vehicle as a result of operation of said vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- memory means for storing a plurality of oscillation patterns;
operating condition determination means for determining at least one operating condition of said vehicle;
selector means for receiving said at least one operating condition from said operating condition determination means and for selecting an oscillation pattern from said plurality of oscillation patterns stored in said memory means based upon said at least one operating condition received from said operating condition determination means;
oscillation generation means for generating oscillations into said passenger compartment of said vehicle, said generated oscillations generated by said oscillation generation means corresponding to said selected oscillation pattern selected by said selector means from said plurality of oscillation patterns stored in said memory means;
said oscillation generation means comprising;
tripping means for generating a tripping signal; and
oscillator means for receiving said tripping signal and for generating said oscillations in said passenger compartment of said vehicle which are substantially in phase opposition to said noise oscillations transmitted to said passenger compartment of said vehicle as said result of said operation of said vehicle;
said tripping means comprising oscillation sensor means for detecting oscillations in said passenger compartment of said vehicle;
said oscillation sensor means being disposed substantially within said passenger compartment of said vehicle;
said tripping means additionally comprising;
envelope curve generator means for generating an envelope family of curves;
said envelope family of curves generated by said envelope curve generator means changing in phase with regard to said noise oscillations as a function of said at least one operating condition of said vehicle; and
tripping signal generator means for generating said tripping signal when said envelope family of curves substantially completely covers said noise oscillation for a determined period of time;
said vehicle comprises an engine for propelling said vehicle, a throttle for supplying fuel to said engine, and a transmission for transferring power from said engine;
said operating condition determination means comprising at least one of;
engine speed sensor means for measuring a speed of said engine;
vehicle speed sensor means for measuring a speed of said vehicle;
throttle valve sensor means for measuring a degree of opening of said throttle;
gear sensor means for determining a currently engaged gear of said transmission;
at least one longitudinal acceleration sensor means for determining a longitudinal acceleration of said vehicle;
at least one lateral acceleration sensor means for determining a lateral acceleration of said vehicle; and
at least one load sensor for determining a load condition of said vehicle;
monitoring means for determining and monitoring the operation of said apparatus for modifying noise oscillation transmitted to said passenger compartment of said vehicle;
display means for generating a signal indicative of improper operation of said apparatus for modifying noise oscillation transmitted to said passenger compartment of said vehicle;
tuning means for generating at least some of said plurality of determined oscillation patterns;
interface means for connecting said tuning means to said memory means and for transferring said at least some of said plurality of determined oscillation patterns from said tuning means to said memory means;
said tuning means comprising;
additional oscillation sensor means being positioned in said passenger compartment of said vehicle;
said additional oscillation sensor means being for the detection of a resultant oscillation resulting from the superimposition of said noise oscillations and said oscillations generated in said passenger compartment of said vehicle by said oscillator means for a selected one of said plurality of determined oscillation patterns; and
optimization means for the frequency-specific modification of said selected one of said plurality of oscillation pattern;
said optimization means comprising;
comparator means for comparing the amplitude of said resultant oscillation with a threshold value and for generating a comparator signal; and
oscillation pattern modification means for modifying said selected one of said plurality of oscillation patterns to minimize the amplitude of said resultant oscillation.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for modifying noise oscillations in a passenger compartment (12) of a motor vehicle (14) includes a memory device (38) for storing a plurality of predetermined oscillation patterns (SM), an operating condition determination device (18) for determining an operating condition (BZ) of the motor vehicle (14), a selector device (36) for selecting an oscillation pattern (SM) as a function of the determined operating condition (BZ) of the motor vehicle (14), and an oscillation generator device (39-42-44) for generating oscillations corresponding to the selected oscillation pattern (SM) into the passenger compartment (12) of the motor vehicle (14).
