Patent Publication Number: US-2013243212-A1

Title: Active noise interference system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present subject matter relates generally to a tire. More, specifically, the present subject matter relates to a system comprising a tire and an active noise interference system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Vehicles typically comprise multiple vehicle systems. Manufacturers of vehicles and vehicle systems have employed active and passive methods to reduce or otherwise change noise within the vehicle systems. 
     Vehicle systems may include tire-wheel systems. Noise may emanate from the tire-wheel system. 
     Active methods to change noise may include an active noise interference (ANI) system. An ANI system may utilize means to create an interfering noise adapted to attenuate the target noise. 
     It remains desirable to develop an active noise interference system for use in close conjunction with a tire-wheel system. 
     SUMMARY 
     Provided is an active noise interference system. The active noise interference system may comprise a first microphone, a controller, a speaker, and an electrical power unit. The first microphone may be mounted within a first cavity defined by a tire-wheel system. The speaker may be mounted within the first cavity. The electrical power unit may be engaged with a component set comprising the first microphone, or the controller, or the speaker, or a combination thereof. The electrical power unit may be adapted to provide electrical power to the component set. 
     Further provided is a tire wheel system. The tire wheel system may comprise a wheel, a tire, an internal cavity, and an active noise interference system. The tire may be mounted on the wheel. The internal cavity may be defined by the tire and the wheel. The active noise interference system may comprise components engaged with the tire or the wheel. The active noise interference system may comprise a first microphone mounted within said internal cavity, a controller, a speaker mounted within said internal cavity, and an electrical power unit. The electrical power unit may be engaged with a component set comprising the first microphone, or the controller, or the speaker, or a combination thereof. The electrical power unit may be adapted to provide electrical power to the component set. 
     Further provided is an active noise interference system. The active noise interference system may comprise a first microphone, a controller, a speaker, an electrical power unit, and an error microphone. The microphone may be mounted within a first cavity defined by a tire-wheel system. The microphone may be adapted to detect a target noise and may be adapted to output a first signal representative of the target noise. The controller may be operationally engaged with the first microphone to receive the first signal therefrom and may be adapted to generate a second signal based, at least in part, on the first signal. The speaker may be mounted within the first cavity. The speaker may be operationally engaged with the controller to receive the second signal therefrom and may be adapted to output an interference noise. The interference noise may be adapted for active noise cancellation of the target noise. The electrical power unit may be engaged with a component set comprising the first microphone, or the controller, or the speaker, or a combination thereof. The electrical power unit may be adapted to provide electrical power to the component set. The electrical power unit may comprise a battery, or an electric generator, or a kinetic energy recovery device, or a connection to a vehicle power supply. The error microphone may be mounted within the first cavity. The error microphone may be adapted to output an error signal representative of the combination of the target noise and the interference noise. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1   a  shows a partial cross-sectional view of one embodiment of an active noise interference system in conjunction with an associated tire-wheel system. 
         FIG. 1   b  shows a partial cross-sectional view of one embodiment of an active noise interference system in conjunction with an associated tire-wheel system. 
         FIG. 1   c  shows a partial cross-sectional view of one embodiment of an active noise interference system in conjunction with an associated tire-wheel system. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of an active noise interference system (ANI) system. 
         FIG. 3  shows a partial cross-sectional view of one embodiment of an active noise interference system in conjunction with an associated tire-wheel system and an associated vehicle 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will be made to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-3 , wherein the showings are only for purposes of illustrating certain embodiments of an active wave interference system and of an active wave interference system engaged with an associated tire wheel system and/or an associated vehicle. 
