Abstract:
A loudspeaker, for example, for an in-vehicle hands-free communication system or an in-vehicle entertainment system is provided as part of a vehicle sun visor (10), or as an attachment (24) to a vehicle sun visor so that the loudspeaker can be placed relatively close to the driver's ears and in front of the driver. Accordingly, there will not be any significant tendency for the driver to turn their head when listening to the loudspeaker. The loudspeaker comprises a flat panel (26) which is driven by a piezoelectric actuator (28), enabling an extremely thin construction to be realised and the loudspeaker to be conveniently integrated into the sun visor, or provided as an unobtrusive attachment for the sun visor.
Abstract:
An improved loudspeaker system for a passenger vehicle such as an automobile is disclosed. The system comprises a transducer (112) capable of being excited by applied electric potential and electronic means that is electrically connected to the transducer (112) to apply electric potential thereto. It is a feature of the present invention that the diaphragm driven by the excited transducer (112) is comprised of the headliner (111) of the vehicle.
Abstract:
This invention outlines several applications of piezoelectric vibrators (4) to produce quality flat panel speakers in passenger cabin applications. A system consisting of an audio amplifier (2) and transformer (3) is used to drive the piezo speaker (4). The electronics are packaged (8) so that they fit in small modules that can be attached to a cabin structure to produce a speaker. The invention includes a variety of flat panel speaker designs, including one in which the existing structure is converted into a speaker, and thin membrane and/or panels that are fitted with piezoelectric elements (Figures 5 and 6). A system consisting of cabin quieting and flat panel speakers is also discussed where the mid and high frequency audio is produced by panel speakers (74-79) and the low frequency audio is produced from dynamic loudspeakers (80-84). The cabin systems discussed in this patent are applicable to automobiles, aircraft, trucks and buses.
Abstract:
An active noise and vibration reduction system for canceling noise in aircraft or other passenger carrying transportation systems (10) which utilizes a series of seat mounted microphones (6) and trim mounted speakers (4) in conjunction with a digital controller (15) with a class-D stage power amplifier (5) and which is synched to the aircraft alternator (16).
Abstract:
A hybrid noise cancellation system (60, 70) adapted for use in headsets and incorporating multiple noise cancellation algorithms operatively connected and adapted to completely cancel low frequency and high frequency, rapidly changing noise.
Abstract:
A multiple-input (1, 2), multiple-output adaptive control system which utilizes perturbations (19) to the frequency components of the outputs (8) to determine the desired changes to said coefficients. The control system is particularly suited to the active control of noise and vibration.
Abstract:
A passive selective headset (11) characterized in that a controller accepts speech noise and warning signals from microphones (14) and allows the user to employ an "in-wire" controller (17) or an adaptive speech filter (16) to attenuate the noise from the signal fed to the speakers (12) adjacent the user's ear.
Abstract:
A system and method for using active algorithmically controlled sensing (1a, 1b) means and speaker means (2a, 2b) for controlling noise from a distributed noise source (5) within an enclosure (6) with a multiple input, multiple output controller (7).
Abstract:
An active vibration reducing system for controlling the vibration generated by a source of periodic or quasi-periodic vibration is characterised in that a weighted sum of the output of at least two sinusoidal waveform generators each synchronised to the frequency of the source of original vibration to generate harmonics of the frequency of the source, is supplied to at least one actuator (5) which generates additional vibration, sensor means (6) is used to monitor the effect of the additional vibration on the original vibration and the weighting of the sum of the outputs is adjusted so that within a defined region the amplitude of the combined vibration is reduced.