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US 6,278,377 B1Granted
Indicator for vehicle accessory
AssigneeDonnelly Corporation
InventorsJonathan E. DeLine, Niall R. Lynam, Ralph A. Spooner, Phillip A. March
Life of this patent
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AssigneeDonnelly Corporation
InventorsJonathan E. DeLine, Niall R. Lynam, Ralph A. Spooner, Phillip A. March
Estimating the term…
An indicator for use with a microphone of a vehicular audio system, such as a cellular telephone, emergency communication device, or other audio device, provides a user of the audio system with a status signal relating to a reception quality of a vocal signal from the user. The microphone may be mounted within an accessory module, which 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. The indicator may be mounted at the accessory module or elsewhere at the mirror assembly.
An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle equipped with an audio system, said audio system comprising a microphone and a transmitter that transmits signals to a receiver external to the vehicle, the receiver being operable to receive and process said signals, said rearview mirror system including an indicator operable to indicate when vocal signals emanating from an occupant of the vehicle cabin are being correctly received by said audio system.
An accessory module for an audio system of a vehicle, the vehicle having a cabin and an interior rearview mirror assembly, said accessory module comprising:
An indicator for use with a microphone of an audio system of a vehicle, the microphone being operable to receive vocal signals emanating from an occupant within the vehicle, said audio system transmitting the vocal signals to a receiver remote from the vehicle, said indicator being operable to communicate a receiving status of the vocal signals being received by said audio system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.