     As used herein, active noise control refers generally to use of a sound generating system to effect or change noise in some way. Active noise control is not limited to cancellation of a noise; it may include changing, either decreasing or increasing, a noise or one or more frequencies of a noise. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1   a,    1   b,    1   c,  and  3 , shown are various embodiments of an active noise interference system in conjunction with an associated tire-wheel system  100 ,  300 . The tire wheel system  100 ,  300  comprises a wheel  110 ,  310  and a tire  120 ,  320 . Wheel  110 ,  310  may comprise any of various kinds of wheels designed to have a tire  120 ,  320  mounted thereabout. In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1   a,    1   b,    1   c,  and  3 , wheel  110 ,  310  comprises a rim portion  112 ,  312  adapted for engagement with tire  120 ,  320  and a plate portion  116 ,  316  adapted for engagement with an associated vehicle  90 . Tire  120 ,  320  may comprise any kind of tire designed to mount to wheel  110 ,  310 . In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1   a,    1   b,    1   c,  and  3 , tire  120 ,  320  is a pneumatic vehicle tire  122 ,  322  but it should be understood that in other embodiments tire  120 ,  320  may comprise a non-pneumatic tire, a truck tire, a motorcycle tire, a bicycle tire, or another kind of tire. In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1   a,    1   ,    1   c,  and  3 , the tire  120 ,  320  and the wheel  110 ,  310  together define an internal cavity  130 ,  330 . In embodiments in which the tire  120 ,  320  is a pneumatic tire  122 ,  322  the internal cavity may be substantially isolated from the surrounding environment  140 ,  340  by the tire  120 ,  320  and the wheel  110 ,  310  and may, optionally, be inflated to some pressure above that of the surrounding environment  140 ,  340 . 
     As used herein, engagement, unless otherwise noted, may refer to direct engagement or indirect engagement. In direct engagement, the engaged elements are in direct contact with one another. In indirect engagement, the engaged elements are not in direct contact with one another but are indirectly engaged by one or more intermediate components. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 1   a,  in the embodiment shown therein, an active noise interference (ANI) system  150  is engaged with the tire wheel system  100 . The active noise interference (ANI) system  150  may be positioned within the internal cavity  130 . As shown in  FIG. 1   a,  active noise interference (ANI) system  150  may be positioned within the internal cavity  130  and may be directly engaged with tire  120 . In other embodiments, a sub-set of the components of the active noise interference (ANI) system  150  may be positioned within the internal cavity  130 . In general, the sub-components of an active noise interference system  150  may be mounted or positioned in a manner similar to that in which an entire active noise interference system  150  may be mounted or positioned. Engagement with tire  120  may be by engagement with a first interior surface  124  opposite an external tread surface  126 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 1   b,  in the embodiment shown therein, an active noise interference (ANI) system  150  is engaged with the tire wheel system  100 . As shown in  FIG. 1   b,  active noise interference (ANI) system  150  is positioned within the internal cavity  130  and is engaged with a second interior surface  125  opposite an external sidewall surface  127 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 1   c,  in the embodiment shown therein, an active noise interference (ANI) system  150  is engaged with the tire wheel system  100 . As shown in  FIG. 1   c,  active noise interference (ANI) system  150  is positioned within the internal cavity  130  and is indirectly engaged with wheel rim  112 . As shown in  FIG. 1   c,  the active noise interference (ANI) system  150  is directly engaged with an intermediate component  152  and intermediate component  152  is directly engaged with wheel rim  112 . The intermediate component  152  may be a tire pressure monitoring system  156 . 
