ACTIVE VIBRATORY NOISE REDUCTION SYSTEM

Abstract

An active vibratory noise reduction system includes: a canceling vibratory sound generator; an error signal detector for detecting a canceling error between the canceling vibratory sound and a vibratory noise as an error signal; and an active vibratory noise controller for generating, based on the error signal, a control signal for controlling the canceling vibratory sound generator. The active vibratory noise controller is provided with a stability improving unit including: a correction value generation unit for generating an error signal correction value by multiplying a reaching control sound estimation value by a stabilization coefficient; an error signal correction unit for correcting the error signal by using the error signal correction value to generate a corrected error signal, and a stabilization coefficient updating unit for sequentially updating the stabilization coefficient based on the corrected error signal and the reaching control sound estimation value by using an adaptive algorithm.

Claims

1. An active vibratory noise reduction system, comprising: a canceling vibratory sound generator configured to generate canceling vibratory sound for canceling vibratory noise generated from a vibratory noise source; an error signal detector configured to detect a canceling error between the vibratory noise and the canceling vibratory sound as an error signal; and an active vibratory noise controller configured to receive the error signal and to supply a control signal for causing the canceling vibratory sound generator to generate the canceling vibratory sound, wherein the active vibratory noise controller comprises: a reference signal generation unit configured to generate a reference signal that is synchronous with a vibration frequency of the vibratory noise source; a reference signal correction unit configured to correct the reference signal with simulated transfer characteristics to generate a corrected reference signal, the simulated transfer characteristics representing acoustic characteristics from the canceling vibratory sound generator to the error signal detector that are identified beforehand; an adaptive notch filter configured to generate the control signal based on the reference signal; a filter coefficient updating unit configured to sequentially update filter coefficients of the adaptive notch filter by using an adaptive algorithm; and a stability improving unit configured to correct the error signal, wherein the stability improving unit comprises: a correction value generation unit configured to generate, based on the corrected reference signal, a reaching control sound estimation value, which is an estimated value of the canceling vibratory sound that reaches the error signal detector, and to multiply the reaching control sound estimation value by a stabilization coefficient to generate an error signal correction value; and an error signal correction unit configured to correct the error signal by using the error signal correction value to generate a corrected error signal, wherein the filter coefficient updating unit sequentially updates the filter coefficients based on the corrected reference signal and the corrected error signal, and wherein the stability improving unit further comprises a stabilization coefficient updating unit configured to sequentially update the stabilization coefficient based on the corrected error signal and the reaching control sound estimation value by using an adaptive algorithm.

2. The active vibratory noise reduction system according to claim 1, wherein the stability improving unit further comprises: a correction value adjustment unit having multiple modes with varying degrees of adjustment of the stabilization coefficient, the correction value adjustment unit being configured to obtain an adjusted stabilization coefficient by adjusting the stabilization coefficient in accordance with the degree of adjustment of one of the multiple modes selected based on the stabilization coefficient and to generate an adjusted correction value by multiplying the reaching control sound estimation value by the adjusted stabilization coefficient; and an error signal adjustment unit configured to generate an adjusted error signal by correcting the error signal by using the adjusted correction value generated by the correction value adjustment unit, and wherein the filter coefficient updating unit sequentially updates the filter coefficients based on the corrected reference signal and the adjusted error signal.

3. The active vibratory noise reduction system according to claim 2, wherein the multiple modes includes a control output limiting mode which is selected when the stabilization coefficient is smaller than a prescribed minimum value and in which the minimum value is set as the adjusted stabilization coefficient, a stability securing mode which is selected when the stabilization coefficient is greater than a prescribed threshold value greater than the minimum value and in which a prescribed maximum value greater than the threshold value is set as the adjusted stabilization coefficient, and an adaptive mode which is selected when the stabilization coefficient is greater than or equal to the minimum value and smaller than or equal to the threshold value and in which the stabilization coefficient is set as the adjusted stabilization coefficient.

4. The active vibratory noise reduction system according to claim 3, wherein the correction value adjustment unit is configured to set the minimum value depending on the vibration frequency of the vibratory noise source.

5. The active vibratory noise reduction system according to claim 3, wherein when the stabilization coefficient exceeds the maximum value, the correction value adjustment unit holds the adjusted stabilization coefficient at the maximum value for a prescribed time period.

6. The active vibratory noise reduction system according to claim 4, wherein when the stabilization coefficient exceeds the maximum value, the correction value adjustment unit holds the adjusted stabilization coefficient at the maximum value for a prescribed time period.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first application example of an active vibratory noise reduction system according to the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a second application example of the active vibratory noise reduction system according to the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a third the application example of the active vibratory noise reduction system according to the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the active vibratory noise reduction system according to the first embodiment;

[0025] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an adaptive process according to the LMS algorithm;

[0026] FIG. 6 is a graph showing an assumed change in the acoustic characteristics;

[0027] FIG. 7 is a graph showing a stabilization coefficient generated by the active vibratory noise reduction system when there is a change in the acoustic characteristics;

