US 6,243,003 B1 · Accessory module for vehicle

Abstract

An accessory module for use with a vehicular cellular telephone, emergency communication device, or other audio device, may be mounted to an interior surface of a vehicle windshield. The accessory module houses a microphone and may be positioned adjacent to a headliner of the vehicle generally above an interior rearview mirror which is supported therebelow. The accessory module provides a fixed orientation of the microphone and is easily installed to the vehicle as it is manufactured or as an aftermarket device. The accessory module may further include a wire cover, which extends to a mounting for the mirror in order to substantially encase a mirror wire harness, thereby retaining the mirror harness and providing a finished appearance to the mirror and accessory module.

Claims65

Dependent claims

A microphone module for an audio system of a vehicle, the vehicle having a cabin, a windshield, an interior rearview mirror mounted to an interior surface of the windshield and a headliner extending along an upper edge of the windshield, said microphone module comprising:

a plurality of microphones comprising at least two microphones for receiving audio signals from within the cabin,
said at least two microphones generating output signals indicative of sound generated within the vehicle cabin, said output signals being digitized and integrated in order to distinguish the presence of voice signals versus noise signals, said noise signals originating from at least one noise source selected from the croup consisting of engine noise, road noise, wind noise, HVAC noise, a radio, and a turn signal, at least one of said at least two microphones being directed toward an area encompassing the general location of a head of a driver of the vehicle.

A microphone module for an audio system of a vehicle, the vehicle having a cabin, a windshield, an interior rearview mirror assembly and a headliner extending along an upper edge of the windshield, the mirror assembly including a mounting member and a mirror housing pivotally interconnected to the mounting member, the mounting member being mounted to an interior surface of the windshield, the mirror assembly being electronically connectable to a vehicle wiring harness in the headliner via a mirror harness, said microphone module comprising:

a plurality of microphones for receiving audio signals from within the cabin, said plurality of microphones generating output signals indicative of sound generated within the vehicle cabin, said output signals being digitized and integrated in order to distinguish the presence of voice signals versus noise signals, said noise signals originating from at least one noise source selected from the group consisting of engine noise, road noise, wind noise, HVAC noise, a radio, and a turn signal;
a microphone housing for mounting said plurality of microphones, said microphone housing being mountable to the windshield at a location that is separate and distinct from the mirror assembly, said plurality of microphones being electronically connectable to the vehicle wiring harness within the headliner;
and
a wire cover which is adapted to substantially encase the mirror harness between the mirror mounting member and said microphone housing.

1 more element

A voice acquisition system for an audio system of a vehicle, the vehicle having a cabin, a windshield and an interior rearview mirror assembly, said voice acquisition system comprising:

a plurality of microphones for receiving audio signals from within the cabin, said plurality of microphones comprising at least two microphones which generate output signals indicative of sound generated within the vehicle cabin, at least one of said at least two microphones being directed toward an area encompassing the general location of a head of a driver of the vehicle, said at least two microphones being one of (i) positioned within the interior rearview mirror assembly, (ii) positioned adjacent to the interior rearview mirror assembly, (iii) positioned in an attachment to the interior rearview mirror assembly, and (iv) positioned within a module mounted to the windshield;
and
a control which is operable to digitize and integrate said output signals in order to distinguish the presence of vocal signals versus non-vocal signals and to at least partially filter out said non-vocal signals, said non-vocal signals originating from at least one noise source selected from the group consisting of engine noise, road noise, wind noise, HVAC noise, a radio, and a turn signal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Accessory module for vehicle

Life of this patent

Accessory module for vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims65