Active Noise Control Primer

Active noise control - the reduction of noise by generating an acoustic signal that interferes with the noise - has become a lively area of both basic research and engineering applications. This book provides an introduction to the field suitable for students, academics, acoustical engineers, product developers, and technology enthusiasts. Written for students with no prior knowledge of acoustics or signal processing but with a reasonable grasp of basic physics and mathematics, the book is short and descriptive, explaining how active noise control works, where it could be used, and what results could be reasonably expected. The author emphasizes physical understanding without mathematical detail; the book can thus be used equally well in independent study, in a classroom with laboratories, or in conjunction with a kit for experiment or demonstration. The book covers the fundamental concepts - basic acoustics, perception of sound, passive noise control, digital systems, adaptive controllers, and active noise control systems-and then applies them to practical problems and examples, including: • active control of sound in free and enclosed spaces • active control of sound in ducts • digital control systems • adaptive algorithms in active control systems