[0028] FIG. 8 is a graph showing the amplitude of the adaptive notch filter in the active vibratory noise reduction system when there is a change in the acoustic characteristics in comparison with a conventional example;

[0029] FIG. 9 is a graph showing the sound pressure level observed in the active vibratory noise reduction system when there is a change in the acoustic characteristics in comparison with a case without control and with a conventional example;

[0030] FIG. 10 is correlation diagram between the engine rotational speed and the stabilization coefficient when there is no change in the acoustic characteristics;

[0031] FIG. 11 is a correlation diagram between the engine rotational speed and the amplitude of the adaptive notch filter when there is no change in the acoustic characteristics;

[0032] FIG. 12 is a correlation diagram between the engine rotational speed and the sound pressure level when there is no change in the acoustic characteristics;

[0033] FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram of the active vibratory noise reduction system according to the second embodiment;

[0034] FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a correction value adjustment unit shown in FIG. 13;

[0035] FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram showing an application example of the active vibratory noise reduction system shown in FIG. 13;

[0036] FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a table of the minimum value α.sub.min of an adjusted stabilization coefficient;

[0037] FIG. 17 is a correlation diagram between the engine rotational speed and the adjusted stabilization coefficient;

[0038] FIG. 18 is a correlation diagram between the engine rotational speed and the sound pressure level;

[0039] FIG. 19 is a functional block diagram of a conventional active vibratory noise reduction system; and

[0040] FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram of another conventional active vibratory noise reduction system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0041] In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings.

[0042] FIGS. 1 to 3 are configuration diagram showing first to third application examples of an active vibratory noise reduction system 10 according to the present invention. In these examples, the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 is applied to a vehicle 1.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 has an engine 2 mounted thereon as a travel drive source. The active vibratory noise reduction system 10 includes error microphones 11 that serve as a vibratory noise detection unit configured to detect the noise in a passenger compartment 3, loudspeakers 12 that serve as a canceling vibratory sound generator configured to generate, as control sound for canceling the noise, canceling sound (canceling vibratory sound) that is in opposite phase with the noise, and an active vibratory noise controller 13. The error microphones 11 are placed on the ceiling above the front seats and above the rear seats, for example. The loudspeakers 12 may be the loudspeakers of an audio system such as door loudspeakers mounted in the front doors and the rear doors. Each error microphone 11 functions as an error signal detector configured to detect, as an error signal e, the canceling error between the noise from the engine 2, which is a vibratory noise source, and the canceling sound from the loudspeakers 12. The active vibratory noise controller 13 is supplied with vehicle information, such as an engine rotational speed and a vehicle speed, and the error signal e detected by each error microphone 11. The active vibratory noise controller 13 generates a control signal u for driving each loudspeaker 12 based on the vehicle information and the error signal e to control the canceling sound generated by the loudspeaker 12 so that the engine noise (engine muffling sound) transmitted to a vehicle occupant due to vibration of the engine 2 is reduced. In this case, the active vibratory noise controller 13 functions as an active noise controller.

[0044] The active vibratory noise reduction system 10 shown in FIG. 2 includes error microphones 11 for detecting the noise in the passenger compartment 3, a vibration actuator 14 that serves as a canceling vibratory sound generator configured to generate canceling vibration (canceling vibratory sound) for canceling the vibration of the engine 2 which causes noise, and an active vibratory noise controller 13. The canceling vibration generated by the vibration actuator 14 is in opposite phase with the vibration of the engine 2. The error microphones 11 are similar to those of the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 shown in FIG. 1. The vibration actuator 14 is configured such that the generated canceling vibration is applied to the engine 2, and is constituted of an active engine mount, for example. The active vibratory noise controller 13 is supplied with the vehicle information, such as the engine rotational speed and the vehicle speed, and the error signal e detected by the error microphone 11. The active vibratory noise controller 13 generates the control signal u for driving the vibration actuator 14 based on the vehicle information and the error signal e to control the canceling vibration generated by the vibration actuator 14 so that the vibration of the engine 2 is reduced and the engine noise (engine muffling sound) transmitted to the vehicle occupant due to the vibration of the engine 2 is reduced. In this case, the active vibratory noise controller 13 functions as an active vibration controller.

[0045] The active vibratory noise reduction system 10 shown in FIG. 3 includes a vibration sensor 15 that serves as a vibratory noise detection unit configured to detect the vibration of the engine 2 which causes noise in the passenger compartment 3, a vibration actuator 14 configured to generate the canceling vibration to cancel the vibration of the engine 2, and an active vibratory noise controller 13. The vibration sensor 15 is mounted on the engine 2 and functions as an error signal detector configured to detect, as an error signal e, an error vibration which is a synthesis of the engine vibration generated by the rotation of the engine 2 and the canceling vibration applied to the engine 2 by the vibration actuator 14. The vibration actuator 14 may be similar to that of the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 shown in FIG. 2. The active vibratory noise controller 13 is supplied with the vehicle information, such as the engine rotational speed and the vehicle speed, and the error signal e detected by the vibration sensor 15. The active vibratory noise controller 13 generates the control signal u for driving the vibration actuator 14 based on the vehicle information and the error signal e to control the canceling vibration generate by the vibration actuator 14 so that the engine vibration is reduced and the engine noise (engine muffling sound) transmitted to the vehicle occupant due to the vibration of the engine 2 is reduced. In this case also, the active vibratory noise controller 13 functions as an active vibration controller.

