Microphone system for vehicle

• US 20060109996A1
• Filed: 10/01/2003
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Weller, Andrew D., McCaw, Joseph P., DeBoer, Carol L., Barr, Joshua J., Lambrix, Timothy R., Bigoness, Eric P., Larson, Mark L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,657,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/365
• 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: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/083 Special constructions of mouthpieces
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/086 Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens
• 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 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

A vehicle interior rearview mirror assembly (10) comprises an accessory (24), a reflective element (18) and a bezel (20). The mirror assembly may define portions of a pocket (23) that at least partially receives and secures the accessory therebetween when the reflective element is at least partially received in the bezel. The mirror assembly (110) may include a microphone (124) and an acoustic cover (126) positioned at least partially over one or more inlet ports (124j, 124k) of the microphone. The acoustic cover may include an outer air flow limiting layer (130b) that substantially limits air flow therethrough and a diffusing material (130a) that may space and support the outer layer from the inlet ports to substantially diffuse air flow that penetrates the outer layer. An acoustic barrier (132) may be positioned between a pair of inlet ports of the microphone to enhance the directivity of the microphone.

Claims

1. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle, said mirror assembly comprising:

an accessory;

a reflective element having a mounting plate at a rearward surface thereof, said mounting plate including a first portion of a pocket for at least partially receiving said accessory therein; and

a bezel, said bezel at least partially receiving said reflective element therein, said bezel including a second portion of said pocket, said first and second portions of said pocket at least partially receiving and securing said accessory therebetween when said reflective element is at least partially received in said bezel.

2. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said accessory comprises a microphone module.

3. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 2, wherein said second portion comprises an accessory tab extending from said bezel and said first portion comprises a platform extending from said mounting plate.

4. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 3, wherein said accessory tab extends in overlapping relationship with said microphone module when said reflective element is at least partially received in said bezel.

5. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 4, wherein said accessory tab comprises an aperture therethrough for at least partially receiving an audio receiving portion of said microphone module such that said audio receiving portion extends at least partially through said aperture when said bezel, reflective element and microphone module are assembled together.

6. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 5, wherein said accessory tab comprises a flexible tab and flexes to overlap said microphone module, said accessory tab being biased to return toward its unflexed state when said audio receiving portion is at least partially received through said aperture.

7. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 6, wherein said microphone module includes flexible ridges, said accessory tab pressing against said flexible ridges to secure said microphone module between said accessory tab and said platform.

8. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 2 including an acoustic cover positioned at least partially over at least one inlet port of said microphone module.

9. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein said acoustic cover comprises a diffusing material and an air flow limiting material positioned at least partially over said diffusing material, said air flow limiting material being configured to substantially limit air flow through said air flow limiting material, said diffusing material being configured to space and support said air flow limiting material from said at least one inlet port and to substantially diffuse air flow that penetrates said air flow limiting material.

10. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein said microphone module comprising a directional microphone having two inlet ports, said acoustic cover including an acoustic barrier positioned across said microphone and between said inlet ports, said acoustic barrier being configured to substantially acoustically isolate one of said inlet ports from the other of said inlet ports.

11. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 10, wherein said acoustic cover comprises an inner air flow limiting layer at least partially over said ports and an outer air flow limiting cover at least partially over and spaced from said inner air flow limiting cover, said air flow limiting covers being substantially resistant to air permeation.

12. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said second portion of said pocket comprises opposite flanges that engage corresponding grooves along opposite sides of said accessory to secure said accessory between said flanges and said first portion of said pocket.

13. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said accessory includes flexible ridges, at least one of said first and second portions of said pocket engaging said flexible ridges to secure said accessory between said first and second portions.

14. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 including a printed circuit board mounted to said mounting plate.

15. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 14 including a housing, said bezel securing to said housing to at least partially encase said reflective element, said mounting plate, said accessory and said printed circuit board within said housing.

16. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 15, wherein said housing includes a recessed portion for at least partially receiving said pocket and said accessory when said bezel is secured to said housing.

17. The interior rearview mirror assembly of claim 16, wherein said accessory at least partially protrudes through said second portion, said accessory being generally flush with said second portion and said housing.

18. A method for assembling an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising:

providing a bezel portion having a first portion of an accessory pocket;

providing a reflective element having a mounting plate on a rear surface thereof, said mounting plate including a second portion of said accessory pocket;

positioning an accessory at one of said first and second portions of said accessory pocket; and

assembling said reflective element to said bezel portion, whereby said accessory is at least partially received and retained between said first and second portions as said reflective element is assembled to said bezel portion.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein positioning an accessory comprises positioning a microphone module at one of said first and second portions of said accessory pocket.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said second portion comprises a platform extending from said mounting plate and said first portion of said pocket comprises an upper retainer extending from said bezel portion

21. The method of claim 20, wherein positioning a microphone module comprises positioning a microphone module on said platform and retaining said microphone module on said platform by engaging an upper portion of said microphone module with said upper retainer as said reflective element is assembled to said bezel portion.

