Water and dustproof external microphone apparatus

A microphone apparatus for attachment to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• a microphone element supported by a printed circuit board (PCB) that defines a PCB opening, the microphone element extending over the PCB opening on a first side of the PCB;
• a cover extending over the microphone element and defining a first opening to enable ambient sound external to the vehicle to be transmitted to the microphone element;
• an acoustic membrane positioned between the first opening of the cover and the PCB, the acoustic membrane covering the PCB opening on a second side of the PCB to enable the ambient sound to pass through the PCB opening and to the microphone element;
• a grille cover positioned on vehicle defining a plurality of openings for directly receiving the ambient sound and for transmitting the ambient sound to the first opening of the cover and to the microphone element;
• at least one locking portion configured to attach to an underside of an exterior portion of the vehicle;
• wherein the at least one locking portion is further configured to engage at least one locking tab of the grille cover to attach the grille cover to the exterior portion of the vehicle, and
• a connector assembly to electrically couple the microphone element to an audio controller positioned in the vehicle;
• where the grille cover includes a plurality of locking sections that are radially spaced about an underside thereof for engaging a lower lip of the connector assembly.

A microphone apparatus comprising:

• a microphone element positioned on a printed circuit board (PCB) that defines a PCB opening, the microphone element extending over the PCB opening on a first side of the PCB;
• a cover extending over the microphone element and defining a first opening to enable ambient sound external to a vehicle to be transmitted to the microphone element;
• an acoustic membrane positioned between the first opening of the cover and the PCB, the acoustic membrane covering the PCB opening on a second side of the PCB to enable the ambient sound to pass therethrough to the microphone element;
• a grille cover positioned on a bumper of the vehicle defining a plurality of openings for directly receiving the ambient sound and for transmitting the ambient sound to the first opening of the cover and to the microphone element,
• at least one locking portion configured to attach to an underside of the vehicle;
• wherein the at least one locking portion is further configured to engage at least one locking tab of the grille cover to attach the grille cover to the vehicle, and
• a connector assembly to electrically couple the microphone element to a controller positioned in the vehicle;
• where the grille cover includes a plurality of locking sections that are spaced about an underside thereof for engaging the connector assembly.