Microphone module and maintenance method of microphone module

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of vehicle-mounted microphones, and provides a microphone module and a maintenance method of the microphone module. The microphone module comprises a shell, a circuit board, an acoustic module, a sound-transmitting protective piece, a vibration assembly and a control module. The shell is provided with a sound hole to communicate a containing cavity with the outside, and the acoustic module is connected to the circuit board and communicates with the sound hole. The sound-transmitting protective piece is connected to the shell and covers the sound hole, so that the sound hole only communicates with the outside through the sound-transmitting protective piece, to block water and particles while ensuring sound transmission, and to limit foreign matters on the surface or aperture area of the sound-transmitting protective piece. The vibration assembly is arranged in the containing cavity and surrounds the sound hole, and the control module outputs a driving signal to the vibration assembly, so that the vibration assembly transmits vibration to the sound-transmitting protective piece in a working state to drive the vibration of the sound-transmitting protective piece to shake off foreign matters and clean the blockage, thereby restoring the sound hole permeability, reducing the pickup attenuation caused by the impedance increase of the acoustic channel, and improving the reliability and maintenance convenience in the outside environment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle microphone technology, specifically to a microphone module and a method for maintaining the microphone module. Background Technology

[0002] External microphone modules are typically installed on the exterior trim or outer side of a vehicle to collect ambient sounds and serve various functions, such as noise reduction for voice interaction, active noise cancellation, driving recording and evidence collection, ambient sound perception and alerts, and acoustic sensing related to driver assistance. Because their installation location is directly exposed to the external environment, external microphone modules must simultaneously meet high requirements for waterproofing, dustproofing, wind noise reduction, shock resistance, and weather resistance, while maintaining stable pickup sensitivity and frequency response characteristics over long periods under complex operating conditions.

[0003] In real-world vehicle use, external microphone modules face the challenge of adhering to pollutants such as road dust, pollen, mud, oil, and insect debris. These pollutants can gradually clog the pores of the acoustically transparent waterproof membrane or dustproof mesh, or form a covering layer on its surface. This leads to increased acoustic channel impedance, decreased pickup sensitivity, and aggravated frequency response distortion, and in severe cases, significant signal attenuation or even functional failure. Furthermore, in rainy weather or during car washes, liquids can form a water film or residual droplets on the surface of the acoustically transparent membrane or dustproof mesh, which may also cause short-term or continuous acoustic attenuation. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to at least solve the problem that foreign objects at the sound port of a microphone module can increase the acoustic channel impedance. This objective is achieved through the following technical solution: This invention proposes a microphone module, comprising: A housing having a receiving cavity formed inside, and the housing having an acoustic hole for communicating with the receiving cavity and the outside of the housing; A circuit board, wherein the circuit board is disposed within the receiving cavity and is connected to the inner wall of the housing; An acoustic module, wherein the acoustic module is connected to the circuit board and communicates with the acoustic hole; A sound-permeable protective component, which is connected to the housing and covers at least a portion of the sound holes; A vibration assembly is disposed within the receiving cavity and arranged around the sound hole. The vibration assembly is configured to transmit vibration to the sound-permeable protective member in the working state, causing the sound-permeable protective member to vibrate to achieve cleaning. A control module is electrically connected to the vibration component and is configured to output a drive signal to the vibration component to cause the vibration component to enter a working state.