     In another embodiment, active noise interference (ANI) system  150  may be positioned within the internal cavity  130  and may be engaged with some other interior surface of tire  120 . In general, engagement of the active noise interference (ANI) system  150 , or a sub-set of the components of the active noise interference (ANI) system  150 , to the tire  120  or to the wheel  112  may be by direct engagement or indirect engagement. The active noise interference (ANI) system  150  may be engaged with a tire  120 , or a wheel  112 , or to an intermediate component  152  with means that would be typical for engaging a tire pressure monitoring system  156 , including, but not limited to an adhesive, a mechanical fastener, a magnet, or overmolding. In some embodiments, the active noise interference (ANI) system  150  may be engaged with a valve stem (not shown). 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 1   a,    1   b,    1   c,  and  3  as a tire wheel system  100 ,  300  operates it rotates and either rolls or slides over a roadway surface (not shown). As it operates, the tire wheel system  100 ,  300  may generate noise or may be close to another noise generator. In either case, whether the tire wheel system  100 ,  300  may generate noise or may be close to another noise generator, the noise will be referred to herein as noise generated from a source proximate to the tire wheel system  100 ,  300 . Noise generated from a source proximate to the tire wheel system  100 ,  300  may emanate from said source. It is possible to reduce or otherwise affect this generated noise using an active noise interference (ANI) system  150 ,  200 ,  350 . As used herein, unless otherwise noted, the noise that an active noise interference (ANI) system  150 ,  200 ,  350  is to control will be referred to as target noise  205 . That is, the target noise  205  is the noise that is sought to be reduced or otherwise controlled by use of the active noise interference (ANI) system  150 ,  200 ,  350 . An active noise interference (ANI) system  150 ,  200 ,  350  may be mounted proximate to the tire wheel system  100 ,  300  to assist in reducing target noise emanating from a source proximate to the tire wheel system  100 ,  300 . 
       FIG. 2  shows one embodiment of an active noise interference (ANI) system  150 ,  200 ,  350 . The ANI system  150 ,  200 ,  350  may comprise a first microphone  210  operationally engaged with a controller  220 ; a speaker  230  operationally engaged with the controller  220 ; and an electrical power unit  240  operationally engaged with said microphone  210 , or said controller  220 , or said speaker  230 , or some combination thereof. The ANI system  150 ,  200 ,  350  may further comprise an acoustic resonator  250 , a second microphone  260 , or some combination thereof. The ANI system  150 ,  200 ,  350  may further comprise additional microphones (not shown) additional speakers (not shown), and/or additional acoustic resonators (not shown) engaged to the controller  220  in a manner similar to that of their analogous components as shown in  FIG. 2 . Some of the components of the ANI system  150 ,  200 ,  350  may be mounted within the internal cavity  130 ,  330  defined by the tire-wheel system  100 ,  300 . Some of the components of the ANI system  150 ,  200 ,  350  may be mounted proximate to the tire-wheel system  100 ,  300 . Some of the components of the ANI system  150 ,  200 ,  350  may be mounted distal from the tire-wheel system  100 ,  300  such as, without limitation, to an associated vehicle  90 . 
     The first microphone  210  is a transducer adapted to produce an electrical signal in response to and characteristic of a sound. The first microphone  210  may be adapted to produce a first signal  212  in response to a target noise  205 . In some embodiments, the first microphone  210  may be mounted within internal cavity  130 ,  330 . 
     The controller  220  is a processor adapted to receive a first signal  212  and to generate a second signal  222  based on one or more factors. The one or more factors may comprise the first signal  212 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the controller  220  produces a second signal  222  based on one or more factors comprising the first signal  212  which was in turn, produced in response to target noise  205 . Accordingly, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the controller  220  is operationally engaged with the first microphone  210  to receive the first signal  212  therefrom and is adapted to generate a second signal  222  based on the first signal  212 . The controller  220  may be operationally engaged to the first microphone  210  to receive the first signal  212  therefrom by any means of transmitting first signal  212 . Means of transmitting first signal  212  may include, but are not limited to, wiring, cables, optic fibers, Ethernet, radio transmission, infra-red transmission, cellular transmission, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or other methods chosen using good engineering judgment. In certain embodiments the controller  220  may comprise or be in operational engagement with a digital computer such as, but not limited to, a desk top computer, a lap top computer, or a smart phone. As will be further described herebelow, the one or more factors may comprise signals, variables, or other inputs that may comprise, without limitation, the first signal  212 , a signal from another microphone  260 , time, weighting factors, or a combination thereof. The controller  220  may be mounted within internal cavity  130 , may be mounted to the tire-wheel system  100 ,  300  outside of the internal cavity  130 , may be mounted to an associated vehicle  90 , or may be away from any associated vehicle  90 . 
