IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,358,537
Granted Patent B2
US 11,358,537 · App. 16/879,147 · Granted Jun 14, 2022

Systems and methods for a piezoelectric diaphragm transducer for automotive microphone applications

Inventors: Joshua Wheeler (Trenton, MI); Scott Andrew Amman (Milford, MI); David D. Knechtges (Saline, MI); Ireneusz Trybula (South Lyon, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60R11/0247H04R1/021H04R1/04H04R7/04H04R17/02H04R17/10B60R2011/0033
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,358,537
App. No.
16/879,147
Granted
Jun 14, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for a transducer assembly for a vehicle having a resonating surface. The transducer assembly comprising a housing, a spacer connected to the housing, and a piezoelectric assembly disposed between the spacer and the housing. The spacer is configured to connect to the resonating surface to form an air gap between the resonating surface and the piezoelectric assembly.

Claims (30)

1. A transducer assembly for a vehicle having a resonating surface, the transducer assembly comprising:

a housing;

an electromagnetic field shield layer disposed on an internal surface of the housing configured to electromagnetically separate an internal portion of the transducer assembly from an external portion of the transducer assembly;

a spacer connected to the housing; and

a piezoelectric assembly disposed between the spacer and the housing, wherein the piezoelectric assembly is configured to receive a kinetic vibration resonating from the resonating surface,

wherein the spacer is configured to connect to the resonating surface to form an air gap between the resonating surface and the piezoelectric assembly, and

wherein the piezoelectric assembly is configured to generate an electric output signal associated with the kinetic vibration configured for voice recognition.

2. The transducer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric assembly comprises a diaphragm.

3. The transducer assembly of claim 2 , wherein the piezoelectric assembly comprises a piezoelectric disk disposed on the diaphragm.

4. The transducer assembly of claim 3 , wherein the piezoelectric assembly comprises a tunable mass disposed on the piezoelectric disk.

5. The transducer assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board in communication with the piezoelectric assembly.

6. The transducer assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a harness terminal in communication with the printed circuit board.

7. The transducer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spacer is annular and is constructed from a rigid material having low damping characteristics.

8. The transducer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spacer is rigidly connected to the resonating surface.

9. The transducer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing and the spacer are unitary.

10. A transducer assembly for a vehicle having a resonating surface, the transducer assembly comprising:

a housing;

an electromagnetic field shield layer disposed on an internal surface of the housing configured to electromagnetically separate an internal portion of the transducer assembly from an external portion of the transducer assembly;

a spacer connected to the housing, wherein the spacer is annular and is constructed from a rigid material having low damping characteristics; and

a piezoelectric assembly disposed between the spacer and the housing,

wherein the spacer is configured to connect to the resonating surface to form an air gap between the resonating surface and the piezoelectric assembly.

11. The transducer assembly of claim 10 , wherein the piezoelectric assembly comprises a diaphragm.

12. The transducer assembly of claim 11 , wherein the piezoelectric assembly comprises a piezoelectric disk disposed on the diaphragm.

13. The transducer assembly of claim 12 , wherein the piezoelectric assembly comprises a tunable mass disposed on the piezoelectric disk.

14. The transducer assembly of claim 10 , wherein the piezoelectric assembly is configured to receive a kinetic vibration resonating from the resonating surface.

15. The transducer assembly of claim 14 , wherein the piezoelectric assembly is configured to generate an electric output signal associated with the kinetic vibration configured for voice recognition.

16. The transducer assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a printed circuit board in communication with the piezoelectric assembly.

17. The transducer assembly of claim 16 , further comprising a harness terminal in communication with the printed circuit board.

18. The transducer assembly of claim 10 , wherein the spacer is rigidly connected to the resonating surface.

19. The transducer assembly of claim 10 , wherein the housing and the spacer are unitary.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2020
From: WHEELER, JOSHUA; AMMAN, SCOTT ANDREW; KNECHTGES, DAVID D.; TRYBULA, IRENEUSZ
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 052721/0500 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 62988625 · Mar 12, 2020
Provisional Application 62939979 · Nov 25, 2019
Provisional Application 62895772 · Sep 4, 2019
Related Publication 20210061185A1 · Mar 4, 2021