# US 11,310,578 B2 · Water and dustproof external microphone apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,310,578 B2 - Document ID: US11310578B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/799,010 - Filed: 2020-02-24 - Published: 2020-09-03 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-28 - Assignees: Harman International Industries, Incorporated - Applicants: Harman International Industries, Incorporated - Inventors: Zoltan Giang-Son Kleinheincz; Zsolt Marton; Laszlo Csaszar; Pablo Diego Regla; Balazs Varga; Viktor Dobos - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310578B2 ## CPC - H04R 1/08: Mouthpieces; {Microphones;} Attachments therefor - H04R 1/086: {Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens} - H04R 1/04: Structural association of microphone with electric circuitry therefor (in electric hearing aids H04R25/00) - H04R 1/222: {for microphones (H04R1/24, H04R1/26 take precedence)} - H04R 31/006: {Interconnection of transducer parts (of diaphragm and outer suspension by moulding H04R31/003)} - H04R 2410/07: Mechanical or electrical reduction of wind noise generated by wind passing a microphone - H04R 2499/13: Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract In at least one embodiment, a microphone apparatus for attachment to an exterior portion of a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a microphone element, a cover, and a grille cover. The microphone element is positioned on the PCB. The cover extends over the printed circuit board and defines a first opening to enable ambient sound external to the vehicle to be transmitted to the microphone element. The grille cover is positioned on the exterior portion 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microphone apparatus for attachment to an exterior portion of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a printed circuit board (PCB) defining a PCB opening extending therethrough; a microphone element supported by the PCB and extending over the PCB opening on a first side of the PCB; a cover extending over the printed circuit board 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 to the microphone element; a grille cover positioned on the exterior portion 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 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The microphone apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first opening of the cover is cone shaped to reduce a frequency response of the ambient sound. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The microphone apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an inner cap that is positioned between the grille cover and the cover. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The microphone apparatus of claim 3, wherein the inner cap defines a second opening to enable the ambient sound external to the vehicle to pass therethrough and on to the first opening of the cover. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The microphone apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second opening is cone shaped to coact with the cone shaped first opening of the cover to provide a flatter frequency response of the ambient sound. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The microphone apparatus of claim 1, wherein the acoustic membrane and the cover are separate from one another. ### Claim 7 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The microphone apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first opening of the cover is cone shaped to reduce a frequency response of the ambient sound. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The microphone apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an inner cap that is positioned between the grille cover and the cover. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The microphone apparatus of claim 9, wherein the inner cap defines a second opening to enable the ambient sound external to the vehicle to pass therethrough and on to the first opening of the cover. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The microphone apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second opening is cone shaped to coact with the cone shaped first opening of the cover to provide a flatter frequency response of the ambient sound. ### Claim 12 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.