[0005] According to the microphone module of the present invention, a receiving cavity is formed within the housing, and a sound hole is opened in the housing, allowing the receiving cavity to communicate with the outside through the sound hole, thereby forming an entrance to the acoustic channel. A circuit board is disposed within the receiving cavity and connected to the inner wall of the housing. An acoustic module is connected to the circuit board and communicates with the sound hole, so that external sound waves can enter along the sound hole and be picked up by the acoustic module. A sound-transmitting protective component is disposed at the sound hole, which is connected to the housing and covers the sound hole. By covering the sound hole, an acoustic entrance is formed between the sound hole and the outside, with the sound-transmitting protective component as the only passage, thereby blocking foreign objects such as liquids and particles while ensuring the transmission of sound waves, reducing the probability of foreign objects directly entering the receiving cavity or the acoustic module, and mainly confining foreign objects to the outer surface of the sound-transmitting protective component or its pore area, thus mitigating the trend of increasing acoustic channel impedance from the source. At the same time, a vibration component is disposed within the receiving cavity and arranged around the sound hole. When the vibration component is in operation, it transmits vibration to the sound-transmitting protective component, causing the sound-transmitting protective component to vibrate for cleaning. Because the acoustic shield completely covers the sound hole, and the vibration components are arranged around the sound hole, the vibration output is spatially closely matched with the sound hole entrance area. This allows the vibration to be more concentrated on the key area covered by the acoustic shield, thus exerting an inertial peeling effect on dust, particles, or coatings adhering to the acoustic shield, causing foreign objects to detach from the acoustic shield and be removed from the sound hole entrance area. In this way, after foreign objects reduce the effective transparency of the sound hole, the transparency at the sound hole can be actively restored, reducing acoustic channel impedance and improving sound pickup attenuation.

[0006] In addition, the microphone module according to the present invention may also have the following additional technical features: In some embodiments of the present invention, the vibration assembly is connected to the inner wall of the housing, and the vibration assembly is arranged around the circumferential direction of the acoustic hole.

[0007] In some embodiments of the present invention, the vibration assembly includes a piezoelectric element or a linear motor.

[0008] In some embodiments of the present invention, the microphone module further includes a cover, the cover being connected to the housing and forming a buffer cavity with the housing, the sound hole being connected to the buffer cavity, and the cover having at least two sound channels, the sound channels being respectively connected to the buffer cavity and the outside of the cover of the housing.

[0009] In some embodiments of the present invention, the acoustic module includes a MEMS chip, the MEMS chip is connected to a side of the circuit board away from the sound hole, the circuit board has a through hole, and the MEMS chip is connected to the sound hole through the through hole.

[0010] In some embodiments of the present invention, the acoustic module further includes a sealing element, one end of which is connected to the side of the circuit board facing the acoustic hole, and the other end of which is connected to the inner wall of the housing. The sealing element, the circuit board, and the housing together enclose a sealing cavity, and the through hole and the acoustic hole are respectively connected to the sealing cavity.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present invention, the microphone module further includes wires, and the vibration component is electrically connected to the circuit board via the wires.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present invention, the circumferential edge of the sound-permeable protective member is fixed to the circumferential edge of the sound hole.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present invention, the sound-permeable protective component is a sound-permeable membrane or a sound-permeable mesh.

[0014] This invention also proposes a maintenance method for a microphone module, applicable to the aforementioned microphone module, comprising the following steps: The vibration component is driven by the driving signal to output a test excitation signal; The acoustic module's response signal to the test excitation signal is collected, and the presence of a blockage at the sound-transmitting protective component is determined based on the response signal. When a blockage is detected, the vibration component is driven to output a dust removal drive signal to drive the sound-permeable protective component to vibrate and clean it. After cleaning, the vibration component is driven again to output a test excitation signal and the response signal is collected to verify the cleaning effect. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, the same reference numerals denote the same parts throughout the drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a microphone module according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 2 This is a first flowchart of a microphone module maintenance method according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a second flowchart of the microphone module maintenance method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The attached figures are labeled as follows: 100. Microphone module; 10. Housing; 11. Sound hole; 20. Circuit board; 21. Through hole; 30. Acoustic module; 31. MEMS chip; 32. Seal; 321. Sealing cavity; 40. Sound-transmitting protective component; 50. Vibration component; 60. Cover; 61. Sound channel; 70. Wire. Detailed Implementation

[0016] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0017] It should be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “described” as used herein may also include the plural forms. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and “having” are inclusive and therefore indicate the presence of the stated features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not construed as requiring them to be performed in a particular order described or illustrated unless the order of performance is explicitly indicated. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be used.

[0018] Although terms such as first, second, third, etc., may be used in this document to describe multiple elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or segment from another. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms used herein do not imply order or sequence. Therefore, the first element, component, region, layer, or segment discussed below may be referred to as the second element, component, region, layer, or segment without departing from the teachings of the exemplary embodiments.

[0019] For ease of description, spatial relative terms may be used in the text to describe the relationship of one element or feature relative to another element or feature, as shown in the figure. These relative terms include, for example, "inside," "outside," "middle," "outer," "below," "below," "above," "over," etc. Such spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation, other than those depicted in the figure. For example, if the device in the figure is flipped, an element described as "below other elements or features" or "below other elements or features" would subsequently be oriented "above other elements or features" or "above other elements or features." Therefore, the example term "below" can include both upper and lower orientations.

[0020] like Figure 1 As shown, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a microphone module 100 is provided, which includes a housing 10, a circuit board 20, an acoustic module 30, a sound-transmitting protective component 40, a vibration component 50, and a control module.

[0021] The housing 10 forms the external protective structure of the microphone module 100, and a receiving cavity is formed inside the housing 10. The housing 10 has a sound hole 11, and the receiving cavity is connected to the outside of the housing 10 through the sound hole 11, so that external sound waves can enter the receiving cavity through the sound hole 11. The sound hole 11 can be provided on the side of the housing 10 facing the outside, or at any position suitable for sound intake opposite the outside of the housing 10.

[0022] The circuit board 20 is disposed within the receiving cavity and is connected to the inner wall of the housing 10. Specifically, the circuit board 20 can be connected to the inner wall of the housing 10 by adhesive bonding, screw fixing, snap-fit ​​limiting, or other conventional fixing methods to achieve stable positioning of the circuit board 20 within the housing 10. The circuit board 20 is used to carry the acoustic module 30, the control module, and the electrical connection structures related to the vibration component 50, thereby forming the electrical functional unit of the microphone module 100.

[0023] The acoustic module 30 is connected to the circuit board 20 and communicates with the sound hole 11. The acoustic module 30 may include a MEMS chip 31 (MEMS is a sound sensor) and acoustic structural components that cooperate with it. An acoustic path is formed between the pickup end of the acoustic module 30 and the sound hole 11, so that the sound waves entering through the sound hole 11 can be transmitted to the acoustic module 30 and converted into electrical signals for output. The acoustic module 30 is electrically connected to the circuit board 20 to transmit the picked-up electrical signals to the subsequent processing circuitry or external interface on the circuit board 20.

[0024] The sound-permeable shielding element 40 is connected to the housing 10 and covers at least a portion of the sound hole 11, preferably completely covering the sound hole 11. The sound-permeable shielding element 40 is used to block liquids or particulate matter while allowing sound waves to pass through. Specifically, viewed from the axial direction of the sound hole 11, the sound-permeable shielding element 40 covers the entire opening area of ​​the sound hole 11, ensuring that the sound hole 11 communicates with the outside world only through the sound-permeable shielding element 40, thereby preventing any uncovered straight-through openings in the sound hole 11. The sound-permeable shielding element 40 can be a sound-permeable membrane or a sound-permeable mesh, and its periphery can be connected and fixed to the periphery of the sound hole 11 of the housing 10, for example, by bonding, welding, hot melting, or compression fixing.

[0025] The vibration assembly 50 is disposed within the receiving cavity and arranged around the sound hole 11. A vibration coupling relationship is formed between the vibration assembly 50 and the sound-permeable protective element 40, enabling the vibration assembly 50 to transmit vibration to the sound-permeable protective element 40 during operation, thereby causing the sound-permeable protective element 40 to vibrate for cleaning. Specifically, the vibration assembly 50 can be distributed circumferentially along the sound hole 11, allowing the vibration to be applied more concentratedly to the area of ​​the sound-permeable protective element 40 covering the sound hole 11. When the vibration assembly 50 outputs vibration, the sound-permeable protective element 40 vibrates and deforms, causing dust, particles, or other foreign objects adhering to the surface of the sound-permeable protective element 40 to detach under inertia, thereby reducing the impact of foreign objects at the sound hole 11 on the acoustic channel's permeability.

[0026] The control module is electrically connected to the vibration assembly 50 and is configured to output a drive signal to the vibration assembly 50 to put it into operation. The control module can be integrated onto the circuit board 20 or electrically connected to it. The drive signal can be a pulse voltage signal, an AC drive signal, or other signal capable of driving the vibration assembly 50 to vibrate. Through the drive control of the vibration assembly 50 by the control module, the vibration assembly 50 can be put into operation and output vibration when cleaning is required, thereby causing the sound-permeable protective component 40 to vibrate, achieving vibration cleaning of the sound-permeable protective component 40.

[0027] As can be seen, the microphone module 100 uses the sound-transmitting protective component 40 to completely cover the sound hole 11 to provide protection. At the same time, the control module drives the vibration component 50 arranged around the sound hole 11 to work, transmitting the vibration to the sound-transmitting protective component 40, causing the sound-transmitting protective component 40 to vibrate and clean the attached foreign objects, thereby helping to maintain the transparency of the sound hole 11 and maintain the stability of the acoustic channel.

[0028] In some embodiments, the vibration assembly 50 is connected to the inner wall of the housing 10, and the vibration assembly 50 is arranged circumferentially around the sound hole 11. This circumferential arrangement can be a continuous ring structure or a segmented ring structure distributed circumferentially. The vibration assembly 50 can be connected to the inner wall of the housing 10 by bonding, pressing, or other fixing methods that can ensure vibration transmission efficiency. Since the vibration assembly 50 is arranged circumferentially around the sound hole 11, the vibration effect can more evenly cover the entrance area of ​​the sound hole 11, so that the sound-transmitting protective component 40 obtains a more consistent vibration response in the area of ​​the sound hole 11, which is beneficial to improving the stability of the cleaning effect.

[0029] In some implementations, the vibration assembly 50 includes a piezoelectric element or a linear motor.

[0030] When the vibration component 50 is a piezoelectric sheet, the control module outputs a drive signal to the piezoelectric sheet, causing the piezoelectric sheet to undergo periodic deformation and output vibration under the action of the inverse piezoelectric effect. The piezoelectric sheet can be a ring structure formed by splicing annular piezoelectric sheets or arc-shaped piezoelectric sheets around the circumference, so as to match the structural requirements of the sound hole 11 being set around the circumference.

[0031] When the vibration component 50 is a linear motor, the linear motor generates reciprocating vibration output under the action of the driving current. The vibration is coupled through the inner wall of the housing 10 to the sound-permeable protective component 40 area, thereby realizing vibration cleaning.

[0032] In some embodiments, the microphone module 100 further includes a cover 60, which is connected to the housing 10 and surrounds the housing 10 to form a buffer cavity. The sound hole 11 is connected to the buffer cavity, and the cover 60 has at least two sound channels 61, which are respectively connected to the buffer cavity and the outside of the cover 60.

[0033] By setting up a buffer cavity and multiple sound channels 61, external sound waves can enter the buffer cavity through the sound channels 61 and then enter the interior of the housing 10 through the sound holes 11, thus forming a smoother sound path. At the same time, the multiple sound channels 61 can reduce the direct impact of external water flow to a certain extent and play a role in diversion and buffering, reducing the probability of external liquids or particles directly impacting the sound holes 11 and the sound-transmitting protective components 40, which is conducive to improving the protection reliability and acoustic consistency in vehicle external application scenarios.

