Hidden hands-free microphone with wind protection

• US 7,738,670 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Kargus, Walter A. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey; Brian
• Application Number:
  US11/434,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20060204026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 381/86, 381/359, 381/364, 381/365, 381/372, 181/205
• US Class Current: 381/359
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/086 Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens

Abstract

A wind protection device for a microphone, the wind protection device including a body portion having a raised surface, a lower surface and a front face. The raised surface has a flow separation edge. The lower surface is offset from the raised surface the front face is bordered at a first edge by the flow separation edge and bordered at a second edge by the lower surface. The lower surface includes a recessed microphone holding area. Airflow separates from one of the raised surface or the flow separation edge, and the separated airflow is directed as one of recirculating airflow or a major airflow. The recirculating airflow is directed into a recirculation zone, and the major airflow is directed over a microphone zone and the recirculation zone to reduce the level of pressure fluctuations experienced by the microphone located in the recessed microphone holding area.

Claims

1. A wind protection device for a microphone, the wind protection device comprising:

a body portion including;

a raised surface having a flow separation edge;

a lower surface offset from the raised surface; and

a front face bordered at a first edge by the flow separation edge and bordered at a second edge by the lower surface, wherein the lower surface includes a recessed microphone holding area, wherein airflow separates from one of the raised surface or the flow separation edge, wherein the separated airflow is directed as one of recirculating airflow or a major airflow, wherein the recirculating airflow is directed into a recirculation zone, and wherein the major airflow is directed over a microphone zone and the recirculation zone to reduce the level of pressure fluctuations experienced by a microphone located in the recessed microphone holding area.

2. The wind protection device of claim 1, wherein the flow separation edge partially borders the raised surface, wherein the region of the lower surface including the recessed microphone holding area and the microphone zone are located between the front face and a recontact zone, and wherein the recirculation zone is located between the microphone zone and the recontact zone.

3. The wind protection device of claim 2, wherein the lower surface is a lower border of the microphone zone, the recirculation zone and the recontact zone.

4. The wind protection device of claim 2, wherein the microphone zone and the recirculation zone at least partially overlap.

5. The wind protection device of claim 1, wherein the microphone has a directivity oriented to receive acoustic waves from a source.

6. The wind protection device of claim 5, wherein the microphone is a unidirectional microphone.

7. The wind protection device of claim 1, wherein the raised surface is offset from the lower surface by a step height, wherein the interface between the recirculation zone and the recontact zone is offset from the front face by a recontact distance, and wherein the recontact distance is in the range of about 6 times the step height to about 8 times the step height.

8. The wind protection device of claim 1, wherein the wind protection device is a protrusion from the lower surface, wherein the raised surface comprises a windward side of the wind protection device, wherein the front face comprises a lee side of the wind protection device, and wherein the flow separation edge delineates the raised surface from the front face along a length of the wind protection device.

9. An acoustic system for a mobile vehicle, the system comprising:

a microphone connected to an in-vehicle communication device; and

a wind protection device for the microphone, the wind protection device comprising;

a body portion including a raised surface having a flow separation edge, a lower surface offset from the raised surface, and a front face bordered at a first edge by the flow separation edge and bordered at a second edge by the lower surface,

wherein the lower surface includes a recessed microphone holding area, wherein airflow separates from one of the raised surface or the flow separation edge, wherein the separated airflow is directed as one of recirculating airflow or a major airflow, wherein the recirculating airflow is directed into a recirculation zone, and wherein the major airflow is directed over a microphone zone and the recirculation zone to reduce the level of pressure fluctuations experienced by the microphone located in the recessed microphone holding area.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the flow separation edge partially borders the raised surface, wherein the region of the lower surface including the recessed microphone holding area and the microphone zone are located between the front face and a recontact zone, and wherein the recirculation zone is located between the microphone zone and the recontact zone.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the microphone zone and the recirculation zone at least partially overlap.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the microphone has a directivity oriented to receive acoustic waves from a source and wherein the raised surface is offset from the lower surface by a step height and the interface between the recirculation zone and the recontact zone is offset from the front face by a recontact distance and wherein the recontact distance is in the range of about 6 times the step height to about 8 times the step height.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the in-vehicle communication device includes one of a cell phone, a telematics unit, an entertainment system, or a voice-recognition system.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the microphone and the wind protection device are connected to one of a group consisting of a rearview mirror, a steering wheel, a steering column, a vehicle dashboard, an entertainment console, an overhead console, a vehicle ceiling, a roof rail, an A-pillar in the vehicle, an in-vehicle console, an in-vehicle location, and combinations thereof.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the wind protection device is a protrusion from the lower surface, wherein the raised surface comprises a windward side of the wind protection device, wherein the front face comprises a lee side of the wind protection device, and wherein the flow separation edge delineates the raised surface from the front face along a length of the wind protection device.