Abstract: Apparatus for improving the audibility of incident sound (4) to a person (3) operating in an environment where there is a substantial background noise field (2) coming from a source (1) of repetitive noise, comprises an adaptable waveform generator (7), a first electro-acoustic transducer (10) receiving a synthesized cancelling waveform from the generator (7) and generating a cancelling noise to at least partly null the background noise, a second electro-acoustic transducer (11) to sense the partially nulled background noise, and adaptor (13) to modify the output of the generator (7) on the basis of the electrical output signal from the second transducer to minimize the nulled background noise, and sensor (5) to feed a triggering signal (6) derived from the source to the waveform generator. The electro-acoustic transducers (10, 11) can be mounted in headset (8) holding the transducers adjacent to an ear of said person without substantially impeding the arrival of said incident sound (4) to said ear.

Abstract: Vibration isolation between a source (1) and a mounting (3) is provided by means of a vibration-cancelling actuator (4a) with a shear isolator (5) placed in series with the source (1). Mechanical and magnetic actuators are disclosed, a preferred mechanical actuator including its own shear isolation with a ratio of compliance in shear and axial directions of at least 50:1.

Abstract: Primary vibrations from a repetitive source of such vibrations are nulled in a location by specially generated secondary vibrations fed to the location from an actruator. The actuator is driven by a waveform generator which is synchronized to the source by a synchronizing signal on the line which is derived otherwise than from the source. In FIG. 2, the synchronizing signal is derived from the output of a residual vibration sensor via a filter or a phase-locked loop (FIG. 3 and 4).

Abstract: A low frequency attenuation method based on the virtual earth system has the driver feeding cancelling waveforms into a partially closed volume which contains the microphone of the virtual earth feed-back loop. The volume preferably has a maximum dimensions which lies between one third and one seventh of the wavelength of the highest frequency to be nulled. An outlet port of the volume can be tuned to the center frequency of the band of frequencies to be nulled.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cancelling both random and repetitive vibrations in gases, liquids or solids. The invention relies on generating cancelling vibrations (S) for a primary vibration to be nulled (P) by operating at discrete locations in the frequency domain of time samples of the waveform of the primary vibration. The cancelling vibrations required are generated by transforming (at 15) the sensed residual vibrations into a plurality of pairs of components which together define the residual vibrations at a plurality of different locations in the frequency domain, separately modifying (at 17) the independent components and then transforming (at 20) the modified components back into a drive signal for the source (12) of the cancelling vibrations.

Abstract: Improved method and apparatus for the nulling of a primary vibration by the "active" method, based on the "virtual earth" system in which the output of a loudspeaker (3') is continually controlled by a feedback loop (1', 2' 3') to maintain a null at a microphone (1') disposed adjacent to the loudspeaker. In accordance with the invention the loop (1', 2', 3') is used as a generator for the correct waveform of the secondary vibration required to null the primary vibration, the amplitude at which the secondary vibration is projected into the primary vibration being increased to move the null point to the far field of the loudspeaker (3').

Abstract: A method of reducing the adaption time needed to adapt a synthetically generated secondary waveform so that it nulls a primary repetitive waveform (e.g. noise) from a source (1) of vibration, the secondary waveform generation (5) being synchronized by the source (1). The clarity and/or the amplitude of at least a part of the signal resulting from interaction between the primary and secondary waveforms is sensed (6) and used (7, 8) to reshape the secondary waveform. The invention finds application in the cancelling of repetitive vibrations (e.g. in quietening the driving cab of a vehicle).

Abstract: This invention concerns a method of, and apparatus for, reducing the ambient noise level at a location in the vicinity of a source of recurring noise. In its preferred embodiments the invention involves generating a series of cancelling noise signals which are exactly synchronized with the bursts of recurring noise from the source and adapting the cancelling signals in the series on the basis of the success achieved in nulling the noise from the source at the location.