[0034] Specifically, the cover 60 and the housing 10 together form a buffer cavity, the sound hole 11 is connected to the buffer cavity, and the cover 60 has multiple sound channels 61, which are respectively connected to the buffer cavity and the outside of the cover 60. In order to further reduce the probability of water or dust entering the buffer cavity, the sound channels 61 satisfy at least one of the following structural relationships.

[0035] In some embodiments, the external opening of the sound channel 61 is located on the side wall or lower surface of the cover 60, and the external opening is oriented downward or to the rear side, so that the main incident direction of external rainwater or washing water is not consistent with the opening normal direction of the external opening of the sound channel 61, thereby reducing the probability of water flowing directly into the sound channel 61. At the same time, the inner end opening of the sound channel 61 is circumferentially offset from the sound hole 11 in the buffer cavity, and there is no direct viewing channel between the inner end opening of the sound channel 61 and the sound hole 11 in the buffer cavity, so that even if dust or water droplets enter the buffer cavity, they are not likely to move in a straight line and further accumulate in the area of ​​the sound hole 11.

[0036] In some embodiments, each channel 61 includes at least two connected channel segments. The first channel segment extends from the external opening into the cover 60, forming an upward-climbing section. The second channel segment bends and connects to the first channel segment and communicates with the buffer cavity. Because the first channel segment has an upward-climbing section, water droplets are less likely to migrate inward along the upward-climbing section under the influence of gravity. Furthermore, the bend has an interception and deceleration effect on particulate matter, thereby reducing the probability of water and dust entering the buffer cavity. Preferably, the bend location is provided with a locally enlarged cavity or a stepped structure, allowing incoming water droplets to collect at the enlarged cavity and flow back to the external opening.

[0037] In some embodiments, a shielding wall is provided on the inner side of the cover 60 or at a corresponding position on the housing 10. The shielding wall is located between the inner end opening of the sound channel 61 and the sound hole 11, so that the inner end opening of the sound channel 61 faces the shielding wall or the side wall of the buffer cavity, thereby preventing external particles or water droplets from entering along the sound channel 61 and moving directly toward the sound hole 11. The shielding wall can be an annular baffle, a partial baffle, or a vertical wall structure surrounding the sound hole 11, so that the entrance of the sound hole 11 is located in the leeward or backwater area formed by the shielding wall, further improving the anti-intrusion capability.

[0038] In some embodiments, the equivalent flow cross-sectional area of ​​the sound channel 61 is smaller than the equivalent area at the connection between the buffer cavity and the sound hole 11, and the sound channel 61 is provided with at least one contraction section along its length, so that droplets are more easily intercepted at the contraction section and flow back to the outside. At the same time, multiple sound channels 61 are distributed circumferentially, so that the sound inlet path enters in a dispersed small flow, avoiding the formation of a water flow inlet channel by a single channel.

[0039] Specifically, the acoustic shield 40 completely covers the acoustic hole 11 and is located between the buffer cavity and the acoustic hole 11. When the vibration assembly 50 operates, the acoustic shield 40 vibrates, and dust, particles, or covering layers adhering to the outside of the acoustic shield 40 (facing the buffer cavity) are shaken off and enter the buffer cavity. To prevent foreign objects from accumulating in the buffer cavity and affecting the acoustic channel again, at least one of the following discharge methods can be adopted.

[0040] In some embodiments, a dust collection area is provided at the bottom of the buffer chamber. The dust collection area may be a partial groove or a low-lying cavity section. The bottom surface of the buffer chamber forms an inclined guide surface facing the dust collection area, so that the shaken-off foreign objects are collected in the dust collection area along the guide surface under the action of gravity and vibration. The cover 60 is provided with a sewage discharge channel 61 at the corresponding position of the dust collection area. The sewage discharge channel 61 connects the dust collection area and the outside of the cover 60, and the external opening of the sewage discharge channel 61 is arranged downward, so that foreign objects can be discharged to the external environment through the sewage discharge channel 61 under the action of gravity.

