I thought this was an interesting article that some of you guys would think was cool too: WINDSOR, Ont. — Researchers at the University of Windsor are on the verge of transforming rear car windows into high performing sound systems. Led by Colin Novak, an Auto21 researcher and assistant professor of mechanical, automotive and materials engineering, the team at the Centre for Automotive Research and Education is putting the finishing touches on a system that replaces conventional subwoofers with a vehicle's rear window as the source of sound. "If we can move the glass in a particular fashion, then we can make the window act as a speaker," said Novak, who is hopeful the technology can soon be perfected and marketed for production by auto parts giant Magna International Inc., corporate partner in the $400,000 project. "We're at the point right now where we could implement this into a new vehicle launch," Novak said. "We're also very close with the full-range speaker. We have a prototype that sounds really good." The project will help sharpen Magna's edge in a "hyper-competitive" industry, said Tom Pilette, vice-president of product and process development for Magna Exteriors and Interiors. "We see collaboration on the increase in today's hyper-competitive market, both within the auto industry and with other organizations such as government agencies and academia," said Pilette. "Collaboration has the ability to increase technological innovation while at the same time it can reduce costs and time to market with new products." Novak's team included nine graduate students who developed a piezoelectric actuator -- a bar-shaped device which receives the signal from the audio system and transmits it to rigid, but highly sensitive springs that run along the bottom of the window, causing it to pulsate with the music. "In the vehicle at the base of the windshield, we have two of these actuators installed between the glass and the structure of the car," said Novak, as he stood behind a Chrysler 300 -- one of two test cars for the new system. "The glass is fixed along the top and is free to move along the two sides and the bottom, so the windshield can move up and down. By having two of these actuators mounted to the glass, we can move the two sides of the glass independently so that the one sheet will move like two different speakers." The system eliminates sub-woofers, freeing up more space and cutting fuel consumption by significantly reducing the car's weight and the amount of electrical current required to run the audio system. "It uses a fraction of the electrical power of the vehicle to drive these compared to a standard subwoofer," said Novak, who estimates that subwoofers in some higher-end vehicles can weigh as much as 10 to 14 pounds including the enclosure while his system weighs a few hundred grams. The actuators can be made out of steel, aluminum or magnesium. "One of our targets is the electric and hybrid electric vehicle of the future where consumption of the electrical components is a critical concern because that's what really driving the vehicle. These vehicles aren't cheap -- you might be spending $50,000 on an electric vehicle and you still want a nice sound system. Well, here we can do it without sacrificing the whole idea of the electric vehicle." The system also reduces the amount of noise heard outside the car when the music is louder, said Novak. The team is focusing on how to boost the quality of sound generated by the glass speaker, he added. "Right now we're just working on the subwoofer application on the windshield although we are looking into a more full-range speaker for the future. But for now, it's the low-frequency component of the speaker system. Ours is aimed at between 10 and 120 hertz. We hope to get it up to about 180 Hz where most conventional subwoofers in your car only go up to about 90 Hz." A self-proclaimed audiophile, Novak admits the new system will initially be met with some skepticism. "Our area of expertise is psycho-acoustics -- designing products to sound better. Once you hear the new system, it sounds like a regular stereo. There isn't that big of a difference." The team also is working with Auto21 schools, including the universities of Waterloo, McGill and Calgary. But Magna owns the system's intellectual property, said Novak. "They had the idea, they had the vision; they brought us on board because they didn't necessarily have the expertise to develop it. "We're really excited it will be in vehicle; it's just a matter of which one," added Novak. "Magna has put a lot money, time and effort into this. They wouldn't do this, unless they saw the potential." Click here for the Digital Edition of The Windsor Star © Copyright (c) The Windsor Star
That would be cool. I think it would also help the sound flow throughout the cabin better, instead of putting a sub under a seat or in a trunk. Plus it would save time, money, and the trouble of installing a traditional sub/amp
