GB2333924A

GB2333924A - A motor vehicle communication arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2333924A
Application number: GB9802171A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adrian Trevor Iles
Original assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Current assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date: 1998-01-31
Filing date: 1998-01-31
Publication date: 1999-08-04
Also published as: GB9802171D0

Abstract

A microphone 3 and loudspeaker 4 are mounted about the upper periphery of a motor vehicle body door jamb 2 allowing hands-free communication. The communication device may be a mobile telephone or a traffic information system or an external hailer communication apparatus. The microphone and loudspeaker are mounted in the recess normally used to mount a grab handle. The microphone and/or speaker preferably have uni-directional performance and can be arranged so that both are directed at the user's head.

Description

A MOTOR VEHICLE COMMUNICATION ARRANGEMENT The present invention relates to a motor vehicle communication arrangement and more particularly a communication arrangement whereby a driver of a motor vehicle can operate a mobile telephone with "hands free".

The use of mobile phones has increased rapidly in recent years along with motor vehicle usage. Thus, there is an inherent requirement to allow the use of mobile phones within a motor vehicle whilst being driven.

However, in order to maintain safety it is important that the driver is not too distracted or hindered by such operation of his or her mobile phone. In such circumstances it is necessary to provide for "hands free" operation.

Unfortunately, the space available in a modern motor vehicle to accommodate the necessary housings and apparatus for "hands free" telephone operation is limited. It will be appreciated that the modern motor vehicle generally includes a range of instrument and diagnostic indicator panels along with in-car entertainment and lifestyle features such as a cup holder. Furthermore, a motor vehicle facia may not be the most appropriate position to locate microphone/loadspeaker elements due to the potential vibration or the electromagnetic interference from other components within the facia. In addition, the motor vehicle facia may be an unacceptable distance from the driver's mouth. Finally, it is also important, as indicated previously, that the operation of the communication system must not be obtrusive or distracting to the driver. It will be understood that hands-free mountings within a motor vehicle facia dashboard could be distracting.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a motor vehicle communication arrangement which substantially diminishes the abovementioned problems.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a motor vehicle communication arrangement comprising a microphone and a speaker element mounted in a spaced relationship about the periphery of a motor vehicle body door jamb, said space relationship being such that acoustic sound can be exchanged with a communication device, whereby a person generating such acoustic sound can operate such arrangement without ongoing physical contact therewith.

Preferably, the speaker and/or the microphone are mounted in an upper portion of the motor vehicle body door jamb.

The communications device may a mobile telephone or a hailer arrangement for external communication by the driver without compromising vehicle security or a traffic information system incorporating such announcements as directional instructions and road condition/traffic flow bulletins.

The microphone may be voice-activated or activated using a switch located within the motor vehicle.

The microphone and/or the speaker element may be mounted in apertures about the periphery of the motor vehicle body door normally utilised previously to mounted a grab handle.

The microphone and/or loadspeaker may be configured to achieve directional performance.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing of a schematic perspective of a motor vehicle communication arrangement.

Referring to the drawing depicting a communication arrangement in accordance with the present invention, a motor vehicle body 1 includes a door jamb 2 in which the motor vehicle door (not shown) is located in use.

About a peripheral edge of the jamb 2 a microphone 3 and a loadspeaker element 4 are located.

The microphone 3 and the speaker 4 are positioned about the upper edge of the jamb 2 in order to be conveniently located to receive acoustic sound, ie. speech, from a motor vehicle driver located in a seat 5. The microphone 3 is forward of and spaced from the speaker 4 in order to achieve best operation. It will be appreciated taht acoustic sound will be presented from a driver's mouth and generally prevaled forwards whilst a driver's ear will be nearer to the speaker 4 in such a configuration.

Spacing of the microphone 3 and the speaker 4 is important to achieve duplex communication exchange. The spacing allows a perceived differentiation between the received and spoken acoustic sounds by the driver located in seat 5. Close location may limit this ability to differentiate. A spacing of between 20 and 30 CMS can be sufficient to provide such differentiation. Such spacing is consistent with the mountings for the usual grab handle located within a motor vehicle and so the microphone 3 and the speaker 4 in appropriate mountings may be secured in the apertures usually utilised for mounting a grab handle within a motor vehicle.

It will be appreciated by locating the microphone 3 and the speaker 4 about the periphery of the jamb 2 discrete non-intrusive location is achieved without distraction to the driver located in the seat 5. Activation of the communication arrangement could be through a switch appropriately located within the motor vehicle or through voice activation via the microphone 3.

Wiring 6 for the microphone 3 and the speaker 4 can be located behind the liner of the motor vehicle and extend down through the A-beam 7 of the motor vehicle body 1 or that beam's lining cover. Thus, the communication arrangement including the microphone 3 and the speaker element 4 can be located within the motor vehicle during initial manufacture or as a subsequent retrofit within the vehicle.

The principal use of the communication arrangement including microphone 3 and speaker 4 is with regard to hands-free telephone operation within a moving motor vehicle. However, it will be appreciated that the arrangement could be used in other systems required by the driver of the motor vehicle. Such systems could include a traffic information system whereby the driver could be given direction instructions and information with regard to traffic problems/road conditions. Furthermore, the speaker 4 could be utilised to provide, via a suitable voice synthesiser information with regard to faults within the motor vehicle. It will also be understood that there is increasing concern with regard to security and in this respect it may be desirable for the driver of a motor vehicle to be able to maintain the security of the motor vehicle by keeping windows closed and doors locked whilst communicating with a stranger external to the vehicle, the present communication arrangement would provide a convenient manner of achieving such communication through a reciprocal microphone/hailer loadspeaker mounted for external operation in the motor vehicle.

By locating the microphne 3 and speaker 4 nearer to the driver's head, it will be appreciated that acoustic exchange is improved along with clarity.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, despite the best endeavours by motor vehicle designers, there is still a significant level of background acoustic noise which must be overcome in order to achieve efficient communication. Closer location of the microphone and the speaker 4 will improve such communication without requiring radical alteration to the motor vehicle construction or design. However, to improve matters further, it will be appreciated that the microphone 3 in particular could be made uni-directional or substantially so along with the speaker 4. In such a directional configuration for the microphone 3 and the speaker 4 the directional aspect of acoustic pick-up and/or projection will be made to coincide at a point adjacent the seating 5 where a driver's head will generally be located, ie. possibly 15 cms in front of a headrest 8. The microphone 3 and/or the speaker 4 could be adjustable to alter the point of intersection in accordance with a particular driver's requirements.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A motor vehicle communication arrangement comprising a microphone and a speaker element mounted in a spaced relationship about the periphery of a motor vehicle body door jamb, said spaced relationship being such that acoustic sound can be exchanged with a communication device whereby a person generating such acoustic sound can operate such arrangement without ongoing physical contact therewith.
2. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said microphone and said speaker element are mounted about a respective upper portion of said door jamb of the motor vehicle body.
3. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the communication device is a mobile telephone or a traffic information system or an external hailer communication apparatus.
4. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the microphone and the speaker are located within orifices of the motor vehicle body normally utilised to mount a grab handle for that motor vehicle.
5. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the microphone and/or speaker are arranged to have a uni-directional performance.
6. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said microphone and said speaker are arranged to have a point of incidence of said respective uni-directional performance substantially 15 cms in front of a motor vehicle seating for the person generating acoustic sound.