Voice acquisition system for vehicle

• US 9,060,216 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2013
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Larson, Mark L., Weller, Andrew D., Bigoness, Eric P., Lambrix, Timothy R., DeBoer, Carol L., McCaw, Joseph P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Huyen D
• Application Number:
  US13/740,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20130129107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 381/86, 381/313, 381/91, 381/92, 381/355, 381/356, 381/357, 381/358, 381/360, 381/361, 381/389, 340/525, 340/815.4, 379/433.03
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 voice acquisition system for a vehicle includes a microphone having a first microphone element and a second microphone element. The system includes circuitry for processing signals output by the first and second microphone elements. The first microphone element is disposed at a first acoustic port and the second microphone element is disposed at a second acoustic port. The first acoustic port is at least partially isolated from the second acoustic port. When the microphone is normally mounted in an interior cabin of a vehicle, vocal signals emanating from an occupant of the vehicle pressurize the first microphone element at the first acoustic port ahead of pressurization by the vocal signals of the second microphone element at the second acoustic port. The voice acquisition system may include at least one of (i) discrimination of vocal signals from non-vocal signals, (ii) noise cancellation and (iii) filtering of noise.

Claims

1. A voice acquisition system for a vehicle, said voice acquisition system comprising:

a microphone;

wherein said microphone comprises a first microphone element and a second microphone element;

circuitry for processing signals output by said first and second microphone elements;

wherein said first microphone element is disposed at a first acoustic port and wherein said second microphone element is disposed at a second acoustic port;

wherein said first acoustic port is at least partially isolated from said second acoustic port;

wherein, when said microphone is normally mounted in an interior cabin of a vehicle equipped with said voice acquisition system, vocal signals emanating from an occupant of the equipped vehicle pressurize said first microphone element at said first acoustic port ahead of pressurization by said vocal signals of said second microphone element at said second acoustic port; and

wherein said voice acquisition system comprises at least one of (i) discrimination of vocal signals from non-vocal signals, (ii) noise cancellation and (iii) filtering of noise.

2. The voice acquisition system of claim 1, wherein, when said microphone is normally mounted in an interior cabin of the equipped vehicle, said first acoustic port is generally towards a driver of the equipped vehicle.

3. The voice acquisition system of claim 2, wherein, when said microphone is normally mounted in an interior cabin of the equipped vehicle, said second acoustic port is generally not towards the driver of the equipped vehicle.

4. The voice acquisition system of claim 2, wherein, when said microphone is normally mounted in an interior cabin of the equipped vehicle, said second acoustic port is generally towards a windshield of the equipped vehicle.

5. The voice acquisition system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry is operable to process outputs of said first and second microphone elements to distinguish sound signals received by said first microphone element from sound signals received by said second microphone element.

6. The voice acquisition system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry is operable to discriminate vocal signals indicative of a human voice from non-vocal signals by at least one of (i) canceling signals received at the respective acoustic ports and (ii) filtering signals received at the respective acoustic ports.

7. The voice acquisition system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry is operable to provide an enhanced signal to noise ratio.

8. The voice acquisition system of claim 7, wherein said circuitry provides said enhanced signal to noise ratio by processing an output of said first microphone element different from processing of an output of said second microphone element.

9. The voice acquisition system of claim 1, wherein said microphone comprises a housing and wherein said first microphone element and said second microphone element are disposed in said housing.

10. The voice acquisition system of claim 1, wherein said first acoustic port comprises a primary acoustic port and said second acoustic port comprises a secondary acoustic port.

11. The voice acquisition system of claim 1, wherein, when said microphone is normally mounted in the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle, said first acoustic port is generally towards a driver of the equipped vehicle and said second acoustic port is generally towards a windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said circuitry is operable to at least substantially ignore sound signals originating from an area in the direction of said second acoustic port in response to a time delay between said first microphone element receiving sound signals at said first acoustic port and said second microphone element receiving sound signals at said second acoustic port.

12. The voice acquisition system of claim 1, wherein said microphone comprises a microphone module.

13. The voice acquisition system of claim 12, wherein said circuitry is at least in part accommodated in said microphone module.

14. The voice acquisition system of claim 1, wherein an acoustic barrier is disposed between said first and second acoustic ports, and wherein said acoustic barrier is configured to at least partially acoustically isolate said first acoustic port from said second acoustic port.

15. The voice acquisition system of claim 14, comprising an acoustic cover positioned over said first and second acoustic ports, wherein said acoustic cover comprises an outer air flow limiting layer and at least one inner air flow limiting layer, and wherein said acoustic barrier defines a gap between a distal end of said acoustic barrier and an inner surface of an outer air flow limiting layer.

16. The voice acquisition system of claim 1, comprising an acoustic cover positioned over said first and second acoustic ports, wherein said acoustic cover comprises an outer air flow limiting layer and at least one inner air flow limiting layer, and wherein said at least one inner air flow limiting layer is disposed at least partially over said first and second acoustic ports and said outer air flow limiting layer is disposed at least partially over and spaced from said at least one inner air flow limiting layer and defining a space therebetween, and wherein said outer air flow limiting layer and said at least one inner air flow limiting layer are configured to substantially limit air flow therethrough.