80 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for modifying noise oscillations transmitted to a passenger compartment of a vehicle, said noise oscillations being transmitted to said passenger compartment of said vehicle as a result of operation of said vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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memory means for storing a plurality of oscillation patterns; operating condition determination means for determining at least one operating condition of said vehicle; selector means for receiving said at least one operating condition from said operating condition determination means and for selecting an oscillation pattern from said plurality of oscillation patterns stored in said memory means based upon said at least one operating condition received from said operating condition determination means; oscillation generation means for generating oscillations into said passenger compartment of said vehicle, said generated oscillations generated by said oscillation generation means corresponding to said selected oscillation pattern selected by said selector means from said plurality of oscillation patterns stored in said memory means; said oscillation generation means comprising; tripping means for generating a tripping signal; and oscillator means for receiving said tripping signal and for generating said oscillations in said passenger compartment of said vehicle which are substantially in phase opposition to said noise oscillations transmitted to said passenger compartment of said vehicle as said result of said operation of said vehicle; said tripping means comprising oscillation sensor means for detecting oscillations in said passenger compartment of said vehicle; said oscillation sensor means being disposed substantially within said passenger compartment of said vehicle; said tripping means additionally comprising; envelope curve generator means for generating an envelope family of curves; said envelope family of curves generated by said envelope curve generator means changing in phase with regard to said noise oscillations as a function of said at least one operating condition of said vehicle; and tripping signal generator means for generating said tripping signal when said envelope family of curves substantially completely covers said noise oscillation for a determined period of time; said vehicle comprises an engine for propelling said vehicle, a throttle for supplying fuel to said engine, and a transmission for transferring power from said engine; said operating condition determination means comprising at least one of; engine speed sensor means for measuring a speed of said engine; vehicle speed sensor means for measuring a speed of said vehicle; throttle valve sensor means for measuring a degree of opening of said throttle; gear sensor means for determining a currently engaged gear of said transmission; at least one longitudinal acceleration sensor means for determining a longitudinal acceleration of said vehicle; at least one lateral acceleration sensor means for determining a lateral acceleration of said vehicle; and at least one load sensor for determining a load condition of said vehicle; monitoring means for determining and monitoring the operation of said apparatus for modifying noise oscillation transmitted to said passenger compartment of said vehicle; display means for generating a signal indicative of improper operation of said apparatus for modifying noise oscillation transmitted to said passenger compartment of said vehicle; tuning means for generating at least some of said plurality of determined oscillation patterns; interface means for connecting said tuning means to said memory means and for transferring said at least some of said plurality of determined oscillation patterns from said tuning means to said memory means; said tuning means comprising; additional oscillation sensor means being positioned in said passenger compartment of said vehicle; said additional oscillation sensor means being for the detection of a resultant oscillation resulting from the superimposition of said noise oscillations and said oscillations generated in said passenger compartment of said vehicle by said oscillator means for a selected one of said plurality of determined oscillation patterns; and optimization means for the frequency-specific modification of said selected one of said plurality of oscillation pattern; said optimization means comprising; comparator means for comparing the amplitude of said resultant oscillation with a threshold value and for generating a comparator signal; and oscillation pattern modification means for modifying said selected one of said plurality of oscillation patterns to minimize the amplitude of said resultant oscillation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for modifying noise oscillations (P) transmitted to a passenger compartment of a vehicle, said noise oscillations (P) being transmitted to said passenger compartment of said vehicle as a result of operation of said vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing memory means for storing a plurality of determined oscillation patterns; determining an operating condition (BZ) of said vehicle; selecting an oscillation pattern (SM) from said plurality of determined oscillation patterns stored in said memory means; said selected oscillation pattern (SM) being selected from said plurality of determined oscillation patterns as a function of said determined operating condition (BZ) of said vehicle; generating oscillations (S) into said passenger compartment of said vehicle; said oscillations (S) generated into said passenger compartment of said vehicle corresponding to said selected oscillation pattern (SM); said oscillations (S) generated into said passenger compartment of said vehicle corresponding to said selected oscillation pattern (SM) are in phase opposition to said noise oscillations (P) transmitted to said passenger compartment of said vehicle as said result of said operation of said vehicle; generating an envelope family of curves (H) as a function of said determined operating condition (BZ) of said vehicle; the phase of said generated envelope family of curves changing with respect to said noise oscillations (P); tripping said output of said oscillations (S) corresponding to said selected oscillation pattern (SM) in said passenger compartment of said vehicle when said generated envelope family of curves (H) has substantially completely covered said noise oscillations (P) for a period of time; said vehicle includes a vehicle body, an engine, a throttle for supplying said engine with fuel, and a transmission for transferring power from said engine; said determined operating condition (BZ) of said vehicle comprises at least one of; a speed of said engine; a speed of said vehicle; a degree of opening of said throttle; a currently engaged gear of said transmission; a longitudinal acceleration of said vehicle body; a lateral acceleration of said vehicle body; and a load condition of said vehicle; providing monitoring means for monitoring the operation of said method for modifying noise oscillations transmitted to said passenger compartment of said vehicle and for generating a signal indicating improper operation of said method; operating said monitoring means to thereby provide to an operator of said vehicle said signal indicating improper operation of said method; defining said plurality of oscillation patterns stored in said memory means as a function of a plurality of determined operating conditions of said vehicle; superimposing at least; said noise oscillations (P); and said oscillations (S) generated into said passenger compartment of said vehicle and corresponding to said selected oscillation pattern (SM); forming a resultant oscillation from said superimposition of said noise oscillations (P) and said oscillations (S) generated into said passenger compartment of said vehicle; modifying said selected oscillation pattern (SM) to substantially minimize the amplitude of said resultant oscillation; said selected oscillation pattern (SM) being modified over a plurality of frequencies of said selected oscillation pattern (SM); comparing the amplitude of said resultant oscillation to a threshold value (T); and modifying said selected oscillation pattern (SM) to substantially minimize said amplitude of said resultant oscillation. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for modifying noise oscillations transmitted to a passenger compartment of a vehicle, said noise oscillations being transmitted to said passenger compartment of said vehicle as a result of operation of said vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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memory means for storing a plurality of oscillation patterns; first sensor means for determining at least one operating condition of said vehicle; selector means for receiving said at least one operating condition from said first sensor means and for selecting an oscillation pattern from said plurality of oscillation patterns stored in said memory means based upon said at least one operating condition received from said first sensor means; oscillation generation means for generating oscillations into said passenger compartment of said vehicle, said generated oscillations generated by said oscillation generation means corresponding to said selected oscillation pattern selected by said selector means from said plurality of oscillation patterns stored in said memory means; second sensor means being positioned in said passenger compartment of said vehicle; said second sensor means being for the detection of a resultant oscillation resulting from a superimposition of said noise oscillations and said oscillations generated in said passenger compartment of said vehicle by said oscillation generation means for a selected one of said plurality of determined oscillation patterns; and oscillation pattern modification means for modifying said selected one of said plurality of oscillation patterns to minimize the amplitude of said resultant oscillation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for modifying noise oscillations transmitted to a passenger compartment of a vehicle, said noise oscillations being transmitted to said passenger compartment of said vehicle as a result of operation of said vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing memory means for storing a plurality of determined oscillation patterns; determining an operating condition of said vehicle; selecting an oscillation pattern from said plurality of determined oscillation patterns stored in said memory means; said selected oscillation pattern being selected from said plurality of determined oscillation patterns as a function of said determined operating condition of said vehicle; generating oscillations into said passenger compartment of said vehicle; said oscillations generated into said passenger compartment of said vehicle corresponding to said selected oscillation pattern; superimposing at least; said noise oscillations; and said oscillations generated into said passenger compartment of said vehicle and corresponding to said selected oscillation pattern; forming a resultant oscillation from said superimposition of said noise oscillations and said oscillations generated into said passenger compartment of said vehicle; and modifying said selected oscillation pattern to substantially minimize the amplitude of said resultant oscillation. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification