CN-111629290-B - Microphone device attached to an exterior portion of a vehicle

CN111629290BCN 111629290 BCN111629290 BCN 111629290BCN-111629290-B

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 located on the PCB. The cover extends over the printed circuit board and defines a first opening to enable ambient sound outside the vehicle to be transferred to the microphone element. The grille cover is located on the exterior portion of the vehicle, the grille cover 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.

Inventors

Z. G-S. Klein Heinz
Z. Marton
L Xaszal
P. D. regra
B. Waga
5. Dobbs

Assignees

哈曼国际工业有限公司

Dates

Publication Date: 20260508
Application Date: 20200228
Priority Date: 20200224

Claims (12)

1. A microphone apparatus for attachment to an exterior portion of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a printed circuit board defining a circuit board opening therethrough; a microphone element supported by the printed circuit board and extending over the circuit board opening on a first side of the printed circuit board; A cover extending below the printed circuit board and defining a first opening to enable ambient sound outside the vehicle to be transferred to the microphone element; An acoustic membrane located between the first opening of the cover and the printed circuit board, the acoustic membrane covering the circuit board opening on a second side of the printed circuit board such that ambient sound can pass through the circuit board opening to reach the microphone element; A grille cover located on the exterior portion of the vehicle, the grille cover 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, A fastening and retaining member comprising at least one locking portion configured to be attached 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 electrically coupling the microphone element to an audio controller located in the vehicle, and The grating cover includes a plurality of locking portions radially spaced around an underside of the grating cover for engaging a lower lip of the connector assembly.
2. The microphone apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first opening of the cover is a cone shaped to reduce the frequency response of the ambient sound.
3. The microphone apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an inner cover between the grille cover and the cover.
4. A microphone apparatus as defined by claim 3 wherein the inner cover defines a second opening to enable the ambient sound outside the vehicle to pass through the second opening and reach the first opening of the cover.
5. The microphone apparatus of claim 4 wherein the second opening is conical, the second opening being shaped to cooperate with the first opening of the cover to flatten the frequency response of the ambient sound.
6. The microphone apparatus of claim 1 wherein the acoustic membrane and the cover are separate from each other.
7. A microphone apparatus for attachment to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a microphone element supported by a printed circuit board defining a circuit board opening therethrough, the microphone element extending over the circuit board opening on a first side of the printed circuit board; a cover extending below the microphone element and defining a first opening to enable ambient sound outside the vehicle to be transferred to the microphone element, and An acoustic membrane located between the first opening of the cover and the printed circuit board, the acoustic membrane covering the circuit board opening on a second side of the printed circuit board such that the ambient sound can pass through the circuit board opening to reach the microphone element; a grille cover located on the vehicle, the grille cover 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, A fastening and retaining member comprising at least one locking portion configured to be attached 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 electrically coupling the microphone element to an audio controller located in the vehicle, and Wherein the grille cover includes a plurality of locking portions radially spaced around an underside of the grille cover for engaging a lower lip of the connector assembly.
8. The microphone apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first opening of the cover is a cone shaped to reduce the frequency response of the ambient sound.
9. The microphone apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an inner cover between the grille cover and the cover.
10. The microphone apparatus of claim 9 wherein the inner cover defines a second opening to enable the ambient sound outside the vehicle to pass through the second opening and to the first opening of the cover.
11. The microphone apparatus of claim 10 wherein the second opening is conical, the second opening being shaped to cooperate with the first opening of the cover to flatten the frequency response of the ambient sound.
12. A microphone apparatus, the microphone apparatus comprising: A microphone element on a printed circuit board defining a circuit board opening therethrough, the microphone element extending over the circuit board opening on a first side of the printed circuit board; a cover extending below the microphone element and defining a first opening to enable ambient sound outside the vehicle to be transferred to the microphone element; An acoustic membrane located between the first opening of the cover and the printed circuit board, the acoustic membrane covering the circuit board opening on a second side of the printed circuit board such that ambient sound can pass through the circuit board opening to reach the microphone element; A grille cover located on a bumper of the vehicle, the grille cover 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, A fastening and retaining member comprising at least one locking portion configured to be attached 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 electrically coupling the microphone element to an audio controller located in the vehicle, and Wherein the grating cover comprises a plurality of locking portions radially spaced around an underside of the grating cover for engaging the connector assembly.

Description

Microphone device attached to an exterior portion of a vehicle RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/812,096 filed on 2/28 of 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field Aspects disclosed herein relate generally to external microphone devices, and more particularly, to waterproof and dust-proof external microphone devices. In one example, the external microphone device is arranged to withstand environmental conditions present outside the vehicle. These and other aspects are discussed in more detail below. Background The microphone may need to be packaged on an exterior portion of the automobile in order to support any number of vehicle applications to detect sounds outside the vehicle. Such microphones may need to be immune to various environmental conditions such as wind, rain, snow, etc. In addition, such microphones may be located on a "class a" surface on the exterior of the vehicle and should provide an attractive aesthetic appearance to the vehicle occupants to highlight the exterior styling of the vehicle. Disclosure of Invention 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 located on the PCB. The cover extends over the printed circuit board and defines a first opening to enable ambient sound outside the vehicle to be transferred to the microphone element. The grille cover is located 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. In at least another embodiment, a microphone apparatus for attachment to an exterior portion of a vehicle is provided. The device includes a microphone element, a cover, and a grille cover. The cover extends over the microphone element and defines a first opening to enable ambient sound outside the vehicle to be transferred to the microphone element. The grille cover is located on the exterior portion of the vehicle and defines 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. In at least another embodiment, a microphone apparatus is provided. The device includes a microphone element, a cover, and a grille cover. The cover extends over the microphone element and defines a first opening to enable ambient sound outside the vehicle to be transferred to the microphone element. The grille cover is located on a bumper of the vehicle and defines 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. Drawings Embodiments of the present disclosure are particularly pointed out in the appended claims. However, other features of the various embodiments will become more apparent and will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a first external microphone device, according to an embodiment; Fig. 2 shows an elevation view of a second external microphone device, according to an embodiment; fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a third external microphone device in accordance with an embodiment; Fig. 4 shows an exploded view of a second external microphone device, according to an embodiment; FIG. 5 shows a top view of an exterior portion of a vehicle including a second exterior microphone apparatus positioned thereon, in accordance with one embodiment, and Fig. 6 illustrates a bottom view of an exterior portion of a vehicle including a second exterior microphone apparatus positioned thereon, in accordance with one embodiment. Detailed Description As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein, it is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. It should be appreciated that directional terms that may be referred to herein (e.g., "upper," "lower," "interior," "exterior," "top," "bottom," etc.) merely refer to the orientation of the various components of the bus bar assembly as shown in the figures. These terms are provided for context and understanding of the emb