WO2008101198A4 - Triangular microphone assembly for use in a vehicle accessory - Google Patents

Triangular microphone assembly for use in a vehicle accessory Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008101198A4
WO2008101198A4 PCT/US2008/054138 US2008054138W WO2008101198A4 WO 2008101198 A4 WO2008101198 A4 WO 2008101198A4 US 2008054138 W US2008054138 W US 2008054138W WO 2008101198 A4 WO2008101198 A4 WO 2008101198A4
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
microphone
assembly
transducers
mirror
rearview
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2008/054138
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2008101198A3 (en
WO2008101198A2 (en
Inventor
Robert R Turnbull
Alan R Watson
Original Assignee
Gentex Corp
Robert R Turnbull
Alan R Watson
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gentex Corp, Robert R Turnbull, Alan R Watson filed Critical Gentex Corp
Publication of WO2008101198A2 publication Critical patent/WO2008101198A2/en
Publication of WO2008101198A3 publication Critical patent/WO2008101198A3/en
Publication of WO2008101198A4 publication Critical patent/WO2008101198A4/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
    • B60R1/12—Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
    • B60R11/02—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
    • B60R11/0247—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof for microphones or earphones
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R3/00—Circuits for transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R3/005—Circuits for transducers, loudspeakers or microphones for combining the signals of two or more microphones
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
    • B60R1/12—Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
    • B60R2001/1223—Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks with sensors or transducers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
    • B60R2011/0001—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by position
    • B60R2011/0003—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by position inside the vehicle
    • B60R2011/0033—Rear-view mirrors
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2201/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones covered by H04R1/00 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2201/40—Details of arrangements for obtaining desired directional characteristic by combining a number of identical transducers covered by H04R1/40 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2201/401—2D or 3D arrays of transducers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2430/00—Signal processing covered by H04R, not provided for in its groups
    • H04R2430/20—Processing of the output signals of the acoustic transducers of an array for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic
    • H04R2430/23—Direction finding using a sum-delay beam-former
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2499/00—Aspects covered by H04R or H04S not otherwise provided for in their subgroups
    • H04R2499/10—General applications
    • H04R2499/13—Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)
  • Circuit For Audible Band Transducer (AREA)