[0046] As described above, the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 according to the present invention can be used in various modes. Other than the above examples, for example, an electric motor may be mounted instead of the engine 2 as a drive source, and the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 may be configured to reduce the vibratory noise generated from the electric motor. In yet another example, the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 may be configured to reduce drive system noise transmitted to the vehicle occupant due to the vibratory noise generated from drive system rotating bodies, such as a propeller shaft and a drive shaft, during travel of the vehicle 1. Thus, the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 can reduce the vibratory noise of the engine 2 or the drive system, which generates periodic vibratory noise due to rotational motion.

[0047] In each embodiment described in the following, the vehicle 1 is provided with the engine 2 as a drive source, the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 is provided with the error microphone 11 as a vibratory noise detection unit and the loudspeaker 12 as a canceling vibratory sound generator, and the active vibratory noise controller 13 functions as an active noise controller.

First Embodiment

[0048] With reference to FIGS. 4 to 12, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the active vibratory noise controller 13 is supplied with an engine/drive system signal X. The engine/drive system signal X may be engine pulses that are synchronous with the vibration frequency, such as the rotation frequency of the output shaft of the engine 2. The active vibratory noise controller 13 includes a reference signal generation unit 21 configured to generate reference signals r (rc, rs) based on the engine/drive system signal X. In the reference signal generation unit 21, a frequency detection circuit 22 detects, from the engine/drive system signal X, the vibration frequency of the vibratory noise source; namely, the frequency f of the vibratory noise that causes noise in the passenger compartment 3. The detected frequency f is supplied to a cosine wave generation circuit 23 and a sine wave generation circuit 24. The cosine wave generation circuit 23 generates cosine wave signal rc which serves as a reference signal r based on the supplied frequency f. The sine wave generation circuit 24 generates a sine wave signal rs which serves as a reference signal r based on the supplied frequency f. The reference signals r (rc, rs) generated by the reference signal generation unit 21 are supplied to a reference signal correction unit 25 and an adaptive notch filter 26.

[0049] In the reference signal correction unit 25, simulated transfer characteristics C{circumflex over ( )} that simulate the acoustic characteristics C from the loudspeaker 12 to the error microphone 11 are pre-set, where the acoustic characteristics are identified beforehand. The simulated transfer characteristics C{circumflex over ( )} can be expressed by a transfer function having a real part C{circumflex over ( )}0 and an imaginary part C{circumflex over ( )}1 defining amplitude characteristics and phase characteristics over a prescribed frequency range. The simulated transfer characteristics C{circumflex over ( )} can be represented by a single complex number for a given single frequency.

[0050] The cosine wave signal rc is input to a first filter 31 having the real part C{circumflex over ( )}0 of the simulated transfer characteristics C{circumflex over ( )} as a coefficient thereof. The sine wave signal rs is input to a second filter 32 having the imaginary part C{circumflex over ( )}1 of the simulated transfer characteristics C{circumflex over ( )} as a coefficient thereof. Also, the sine wave signal rs is input to a third filter 33 having the real part C{circumflex over ( )}0 of the simulated transfer characteristics C{circumflex over ( )} as a coefficient thereof. The cosine wave signal rc is also input to a fourth filter 34 having a value obtained by reversing the sign of the imaginary part C{circumflex over ( )}1 of the simulated transfer characteristics C{circumflex over ( )} as a coefficient thereof.

[0051] An output of the first filter 31 and an output of the second filter 32 are added together at a first adder 36 to generate a corrected cosine wave signal rc, which is supplied to a filter coefficient updating unit 27. An output of the third filter 33 and an output of the fourth filter 34 are added together at a second adder 37 to generate a corrected sine wave signal rs′, which is supplied to the filter coefficient updating unit 27.

[0052] The adaptive notch filter 26 is a so-called single-frequency adaptive notch filter (SAN filter). In the adaptive notch filter 26, the cosine wave signal rc is supplied to a first adaptive filter 41 having a first filter coefficient W0, while the sine wave signal rs is supplied to a second adaptive filter 42 having a second filter coefficient W1. The first adaptive filter 41 and the second adaptive filter 42 are each a control filter in which the corresponding filter coefficient W (W0, W1) is adaptively set, and outputs a signal that is in opposite phase with the input signal. Details of the filter coefficients W (W0, W1) will be described later.

[0053] The cosine wave signal rc filtered by the first adaptive filter 41 of the adaptive notch filter 26 and the sine wave signal rs filtered by the second adaptive filter 42 of the adaptive notch filter 26 are added together at a third adder 43 to make a control signal u. Namely, the adaptive notch filter 26 serves as a control signal generation unit configured to generate the control signal u based on the reference signals r (rc, rs). The control signal u is convert to an analogue signal at a D/A converter 44 and is supplied to the loudspeaker 12. Based on the supplied control signal u, the loudspeaker 12 generates control sound for canceling the noise generated by the engine 2/the drive system, which are noise sources.

