Ford's latest innovation would use a plastic or hard shell spare wheel cover as a speaker system, according to the patent discovered by CarBuzz. The cover would have a solid outer ring and a flexible panel inside. An "exciter" placed inside the panel would vibrate the cover at different frequencies, essentially turning the body panel into a giant speaker.
The cover would have an outer shell, a fixed ring, and an inner panel, each made of different materials. The vibrating panel would need to be made of material with greater resonance, while the outer structure of the wheel cover would have to be robust and resistant to flexing and bending.
The patented wheel cover would also have a temperature sensor to regulate the power and vibration. The wheel cover would remain fully functional and would be connected to the car's power and audio feed.
Ford believes the technology could be used not just as a speaker but also as an alarm and even to augment the driving experience. Certain frequencies could simulate a trumpet horn, which Ford says could be used as an alarm. Additionally, the cover could be set to create a buzzing sound to scare away intruders.
The patent envisions several uses for the invention, such as creating a "rugged growling sound" to accentuate the engine noise and augment the exhaust in certain driving modes, like the Baja, Mud/Ruts, and Rock Crawl modes of the Bronco Raptor. Ford even suggests that owners could customize this sound.
Source: Carbuzz