     The speaker  230  is a transducer adapted to produce a sound in response to an electrical signal. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the speaker  230  is operationally engaged with controller  220  to receive a second signal  222  from controller  220 . The speaker  230  may be operationally engaged with the controller  220  to receive the second signal  222  therefrom by any means of transmitting second signal  222 . Means of transmitting second signal  222  may include, but are not limited to, wiring, cables, optic fibers, Ethernet, radio transmission, infra-red transmission, cellular transmission, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or other methods chosen using good engineering judgment. In some embodiments the means of transmitting second signal  222  is the same as the means of transmitting first signal  212 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the speaker  230  is adapted to output an interference noise  232 . The interference noise  232  may be a noise adapted for active noise cancellation of the target noise  205 . That is, the interference noise  232  may be a noise adapted to destructively interfere with the target noise  205 . In certain embodiments, the interference noise  232  may be a noise adapted to constructively or destructively interfere with the target noise  205  or particular wavelengths thereof. The speaker  230  may be mounted within internal cavity  130 . 
     An acoustic resonator  250  is a device that exhibits resonant behavior such that it naturally oscillates at particular frequencies, the particular frequencies being resonant frequencies, with greater amplitude than at other frequencies. The oscillations of interest in an acoustic resonator are acoustic oscillations and the resonance of interest is acoustic resonance. Acoustic resonance is the tendency of an acoustic resonator to absorb more energy when it is driven at a frequency that matches one of its own resonant frequencies than it does at other frequencies. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the optional acoustic resonator  250  may be adapted to modify the interference noise  232  to strengthen specific frequencies or to weaken specific frequencies, or some combination thereof. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , an optional acoustic resonator  250  may be operationally engaged with speaker  230  to receive an interference noise  232  from speaker  230 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the optional acoustic resonator  250  is adapted to output an interference noise  232 . As noted above, the interference noise  232  output from an optional acoustic resonator  250  may differ from an input interference noise  232  in that specific frequencies of the interference noise  232  may be strengthened or specific frequencies may be weakened, or some combination thereof. If the ANI system  150 ,  200 ,  350  comprises an optional acoustic resonator  250  the interference noise  232  output therefrom is adapted for active noise cancellation of a target noise  205 . An optional acoustic resonator  250  may be mounted within internal cavity  130 ,  330 . 
     An optional error microphone  260  is a transducer adapted to produce an electrical signal in response to a sound. The optional error microphone  260  may be adapted to produce an error signal  262  representative of the combination of target noise  205  and interference noise  232 . The optional error microphone  260  may be located in a particular area wherein the interference noise  232  is adapted to effectively counteract target noise  205 . The optional error microphone  260  creates error signal  262  which may be fed back to controller  220  and may be used as one of the one or more factors used by controller  220  upon which second signal  222  is based. The controller  220  may be operationally engaged to the error microphone  260  to receive the error signal  262  therefrom by any means of transmitting error signal  262 . Means of transmitting error signal  262  may include, but are not limited to, wiring, cables, optic fibers, Ethernet, radio transmission, infra-red transmission, cellular transmission, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or other methods chosen using good engineering judgment. In some embodiments the means of transmitting error signal  262  is the same as the means of transmitting first signal  212  or the second signal  222 . Accordingly, in certain embodiments, an ANI system  150 ,  200 ,  350  comprises an error microphone  260  that is adapted to produce an error signal  262  as a function of a combination comprising target noise  205  and interference noise  232 , and wherein the error signal  262  may be sent to controller  220  and used as feedback signal to modify second signal  222 . An optional error microphone  260  may be mounted within internal cavity  130 . 
     The electrical power unit  240  is a device adapted to provide electrical power  242  to those components with which it is operationally engaged. The electrical power unit  240  may be operationally engaged with, and adapted to provide electrical power to, a first microphone  210 , a controller  220 , a speaker  230 , an optional error microphone  260 , any other components of ANI system  150 ,  200 ,  350 , or a combination thereof. The electrical power unit  240  may comprise a battery, an electric generator, a kinetic energy recovery device, a connection to a vehicle power supply, or some combination thereof. In certain embodiments, a battery, an electric generator, a kinetic energy recovery device, and/or a connection to a vehicle power supply may be composed of multiple components. The electrical power unit  240  or components comprised by the electrical power unit  240  may be mounted, partially or fully, within internal cavity  130 , may be mounted outside of the internal cavity  130 , may be mounted to the tire-wheel system  100 ,  300 , may be mounted proximate to tire wheel system  100 ,  300 , may be mounted distal from tire wheel system  100 ,  300 , and/or may be mounted to an associated vehicle  90 . 