[0054] The error microphone 11 detects noise as an error signal e, where the noise is an canceling error obtained as a result of synthesis of the noise in the passenger compartment 3 (namely, periodic noise d which is generated mainly from the engine 2/the drive system and has a prescribed frequency) and reaching control sound y which is generate by the loudspeaker 12 and reaches the error microphone 11. Note that the noise detected by the error microphone 11 may include, in addition to the aforementioned canceling error noise, noise originating from parts other than the engine 2 and the drive system. The error signal e is converted to a digital signal at an A/D converter 45, and then is corrected at a fourth adder 46 to make an apparent (virtual) corrected error signal e′, which is supplied to the filter coefficient updating unit 27. The fourth adder 46 is a part of a later-described stability improving unit 50, and details of the correction performed by the fourth adder 46 will be described later.

[0055] The filter coefficient updating unit 27 includes a first filter coefficient updating unit 47 configured to adaptively update the first filter coefficient W0 of the first adaptive filter 41 of the adaptive notch filter 26 and a second filter coefficient updating unit 48 configured to adaptively update the second filter coefficient W1 of the second adaptive filter 42 of the adaptive notch filter 26. The first filter coefficient updating unit 47 calculates the first filter coefficient W0 of the first adaptive filter 41 by using the LMS algorithm based on the corrected cosine wave signal rc′ supplied from the reference signal correction unit 25 and the corrected error signal e′ supplied from the fourth adder 46 such that the corrected error signal e′ is minimized. The first filter coefficient updating unit 47 performs the coefficient calculation of the first adaptive filter 41 at each sampling time and updates the first filter coefficient W0 of the first adaptive filter 41 with the calculated value. The second filter coefficient updating unit 48 calculates the second filter coefficient W1 of the second adaptive filter 42 by using the LMS algorithm based on the corrected sine wave signal rs' supplied from the reference signal correction unit 25 and the corrected error signal e′ supplied from the fourth adder 46 such that the corrected error signal e′ is minimized. The second filter coefficient updating unit 48 performs the coefficient calculation of the second adaptive filter 42 at each sampling time and updates the second filter coefficient W1 of the second adaptive filter 42 with the calculated value.

[0056] In this way, in the active vibratory noise controller 13, the reference signal correction unit 25 corrects the reference signals r (the cosine wave signal rc and the sine wave signal rs) with the simulated transfer characteristics C{circumflex over ( )} to generate the corrected reference signals r′ (the corrected cosine wave signal rc′ and the corrected sine wave signal rs′). The first filter coefficient updating unit 47 and the second filter coefficient updating unit 48 of the filter coefficient updating unit 27 sequentially update the filter coefficients W (W0, W1) of the first adaptive filter 41 and the second adaptive filter 42 of the adaptive notch filter 26, respectively, based on the corresponding corrected reference signals r′ (the corrected cosine wave signal rc′ and the corrected sine wave signal rs′) and the corrected error signal e′ by using an adaptive algorithm.

[0057] Thereby, the filtering of the cosine wave signal rc and the sine wave signal rs by the first adaptive filter 41 and the second adaptive filter 42 of the adaptive notch filter 26 is optimized, and the periodic noise d from the engine 2/the drive system is canceled by the control sound generated by the loudspeaker 12 based on the control signal u so that the in-compartment noise is reduced.

[0058] The active vibratory noise controller 13 is further provided with a stability improving unit 50 for stabilizing the noise reduction performance by the control sound from the loudspeaker 12. The stability improving unit 50 is supplied with the corrected cosine wave signal rc′ and the corrected sine wave signal rs' from the reference signal correction unit 25 and the corrected error signal e′ from the fourth adder 46.

[0059] In the stability improving unit 50, the corrected cosine wave signal rc′ is supplied to a first filter 52 of a correction value generation unit 51, while the corrected sine wave signal rs' is supplied to a second filter 53 of the correction value generation unit 51. The first filter 52 of the stability improving unit 50 has a filter coefficient same as the first filter coefficient W0 of the first adaptive filter 41 of the adaptive notch filter 26, which is adaptively updated as described above. The second filter 53 of the stability improving unit 50 has a filter coefficient same as the second filter coefficient W1 of the second adaptive filter 42 of the adaptive notch filter 26, which is adaptively updated as described above.

[0060] The corrected cosine wave signal rc′ filtered by the first filter 52 of the correction value generation unit 51 and the corrected sine wave signal rs' filtered by the second filter 53 of the correction value generation unit 51 are added together at a fifth adder 54 of the correction value generation unit 51 to make a reaching control sound estimation value y{circumflex over ( )}, which is supplied to a corrective filter 55 of the correction value generation unit 51. The reaching control sound estimation value y{circumflex over ( )} is an estimated value of the reaching control sound y which is the canceling sound reaching the error microphone 11 and is in opposite phase with the periodic noise d. The corrective filter 55 has an adaptive stabilization coefficient α and multiplies the reaching control sound estimation value y{circumflex over ( )} by the adaptive stabilization coefficient α to generate an error signal correction value αy{circumflex over ( )}, which is a correction value for the error signal e. The generated error signal correction value αy{circumflex over ( )} is supplied to the fourth adder 46 and is added to the error signal e to correct the same; namely, the fourth adder 46 functions as an error signal correction unit configured to correct the error signal e by using the error signal correction value αy{circumflex over ( )} and thereby to generate the corrected error signal e′. In this way, the apparent corrected error signal e′ is output from the fourth adder 46.

[0061] In addition to being supplied to the filter coefficient updating unit 27 as described above, the corrected error signal e′ output from the fourth adder 46 is also supplied to the stability improving unit 50. The stability improving unit 50 is provided with a stabilization coefficient updating unit 56 configured to adaptively update the stabilization coefficient α of the corrective filter 55. The stabilization coefficient updating unit 56 adaptively updates the stabilization coefficient α of the corrective filter 55 based on the reaching control sound estimation value y{circumflex over ( )} supplied from the fifth adder 54 and the apparent corrected error signal e′ supplied from the fourth adder 46 such that the corrected error signal e′ is minimized. In the following, description will be made concretely.

[0062] Provided that the sampling time is represented by “n,” the stabilization coefficient updating unit 56 performs the update by using the following evaluation function J regarding the corrected error signal e′. Specifically, the stabilization coefficient updating unit 56 adaptively adjusts the stabilization coefficient α by using the LMS algorithm such that the evaluation function Jn represented by the following formula is minimized (becomes zero).

J.sub.n=e.sub.n′.sup.2=(e.sub.n+α.sub.nŷ.sub.n).sup.2, ŷ.sub.n=r.sub.n*Ĉ*W.sub.n

where J represents the evaluation function, n represents the sampling time, e′ represents the corrected error signal, e represents the error signal, a represents the stabilization coefficient, y{circumflex over ( )} represents the reaching control sound estimation value, r represents the reference signal, C{circumflex over ( )} represents the simulated transfer characteristics, W represents the filter coefficient, and * represent the filtering operation.

[0063] This can be illustrated by an operating point on the error surface as shown in FIG. 5. The stabilization coefficient α is updated in a negative direction of a gradient of a tangential line of the evaluation function J, and the amount of update of the stabilization coefficient α in each sampling step is adjusted by multiplying a step size parameter μ. Specifically, the stabilization coefficient α is calculated in accordance with the following formulas.

[00001]${\alpha }_{n+1}={\alpha }_n-\mu .Math.\frac{\partial J_n}{\partial {\alpha }_n},\frac{\partial J_n}{\partial {\alpha }_n}=2.Math.e_n^{\prime }.Math.{\hat{y}}_n.Math.{\alpha }_{n+1}={\alpha }_n-2.Math.\mu .Math..Math.e_n^{\prime }.Math.{\hat{y}}_n$

where n+1 represents the next sampling time, and μ represents the step size parameter. In the above formulas, −2μe′y{circumflex over ( )} is the amount of update of the stabilization coefficient α.

[0064] Further, to improve the stability, the stabilization coefficient α is set to a value greater than or equal to zero, as shown by the following conditional statement.

If α.sub.n<0, Then α.sub.n=0

[0065] In a case where noise amplification or abnormal sound occurs, the noise and the control sound do not cancel each other well, whereby the component of the reaching control sound y contained in the error signal e increases considerably. The corrected error signal e′ also increases considerably in a similar manner. Therefore, in order to stabilize the canceling error, the active vibratory noise controller 13 of the present embodiment is provided with the stability improving unit 50 configured to correct the error signal e. The stability improving unit 50 adaptively updates the stabilization coefficient α in an increasing direction such that the corrected error signal e′ is reduced, and hence, the reaching control sound y is suppressed. As a result of the suppression of the reaching control sound y, the amplification of the sound pressure at the error microphone 11 is alleviated. From the above explanation, the effect of the active vibratory noise controller 13 can be understood qualitatively.

[0066] Next, operations and effects confirmed with the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 regarding the embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a graph showing an assumed change in the acoustic characteristics C of the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that in the frequency band (100 Hz to 150 Hz) corresponding to the engine rotational speed from 3000 to 4500 rpm, the acoustic characteristics C have changed from initial characteristics shown by thin lines to current characteristics shown by thick lines, and a difference has been created between the simulated transfer characteristics C{circumflex over ( )}, which are a control parameter, and the current actual acoustic characteristics C.

[0067] When the active vibratory noise controller 13 of the embodiment executes the noise reduction control under such conditions, the stabilization coefficient α is updated as indicated by “present invention” in FIG. 7. Note that in the conventional example shown by thin lines in FIG. 7, the stabilization coefficient α is fixedly set to 0.4. As shown in FIG. 7, in the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 according to the embodiment, only when the difference between the actual acoustic characteristics C and the simulated transfer characteristics C{circumflex over ( )} is large, the stabilization coefficient α is adaptively updated to be larger.

[0068] As a result, the amplitude of the first adaptive filter 41 and the second adaptive filter 42 of the adaptive notch filter 26 serving as a control filter (where the amplitude corresponds to the output of the control sound) becomes as shown in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8, in the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 according to the embodiment, the amplitude of the adaptive notch filter 26 is suppressed compared to the conventional example in which the stabilization coefficient α is fixed to a constant value of 0.4.

[0069] As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, in an engine rotational speed range lower than or equal to 3000 rpm, the sound pressure level in the present invention (the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 according to the embodiment) shown by thick lines is lower than the sound pressure level in the conventional example shown by thin lines by 5 to 10 dB (namely, the noise canceling performance is higher in the present invention). In an engine rotational speed range from 3000 to 4500 rpm in which the actual acoustic characteristics C change, noise amplification is suppressed. Particularly, in the engine rotational speed range near 3600 rpm, noise amplification is reduced considerably compared to the conventional example. Further, in an engine rotational speed range higher than or equal to 4500 rpm in which there is no change in the actual acoustic characteristics C, the noise canceling performance is restored.

[0070] In a case where there is no change occurring in the acoustic characteristics C and hence there is no difference between the simulated transfer characteristics C{circumflex over ( )} (control parameter) and the actual acoustic characteristics C, the stabilization coefficient α becomes as shown in FIG. 10. As shown in FIG. 10, when there is no difference between the actual acoustic characteristics C and the simulated transfer characteristics C{circumflex over ( )}, the stabilization coefficient α is always kept small in the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 according to the embodiment.

[0071] The amplitude of the adaptive notch filter 26 at this time is shown in FIG. 11. As appreciated from FIG. 11, there is not a large difference in the amplitude of the adaptive notch filter 26 between the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 according to the embodiment and the conventional example.

[0072] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 according to the embodiment achieves the sound pressure level lower than that of the conventional example by about 5 to 10 dB (namely, high noise canceling performance) over the entire control band. From the foregoing results, the superiority of the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 according to the embodiment can be confirmed.

[0073] As described above, the stability improving unit 50 includes, in addition to the corrective filter 55 and the fourth adder 46, the stabilization coefficient updating unit 56 configured to sequentially update the stabilization coefficient α by using the adaptive algorithm based on the corrected error signal e′ and the reaching control sound estimation value y{circumflex over ( )}. Therefore, the stabilization coefficient α is adaptively adjusted during the control and the stabilization coefficient α is made large only when necessary, whereby both reliable control stability and excellent noise canceling performance can be achieved.

Second Embodiment

[0074] Next, with reference to FIGS. 13 to 18, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the elements same as or similar to those of the first embodiment are denoted by same reference signs and redundant description may not be repeated. The active vibratory noise reduction system 10 of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment with respect to the configuration of the stability improving unit 50 so that two virtual values of the error signal e are generated. In the following, description will be made concretely.

[0075] Similarly to the first embodiment, the fourth adder 46 adds the error signal correction value αy{circumflex over ( )} supplied from the corrective filter 55 to the error signal e supplied from the A/D converter 45 thereby to generate the corrected error signal e′. The corrected error signal e′ generated at the fourth adder 46 is supplied to the stabilization coefficient updating unit 56 and is used in the update of the stabilization coefficient α necessary for the generation of the error signal correction value αy{circumflex over ( )}. Specifically, the stabilization coefficient updating unit 56 updates the stabilization coefficient α in accordance with the following formulas in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

α.sub.n+1=α.sub.n−2μe′.sub.nŷ.sub.n, e′.sub.n=e.sub.n+α.sub.nŷ.sub.n

[0076] In addition to the above-described configuration, the stability improving unit 50 is provided with a correction value adjustment unit 61.

[0077] FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the correction value adjustment unit 61 shown in FIG. 13. As shown in FIG. 14, the correction value adjustment unit 61 includes an α′ decision circuit 62 and a multiplier 63. The α′ decision circuit 62 is configured to receive the value of the stabilization coefficient α (more specifically, copy of the value) which is adaptively adjusted at the corrective filter 55. The α′ decision circuit 62 has multiple (three, for example) modes with varying degrees of adjustment of the stabilization coefficient α, and based on the received stabilization coefficient α, selects one of the multiple modes and decides an adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ in accordance with the selected mode, so that the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ is used in the update of the filter coefficients W of the adaptive notch filter 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the multiple modes include a stability securing mode, a control output limiting mode, and an adaptive mode, which are selected in accordance with the stabilization coefficient α to automatically set the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ in three steps (specifically, to one of a prescribed maximum value α.sub.max that is pre-set, a prescribed minimum value α.sub.min that is pre-set, and the stabilization coefficient α as it is) in accordance with the following conditional statements (1)-(3).

If α.sub.n>α.sub.th, Then α′.sub.n=α.sub.max  (1)

Else if α.sub.n<α.sub.min, Then α′.sub.n=α.sub.min  (2)

Else, Then α′.sub.n′=α.sub.n  (3)

where α.sub.th represents a prescribed threshold value.