Abstract

An interior rearview mirror assembly (101) for a vehicle includes a mirror housing (10S) adapted for attachment to the interior of the vehicle, the mirror housing (106) including a back surface (107) generally facing the front of the vehicle and an opening generally facing the rear of the vehicle. A mirror (108) is disposed in the opening of the mirror housing (106) where a first microphone assembly (108a), second microphone assembly (108b), and third microphones assembly (108c) are positioned in the mirror housing (106) along its rear, bottom, or top surface. The three microphone assemblies (108a, 108b 108c) are arranged in a substantially triangular configuration for reducing unwanted sound in the vehicle from at least one direction. The microphone assemblies may operate using a delay-and-sum beam-former (403,. 405) and digital signal processor (DSP) (407) for enhancing the directivity of the microphone array within the vehicle.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 05 January 2009 (05.01.09)What is claimed:
1. A microphone rearview assembly for use in a vehicle comprising: a mirror housing adapted for attachment to the interior of the vehicle, the mirror housing having a back surface generally facing the front of the vehicle and an opening generally facing the rear of the vehicle; a mirror disposed in the opening of the mirror housing; a plurality of microphone transducers arranged in a substantially triangular configuration in the mirror housing; and wherein the plurality of microphone transducers form a delay-and-sum beam former microphone array whose output is modified using time difference of arrival (TDOA) for providing additional directivity.
2. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of microphone transducers are three.
3. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 1, wherein the substantially triangular configuration is an equilateral triangle.
4. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 1, further comprising: at least one port positioned in the mirror housing for providing access to the plurality of microphone transducers.
5. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 1, further comprising: a circuit board having a hole sized to receive a portion of one of the plurality of microphone transducers; and wherein the one of the plurality of microphone transducers is mounted within the hole in the circuit board such that a portion of the transducer extends below a bottom surface of the circuit board.
6. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 5, wherein the circuit board is mounted relative to the rearview mirror assembly such that the circuit board is substantially perpendicular to a surface of the mirror.
7. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 6, wherein the circuit board is mounted in the mirror housing substantially perpendicular to a mirror surface.
8. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of microphone transducer signals form at least one digital microphone output.
9. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 8, wherein the at least one digital microphone output includes a delta sigma converter.
10. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 8, wherein the at least one digital microphone output is input to a digital signal processor (DSP).
11. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 8, wherein the at least one digital microphone uses a common bus for sourcing a supply voltage.
12. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of microphone transducers operate as a delay-and-sum beam former microphone array.
13. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 12, wherein the delay-and-sum beam former microphone array operates in connection with a digital signal processor (DSP).
14. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of microphone transducers utilize a gain smoothing time function having a plurality of attack and release constants for providing directional characteristics.
15. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising: a mirror housing adapted for attachment to the interior of the vehicle, the mirror housing having a back surface generally facing the front of the vehicle and an opening generally facing the rear of the vehicle; a mirror disposed in the opening of the mirror housing; a first microphone transducer positioned in the mirror housing; a second microphone transducer positioned in the mirror housing; a third microphone transducer positioned in the mirror housing; and wherein the first microphone transducer, second microphone transducer, and third microphone transducer are arranged in a substantially triangular configuration for reducing unwanted sound from at least one direction entering a plane surface defined by the three transducers and the first microphone transducer; second microphone transducer and third microphone transducer form a delay-and-sum beam former whose output is modified using the time difference of arrival (TDOA) for providing directivity.
16. The interior rearview mirror assembly as in claim 15, wherein the first, second, and third microphone transducers each include at least one port located in the mirror housing.
17. The interior rearview mirror assembly as in claim 15, wherein the first, second, and third transducers include at least one port that opens generally towards the surface of the mirror housing.
18. The interior rearview mirror assembly as in claim 15, wherein the first, second, and third microphone transducers are digital microphones.
19. The interior rearview mirror assembly as in claim 15, wherein the digital microphones include at least one delta sigma converter.
20. The interior rearview mirror assembly as in claim 18, wherein the digital microphones are input to a digital signal processor (DSP).
21. The interior rearview mirror assembly as in claim 19, wherein the digital microphones and DSP source their supply voltage using a common bus.
22. The interior rearview mirror assembly as in claim 19, wherein the digital microphones and DSP source their supply voltage and output their signal using a common bus.
23. An interior rearview mirror assembly as in claim 15, wherein the first microphone transducer, second microphone transducer, and third microphone transducer operate as a delay-and-suni beam-former microphone array.
24. An interior rearview mirror assembly as in claim 15, wherein first microphone transducer, second microphone transducer, and third microphone transducer utilize a gain smoothing time function having a plurality of attack and release constants for providing directional characteristics.
25. A triangular microphone assembly for use in a vehicle accessory comprising: a mirror housing adapted for attachment to the interior of the vehicle; a mirror disposed in an opening of the mirror housing; a plurality of virtual digital microphones arranged in a substantially triangular configuration in the mirror housing to form a virtual digital microphone operable as a delay-and-sum beam-former microphone array; a digital signal processor (DSP) for receiving signals from the plurality of digital microphones; and wherein the digital microphones exhibit directional characteristics for reducing undesirable noise in at least one direction using the delay-and-sum beam former microphone array whose output is modified using time difference of arrival (TDOA) for providing additional directivity.
26. A triangular microphone assembly as in claim 25, wherein the plurality of digital microphones include a first, second, and third microphone forming the substantially triangular configuration.
27. A triangular microphone assembly as in claim 25, wherein the plurality of digital microphones utilize a common bus for their supply voltage.
28. A triangular microphone assembly as in claim 25, the plurality of digital microphones each include a transducer, preamplifier, and delta sigma modulator.
29. A triangular microphone assembly as in claim 25, wherein the plurality of digital microphones receive audible sound primarily from a common plane.
30. A triangular microphone assembly as in claim 25, wherein the plurality of digital microphones receive audible sound primarily from a common plane perpendicular to the surface of the mirror.
31. A triangular microphone assembly as in claim 25, wherein the signals are processed in groups of two and added to form a summation signal.
32. A triangular microphone assembly as in claim 25, wherein the signals are processed non-linearly.
33. A triangular microphone assembly as in claim 25, wherein the signals are processed with a noise blocking filter.
34. A triangular microphone assembly as in claim 25, wherein the plurality of virtual microphone transducers utilize a gain smoothing time function having a plurality of attack and release constants for providing directional characteristics.
35. A microphone rearview assembly for use in a vehicle comprising: a mirror housing adapted for attachment to the interior of the vehicle, the mirror housing having a back surface generally facing the front of the vehicle and an opening generally facing the rear of the vehicle; a mirror disposed in the opening of the mirror housing; a plurality of microphone transducers arranged in a substantially triangular configuration in the mirror housing; and wherein the plurality of microphone transducers operate with a delay-and-sum beam-former used in combination with a digital signal processor (DSP) whose output is modified along with a time difference of arrival (TDOA) method for operating in a directional manner.
36. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 35, wherein the delay-and-sum beam-former utilizes at least one adjustable parameter for influencing the DSP.
37. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 36, wherein the at least one adjustable parameter includes varying at least one of the attack, release, gain and beam width.
38. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 35, wherein the plurality of microphone transducers are three.
39. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 35, wherein the plurality of microphone transducer signals form at least one digital microphone output.
40. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 39, wherein the at least one digital microphone output includes a delta sigma converter.
41. A microphone rearview assembly as in claim 39, wherein the plurality of microphone transducers utilize a gain smoothing time function having a plurality of attack and release constants for providing directional characteristics.
42. A method for positioning a plurality of microphone transducers in a vehicular rearview assembly comprising the steps of: adapting a mirror housing for attaching to an interior of a vehicle such that the mirror housing includes a front surface facing the rear of the vehicle and back surface facing front of the vehicle; positioning a mirror within an opening in the mirror housing; arranging a plurality of microphone transducers in a substantially triangular configuration in the mirror housing for providing directivity of the microphone transducers; operating the plurality of microphone transducers as a delay-and-sum beam-former microphone array; altering the output of the delay-and-sum beam-former microphone array; and using a time difference of arrival (TDOA) process with the out of the delay-and- sum beam-former for providing additional directivity to the delay-and-sum beam-former microphone array.
43. A method for positioning a plurality of microphone transducers in a vehicular rearview assembly as in claim 42, wherein the step of arranging includes the step of: orienting at least three microphone transducers into the substantially triangular configuration.
44. A method for positioning a plurality of microphone transducers in a vehicular rearview assembly as in claim 42, further including the step of: positioning at least one port in the microphone housing for providing access to the plurality of microphone transducers.
45. A method for positioning a plurality of microphone transducers in a vehicular rearview assembly as in claim 44, further including the step of: positioning the at least one port in a bezel attached to the housing.
46. A method for positioning a plurality of microphone transducers in a vehicular rearview assembly as in claim 43, further comprising the step of: operating the delay-and-sum beam-former microphone array with a digital signal processor (DSP).
47. A method for positioning a plurality of microphone transducers in a vehicular rearview assembly as in claim 42, further comprising the step of: utilizing a gain smoothing time function having a plurality of attack and release constants with the plurality of microphone transducers in order to provide directional characteristics.
PCT/US2008/054138 2007-02-16 2008-02-15 Triangular microphone assembly for use in a vehicle accessory WO2008101198A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US89033207P 2007-02-16 2007-02-16
US60/890,332 2007-02-16

