IP Library Granted Patent US 10,154,340
Granted Patent B2
US 10,154,340 · App. 15/099,252 · Granted Dec 11, 2018

Microphone

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,154,340
App. No.
15/099,252
Granted
Dec 11, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A microphone structure has a diaphragm; a frame of which an inside is processed in a shape of a semispherical surface, a parabolic surface, or a conical surface; an acoustic transducer that converts sound pressure into an electric signal; and a wire that transmits the electric signal from the acoustic transducer to outside. A sound pressure input surface of the acoustic transducer is disposed on a bottom surface portion of the semispherical surface, the parabolic surface, or the conical surface inside the frame. The diaphragm and the frame, and the frame and the wire include waterproof mechanisms preventing ingress of water.

Claims (49)

1. A microphone that is disposed in a vehicle, the microphone comprising:

a diaphragm;

a frame of which an inside surface is one of a semispherical surface, a parabolic surface, or a conical surface;

an acoustic transducer that converts sound pressure into an electric signal and includes a sound pressure input surface that receives the sound pressure to be converted into the electric signal; and

a wire that transmits the electric signal from the acoustic transducer to an outside of the frame,

wherein the sound pressure input surface of the acoustic transducer is disposed within the inside surface such that the sound pressure input surface is disposed on a bottom surface portion of the one of the semispherical surface, the parabolic surface, or the conical surface inside the frame, and

wherein the diaphragm and the frame, and the frame and the wire are waterproofed to prevent ingress of water into the microphone.

2. The microphone according to claim 1 ,

wherein in the diaphragm and the frame, and the frame and the wire, are coated with resins to prevent the ingress of the water into the microphone.

3. The microphone according to claim 1 ,

wherein an O ring is disposed between the diaphragm and the frame to prevent the ingress of the water into the microphone.

4. The microphone according to claim 1 ,

wherein a packing is disposed between the diaphragm and the frame to prevent the ingress of the water into the microphone.

5. A vehicle trunk opening and closing system comprising:

the microphone according to claim 1 , the microphone being configured to collect a voice spoken by a talker;

a voice recognition device that uses a pre-decided specific spoken voice as a voice key;

a signal processor that outputs an instruction signal to open or close a trunk of a vehicle according to information from the voice recognition device; and

a lock that opens or closes the trunk of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle trunk opening and closing system according to claim 5 ,

wherein a voice instruction to prompt a spoken voice input is given to the talker through a speaker.

7. A vehicle door opening and closing system comprising:

the microphone according to claim 1 , the microphone being configured to collect a voice spoken by a talker;

a voice recognition device that uses a pre-decided specific spoken voice as a voice key;

a signal processor that outputs an instruction signal to open or close a door of a vehicle according to information from the voice recognition device; and

a lock that opens or closes the door of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle door opening and closing system according to claim 7 ,

wherein a voice instruction to prompt a spoken voice input is given to the talker through a speaker.

9. A vehicle light illumination system comprising:

the microphone according to claim 1 , the microphone being configured to collect a voice spoken by a talker;

a voice recognition device that uses a pre-decided specific spoken voice as a voice key; and

a signal processor that outputs an instruction signal to turning on or off a light of a vehicle according to information from the voice recognition device.

10. The vehicle light illumination system according to claim 9 ,

wherein a voice instruction to prompt a spoken voice input is given to the talker through a speaker.

11. A sound source direction estimation device for which a plurality of microphones are disposed in a first vehicle to detect a traveling sound of a second vehicle and which estimates a sound source direction of the second vehicle,

wherein each of the plurality of microphones disposed in the first vehicle is the microphone according to claim 1 .

12. A microphone that is disposed in a vehicle, the microphone comprising:

a diaphragm;

a frame of which an inside surface is one of a semispherical surface, a parabolic surface, or a conical surface;

an acoustic transducer that converts sound pressure into an electric signal and includes a sound pressure input surface that receives the sound pressure to be converted into the electric signal; and

a wire that transmits the electric signal from the acoustic transducer to an outside of the frame,

wherein the sound pressure input surface of the acoustic transducer is disposed within the inside surface such that the sound pressure input surface is disposed to be opposite to a bottom surface portion of the one of the semispherical surface, the parabolic surface, or the conical surface inside the frame, and

wherein the diaphragm and the frame, and the frame and the wire are waterproofed to prevent ingress of water into the microphone.

13. A microphone that is disposed in a vehicle, the microphone comprising:

a diaphragm;

a frame of which an inside surface is one of a semispherical surface, a parabolic surface, or a conical surface and in which a partition wall is disposed;

a plurality of acoustic transducers that convert sound pressure into electric signals and include sound pressure input surfaces that receive the sound pressure to be converted into the electric signals; and

a plurality of wires that transmit the electric signals from the plurality of acoustic transducers to an outside of the frame,

wherein the sound pressure input surfaces of the plurality of acoustic transducers are disposed within the inside surface such that the sound pressure input surfaces are disposed on a bottom surface portion of the one of the semispherical surface, the parabolic surface, or the conical surface inside the frame with the partition wall inside the frame interposed therebetween to partition the sound pressure input surfaces, and

wherein the diaphragm and the frame, and the frame and the plurality of wires are waterproofed to prevent ingress of water into the microphone.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2024
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066703/0252 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2016
From: OGURA, HIROSHI; DOI, KAZUMOTO; TAKESHI, FUTOSHI
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 038388/0784 →