[0078] Specifically, as indicated by statement (1), when the stabilization coefficient α is greater than the prescribed threshold value α.sub.th (for example, 0.8), the α′ decision circuit 62 selects the stability securing mode and sets the maximum value α.sub.max (for example, 5.0), which is greater than the threshold value α.sub.th, as the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′. Note that the threshold value α.sub.th is set to a relatively large value as a determination reference indicating a situation in which the control may become unstable. When the stabilization coefficient α becomes greater than the threshold value α.sub.th, the α′ decision circuit 62 determines that there is a high possibility that the noise amplification and/or the abnormal sound may occur, and switches the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ to the maximum value α.sub.max (the stability securing mode), aiming to reliably secure the stability and suppress the noise amplification.

[0079] As indicated by statement (2), when the stabilization coefficient α is smaller than the prescribed minimum value α.sub.min (for example, 0.55), the α′ decision circuit 62 selects the control output limiting mode and sets the minimum value α.sub.min as the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ so that the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ does not become too small. The minimum value α.sub.min is a minimum value that can be set as the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ and is set to a relatively small value greater than or equal to 0 (zero). One aim of setting the minimum value α.sub.min is to ensure minimum system stability. Another aim of setting the minimum value α.sub.min is to ensure that adequate noise cancellation is performed near an ear of a vehicle occupant.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 15, in a case where the in-compartment noise is to be reduced, the error microphone 11 is often installed in the roof lining, and the sound pressure at the position of the error microphone 11 tends to be higher than the sound pressure near an ear of a vehicle occupant where the noise should be canceled. In such a case, large control sound may be output to cancel the noise at the installation position of the error microphone 11 and this may result in an amplification of the sound pressure near the ear of the vehicle occupant by the excessive control sound. To avoid such a situation, the minimum value α.sub.min is provided to limit the amplitude of the control sound so that adequate noise cancellation is performed near the ear of the vehicle occupant.

[0081] As indicated by statement (3), in the other cases (when the stabilization coefficient α is smaller than or equal to the prescribed threshold value α.sub.th and greater than or equal to the prescribed minimum value α.sub.min), the α′ decision circuit 62 selects the adaptive mode and sets the stabilization coefficient α as the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ without modification.

[0082] It is to be noted here that the magnitude relationship between the sound pressure at the error microphone 11 and the sound pressure near the ear of the vehicle occupant varies depending on the vibration frequency of the engine/drive system, which is the vibratory noise source. Therefore, the minimum value α.sub.n of the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ is preferably set depending on the vibration frequency of the vibratory noise source. To achieve this, the α′ decision circuit 62 uses a table storing the frequencies f of the vibratory noise detected by the frequency detection circuit 22 in the address column and the respective values of the minimum value α.sub.n in the data column. FIG. 16 is a block diagram exemplarily showing the table of the minimum value α.sub.min of the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′. Using the frequency f of the vibratory noise obtained by the frequency detection circuit 22 (FIG. 13) as a pointer, the α′ decision circuit 62 reads out a value of the minimum value α.sub.min from the table.

[0083] Also, in order to prevent hearing discomfort that may be caused when the stable and non-stable modes are switched repeatedly in a short period of time, when the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ is set to α.sub.max, the α′ decision circuit 62 holds the value of the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ at α.sub.max (in other words, holds the stability securing mode) over a prescribed time period t. This holding is performed as indicated by the following statements.

When t=0, cnt.sub.0=0

If α.sub.n>α.sub.th, Then cnt.sub.n=tFs

Else, Then cnt.sub.n+1=cnt.sub.n−1, cnt.sub.n≥0

where cnt represents a counter value, and Fs represents a sampling frequency. When the counter value cnt=0, the aforementioned conditional statements (2), (3) are executed.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 14, the multiplier 63 multiplies the reaching control sound estimation value y{circumflex over ( )} supplied from the fifth adder 54 by the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ decided by the α′ decision circuit 62 to generate an adjusted correction value α′y{circumflex over ( )}.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 13, the adjusted correction value α′y{circumflex over ( )} generated by the correction value adjustment unit 61 is supplied to a sixth adder 64 and is added to the error signal e to correct the same. Namely, the sixth adder 64 functions as an error signal adjustment unit configured to correct the error signal e by using the adjusted correction value α′y{circumflex over ( )} thereby to generate an adjusted error signal e″. The adjusted error signal e″ is calculated in accordance with the following formula by using the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ which is set in steps.

e″.sub.n=e.sub.n+α′.sub.nŷ.sub.n.

[0086] Thereby, the apparent adjusted error signal e″ is output from the sixth adder 64. The adjusted error signal e″ is supplied to the first filter coefficient updating unit 47 and the second filter coefficient updating unit 48 and are used in the update of the first adaptive filter 41 and the second adaptive filter 42 of the adaptive notch filter 26.

[0087] Specifically, the first filter coefficient updating unit 47 calculates the first filter coefficient W0 of the first adaptive filter 41 of the adaptive notch filter 26 by using the LMS algorithm based on the corrected cosine wave signal rc′ supplied from the reference signal correction unit 25 and the adjusted error signal e″ supplied from the sixth adder 64 such that the adjusted error signal e″ is minimized. The second filter coefficient updating unit 48 calculates the second filter coefficient W1 of the second adaptive filter 42 of the adaptive notch filter 26 by using the LMS algorithm based on the corrected sine wave signal rs' supplied from the reference signal correction unit 25 and the adjusted error signal e″ supplied from the sixth adder 64 such that the adjusted error signal e″ is minimized.

[0088] Thereby, the cosine wave signal rc and the sine wave signal rs filtered by the first adaptive filter 41 and the second adaptive filter 42 of the adaptive notch filter 26 are optimized, and the periodic noise d from the engine 2/the drive system is canceled by the control sound generated by the loudspeaker 12 based on the control signal u, whereby the in-compartment noise is reduced.

[0089] Next, operations and effects confirmed with the active vibratory noise controller 13 of this embodiment will be described. Similarly to the first embodiment, it is assumed that the change in the acoustic characteristics C shown in FIG. 6 has occurred in the frequency band (100 Hz to 150 Hz) corresponding to the engine rotational speed from 3000 to 4500 rpm.

[0090] When the active vibratory noise controller 13 of the embodiment executes the noise reduction control under such conditions, the stabilization coefficient α is updated as indicated by “present invention” in FIG. 7. In the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 according to the embodiment, when the difference between the actual acoustic characteristics C and the simulated transfer characteristics C{circumflex over ( )} is large, the adapted stabilization coefficient α exceeds the threshold value α.sub.th and the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ is adaptively set to the maximum value α.sub.max, as shown in FIG. 17. When the stabilization coefficient α is smaller than the minimum value α.sub.min, the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ is adaptively set to the minimum value α.sub.min so that the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ does not become too small. In the other cases, the value of the stabilization coefficient α as it is set as the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′.

[0091] As a result, as shown in FIG. 18, at engine rotational speeds lower than or equal to 3000 rpm, the noise level at the position of the error microphone 11 is suppressed in the present invention indicated by thick lines, as in the conventional example indicated by thin lines. In the engine rotational speed range from 3000 to 4500 rpm in which the acoustic characteristics C change, noise amplification is further suppressed in the present embodiment compared to the conventional example and the first embodiment (FIG. 7). Also, in the present embodiment, in the engine rotational speed range higher than or equal to 4500 rpm in which there is no change in the acoustic characteristics C, the noise canceling performance is restored.

[0092] As described above, in the present embodiment, the correction value adjustment unit 61 has multiple modes with varying degrees of adjustment of the stabilization coefficient α, and obtains the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ by adjusting the stabilization coefficient α in accordance with the degree of adjustment of the mode selected based on the stabilization coefficient α. Further, the reaching control sound estimation value y{circumflex over ( )} is multiplied by the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ so that the error signal correction value αy{circumflex over ( )} is adjusted to the adjusted correction value α′y{circumflex over ( )}. Then, the sixth adder 64 uses the adjusted correction value α′y{circumflex over ( )} to correct the error signal e to be supplied to the first filter coefficient updating unit 47 and the second filter coefficient updating unit 48. Thus, besides the adaptive processing of the stabilization coefficient α, the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ used in the update of the filter coefficients W (W0, W1) of the adaptive notch filter 26 can be set in steps in accordance with the mode.

[0093] Specifically, the correction value adjustment unit 61 has the control output limiting mode which is selected when the stabilization coefficient α is smaller than the minimum value α.sub.min and in which the minimum value α.sub.min is set as the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′, the stability securing mode which is selected when the stabilization coefficient α is greater than the threshold value α.sub.th and in which the maximum value α.sub.max is set as the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′, and the adaptive mode which is selected when the stabilization coefficient α is greater than or equal to the minimum value α.sub.min and smaller than or equal to the threshold value α.sub.th and in which the stabilization coefficient α as it is set as the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′. Thus, the adjusted stabilization coefficient α′ used in the update of the filter coefficients W (W0, W1) of the adaptive notch filter 26 is set in steps in accordance with the mode selected based on the value of the stabilization coefficient α, whereby the stability can be improved even further while the noise canceling effect near the ear of the vehicle occupant can be ensured.

[0094] Further, as described with reference to FIG. 16, the correction value adjustment unit 61 sets the minimum value α.sub.min of the stabilization coefficient α depending on the frequency f of the vibratory noise. Thereby, the difference between the sound pressure at the error microphone 11 and the actual sound pressure near the ear of the vehicle occupant can be reduced in accordance with the vibration frequency of the vibratory noise source.

[0095] Concrete embodiments of the present invention have been described in the foregoing, but the present invention should not be limited by the foregoing embodiments and various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the foregoing embodiments, description was made of an example in which the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 has a configuration shown in FIG. 1, but the active vibratory noise reduction system 10 may have a configuration shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3. Besides this, the concrete structure, arrangement, number, etc. of the components as well as the formulas, procedures, etc. may be appropriately changed within the scope of the present invention. Further, the above-described embodiments may be combined as appropriate. Also, not all of the structural elements shown in the above embodiments are necessarily indispensable and they may be selectively adopted as appropriate.