Sound detector device

• US 6,360,607 B1
• Filed: 08/09/1999
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hooker, Rick, Charette, Francois, Hsieh, Hsiao-An, Hsueh, Keng D., Tran, Vy
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): FAYYAZ, NASHMIYA SAQIB
• Application Number:
  US09/369,829
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 735/87, 735/84, 735/92, 731/16
• US Class Current: 73/587
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/269 Various geometry objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/11 by measuring attenuation of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/14 using acoustic emission techniques echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/223 Supports, positioning or alignment in fixed situation mounting transducers per se G10K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/42 by frequency filtering or by tuning to resonant frequency

Abstract

A sound detector device for locating and diagnosing sound in a motor vehicle includes a headphone and a plurality of directional microphones. The sound detector device also includes a main unit having a circuit operatively connected to the headphone and the directional microphones for allowing an operator to diagnose sound in the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A sound detector device for locating and diagnosing sound in a motor vehicle comprising:

a headphone;

a plurality of directional microphones being directionally movable by a distance separation mechanism; and

a main unit having a circuit operatively connected to said headphone and said directional microphones for allowing an operator to diagnose sound in the motor vehicle.

2. A sound detector device as set forth in claim 1 including a recorder electrically connected to said circuit for recording signals therefrom.

3. A sound detector device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said distance separation mechanism interconnects said directional microphones and said circuit.

6. A sound detector device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said main unit comprises a housing, a circuit board having said circuit disposed in said housing and a power source disposed in said housing and electrically connected to said circuit.

7. A sound detector device as set forth in claim 1 including a power plug electrically connected to said circuit for attachment to a power source of the motor vehicle.

8. A sound detector device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said circuit includes a plurality of bandpass filters electrically connected to said directional microphones for filtering a signal from said directional microphones.

9. A sound detector device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said main unit includes a control button for adjusting a frequency of said bandpass filters.

10. A sound detector device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said main unit includes a control button for adjusting a band width of said bandpass filters.

11. A sound detector device as set forth in claim 8 wherein circuit includes an ON/OFF switch electrically connected to said bandpass filters and said directional microphones for turning said bandpass filters ON to filter the signals from said directional microphones and for turning said bandpass filters OFF to allow the signals from said directional microphones to bypass said bandpass filters.

12. A sound detector device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said circuit includes a plurality of pre-amplifiers electrically interconnecting said directional microphones and said bandpass filters and said ON/OFF switch.

13. A sound detector device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said circuit includes a plurality of buffers interconnecting said bandpass filters and said ON/OFF switch.

14. A sound detector device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said circuit includes at least one buffer electrically connected to said ON/OFF switch, a volume potentiometer electrically connected to said at least one buffer and a headphone jack electrically connected to said volume potentiometer.

15. A sound detector device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said circuit includes at least one buffer electrically connected to said ON/OFF switch and a line out jack electrically connected to said at least one buffer.

4. A sound detector device for locating and diagnosing sound in a motor vehicle comprising:

a headphone;

a plurality of directional microphones;

a main unit having a circuit operatively connected to said headphone and said directional microphones for allowing an operator to diagnose sound in the motor vehicle;

a distance separation mechanism interconnecting said directional microphones and said circuit; and

wherein said distance separation mechanism comprises a housing having a plurality of movable arms extending outwardly therefrom, one of said directional microphones being attached to one of said movable arms.

5. A sound detector device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said distance separation mechanism includes an adjustment mechanism connected to said movable arms to move said movable arms toward and away from each other to change a separation distance therebetween.

16. A sound detector device for locating and diagnosing sound in a motor vehicle comprising:

a headphone;

a plurality of directional microphones being directionally movable by a distance separation mechanism; and

a main unit having a circuit operatively connected to said headphone and said directional microphones for allowing an operator to diagnose sound in a motor vehicle;

said circuit comprising a plurality of pre-amplifiers electrically connected to said directional microphones for amplifying signals from said directional microphones, a plurality of bandpass filters electrically connected to said pre-amplifiers for filtering a signal from said pre-amplifiers, and an ON/OFF switch electrically connected to said bandpass filters and said directional microphones for turning said bandpass filters ON to filter the signals from said directional microphones and for turning said bandpass filters OFF to allow the signals from said directional microphones to bypass said bandpass filters; and

means for adjusting at least one of a frequency and bandwidth of said bandpass filters.

17. A sound detector device as set forth in claim 16 wherein said circuit includes a plurality of buffers interconnecting said bandpass filters and said ON/OFF switch.

18. A sound detector device as set forth in claim 16 wherein said circuit includes at least one buffer electrically connected to said ON/OFF switch, a volume potentiometer electrically connected to said at least one buffer and a headphone jack electrically connected to said volume potentiometer.

19. A sound detector device as set forth in claim 16 wherein said circuit includes at least one buffer electrically connected to said ON/OFF switch and a line out jack electrically connected to said at least one buffer.

20. A sound detector device for locating and diagnosing sound in a motor vehicle comprising:

a headphone;

a plurality of directional microphones;

a main unit having a circuit operatively connected to said headphone and said directional microphones for allowing an operator to diagnose sound in the motor vehicle;

a distance separation mechanism interconnecting said directional microphones and said circuit, said distance separation mechanism having a plurality of movable arms extending outwardly therefrom, one of said directional microphones being attached to one of said movable arms, and an adjustment mechanism connected to said movable arms to move said movable arms toward and away from each other; and

a recorder electrically connected to said circuit for recording signals therefrom.