External microphone heater
AssigneeWaymo LLC
InventorCheng-Han Wu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Example embodiments described herein involve reducing the formation of ice on external modules by incorporating a heater within the module. The system may include a microphone module for an autonomous vehicle. The microphone module may include a housing and a microphone inside an opening of the housing. The system may further include a cover abutting the opening of the housing. The cover may enclose the microphone within the housing and seal the opening of the housing. The system may also include a heater adjacent to the opening of the housing and configured to prevent ice from forming over the opening. The heater may at least partially surround the opening.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a microphone module for an autonomous vehicle, wherein the module comprises a housing and a microphone inside an opening of the housing, wherein the opening of the housing includes a first recessed edge;
- a cover abutting the opening of the housing, wherein the cover encloses the microphone within the housing and seals the opening of the housing;
- and
- a heater adjacent to the opening of the housing and configured to prevent ice from forming over the opening, wherein the heater is disposed in the first recessed edge and at least partially surrounds the opening.
A system comprising:
- a microphone module for an autonomous vehicle, wherein the module comprises a housing and a plurality of microphones, wherein the plurality of microphones are disposed within a plurality of openings in the housing, wherein each opening of the plurality of openings includes a respective first recessed edge, and wherein the plurality of openings are covered by a corresponding plurality of covers;
- and
- a plurality of heaters, wherein each heater of the plurality of heaters is disposed in the first recessed edge of a respective opening of the plurality of openings in the housing and is adjacent to and at least partially surrounds the respective opening.
A system comprising:
- a transducer module, wherein the module comprises a housing including a transducer inside an opening of the housing, wherein the opening of housing includes a first recessed edge;
- a cover abutting the opening of the housing;
- and
- a heater adjacent to the opening of the housing, wherein the heater is disposed in the first recessed edge and at least partially surrounds the opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.