22. The method of claim 19 including providing an acoustic cover at least partially over at least one inlet port of said microphone module.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said microphone module comprises a directional microphone having two inlet ports, said method including providing an acoustic barrier positioned across said microphone and between said inlet ports, said acoustic barrier being configured to substantially acoustically isolate one of said inlet ports from the other of said inlet ports.

24. The method of claim 18 including attaching a casing to said bezel portion.

25. An interior rearview mirror system of a vehicle comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element and a casing, said interior rearview mirror assembly being adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle;

at least one microphone positioned in, at or adjacent to said interior rearview mirror assembly and having first and second inlet ports for receiving audible signals from within the vehicle cabin;

an acoustic cover positioned over said first and second inlet ports of said at least one microphone, said acoustic cover comprising an outer air flow limiting layer and at least one inner air flow limiting layer, said at least one inner air flow limiting layer being disposed at least partially over said first and second inlet ports and said outer air flow limiting layer being disposed at least partially over and spaced from said at least one inner air flow limiting layer and defining a space therebetween, said outer air flow limiting layer and said at least one inner air flow limiting layer being configured to substantially limit air flow therethrough; and

an acoustic barrier positioned across said microphone and between said first and second inlet ports, said acoustic barrier being configured to substantially acoustically isolate said first inlet port from said second inlet port.

26. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 25, wherein said acoustic cover comprises an outer rigid cover, said outer air flow limiting layer being attached to said outer rigid cover.

27. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 25, wherein said at least one inner air flow limiting layer comprises first and second inner air flow limiting layers, said first inner air flow limiting layer being disposed at said first inlet port and said second inner air flow limiting layer being disposed at said second inlet port.

28. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 27, wherein said first and second inner air flow limiting layers comprise different materials.

29. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 25, wherein said acoustic barrier defines a gap between a distal end of said acoustic barrier from said microphone and an inner surface of said outer air flow limiting layer.

30. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 25, wherein said space between said inner and outer air flow limiting layers comprises a diffusing material for diffusing air flow that permeates said outer air flow limiting layer.

31. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 25, wherein said space between said inner and outer air flow limiting layers comprises air.

32. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 25, wherein said outer air flow limiting layer comprises a hydrophobic characteristic.

33. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 25, wherein said at least one microphone is positioned at least partially within said interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly defining a pocket for at least partially receiving and securing said at least one microphone when said reflective element is at least partially received in said interior rearview mirror assembly.

34. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 33, wherein said reflective element has a mounting plate at a rearward surface thereof, said mounting plate at least partially defining said pocket, said microphone being received within said pocket at said mounting plate and retained therein during assembly of said mirror assembly.

35. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 34, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a bezel, said bezel at least partially receiving said reflective element therein and retaining said microphone within said pocket.

36. An interior rearview mirror system of a vehicle comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element and a casing, said interior rearview mirror assembly being adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle;

at least one microphone positioned in, at or adjacent to said interior rearview mirror assembly and having at least one inlet port for receiving audible signals from within the vehicle cabin; and

an acoustic cover positioned at least partially over said at least one inlet port of said at least one microphone, said acoustic cover comprising a diffusing material and an air flow limiting material positioned at least partially over said diffusing material, said air flow limiting material being configured to substantially limit air flow through said air flow limiting material and said diffusing material being configured to space and support said air flow limiting material from said at least one inlet port and to substantially diffuse air flow that penetrates said air flow limiting material.

37. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 36, wherein said at least one microphone comprises a directional microphone.

38. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 37, wherein said at least one inlet port comprises separated inlet ports.

39. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 38 including an acoustic barrier positioned across said microphone and between said inlet ports, said acoustic barrier being configured to substantially acoustically isolate one of said inlet ports from the other of said inlet ports.

40. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 39, wherein said directional microphone is positioned at and at least partially within an upper region of said casing of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

41. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 39, wherein said diffusing material is positioned at each side of said acoustic barrier to diffuse air flow at either side of said acoustic barrier.

42. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 36, wherein said at least one microphone is positioned at and at least partially within an upper region of said casing of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

43. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 36, wherein said at least one microphone is positioned at least partially within said interior rearview mirror assembly and said acoustic cover is positioned at least partially outside of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

44. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 36, wherein said acoustic cover comprises a textile material.

45. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 44, wherein said acoustic cover comprises a woven textile material.

46. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 45, wherein said acoustic cover comprises a multi-dimensional woven textile material.

47. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 46, wherein said acoustic cover comprises a three dimensional woven textile material.

48. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 36, wherein said at least one microphone is in electrical communication with at least one accessory of the vehicle.

49. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 48, wherein said at least one accessory comprises at least one of a hands free cell phone system, an audio recording system and an emergency communication system.

50. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 36, wherein said at least one microphone is one of (i) included in said interior rearview mirror assembly, (ii) positioned adjacent to said interior rearview mirror assembly, (iii) included in an attachment to said interior rearview mirror assembly, and (iv) included in a module associated with said interior rearview mirror assembly.

51. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 36, wherein said at least one microphone is positioned at least partially within said interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly defining a pocket for at least partially receiving and securing said at least one microphone when said reflective element is at least partially received in said interior rearview mirror assembly.

52. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 51, wherein said reflective element has a mounting plate at a rearward surface thereof, said mounting plate at least partially defining said pocket, said microphone being received within said pocket at said mounting plate and retained therein during assembly of said mirror assembly.

53. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 52, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a bezel, said bezel at least partially receiving said reflective element therein and retaining said microphone within said pocket.

54. An interior rearview mirror system of a vehicle comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising a reflective element and a casing, said interior rearview mirror assembly being adapted for attachment to an interior portion of the vehicle;

a microphone system positioned at, near or partially within said interior rearview mirror assembly and comprising;

a directional microphone having separated inlet ports for receiving audible signals from within the vehicle cabin;

a diffuser positioned at least partially over said inlet ports of said directional microphone, said diffuser being configured to substantially diffuse air flow around said inlet ports; and

an acoustic barrier positioned between said inlet ports and configured to substantially acoustically isolate one of said inlet ports from the other of said inlet ports, said diffuser being positioned at both sides of said acoustic barrier and over the respective inlet ports to diffuse air flow at both sides of said acoustic barrier, said acoustic barrier being adapted to delay reception of a sound signal by one of said inlet ports relative to the other of said inlet ports, said sound signal traveling through said diffuser.

55. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 54, wherein said diffuser comprises a diffusing material and an air flow limiting material positioned over said diffusing material, said air flow limiting material being configured to substantially limit air flow through said air flow limiting material and said diffusing material, said diffusing material being configured to diffuse air flow that penetrates said air flow limiting material and to space and support said air flow limiting material from said inlet ports.

56. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 55, wherein said diffuser comprises a textile material.

57. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 56, wherein said diffuser comprises a woven textile material.

58. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 57, wherein said diffuser comprises a multi-dimensional woven textile material.

59. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 58, wherein said diffuser comprises a three dimensional woven textile material.

60. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 54, wherein said directional microphone is positioned at least partially within said interior rearview mirror assembly and said diffuser is positioned at least partially outside of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

61. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 54, wherein said microphone system is positioned at an upper portion of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

62. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 54, wherein said directional microphone is in electrical communication with at least one accessory of the vehicle.

63. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 62, wherein said at least one accessory comprises at least one of a hands free cell phone system, an audio recording system and an emergency communication system.

64. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 54, wherein said microphone system is one of (i) included in said interior rearview mirror assembly, (ii) positioned adjacent to said interior rearview mirror assembly, (iii) included in an attachment to said interior rearview mirror assembly, and (iv) included in a module associated with said interior rearview mirror assembly.

65. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 54, wherein said directional microphone is positioned in said interior rearview mirror assembly, said interior rearview mirror assembly defining a pocket for at least partially receiving and securing said directional microphone when said reflective element is at least partially received in said interior rearview mirror assembly.

66. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 65, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly includes a bezel, said bezel at least partially receiving said reflective element therein, said reflective element having a mounting plate at a rearward surface thereof, said mounting plate including a first portion of said pocket, said bezel defining a second portion of said pocket.

67. An microphone system of a vehicle comprising:

a windshield accessory module having a housing, said windshield accessory module at least having a portion at, and with a view towards, the windshield of the vehicle;

a microphone positioned in, on, at or adjacent to said housing and having first and second inlet ports for receiving audible signals from within the vehicle cabin; and

an acoustic cover positioned at least partially over said first and second inlet ports of said microphone, said acoustic cover comprising an inner air flow limiting layer positioned at least partially over said first and second inlet ports and an outer air flow limiting layer positioned at least partially over said inner layer, said outer layer and said inner layer being configured to substantially limit air flow therethrough, said outer layer being spaced from said inner layer and defining a space between said outer layer and said inner layer; and

an acoustic barrier positioned along said microphone and between said first and second inlet ports, said acoustic barrier being configured to substantially acoustically isolate said first inlet port from said second inlet port.

68. The microphone system of claim 67, wherein said space between said outer layer and said inner layer comprises a diffusing material configured to space and support said outer layer from said inner layer and to substantially diffuse air flow that penetrates said outer layer.

69. The microphone system of claim 68, wherein said outer layer and said diffusing material comprise a multi-dimensional textile material.

70. The microphone system of claim 69, wherein said outer layer, said diffusing material and said inner layer comprises a three dimensional woven textile material.

71. The microphone system of claim 67, wherein said outer layer comprises a non-woven textile material.

72. The microphone system of claim 67, wherein said acoustic barrier and said outer layer define a gap therebetween.

73. The microphone system of claim 67, wherein said space between said outer layer and inner layer comprises air.

74. The microphone system of claim 67, wherein said outer layer comprises a hydrophobic characteristic.