ARRANGEMENT FOR MOUNTING A MICROPHONE TO AN INTERIOR SURFACE OF A VEHICLE

• US 20110051972A1
• Filed: 08/26/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Company, GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: GRATKE, JESSE T., FORNATORO, DARRYL T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,331,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/361
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/021 incorporating only one transducer
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2410/00 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles

Abstract

A housing sub-assembly for mounting a microphone sub-assembly to a vehicle includes, but is not limited to a main body portion that is adapted to be mounted to an interior surface of the vehicle. The main body portion is configured to connect to the microphone sub-assembly and to support the microphone sub-assembly in a position such that a portion of the microphone sub-assembly protrudes beyond an end of the main body portion when the main body portion is connected to the microphone sub-assembly.

Claims

1. A housing sub-assembly for mounting a microphone sub-assembly to a vehicle, the housing sub-assembly comprising:

a main body portion adapted to be mounted to an interior surface of the vehicle, the main body portion being configured to connect to the microphone sub-assembly and to support the microphone sub-assembly in a position such that a portion of the microphone sub-assembly protrudes beyond an end of the main body portion when the main body portion is connected to the microphone sub-assembly.

2. The housing sub-assembly of claim 1 wherein the main body portion includes a single structure configured to unilaterally connect to the microphone sub-assembly and to unilaterally support the microphone sub-assembly in the position.

3. The housing sub-assembly of claim 1 wherein the main body portion includes a pair of structures, each structure being configured to connect to the microphone sub-assembly and to support the microphone sub-assembly, the pair of structures unilaterally connecting the main body portion to the microphone sub-assembly and unilaterally supporting the microphone sub-assembly in the position.

4. The housing sub-assembly of claim 1 wherein the main body portion includes a means for connecting to the microphone sub-assembly and for supporting the microphone sub-assembly in the position.

5. The housing sub-assembly of claim 1 further comprising an acoustically transparent grill disposed adjacent the main body portion.

6. The housing sub-assembly of claim 5 wherein the acoustically transparent grill is configured to cover the microphone sub-assembly and to be spaced apart from the microphone sub-assembly when the main body portion is connected to the microphone sub-assembly.

7. The housing sub-assembly of claim 5 wherein the acoustically transparent grill is configured as a dome.

8. A microphone assembly for use with a vehicle, the microphone assembly comprising:

a microphone sub-assembly including a microphone and a preamplifier electrically connected to the microphone; and

a housing sub-assembly adapted to be mounted to an interior surface of the vehicle, the housing sub-assembly including a main body portion connected to the microphone sub-assembly, the main body portion being configured to support the microphone sub-assembly in a position such that a portion of the microphone sub-assembly protrudes beyond an end of the main body portion.

9. The microphone assembly of claim 8 wherein the main body portion includes a single structure configured to unilaterally connect to the microphone sub-assembly and to unilaterally support the microphone sub-assembly in the position.

10. The microphone assembly of claim 8 wherein the main body portion includes a pair of structures unilaterally connecting the main body portion to the microphone sub-assembly and unilaterally supporting the microphone sub-assembly in the position.

11. The microphone assembly of claim 8 wherein the microphone is a wideband microphone.

12. The microphone assembly of claim 8 wherein the main body portion is connected to the preamplifier.

13. The microphone assembly of claim 8 wherein the microphone sub-assembly further includes a back plate connected to the preamplifier and wherein the main body portion is connected to the back plate.

14. The microphone assembly of claim 8 wherein the microphone includes a sound receiving portion and wherein the main body portion is configured to support the microphone sub-assembly in a position such that the sound receiving portion protrudes beyond an end of the main body portion.

15. The microphone assembly of claim 8 wherein the microphone includes a sound receiving portion and wherein the sound receiving portion faces a driver of the vehicle when the housing sub-assembly is mounted to the interior surface of the vehicle.

16. The microphone assembly of claim 8 wherein the housing sub-assembly further includes an acoustically transparent grill covering the microphone sub-assembly and configured to be spaced apart from the microphone sub-assembly to avoid direct contact with the microphone.

17. A headliner assembly for a vehicle, the headliner assembly comprising:

a headliner configured for attachment to the vehicle, the headliner having a recess; and

a microphone assembly disposed within the recess and connected to the headliner, the microphone assembly including;

a microphone sub-assembly including a microphone and a preamplifier electrically connected to the microphone; and

a housing sub-assembly including a main body portion connected to the microphone sub-assembly, the main body portion being configured to support the microphone sub-assembly in a position such that a portion of the microphone sub-assembly protrudes beyond an end of the main body portion.

18. The headliner assembly of claim 17 wherein the microphone comprises a wideband microphone including a sound receiving portion and wherein the main body portion is configured to support the microphone sub-assembly in a position such that the sound receiving portion protrudes out of the recess.

19. The headliner assembly of claim 18 wherein the recess is configured as a keyway and wherein the main body portion is configured to conform to the keyway such that the recess obstructs insertion of the housing sub-assembly when the main body portion and the recess are out of alignment and wherein the recess permits insertion of the housing sub-assembly when the main body portion and the recess are aligned.

20. The headliner assembly of claim 17 further comprising an acoustically transparent grill covering the microphone sub-assembly and the recess and wherein the acoustically transparent grill is configured to be spaced apart from the microphone sub-assembly to avoid direct contact with the microphone.