Mountable sound pressure level meter
First Claim
1. An automotive sound pressure level (SPL) meter that is temporarily mountable in a motor vehicle, comprising:
- an SPL meter including a housing, a pressure sensor, a mode selector input device, and a display, wherein the housing includes opposing top and bottom surfaces, two opposing side surfaces, a front face and a rear face opposing the front face, the pressure sensor is contained within the housing, the display includes a digital display indicating a measured decibel level, and the SPL meter is configured to measure sound pressure levels within a motor vehicle; and
a temporary mounting mechanism comprising a bracket mounted to the housing of the SPL meter, wherein the bracket pivots relative to the housing, and wherein the temporary mounting mechanism affixes the SPL meter to a surface within the motor vehicle, such that the SPL meter is selectively removable from the motor vehicle.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mountable sound pressure level (SPL) meter is described that includes a mechanism for mounting the SPL meter within an motor vehicle to measure motor vehicle audio system SPL values within the motor vehicle. The automotive SPL meter includes an internal microphone, or pressure sensor, that is designed for automotive use. Such pressure sensor improvements may include: use of a thicker and highly durable polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) microphone/pressure sensor diaphragm; use of a thicker, non-conducting gasket to increase microphone/pressure sensor excursion capability; use of a reduced number of microphone/pressure sensor back plate holes; and/or, reducing the diameter of microphone/pressure sensor back plate holes. The automotive SPL meter is highly resistant to operational environment temperature, humidity and decibel level extremes without sacrificing accuracy. A programmable micro-controller is used to increase design flexibility, and reduce the SPL meter discrete component count, thereby increasing reliability while reducing SPL meter physical size and production costs.
29 Citations
38 Claims
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1. An automotive sound pressure level (SPL) meter that is temporarily mountable in a motor vehicle, comprising:
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an SPL meter including a housing, a pressure sensor, a mode selector input device, and a display, wherein the housing includes opposing top and bottom surfaces, two opposing side surfaces, a front face and a rear face opposing the front face, the pressure sensor is contained within the housing, the display includes a digital display indicating a measured decibel level, and the SPL meter is configured to measure sound pressure levels within a motor vehicle; and a temporary mounting mechanism comprising a bracket mounted to the housing of the SPL meter, wherein the bracket pivots relative to the housing, and wherein the temporary mounting mechanism affixes the SPL meter to a surface within the motor vehicle, such that the SPL meter is selectively removable from the motor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An automotive sound pressure level (SPL) meter that is temporarily mountable in a motor vehicle, comprising:
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an SPL meter including a housing, a pressure sensor, a mode selector input device, and a display, wherein the housing includes opposing top and bottom surfaces, two opposing side surfaces, a front face and a rear face opposing the front face, the pressure sensor is contained within the housing, the display includes a range indicator and a sub-range indicator, wherein a combined reading of the range indicator and the sub-range indicator indicates a measured decibel level, and the SPL meter is configured to measure sound pressure levels within a motor vehicle; and a temporary mounting mechanism comprising a non-pivoting, clip-like bracket coupled to the housing, wherein the clip-like bracket is suitable for temporarily mounting the SPL meter on a sun visor within the motor vehicle.
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24. An automotive sound pressure level (SPL) meter that is temporarily mountable in a motor vehicle, comprising:
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an SPL meter configured to measure sound pressure levels within a motor vehicle, the SPL meter including a housing, a pressure sensor, a mode selector input device, and a display that includes a range indicator and a sub-range indicator, wherein the range indicator indicates which one of a plurality of sub-ranges of decibels is being displayed by the sub-range indicator, and wherein the sub-range indicator comprises a series of indicators, wherein the measured decibel level within the sub-range is indicated by illumination of a number of consecutive indicators; and a temporary mounting mechanism coupled to the housing of the SPL meter, wherein the temporary mounting mechanism affixes the SPL meter to a surface within the motor vehicle, such that the SPL meter is selectively removable from the motor vehicle.
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25. An automotive sound pressure level (SPL) meter that is temporarily mountable in a motor vehicle, comprising:
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an SPL meter including a housing, a pressure sensor, a mode selector input device, and a display, wherein the housing includes opposing top and bottom surfaces, two opposing side surfaces, a front face and a rear face opposing the front face, the pressure sensor is contained within the housing, the display includes a digital display indicating a measured decibel level, and the SPL meter is configured to measure sound pressure levels within a motor vehicle; and a temporary mounting mechanism coupled to the housing of the SPL meter, wherein the temporary mounting mechanism affixes the SPL meter to a surface within the motor vehicle, such that the SPL meter is selectively removable from the motor vehicle.
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26. A method of measuring a sound pressure level (SPL) within a motor vehicle by operating an SPL meter having a display, a pressure sensor, and a housing having opposing top and bottom surfaces, two opposing side surfaces, a front face, and a rear face opposing the front face, the pressure sensor being contained within the housing, the method comprising:
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(a) temporarily mounting the SPL meter to a surface within the motor vehicle via a temporary mounting mechanism comprising a clip-like bracket coupled to the SPL meter; (b) measuring within the motor vehicle an acoustic energy received by the pressure sensor through at least one aperture in the housing to obtain a measured SPL reading; and (c) digitally displaying the measured SPL reading on a display of the SPL meter.
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27. A method of measuring a maximum sound pressure level (SPL) reading from among a plurality of SPL readings, wherein each of the plurality of SPL readings is measured from within one of a plurality of motor vehicles, the method comprising:
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(a) temporarily mounting the SPL meter to a surface within the motor vehicle via a temporary mounting mechanism coupled to the SPL meter; (b) measuring an acoustic energy within the motor vehicle to obtain a measured SPL reading; (c) displaying the measured SPL reading on a display of the SPL meter; (d) comparing the measured SPL reading to a current maximum SPL reading stored within the SPL meter; and (e) replacing the current maximum SPL reading with the measured SPL reading upon determining that the measured SPL reading exceeds the current maximum SPL reading. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A method of measuring a sound pressure level (SPL) within a motor vehicle by operating an SPL meter having a display, a pressure sensor, and a housing having opposing top and bottom surfaces, two opposing side surfaces, a front face, and a rear face opposing the front face, the pressure sensor being contained within the housing, the method comprising:
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(a) temporarily mounting the SPL meter to a surface within the motor vehicle via a temporary mounting mechanism comprising a bracket pivotally coupled to the SPL meter; (b) measuring within the motor vehicle an acoustic energy received by the pressure sensor through at least one aperture in the housing to obtain a measured SPL reading; and (c) digitally displaying the measured SPL reading on a display of the SPL meter. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification