Microphone system for a motor vehicle with dynamic directivity

A microphone system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a microphone housing in which a first microphone, a second microphone, and a third microphone are disposed;
• and
• a signal processing device which is configured to process signals provided by the first, second and third microphones, wherein the signal processing device is configured to:
• in a first operating mode, process the signals of the first microphone and the second microphone to create a driver directivity in producing a driver signal, wherein the driver directivity is an orientation towards a first driver position of a driver's seat of the motor vehicle, and process the signals of the second microphone and the third microphone to create a front seat passenger directivity in producing a front seat passenger signal, wherein the front seat passenger directivity is an orientation towards a first passenger position of a front passenger's seat of the motor vehicle;
• in a second operating mode, process the signals of the first microphone and the third microphone to create an alternative driver directivity, wherein the alternative driver directivity is an orientation towards a second driver position of the driver's seat, or process the signals of the second microphone and the third microphone to generate an alternative front seat passenger signal based on an alternative front seat passenger directivity, wherein the alternative front seat passenger directivity is an orientation towards a second passenger position of the front passenger's seat;
• detect a signal-to-noise ratio of the driver signal and a signal-to-noise ratio of the front seat passenger signal in the first operating mode;
• detect a signal-to-noise ratio of the alternative driver signal and a signal-to-noise ratio alternative front seat passenger signal in the second operating mode;
• compare the signal-to-noise ratio of the driver signal and the signal-to-noise ratio of the alternative driver signal;
• compare the signal-to-noise ratio of the front seat passenger signal and the signal-to-noise ratio of the alternative front seat passenger signal;
• and
• switch to the first operating mode if the signal-to-noise ratio of the driver signal exceeds the signal-to-noise ratio of the alternative driver signal, or if the signal-to-noise ratio of the front seat passenger signal exceeds the signal-to-noise ratio of the alternative front seat passenger signal.

A motor vehicle comprising a microphone system comprising a microphone housing in which a first microphone, a second microphone, and a third microphone are disposed, and a signal processing device which is configured to process signals provided by the microphones, wherein the signal processing device is configured to:

• in a first operating mode, process the signals of the first microphone and the second microphone to create a driver directivity in producing a driver signal, wherein the driver directivity is an orientation towards a first driver position of a driver's seat of the motor vehicle, and process the signals of the second microphone and the third microphone to create a front seat passenger directivity in producing a front seat passenger signal, wherein the front seat passenger directivity is an orientation towards a first passenger position of a front passenger's seat of the motor vehicle;
• in a second operating mode, process the signals of the first microphone and the third microphone to create an alternative driver directivity, wherein the alternative driver directivity is an orientation towards a second driver position of the driver's seat, or process the signals of the second microphone and the third microphone to generate an alternative front seat passenger signal based on an alternative front seat passenger directivity, wherein the alternative front seat passenger directivity is an orientation towards a second passenger position of the front passenger's seat;
• detect a signal-to-noise ratio of the driver signal and a signal-to-noise ratio of the front seat passenger signal in the first operating mode;
• detect a signal-to-noise ratio of the alternative driver signal and a signal-to-noise ratio alternative front seat passenger signal in the second operating mode;
• compare the signal-to-noise ratio of the driver signal and the signal-to-noise ratio of the alternative driver signal;
• compare the signal-to-noise ratio of the front seat passenger signal and the signal-to-noise ratio of the alternative front seat passenger signal;
• and
• switch to the first operating mode if the signal-to-noise ratio of the driver signal exceeds the signal-to-noise ratio of the alternative driver signal, or if the signal-to-noise ratio of the front seat passenger signal exceeds the signal-to-noise ratio of the alternative front seat passenger signal.

A method for operating a microphone system of a motor vehicle, wherein the microphone system includes a microphone housing, in which a first microphone, a second microphone, and a third microphone are disposed, and a signal processing device, which is configured to process signals provided by the microphones, the method comprising:

• in a first operating mode, processing the signals of the first microphone and the second microphone to create a driver directivity in producing a driver signal, wherein the driver directivity is an orientation towards a first driver position of a driver's seat of the motor vehicle, and processing the signals of the second microphone and the third microphone to create a front seat passenger directivity in producing a front seat passenger signal, wherein the front seat passenger directivity is an orientation towards a first passenger position of a front passenger's seat of the motor vehicle;
• in a second operating mode, processing the signals of the first microphone and the third microphone to create an alternative driver directivity, wherein the alternative driver directivity is an orientation towards a second driver position of the driver's seat, or processing the signals of the second microphone and the third microphone to generate an alternative front seat passenger signal based on an alternative front seat passenger directivity, wherein the alternative front seat passenger directivity is an orientation towards a second passenger position of the front passenger's seat;
• detecting a signal-to-noise ratio of the driver signal and a signal-to-noise ratio of the front seat passenger signal in the first operating mode;
• detecting a signal-to-noise ratio of the alternative driver signal and a signal-to-noise ratio alternative front seat passenger signal in the second operating mode;
• comparing the signal-to-noise ratio of the driver signal and the signal-to-noise ratio of the alternative driver signal;
• comparing the signal-to-noise ratio of the front seat passenger signal and the signal-to-noise ratio of the alternative front seat passenger signal;
• and
• switching to the first operating mode if the signal-to-noise ratio of the driver signal exceeds the signal-to-noise ratio of the alternative driver signal, or if the signal-to-noise ratio of the front seat passenger signal exceeds the signal-to-noise ratio of the alternative front seat passenger signal.