STEERING WHEEL SYSTEM WITH AUDIO INPUT

• US 20110101654A1
• Filed: 10/28/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: CECH, Leonard
• Granted Patent: US 8,424,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/001 Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21543 with emblems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2035 using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21656; assembling of modules B60R21/217
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A steering wheel system for a vehicle. The steering wheel system includes a steering wheel and an airbag module located within the hub portion of the steering wheel. The airbag module includes an airbag and a cover for the airbag. The steering wheel system also includes a microphone configured to receive audio input from a vehicle driver, the at least one microphone being located on the cover of the airbag module.

Claims

1. A steering wheel system for a vehicle, comprising:

a steering wheel including a hub portion;

an airbag module located within the hub portion, wherein the airbag module includes an airbag and a cover for the airbag; and

a microphone configured to receive audio input from a vehicle driver, the at least one microphone being located on the cover of the airbag module.

2. The steering wheel system of claim 1, further comprising an emblem located on the cover of the airbag module, and wherein the microphone is located on the emblem.

3. The steering wheel system of claim 1, further comprising an electronic processing system configured to process an output signal generated by the microphone in response to the audio input.

4. The steering wheel system of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of microphones.

5. The steering wheel system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of microphones are spaced at a distance configured to reduce aliasing of human speech and to maximize noise reduction.

6. The steering wheel system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of microphones are configured to receive external audio input that is not from the driver, and wherein the electronic processing system is configured to cancel received audio input that is not from the driver.

7. The steering wheel system of claim 4, wherein the electronic processing system includes a printed circuit board and at least one of the plurality of microphones is located on the printed circuit board.

8. The steering wheel system of claim 1, wherein the at least one microphone comprises at least one of a digital and an analog micro-electromechanical microphone.

9. A steering wheel for a vehicle, comprising:

a microphone configured to receive audio input from a vehicle driver;

an emblem located on a hub portion of the steering wheel;

an electronic processing system for processing an output signal from the microphone, wherein the electronic processing system is mounted behind the emblem; and

wherein the microphone and the electronic processing system are connected by a conductor; and

wherein the microphone is located on at least one of the emblem, the electronic processing system, and the conductor.

10. The steering wheel system of claim 9, wherein the conductor comprises a wiring harness.

11. The steering wheel system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of microphones.

12. The steering wheel of claim 11, wherein the plurality of microphones are spaced at a distance configured to reduce aliasing of human speech and to maximize noise reduction.

13. The steering wheel of claim 11, wherein the microphones further receive external audio input that is not from the driver, and wherein the electronic processing system is configured to cancel received audio input that is not from the driver.

14. The steering wheel of claim 9, wherein the microphone comprises at least one of a digital and an analog micro-electromechanical microphone.

15. An audio input system for a vehicle steering wheel including a hub portion, comprising:

an airbag module located within the hub portion, wherein the airbag module includes a cover and an emblem mounted on the cover;

a plurality of microphones configured to receive audio input from a vehicle driver, wherein at least one of the microphones is located on the cover of the airbag module;

an electronic processing system for processing an output signal from the microphone; and

wherein the microphone is configured to receive audio input that is not from the driver of the vehicle, and wherein the electronic processing system is configured to cancel received audio input that is not from the driver.