AUTOMOTIVES New electronic wizardry makes cars quieter FOR MANY motorists, the sound of silerice is sweet music indeed. A quiet passenger cabin is more relaxing, easier on the nerves, and produces less driver fatigue on long drives. For those who travel on daily commutes to the office, a quiet car is a private sanctum, a place to turn up the sterco, enjoy the music, and escape from a droning engine, tire roar, wind whistles, and assorted traffic noises. Over the past decade, vehicle manufacturers have responded io the increased demand for quieter, vibration-free automobiles with a number of interesting innovations. Some of these include counter- rotating Sslance shafts in engines, ouble-paned window glass, smoother . aerodynamics, rigid body structures, sound-deadening and. vibration-reducing materials, quieter tires and improved muf- . : flrs.” . But the most exciting new in- — novation uses electronic. wizardry to combat- noise. Called electronic Noise -’ control {also known as . adaptive or ‘active noise control), ‘this’ new ’:*‘anti-noise’’ system not only: makes . passenger” compart- “ments is. considerably: .quicter ” thar: ‘b Greg Wiison ie under simultaneous Se rcest the. aircraft and automotive “The first electronic noise control “att, installed in.a production | passenger car is now available in ‘the ‘Nissan Bluebird, soid_ i ANG Control unit ATS expected: ‘that ‘electronic ‘nelse control will be incorporated . Into, standard In-car stereo systems with..au. additional cost to - “Sonsumers estimated to be in the neighborhood of $2900. Japan. Nissan’s system consists of a computer and digital signal pro- cessor (a small CD-player-sized box mounted on a shelf behind the rear seats} which receives noise data from two microphones situ- ated in the roof ‘close to the pas- sengers heads. The computer analyzes the sound waves, and sends opposite sound waves to two speakers hid- den under the front seat. Even though additional sound is pro- duced, the result is that the interi- or is quieter than it would be without the system. Nissan estimates that noise levels have been reduced by ten decibets. Another system developed by Lotus of England is linked to the vehicle’s ignition system, adapting to different noise levels produced at different engine speeds. The Lotus system has the practical ad- vantage of being connected direct- ly to the car's stereo amplifier and speakers. All that’s needed to complete the system is the noise control computer and microphones. ... It. is expected that electronic noise control: will be incorporated into standard in-car stereo systems. Blaupunkt has already - entered into a licensing agreement with Lotus to add noise contro! to some of. its: car stereo systems. The additional: cost of noise con- trol to consumers is estimated to . be in the neighborhood of $200. Acoustically . speaking, a car’s cabin is cven more complicated than a concert hall, so noise con- trol systems “must be custom designed for each particular car. Noise characteristics depend on how many people are riding in the “vehicle, whether the windows are open, how the inside panels and cabin structure respond to certain frequencies, and the changing pitch and noise levels of the engine at different engine revolu- tions. Even the cabin temperature plays a role in this scenaric. At the moment, both Nissan’s and Lotus’ systems cancel only engine noise. Traffic noise, tire roar, wind whistles, transmission whines, and exhaust notes have yet ts be addressed, however researchers expect success in this area as the basic principle of FAST COLLISION REPAIRS combating noise with opposite noise is the same. Apart from reducing noise, electronic noise contro] has an additional advantage. The simpie, lightweight system helps reduce the expense and added weight of insulating materials. This is par- ticularly importan: to automobile manufacturers . because lighter weight means better fuel economy, and most manufacturers are striv- ing to meet consumers’ demand for improved fuel economy and . increasingly stciagent govecn- ment-regulated fuel economy . standards. an CALL T THE PROFESSIONALS AT EVLOF 174 PEMBERTON AVE. consuutarion - GR APPOINTMENTS NORTH VAN. SUNDAY AY MEMORY - Holiday IF : 1659 LTD. FREE RENTAL COURTESY CARS B.C.A.A. APPROVED - A.R.A. CERTIFIED I.C.B.C, VENDOR FOR ALL MAKES — QUALITY WORKMANSHIP TRUSTWORTHY SERVICE 985-7455 Advertising Deadlines Issue Wednesday Dec. 25 Display Deadline Thursday Dec. 19, 2 PM (Christmas Day) Friday Dec. 27 Sunday Dec. 29 Wednesday Jan. | (New Year’s Day) Friday Tan. 3 Sunday Jan. 5 Friday Dec. 20, 3 PM Monday Dec. 23, 2 PM Tuesday Dec. 24, Noon Monday Dec. 30, 11 AM ‘Tuesday Dec. 31, Noon Classified Deadline. . Monday . Dec. 22, 10 AM. 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