     In embodiments in which the electrical power unit  240  comprises a battery, the battery may be any of one or more electrochemical cells adapted to convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. A battery may be rechargeable or non-rechargeable. A battery may comprise a zinc-carbon battery, a zinc-chloride battery, an alkaline battery, a nickel oxyhydroxide battery, a lithium battery, a mercury oxide battery, a zinc-air battery, a silver-oxide battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, a lead-acid battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel-zinc battery, a lithium-ion battery, or some combination thereof. In embodiments in which the electrical power unit  240  comprises a battery, the battery may be mounted within internal cavity  130 , may be mounted to the tire-wheel system  100 ,  300 , may be mounted proximate to tire wheel system  100 ,  300 , may be mounted distal from tire wheel system  100 ,  300 , and/or may be mounted to an associated vehicle  90 . 
     In certain embodiments, the electrical power unit  240  may comprise an electric generator  380 . An electric generator  380  may be a rotary electric generator or a linear electric generator. An electric generator  380 , may comprise multiple components such as, without limitation, a conductive coil  384 , and either or both of a permanent magnet  386  or an electromagnetic device. In an electric generator  380 , a magnetic field  382  is moved relative to a conductive coil  384  in order to induce an electric current in the conductive coil  384 . The magnetic field  382 , or the conductive coil  384 , or both may be moved in order to create the relative movement. A conductive coil  384  may be a solenoid. A magnetic field  382  may be the magnetic field  382  from a permanent magnet  386  or from an electromagnetic device. In certain embodiments, and as shown in  FIG. 3 , a conductive coil  384  may be engaged with tire wheel system  100  and adapted to be rotated therewith and the magnetic field  382  may be positioned proximate to the tire wheel system  100 ,  300  such as by engagement of permanent magnet  386  with an associated vehicle  90 , and adapted such that the tire wheel system  100  may be rotated with respect to the magnetic field  382 . In such embodiments, rotation of the tire wheel system  100  during operation of the tire wheel system  100  moves the conductive coil  384  with respect to the magnetic field  382  thereby generating electric current that may be output from the conductive coil  384  as electrical power. In some embodiments in which the electrical power unit  240  comprises an electric generator  380 , the electric generator  380  may be mounted within internal cavity  130 , may be mounted partially within internal cavity  130  and partially outside of internal cavity  130  and proximate to tire wheel system  100 ,  300 , may be mounted proximate to tire wheel system  100 ,  300 , may be mounted distal from tire wheel system  100 ,  300 , and/or may be mounted to an associated vehicle  90 . 
     In certain embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 1   b,  the electrical power unit  240  may comprise a kinetic energy recovery device  160 . A kinetic energy recovery device  160  is a device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. Mechanical energy may comprise, without limitation, energy expressed as a component undergoes a strain; that is, the strain energy. A kinetic energy recovery device  160  may comprise a piezoelectric component  162 . In certain embodiments, a kinetic energy recovery device  160  comprises a piezoelectric component  162  adapted to be flexed in response to operation of the tire wheel system  100  such that operation of the tire wheel system  100  causes the kinetic energy recovery device  160  to produce electrical power. Referring to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1   b,  a kinetic energy recovery device  160  may comprise a piezoelectric component  162  engaged with a first interior surface  124  opposite the external tread surface  126  such that the piezoelectric component  162  undergoes a flexure cycle, with a concomitant generation of electrical energy, as the first interior surface  124  with which it is engaged passes through the tire footprint during operation of the tire wheel system  100 . In some embodiments in which the electrical power unit  240  comprises a kinetic energy recovery device  160 , the kinetic energy recovery device  160  may be mounted within internal cavity  130 , or may be mounted outside of internal cavity  130  and to tire wheel system  100 ,  300 . 