17. The voice acquisition system of claim 16, wherein at least one of (i) said acoustic cover comprises an outer rigid cover, and wherein outer air flow limiting layer is attached to said outer rigid cover, (ii) said at least one inner air flow limiting layer comprises first and second inner air flow limiting layers, and wherein said first inner air flow limiting layer is disposed at said first acoustic port and said second inner air flow limiting layer is disposed at said second acoustic port, and (iii) said at least one inner air flow limiting layer comprises first and second inner air flow limiting layers, and wherein said first inner air flow limiting layer is disposed at said first acoustic port and said second inner air flow limiting layer is disposed at said second acoustic port and wherein said first and second inner air flow limiting layers comprise different materials.

18. The voice acquisition system of claim 16, 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, and wherein at least one of (i) said outer air flow limiting layer and said diffusing material comprise a multi-dimensional textile material and (ii) said outer air flow limiting layer, said diffusing material and said inner air flow limiting layer comprise a three dimensional woven textile material.

19. The voice acquisition system of claim 16, wherein at least one of (i) said outer air flow limiting layer comprises a non-woven textile material, (ii) said space between said inner and outer air flow limiting layers comprises air and (iii) said outer air flow limiting layer comprises a hydrophobic characteristic.

20. The voice acquisition system of claim 1, wherein said microphone is positioned in, at or adjacent to an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle.

21. The voice acquisition system of claim 1, wherein said microphone is positioned at least partially within an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a pocket for at least partially receiving and securing said microphone when a mirror reflective element is at least partially received in said interior rearview mirror assembly.

22. The voice acquisition system of claim 21, wherein said mirror reflective element has a mounting plate at a rearward surface thereof, and wherein said mounting plate at least partially comprises said pocket, and wherein said microphone is at least partially received within said pocket at said mounting plate and retained therein during assembly of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

23. The voice acquisition system of claim 1, wherein said microphone is positioned at least partially within a windshield accessory module of the equipped vehicle.

24. A voice acquisition system for a vehicle, said voice acquisition system comprising:

a microphone;

wherein said microphone is positioned in, at or adjacent to an interior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle equipped with said voice acquisition system;

wherein said microphone comprises a first microphone element and a second microphone element;

circuitry for processing signals output by said first and second microphone elements;

wherein said first microphone element is disposed at a first acoustic port and wherein said second microphone element is disposed at a second acoustic port;

wherein said first acoustic port is at least partially isolated from said second acoustic port;

wherein, when said microphone is normally positioned in, at or adjacent to said interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle, said first acoustic port is generally towards a driver of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein, when said microphone is normally positioned in, at or adjacent to said interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle, vocal signals emanating from an occupant of the equipped vehicle pressurize said first microphone element at said first acoustic port ahead of pressurization by said vocal signals of said second microphone element at said second acoustic port.

25. The voice acquisition system of claim 24, wherein said voice acquisition system comprises at least one of (i) discrimination of vocal signals from non-vocal signals, (ii) noise cancellation and (iii) filtering of noise.

26. The voice acquisition system of claim 24, wherein, when said microphone is normally positioned in, at or adjacent to said interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle, said second acoustic port is at least one of (i) generally not towards the driver of the equipped vehicle and (ii) generally towards a windshield of the equipped vehicle.

27. The voice acquisition system of claim 24, wherein an acoustic barrier is disposed between said first and second acoustic ports, and wherein said acoustic barrier is configured to at least partially acoustically isolate said first acoustic port from said second acoustic port.

28. The voice acquisition system of claim 24, wherein said microphone comprises a housing and wherein said first microphone element and said second microphone element are disposed in said housing.

29. A voice acquisition system for a vehicle, said voice acquisition system comprising:

a microphone;

an interior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle equipped with said voice acquisition system;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises said microphone;

wherein said microphone comprises a first microphone element and a second microphone element;

circuitry for processing signals output by said first and second microphone elements;

wherein said first microphone element is disposed at a first acoustic port and wherein said second microphone element is disposed at a second acoustic port;

wherein said first acoustic port is at least partially isolated from said second acoustic port;

wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, said first acoustic port of said microphone is generally towards a driver of the equipped vehicle;

wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, vocal signals emanating from an occupant of the equipped vehicle pressurize said first microphone element at said first acoustic port ahead of pressurization by said vocal signals of said second microphone element at said second acoustic port; and

wherein said voice acquisition system comprises at least one of (i) discrimination of vocal signals from non-vocal signals, (ii) noise cancellation and (iii) filtering of noise.

30. The voice acquisition system of claim 29, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises at least one of (i) an antenna, (ii) a display, (iii) a garage door opener, (iv) a headlamp controller, (v) a compass and (vi) a user input.

31. The voice acquisition system of claim 29, wherein, when said interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the equipped vehicle, said second acoustic port of said microphone is at least one of (i) generally not towards the driver of the equipped vehicle and (ii) generally towards a windshield of the equipped vehicle.

32. The voice acquisition system of claim 29, wherein an acoustic barrier is disposed between said first and second acoustic ports, and wherein said acoustic barrier is configured to at least partially acoustically isolate said first acoustic port from said second acoustic port.

33. The voice acquisition system of claim 29, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror casing and wherein said microphone is disposed at said mirror casing.

34. The voice acquisition system of claim 33, wherein said mirror casing houses, at least in part, said circuitry.

35. The voice acquisition system of claim 29, wherein said microphone comprises a housing and wherein said first microphone element and said second microphone element are disposed in said housing.