Vehicle Accessory Microphone

• US 20070047753A1
• Filed: 10/23/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Turnbull, Robert, Watson, Alan, Poe, G., Knapp, Robert, Bryson, Michael, Spence, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,224,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/365
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0063 using adhesive means, e.g. hook and loop fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/086 Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/342 for microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/38 in which sound waves act upon both sides of a diaphragm and incorporating acoustic phase-shifting means, e.g. pressure-gradient microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2410/07 Mechanical or electrical reduction of wind noise generated by wind passing a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 : for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

A microphone assembly includes one or more transducers positioned in a housing. Circuitry is coupled to the transducer for outputting an electrical signal such that the microphone has a main lobe directed forwardly and attenuates signals originating from the sides and/or rear. The transducers can advantageously include multiple transducers, which, with the circuit, produce a desired sensitivity pattern. The microphone assembly can be employed in a vehicle accessory.

Claims

1. A vehicle microphone assembly comprising:

at least one transducer; and

a circuit board having a hole sized to receive at least a portion of said transducer,

wherein said transducer is mounted within the hole in the circuit board such that a portion of said transducer extends below a bottom surface of said circuit board.

2. The vehicle microphone assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one transducer is mounted with its central axis parallel to an upper surface of said circuit board.

3. The vehicle microphone assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one transducer is mounted with its central axis parallel to, and slightly above, an upper surface of said circuit board.

4. The vehicle microphone assembly of claim 1, wherein electrical contacts of said at least one transducer are soldered directly to traces on said circuit board.

5. The vehicle microphone assembly of claim 1 and further including a housing including at least one acoustic port and a windscreen sealed across said acoustic port, said windscreen having hydrophobic properties to prevent water from penetrating said housing through said acoustic port.

6. The vehicle microphone assembly of claim 1, wherein said transducer has a first sound-receiving surface that is perpendicular to an upper surface of said circuit board.

7. An accessory for a vehicle comprising:

a housing for mounting to the vehicle; and

a microphone subassembly supported by said housing, said microphone subassembly comprising;

at least one transducer, and

a circuit board having a hole sized to receive at least a portion of said transducer,

wherein said transducer is mounted within the hole in the circuit board such that a portion of said transducer extends below a bottom surface of said circuit board.

8. The vehicle accessory of claim 7, wherein said at least one transducer is mounted with its central axis parallel to an upper surface of said circuit board.

9. The vehicle accessory of claim 7, wherein said at least one transducer is mounted with its central axis parallel to, and slightly above, an upper surface of said circuit board.

10. The vehicle accessory of claim 7, wherein electrical contacts of said at least one transducer are soldered directly to traces on said circuit board.

11. The vehicle accessory of claim 7 and further including a microphone housing including at least one acoustic port and a windscreen sealed across said acoustic port, said windscreen having hydrophobic properties to prevent water from penetrating said microphone housing through said acoustic port.

12. The vehicle accessory of claim 7, wherein said transducer has a first sound-receiving surface that is perpendicular to an upper surface of said circuit board.

13. The vehicle accessory of claim 7, wherein said housing is a vehicle rearview mirror assembly housing.

14. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a support structure for mounting to the vehicle;

a mirror supported by said support structure; and

a microphone subassembly supported by said support structure, said microphone subassembly comprising;

at least one transducer, and

a circuit board having a hole sized to receive at least a portion of said transducer,

wherein said transducer is mounted within the hole in the circuit board such that a portion of said transducer extends below a bottom surface of said circuit board.

15. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein said at least one transducer is mounted with its central axis parallel to an upper surface of said circuit board.

16. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein said at least one transducer is mounted with its central axis parallel to, and slightly above, an upper surface of said circuit board.

17. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein electrical contacts of said at least one transducer are soldered directly to traces on said circuit board.

18. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 14 and further including a microphone housing including at least one acoustic port and a windscreen sealed across said acoustic port, said windscreen having hydrophobic properties to prevent water from penetrating said microphone housing through said acoustic port.

19. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein said transducer has a first sound-receiving surface that is perpendicular to an upper surface of said circuit board.