     In certain embodiments, the electrical power unit  240  may comprise an electrical interface  370  to a power supply of an associated vehicle  90 . The power supply of an associated vehicle  90  may comprise a vehicle battery, an alternator, or a combination thereof. An electrical interface  370  may comprise any suitable interface chosen with good engineering judgment. In certain embodiments, an electrical interface  370  may comprise a rotatable electrical interface  372  or an inductive interface  376 . The electrical interface  370  may provide means to transmit electrical power between the tire-wheel system  100 , and the rest of an associated vehicle  90  with respect to which the tire-wheel system  100  may undergo operational rotation. 
     A rotatable electrical interface  372  may comprise a slip ring, a collector, a swivel, an electrical rotary joints, or a combination thereof. 
     An inductive interface  376  may comprise multiple components such as, without limitation, a first inductive coil  378  and a second inductive coil  379 . An inductive interface  376  uses an electromagnetic field  377  to transfer energy between a first inductive coil  378  engaged with the associated vehicle  90  and a second inductive coil  379  engaged with the tire-wheel system  300 . In certain embodiments, an induction interface  376  may create an electromagnetic field  377  in the first inductive coil  378 , and the second inductive coil  379  may take power from the electromagnetic field  377  and converts it into electrical current usable to power the active noise interference system  350 . Two induction coils  378 ,  379  in proximity may perform in a manner substantially similar to that of an electrical transformer. 
     As noted above, and as shown in  FIG. 3 , an active noise interference (ANI) system  150 ,  350  may be positioned partially or fully within the internal cavity  130 ,  330 . In some embodiments, such as, without limitation, that shown in  FIG. 1   a,  all of the components of an active noise interference (ANI) system  150 ,  350  may be positioned within the internal cavity  130 ,  330 . In some embodiments, such as, without limitation, that shown in  FIG. 3 , some of the components of an active noise interference (ANI) system  150 ,  350  may be positioned within the internal cavity  130 ,  330  while other components are not positioned within the internal cavity  130 ,  330 . In some embodiments, such as, without limitation, that shown in  FIG. 3 , some of the components of an active noise interference (ANI) system  150 ,  350  may be positioned partially within and partially outside of the internal cavity  130 ,  330 . In some embodiments, a controller  220  or an electrical power unit  240  is positioned partially or fully outside of the tire wheel system  100 ,  300 . In some embodiments, a controller  220  may be positioned away from an associated vehicle  90 . 
     As noted above, and as shown in  FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, active noise interference (ANI) system  200  may comprise a means for noise sensing or detection, or means to sample a noise, such as, without limitation microphone  210  or microphone  260 . In some embodiments, active noise interference (ANI) system  200  may comprise means to predict target noise  205  or means to predict a characteristic about the target noise  205 . For example and not limitation, the resonant frequency of an internal wheel and pneumatic tire system may be predicted upon the volume of air contained therein. Without limitation, in some embodiments an active noise control system  200  may accept information about the volume of air contained in an associated tire wheel system  100 ,  300  and predict thereupon the resonant frequency of the associated tire wheel system  100 , and may predict the frequency of target noise  205  based thereupon. In one non-limiting embodiment, an active noise interference (ANI) system  200  may predict the frequency of target noise  205  based upon the volume of air contained in an associated tire wheel system  100 ,  300  and generate a constant frequency sound to interfere with the predicted target noise  205 . 
     While the active noise interference system has been described above in connection with certain embodiments, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiments for performing the same function of the active noise interference system without deviating therefrom. Further, the active noise interference system may include embodiments disclosed but not described in exacting detail. Further, all embodiments disclosed are not necessarily in the alternative, as various embodiments may be combined to provide the desired characteristics. Variations can be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the active noise interference system. Therefore, the active noise interference system should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the attached claims.