The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 19, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 27, 2001
Andrew Cyril Krochmal, Plymouth, MI (US);
Gregory Roger Hamel, Livonia, MI (US);
John Elliott Whitecar, Plymouth, MI (US);
Visteon Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
The masking-effect of loud audio passages is utilized to reduce the audibility of the fan noise from a cooling fan in an audio system. A power monitor determines an output power of an audio amplifier and generates a power signal proportional to the output power. A switchable cooling fan is positioned to provide a cooling flow of air within the audio system when the cooling fan is turned on. A fan control is coupled to the power monitor and the switchable cooling fan. The fan control compares the power signal with a predetermined threshold and turns on the switchable cooling fan in response to the comparison indicating that reproduction of the amplified audio signals is at an output power level that will substantially mask audible noise created by the switchable cooling fan.