DIRECTING A MICROPHONE TOWARD A VEHICLE OCCUPANT

• US 20070154045A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc. (Trak Global Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc. (Trak Global Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Basir, Otman
• Application Number:
  US11/617,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20070154045A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/365
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers

Abstract

An example method for positioning a microphone includes determining the position of an occupant in a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The example method directs the microphone towards the position. Another example method for positioning a microphone includes generating at least one electric signal corresponding to at least one measurement and determining a position of an occupant in the passenger compartment of a vehicle using the at least one electric signal. The method adjusts at least one microphone based on the position.

Claims

1. A method for positioning a microphone, comprising:

determining a position of an occupant in a passenger compartment of a vehicle; and

directing the microphone toward the position.

2. The method of claim 1, including determining a position of an occupant head.

3. The method of claim 1, including receiving information corresponding to the distance between each of a plurality of occupant position sensors and the occupant.

4. The method of claim 3, using the information corresponding to the distance to determine the position.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein capacitance measured by the plurality of occupant sensors is a type of information corresponding to the distance between each of the plurality of occupant position sensors and the occupant.

6. The method of claim 1, including directing the microphone by changing the location of the microphone using at least one microphone controller.

7. The method of claim 1, including directing the microphone using noise cancellation.

8. The method of claim 7, including directing the microphone by canceling noise away from the position.

9. A method for positioning a microphone, comprising:

generating at least one signal corresponding to at least one measurement;

determining a position of an occupant in a passenger compartment of a vehicle using the at least one signal; and

adjusting at least one microphone based on the position.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the position is a three-dimensional head position of the occupant.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein an electromagnetic signal having a portion directed through the occupant provides the at least one measurement.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein measuring a signal strength of an electromagnetic signal at a plurality of locations provides the at least one measurement.

13. The method of claim 12, including measuring the signal strength using a plurality of electrodes receiving portions of the electromagnetic signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged in a first array and a second array, said first array substantially transverse to said second array.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein measuring the signal strength includes measuring the capacitance.

16. The method of claim 9, including adjusting a function of an occupant safety system based on the position.

17. The method of claim 16, including disabling a portion of the occupant safety system based on the position.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the portion is an airbag.

19. An apparatus for directing a microphone toward a vehicle occupant, comprising:

a microphone;

a sensor system for determining a position of an occupant within a vehicle; and

a control unit configured to direct said microphone toward said occupant in response to said position.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said sensor system includes a transmitting electrode adapted to transmit a first electromagnetic signal at least partially through said occupant

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said sensor system includes a plurality of receiving electrodes each adapted to receive a portion of a first signal and to send a second signal to said control unit in response to said portion of said first signal.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said first signal, said second signal, or said first and said second signal correspond to a distance between said occupant and at least one of said plurality of receiving electrodes.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least one of said plurality of receiving electrodes are adapted to measure a signal strength of said first signal.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said signal strength includes a capacitance measurement.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said control unit directs said microphone by controlling a controller to reposition said microphone.

26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said control unit directs said microphone using noise cancellation.

27. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said control unit disables a portion of an occupant safety system based on said position.

28. The apparatus of claim 19, including at least a portion of said transmitting electrode within a vehicle seat.

29. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein at least one of said plurality of receiving electrodes is located within a vehicle headliner.