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008101198A2 WO2008101198A2 (en) 2008-08-21
WO2008101198A3 WO2008101198A3 (en) 2008-12-18
WO2008101198A4 true WO2008101198A4 (en) 2009-02-19

Family

ID=39522378

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2008/054138 WO2008101198A2 (en) 2007-02-16 2008-02-15 Triangular microphone assembly for use in a vehicle accessory

Country Status (1)

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WO (1) WO2008101198A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8812309B2 (en) * 2008-03-18 2014-08-19 Qualcomm Incorporated Methods and apparatus for suppressing ambient noise using multiple audio signals
US8184816B2 (en) 2008-03-18 2012-05-22 Qualcomm Incorporated Systems and methods for detecting wind noise using multiple audio sources
US9558755B1 (en) 2010-05-20 2017-01-31 Knowles Electronics, Llc Noise suppression assisted automatic speech recognition
US9640194B1 (en) 2012-10-04 2017-05-02 Knowles Electronics, Llc Noise suppression for speech processing based on machine-learning mask estimation
US20140114665A1 (en) * 2012-10-19 2014-04-24 Carlo Murgia Keyword voice activation in vehicles
WO2016033364A1 (en) 2014-08-28 2016-03-03 Audience, Inc. Multi-sourced noise suppression
US9773495B2 (en) * 2016-01-25 2017-09-26 Ford Global Technologies, Llc System and method for personalized sound isolation in vehicle audio zones
DE102018200054A1 (en) * 2018-01-03 2019-07-04 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Device for blind spot monitoring of a motor vehicle

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE29908853U1 (en) * 1999-05-20 2000-11-02 Peiker, Andreas, 61381 Friedrichsdorf Device for detecting sound waves in a vehicle
EP1206161A1 (en) * 2000-11-10 2002-05-15 Sony International (Europe) GmbH Microphone array with self-adjusting directivity for handsets and hands free kits
KR100928056B1 (en) * 2003-05-19 2009-11-24 젠텍스 코포레이션 Rearview mirror assembly with hands-free phone component
WO2006006935A1 (en) * 2004-07-08 2006-01-19 Agency For Science, Technology And Research Capturing sound from a target region

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Publication number Publication date
WO2008101198A3 (en) 2008-12-18
WO2008101198A2 (en) 2008-08-21

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