Vehicle accessory microphone

• US 8,224,012 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2006
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Turnbull, Robert R, Poe, G. Bruce, Watson, Alan R, Knapp, Robert C, Spence, William R, Bryson, Michael A
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUTHERS, DOUGLAS JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/551,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20070047753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,094 Days
• Field of Search: 381/361, 381/365, 381/86, 381/122, 381/322, 381/324
• US Class Current: 381/365
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0063 using adhesive means, e.g. hook and loop fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/086 Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/342 for microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/38 in which sound waves act upon both sides of a diaphragm and incorporating acoustic phase-shifting means, e.g. pressure-gradient microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2410/07 Mechanical or electrical reduction of wind noise generated by wind passing a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 : for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

A microphone assembly includes one or more transducers positioned in a housing. Circuitry is coupled to the transducer for outputting an electrical signal such that the microphone has a main lobe directed forwardly and attenuates signals originating from the sides and/or rear. The transducers can advantageously include multiple transducers, which, with the circuit, produce a desired sensitivity pattern. The microphone assembly can be employed in a vehicle accessory.

Claims

1. A vehicle microphone assembly comprising:

at least one directional transducer having a first side and a second side and a plurality of transducer acoustical ports located on the first side of the at least one directional transducer;

a circuit board having a first side and a second side and a hole in said circuit board sized to receive at least a portion of said at least one directional transducer such that the plurality of transducer acoustical ports are located on said first side of said circuit board;

an acoustic seal formed between the at least one transducer and the first side of the circuit board for preventing acoustic energy from entering said plurality of transducer acoustical ports of said at least one directional transducer from said second side of the circuit board; and

wherein said at least one directional transducer is mounted within the hole in the circuit board such that the acoustic seal extends substantially around said second side of said at least one transducer, preventing acoustical energy from entering the transducer acoustical ports from the second side of the circuit board.

2. The vehicle microphone assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one transducer is mounted with its central axis parallel to an upper surface of said circuit board.

3. The vehicle microphone assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one transducer is mounted with its central axis parallel to, and slightly above, an upper surface of said circuit board.

4. The vehicle microphone assembly of claim 1, wherein electrical contacts of said at least one transducer are soldered directly to traces on said circuit board.

5. The vehicle microphone assembly of claim 1 further including a housing including at least one acoustic port and a windscreen sealed across said acoustic port of the housing, said windscreen having hydrophobic properties to prevent water from penetrating said housing through said acoustic port.

6. The vehicle microphone assembly of claim 1, wherein said transducer has a first sound-receiving surface that is perpendicular to an upper surface of said circuit board.

20. The vehicle microphone assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a ground plane attached to one side of the circuit board for acting as a an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield.

21. The vehicle microphone assembly as in claim 1, wherein the at least one directional transducer is mounted to the circuit board on its side edge.

7. An accessory for a vehicle comprising:

a housing having at least one acoustical housing port for mounting to the vehicle;

a microphone subassembly supported by said housing, said microphone subassembly comprising;

at least one directional transducer having a plurality of transducer acoustical ports;

a circuit board having a first side and a second side and a hole in said circuit board sized to receive at least a portion of said at least one directional transducer such that said plurality of transducer acoustical ports are located on said first side of the circuit board;

an acoustic seal formed between the at least one directional transducer and the first side of the circuit board for preventing acoustic energy from entering said plurality of transducer acoustical ports of at least one directional transducer from said second side of the circuit board; and

wherein said at least one directional transducer is mounted within the hole in the circuit board such that the acoustic seal extends substantially around said second side of said at least one transducer, preventing acoustical energy from entering the plurality of transducer acoustical ports from said second side of the circuit board.

8. The vehicle accessory of claim 7, wherein said at least one transducer is mounted with its central axis parallel to an upper surface of said circuit board.

9. The vehicle accessory of claim 7, wherein said at least one transducer is mounted with its central axis parallel to, and slightly above, an upper surface of said circuit board.

10. The vehicle accessory of claim 7, wherein electrical contacts of said at least one transducer are soldered directly to traces on said circuit board.

11. The vehicle accessory of claim 7, and further including a microphone housing including at least one acoustic port and a windscreen sealed across said acoustic port, said windscreen having hydrophobic properties to prevent water from penetrating said microphone housing through said acoustic port.

12. The vehicle accessory of claim 7, wherein said transducer has a first sound-receiving surface that is perpendicular to an upper surface of said circuit board.

13. The vehicle accessory of claim 7, wherein said housing is a vehicle rearview mirror assembly housing.

14. A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a support structure having a plurality of housing acoustical ports;

a mirror supported by said support structure; and

a microphone subassembly supported by said support structure, said microphone subassembly comprising;

at least one directional transducer having a first side and a second side and a plurality of transducer acoustical ports located on said first side of said at least one directional transducer;

a circuit board having a first side and a second side and a hole in the circuit board sized to receive at least a portion of said at least one directional transducer such that said plurality of transducer acoustical ports are located adjacent to said first side of said circuit board;

an acoustic seal formed between the at least one transducer and the first side of the circuit board for preventing acoustic energy from entering the plurality of transducer acoustical ports of said at least one directional transducer from said second side of the circuit board; and

wherein said at least one directional transducer is mounted within the hole in the circuit board such that the acoustic seal extends substantially around said second side of said at least one transducer, allowing acoustical energy to enter the transducer acoustical ports from the housing acoustical ports.

15. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein said at least one transducer is mounted with its central axis parallel to an upper surface of said circuit board.

16. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein said at least one transducer is mounted with its central axis parallel to, and slightly above, an upper surface of said circuit board.

17. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein electrical contacts of said at least one transducer are soldered directly to traces on said circuit board.

18. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 14 and further including a microphone housing including at least one acoustic port and a windscreen sealed across said acoustic port, said windscreen having hydrophobic properties to prevent water from penetrating said microphone housing through said acoustic port.

19. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 14, wherein said transducer has a first sound-receiving surface that is perpendicular to an upper surface of said circuit board.