Buffeting noise reducing system and method in a vehicle

Abstract

A buffeting noise reducing system includes: a duct configured for air to pass therethrough, with an air intake at one end disposed inside the vehicle, and a blower assembly at the other end, including an air outlet, a blower fan for blowing air through the air outlet, and a blower motor for operating the blower fan. A control system may drive the blower motor when a noise generation condition is satisfied. The noise generation condition may be based on an opening state of at least one wind inflow port, such as a sunroof or window, and/or on the vehicle speed. A buffeting noise reducing method includes detecting an opening state of a wind inflow port and/or detecting a vehicle speed; judging whether a noise is generated or not, based on information detected in the detection step; and discharging air in a passenger compartment to outside if noise is generated.

1 . A buffeting noise reducing system in a vehicle comprising:
 a duct comprising a first and second end and configured and dimensioned for air to pass therethrough;   an air intake at the first end of the duct and configured to be disposed inside a passenger compartment of the vehicle;   a blower assembly attached to the second end of the duct, and comprising an air outlet, a blower fan for blowing air through the air outlet, and a blower motor for operating the blower fan.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit for driving the blower motor when a noise generation condition is satisfied. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a wind inflow port opening detection unit for determining an opening of at least one wind inflow port, wherein the noise generation condition is based on the opening of the at least one wind inflow port. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the condition is based on the opening state of exactly one of the at least one wind inflow port. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a speed sensor for determining a speed of the vehicle, wherein the noise generation condition is based on the speed of the vehicle. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an opening/closing plate disposed in the air outlet;   an actuator for variably opening the opening/closing plate; and   a control unit that controls the actuator based on an operation state of the vehicle.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the duct is connected to a cooling path of a battery in a trunk of the vehicle. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the inflow port comprises a sunroof or a window. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a speed sensor for determining a speed of the vehicle, wherein the noise generation condition is further based on the speed of the vehicle. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the condition comprises the exactly one of the at least one wind inflow port being open and the vehicle speed being in a set range. 
   
   
       11 . A buffeting noise reducing method in a vehicle comprising:
 a detection step comprising at least one of: an opening detection step of detecting an opening state of at least one wind inflow port, and a speed detection step of detecting a speed of the vehicle;   a judging step of judging whether a noise is generated, based on information detected in the detection step; and   a blower driving step of discharging air in a passenger compartment of the vehicle to outside if it is judged that the noise is generated.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising controlling an opening position of an opening/closing plate in a path of the air, the controlling being based on the speed of the vehicle. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the opening detection step comprises detecting an opening state of exactly one of the at least one wind inflow port. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one inflow port comprises a sunroof or a window. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the detection step comprises detecting an opening state of exactly one of the at least one wind input port and detecting if the speed of the vehicle is in a set range; and wherein the judging step comprises judging that the noise is generated if the opening state of the exactly one of the at least one wind input port is satisfied and the speed of the vehicle is in the set range. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the exactly one of the at least one wind input port is a sunroof. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the set range is between about 40-60 kph. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the exactly one of the at least one wind input port is a window. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the set range is between about 60-80 kph.