Experimental results for multichannel feedforward ANC with noninvasive system identification

This paper presents experimental validation of a class of algorithms designed to enable active noise control (ANC) to function in environments when transfer functions change significantly over time. The experimental results presented are for broadband, local quieting in a diffuse field using a multichannel ANC system. The reverberant enclosure is an ordinary room, measuring approximately 1.4 x 2.4 x 2.4 m3 and containing a seated occupant, with six microphones defining the quiet zone near the occupant's ears. The control system uses a single reference signal and two error channels to drive four secondary sources. Using an ideal reference sensor, reduction in sound pressure level is obtained at the quiet-zone microphones averaged over the frequency range 50 to 1000 Hz with an occupant seated in the room. Two main results are presented: first for an adaptive cancelling algorithm that uses static system models, and second for the same algorithm joined with a noninvasive real-time system identification algorithm. In the first case better than 23 dB of performance is obtained if the occupant remains still through calibration and testing. In the second case, approximately 18 dB is obtained at the error microphones regardless of the motion of the occupant.