Vehicle communicating

• US 7,299,076 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Faneuff, Jeffery J., Dunn, Charles E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US11/054,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20060178169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/569.1, 455/569.2, 455/575.9, 455/557, 701/49, 701/214, 359/844, 359/872, 342/357.06, 343/711, 381/336, 381/388, 381/186, 381/182, 381/92, 381111-117, 381/355, 381/356, 381/358
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface

Abstract

A communication system for a vehicle is described. The communication system includes a microphone array having a plurality of microphones mounted within the vehicle for receiving acoustic signals and converting the acoustic signals to electrical signals. An antenna is mounted proximate to the microphone array. The antenna communicates a radio frequency signal to a wireless device. The communication system also includes a controller having a first input that is electrically coupled to at least one microphone in the microphone array and a second input that is electrically coupled to the antenna. The controller processes the electrical signals and transmits the processed electrical signals to the antenna.

Claims

1. A communication system for a vehicle, the communication system comprising:

a microphone array comprising a plurality of microphone elements mounted within the vehicle for receiving an acoustic signal and converting the acoustic signal to an electrical signal;

an antenna that is mounted proximate to the microphone array, the antenna communicating a radio frequency signal to a wireless device; and

a controller located remotely from the microphone and antenna and having a first input that is electrically coupled to at least one microphone element in the microphone array and a second input that is electrically coupled to the antenna, the controller processing the electrical signal and transmitting the processed electrical signal to the antenna,

a single cable that couples the controller to both the microphone array and the antenna;

a multiplexer that is coupled to the single cable, the multiplexer multiplexing at least two of a power signal, the electrical signal and the radio frequency signal for transmission over the single cable; and

a de-multiplexer that is coupled to the single cable, the de-multiplexer de-multiplexing the at least two of the modulated power signal, the electrical signal and the radio frequency signal transmitted over the single cable.

2. The communication system of claim 1 further comprising a low-pass filter that is coupled to the microphone array.

3. The communication system of claim 1 further comprising a high-pass filter that is coupled to the antenna.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the microphone array and the antenna are permanently mounted in the vehicle.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the microphone array is positioned proximate to a headliner in the vehicle.

6. The communication system of claim 5 wherein a microphone element of the microphone array is positioned within one quarter of a wavelength away from a reflective plane formed by the headliner.

7. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the antenna communicates with the wireless device using a Bluetooth®

communications protocol.

8. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the antenna is positioned proximate to a headliner in the vehicle at a distance from a grounded metal surface that is within one fifth of the wavelength of the radio frequency signal.

9. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the antenna is positioned overhead and forward of a driver in the vehicle.

10. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the antenna is positioned overhead, centered in the vehicle and forward of the driver.

11. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the antenna is mounted within a map light enclosure.

12. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the antenna is positioned in a location that is chosen from the group comprising a rear-view mirror, an instrument panel, a dashboard, a steering wheel, a visor, and an airbag cover.

13. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the microphone array and the antenna are mounted in an enclosure.

14. A communication system for a vehicle, the communication system comprising:

a microphone array comprising a plurality of microphone elements mounted within the vehicle for receiving an acoustic signal and converting the acoustic signal to an electrical signal;

an antenna that is mounted proximate to the microphone array, the antenna communicating a radio frequency signal to a wireless device; and

a controller located remotely from the microphone and antenna and having a first input that is electrically coupled to at least one microphone element in the microphone array and a second input that is electrically coupled to the antenna, the controller processing the electrical signal and transmitting the processed electrical signal to the antenna,

said communication system configured to provide balanced communications, wherein the first input that is electrically coupled to the at least one microphone in the microphone array further comprises;

a first conductor that transmits a non-inverted polarity microphone output signal;

a second conductor that transmits an inverted polarity microphone output signal;

a third conductor that provides a reference point relative to the non-inverted and inverted polarity microphone output signals from the first and second conductors; and

a differential amplifier for converting the non-inverted and inverted polarity microphone output signals from the first and second conductors to a single ended signal.

15. The enclosure of claim 14 wherein the housing comprises at least one port that allows the microphone array to receive the acoustic signal.

16. The enclosure of claim 14 wherein the housing comprises EMI shielding that reduces electro-magnetic interference in the enclosure.

17. The enclosure of claim 14 wherein the housing comprises acoustic damping material that reduces acoustic noise in the enclosure.