Auto bias microphone system for use with multiple loads and method of forming same

• US 8,243,956 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2007
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Turnbull, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): GANMAVO, KUASSI A
• Application Number:
  US11/837,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20090046870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,828 Days
• Field of Search: 381/66, 381/113, 330/265, 330/253, 330/277, 330/297, 330/97, 330/103, 330/104, 330/285, 359/838, 379/454
• US Class Current: 381/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

An autobias vehicular microphone system (300) includes a microphone (301) uses an amplifier (306) for amplifying an output of the microphone. A first feedback path (308) provides an amplifier output signal to the amplifier input for providing amplifier linearity and a second feedback path (305) is used for providing bias to an voltage reference (303). The voltage reference (303) operates to provide an autobias to the amplifier (306) based upon amplifier loading. Thus, a DC feedback loop works as an average voltage sensing circuit operating to center the amplifier (306) to an operating point near one half its supply voltage. By allowing the bias point to vary, a constant clip level can be maintained depending on varying load conditions of electronic devices (307, 309, 311) using the microphone (301).

Claims

1. An autobias vehicular microphone system comprising:

at least one microphone;

an amplifier connected to the at least one microphone for amplifying an output of the at least one microphone;

a first feedback path providing an amplifier output signal to the amplifier input for providing amplifier linearity;

a second feedback path for providing a DC bias to a voltage reference for providing an autobias to the amplifier based upon amplifier loading; and

wherein the autobias provides a variable bias point for the amplifier for maintaining a substantially constant clip level of the amplifier depending on varying load conditions of a plurality of electronic devices using the at least one microphone.

2. An autobias vehicular microphone system as in claim 1, wherein the first feedback path is an audio feedback path.

3. An autobias vehicular microphone system as in claim 1, wherein the second feedback path is a direct current (DC) feedback path.

4. An autobias vehicular microphone system as in claim 1, wherein the second feedback path utilizes at least one voltage divider.

5. An autobias vehicular microphone system as in claim 1, wherein the second feedback path utilizes an averaging capacitor.

6. An autobias vehicular microphone system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one microphone is located in a rear view mirror.

7. A method for providing autobias to an automotive microphone system comprising the steps of:

producing an audio output using at least one microphone;

increasing the output of the audio output using an amplifier;

providing an output of the amplifier to an input of the amplifier using an alternating current (AC) feedback from an amplifier output to an amplifier input for providing amplifier stability;

providing a dynamic bias to a voltage reference using a direct current (DC) feedback path; and

adjusting the dynamic bias to the amplifier using the voltage reference depending on at least one electronic device loading the at least one microphone such that the dynamic bias provides a variable bias point for the amplifier for maintaining a substantially constant clip level of the amplifier depending on the varying load conditions of a plurality of electronic devices using the at least one microphone.

8. A method for providing autobias to an automotive microphone system as in claim 7, wherein the at least one electronic device is a cellular telephone.

9. A method for providing autobias to an automotive microphone system as in claim 7, wherein the at least one electronic device is an automotive navigation system.

10. A method for providing autobias to an automotive microphone system as in claim 7, wherein the DC feedback path includes at least one voltage divider.

11. A method tier providing autobias to an automotive microphone system as in claim 7, wherein the DC feedback path includes at least one averaging capacitor.

12. A method for providing autobias to an automotive microphone system as in claim 7, wherein the AC feedback path is to a negative input of the amplifier.