Vy Thao Tran

US Patent:

6360607, Mar 26, 2002

Filed:

Aug 9, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/369829

Inventors:

Francois Charette - Canton MI
Hsiao-An Hsieh - Troy MI
Keng D. Hsueh - West Bloomfield MI
Vy Tran - Canton MI
Rick Hooker - Westland MI

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

G01N 2914

US Classification:

73587, 73584

Abstract:

A sound detector device for locating and diagnosing sound in a motor vehicle includes a headphone and a plurality of directional microphones. The sound detector device also includes a main unit having a circuit operatively connected to the headphone and the directional microphones for allowing an operator to diagnose sound in the motor vehicle.

US Patent:

6650757, Nov 18, 2003

Filed:

Sep 27, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/405020

Inventors:

David Zhou - Dearborn Heights MI
Francois Charette - Canton MI
Keng D. Hsueh - West Bloomfield MI
Vy Tran - Canton MI
Hsiao-An Hsieh - Troy MI

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

A61F 1106

US Classification:

381 714, 386 7112, 386 941, 386 86, 386 711

Abstract:

An apparatus for detecting unwanted noise includes a reference sensor that generates a reference signal in response to stimulation by a source. A combined noise detector picks up a combined noise signal, which includes both background noise and the unwanted noise generated by the source. A noise separation synthesis device filters both signals to generate a coherent unwanted noise signal from the combined noise signal as a function of the reference signal generated by the reference sensor. A comparator determines the presence of unwanted noise by calculating the Kurtosis value of the coherent unwanted noise signal.

US Patent:

61018821, Aug 15, 2000

Filed:

Jul 8, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/111944

Inventors:

Vy Tran - Canton MI
Bill Covitz - Plymouth MI
Gary Boes - Ann Arbor MI
Keng D. Hsueh - West Bloomfield MI
Andrew Phillips - Plymouth MI
Christopher Robert Fuller - Virginia Beach VA
Francois Charette - Blacksburg MI

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

G01M 700

US Classification:

73662

Abstract:

The recreation of vibration levels at certain points in a stationary vehicle interior that are representative of realistic road conditions are achieved using road measurements in conjunction with a technique known as "reciprocal filtering. " The reciprocal filtering technique consists of using an inverse transfer function, or impulse response in the time domain, between an excitation transducer and an accelerometer to calculate the excitation signal needed to recreate the vibrations measured on the road when squeak and rattle are present in a component of the vehicle. A set of excitation signals may be recorded for each component in the vehicle which is suspected of producing squeak and rattle noise. When a complaint is made that a vehicle is producing squeak and rattle, a service technician may reproduce noise by inducing vibrations through a kit having a CD player, an amplifier, a bass shaker and a CD with the set of excitation signals stored on separate tracks thereof. The bass shaker is attached, for example with two side tape, to the component suspected of producing noise, and noise inducing vibrations are played from the CD, through the CD player and amplifier, to the bass shaker.

US Patent:

61160911, Sep 12, 2000

Filed:

Jul 8, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/111680

Inventors:

Vy Tran - Canton MI
Bill Covitz - Plymouth MI
Gary Boes - Ann Arbor MI
Keng D. Hsueh - West Bloomfield MI
Andrew Phillips - Plymouth MI
Christopher Robert Fuller - Virginia Beach VA
Francois Charette - Blacksburg VA

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

G01M 702

US Classification:

73669

Abstract:

The recreation of vibration levels at certain points in a stationary vehicle interior that are representative of realistic road conditions are achieved using road measurements in conjunction with a technique known as "reciprocal filtering. " The reciprocal filtering technique consists of using an inverse transfer function, or impulse response in the time domain, between an excitation transducer and an accelerometer to calculate the excitation signal needed to recreate the vibrations measured on the road when squeak and rattle are present in a component of the vehicle. A set of excitation signals may be recorded for each component in the vehicle which is suspected of producing squeak and rattle noise. When a complaint is made that a vehicle is producing squeak and rattle, a service technician may reproduce noise by inducing vibrations through a kit having a CD player, an amplifier, a bass shaker and a CD with the set of excitation signals stored on separate tracks thereof. The bass shaker is attached, for example with two side tape, to the component suspected of producing noise, and noise inducing vibrations are played from the CD, through the CD player and amplifier, to the bass shaker.

US Patent:

62497499, Jun 19, 2001

Filed:

Aug 25, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/140072

Inventors:

Vy Tran - Canton MI
Sheau-Fang Lei - Farmington Hills MI
Keng D. Hsueh - West Bloomfield MI

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

G01R 1300

US Classification:

702 66

Abstract:

Impulsive components and non-impulsive components within any time-domain signal such as audio, video, vibration, etc. , are separated using wavelet analysis and sorting of wavelet coefficient sets according to statistical parameters of each respective coefficient set. Each entire coefficient set is either included or excluded from each respective separated component based on the statistical parameter. Thus, automatic, adaptive, flexible, and reliable separation of impulsive and non-impulsive components is achieved.

US Patent:

61820180, Jan 30, 2001

Filed:

Aug 25, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/140071

Inventors:

Vy Tran - Canton MI
Sheau-Fang Lei - Farmington Hills MI
Keng D. Hsueh - West Bloomfield MI
Francois Charette - Canton MI

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

G01R 1300
G06F 1900

US Classification:

702 66

Abstract:

Impulsive sound components in a composite sound signal are separated using wavelet analysis and sorting of wavelet coefficient sets according to statistical parameters of each respective coefficient set. Each entire coefficient set is either included or excluded from each respective separated component based on the statistical parameter. Once the impulsive sound component is isolated, it is compared with reference sound information in order to classify the sound according to its potential causes.