Microphone assembly for vehicular installation

• US 6,801,632 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Knowles Electronics Llc (Knowles Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Knowles Electronics Llc (Knowles Corporation)
• Inventors: Olson, Bradley F.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US09/974,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20030068060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 381/355, 381/360, 381/361, 381/365, 381/86, 381/91, 381/92, 381/122, 381/366, 455/569.1, 455/569.2, 455/575.9, 455/345, 439/500, 439/626, 379/433.03, 379/433.05
• US Class Current: 381/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

A microphone assembly for installation on a surface in a cabin of a vehicle to electrically couple the microphone with a vehicular communication system is disclosed. The assembly comprises a microphone having an outer surface and a plurality of microphone contacts fixedly secured to the outer surface and means for securing the microphone to the surface in an orientation to electrically couple the plurality of microphone contacts to a respective plurality of fixedly secured system contacts to couple the microphone with the vehicular communication system.

Claims

1. A microphone assembly for installation on a surface in a cabin of a vehicle to electrically couple the microphone with a vehicular communication system, the assembly comprising:

a microphone having an outer surface and a plurality of microphone contacts fixedly secured to the outer surface;

means for securing the microphone to the surface in an orientation to electrically couple the plurality of microphone contacts to a respective plurality of fixedly secured system contacts to couple the microphone with the vehicular communication system.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the microphone contacts are spring biased.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the securing means comprises a threaded outer surface to engage a threaded vehicular surface.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the securing means comprises an interference fit.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the vehicular surface is a part of a rear-view mirror.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the vehicular surface is a part of a vehicular head-liner.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the vehicular surface is a part of a vehicular overhead console.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the vehicular surface is a part of a vehicular pod.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the securing means includes locating pins for rotationally positioning the microphone relative to the vehicular surface.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the microphone has a peripheral surface and the threaded outer surface is the peripheral surface.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the microphone has a peripheral surface and the contacts are located on the peripheral surface.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the microphone has a base surface and the contacts are located on the base surface.

13. A method of installing a microphone on a surface in a cabin of a vehicle to electrically couple the microphone with a vehicular communication system, the method comprising:

providing a microphone having an outer surface and a plurality of microphone contacts fixedly secured to the outer surface;

providing a surface in the vehicular cabin having a respective plurality of fixedly secured system contacts electrically coupled to the vehicular communication system;

securing the microphone to the surface in an orientation to electrically couple the plurality of microphone contacts to the respective plurality of fixedly secured system contacts to electrically couple the microphone with the vehicular communication system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the microphone contacts are spring biased.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the microphone is provided with a threaded outer surface;

the vehicular surface is provided with a corresponding threaded vehicular surface; and

the microphone is secured to the vehicular surface screwing the microphone threaded outer surface into the threaded vehicular surface.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the microphone is secured to the vehicular surface by an interference fit.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the vehicular surface is a part of a rear-view mirror.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicular surface is a part of a vehicular head-liner.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the vehicular surface is a part of a vehicular overhead console.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the vehicular surface is a part of a vehicular pod.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the securing means includes locating pins for rotationally positioning the microphone relative to the vehicular surface.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the microphone has a peripheral surface and the threaded outer surface is the peripheral surface.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the microphone has a peripheral surface and the contacts are located on the peripheral surface.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the microphone has a base surface and the contacts are located on the base surface.

25. A rear view mirror assembly for communicatively coupling a vehicular passenger with a vehicular communication system, the mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror housing having a housing surface and a plurality of fixedly secured mirror contacts electrically coupled with the vehicular communication system;

a microphone having an outer surface and a respective plurality of microphone contacts fixedly secured to the outer surface; and

means for securing the microphone to the housing surface in an orientation to electrically couple the plurality of microphone contacts to the respective plurality of fixedly secured mirror contacts to couple the microphone with the vehicular communication system.

26. The assembly of claim 25, wherein the securing means comprises cooperatively threaded surfaces on the microphone outer surface and the mirror housing surface.

27. The assembly of claim 25, wherein the securing means comprises an interference fit between the microphone outer surface and the mirror housing surface.

28. The assembly of claim 25, wherein the securing means includes locating pins for rotationally positioning the microphone relative to the mirror housing surface.

29. The assembly of claim 25, wherein the microphone has a peripheral surface and the contacts are located on the peripheral surface.

30. The assembly of claim 25, wherein the microphone has a base surface and the contacts are located on the base surface.