[0041] Preferably, the external opening of the sewage duct 61 is provided with a drip edge or a recessed structure to reduce the probability of external water flowing in the opposite direction.

[0042] In some embodiments, of the at least two sound channels 61, one portion of the sound channels 61 is arranged in the upper region of the buffer cavity as the inlet sound channel 61, and the other portion of the sound channels 61 is arranged in the lower region of the buffer cavity as the outlet sound channel 61. The inner opening of the inlet sound channel 61 is far away from the dust collection area and is relatively isolated from the sound hole 11 area by a shielding wall. The inner opening of the outlet sound channel 61 is connected to the dust collection area, so that foreign objects preferentially migrate to the lower discharge path, thereby reducing the probability of foreign objects being retained again near the sound hole 11.

[0043] In some embodiments, when the vibration component 50 is in operation, it not only causes the sound-transmitting protective component 40 to vibrate, but also causes periodic pressure pulsations in the gas inside the buffer cavity. Based on these pressure pulsations, the sound channel 61 is designed as an asymmetric flow resistance structure with low outward resistance and high inward resistance, so that the pressure pulsations form an outward exhaust flow within the cycle, thereby carrying out suspended particles or loose foreign matter inside the buffer cavity.

[0044] In some embodiments, the acoustic module 30 includes a MEMS chip 31. The MEMS chip 31 is connected to the side of the circuit board 20 opposite to the sound hole 11. The circuit board 20 has a through hole 21 through which the MEMS chip 31 is connected to the sound hole 11.

[0045] Specifically, the through hole 21 forms an acoustic communication window on the circuit board 20, allowing the sound waves entering through the sound hole 11 to pass through the circuit board 20 and reach the MEMS chip 31 pickup end located on the side of the sound hole 11 on the back of the circuit board 20, thereby achieving effective connection of the acoustic path while maintaining the convenience of the circuit board 20 layout.

[0046] In some embodiments, the acoustic module 30 further includes a seal 32. One end of the seal 32 is connected to the side of the circuit board 20 facing the sound hole 11, and the other end of the seal 32 is connected to the inner wall of the housing 10. The seal 32, the circuit board 20 and the housing 10 together enclose a sealing cavity 321, and the through hole 21 and the sound hole 11 are respectively connected to the sealing cavity 321.

[0047] With this configuration, the acoustic path between the sound hole 11 and the through hole 21 is confined within the sealed cavity 321, which can reduce the risk of sound leakage, crosstalk, and external moisture or pollutants entering non-target areas. At the same time, the sealed cavity 321, as a relatively closed acoustic channel, is also conducive to maintaining the stability of acoustic impedance and the consistency of sound pickup.

[0048] In some embodiments, the microphone module 100 further includes a wire 70, through which the vibration component 50 is electrically connected to the circuit board 20. The wire 70 can be used to transmit the drive signal output by the control module to the vibration component 50, thereby driving the vibration component 50 into a working state and outputting vibration. The wiring of the wire 70 can be laid along the inner wall of the housing 10, and stress relief and positioning can be achieved through a fixing structure to reduce the risk of the wire 70 loosening or the solder joints being stressed under vibration.

[0049] In some embodiments, the circumferential edge of the sound-permeable protective component 40 is fixed to the circumferential edge of the sound hole 11, so that the sound-permeable protective component 40 is stably positioned at the sound hole 11 and achieves complete coverage. The sound-permeable protective component 40 can be a sound-permeable membrane or a sound-permeable mesh. The sound-permeable membrane can be a hydrophobic sound-permeable membrane or a composite membrane with waterproof and dustproof functions, and the sound-permeable mesh can be a metal mesh or a polymer mesh material. By fixing the periphery of the sound-permeable protective component 40 to the periphery of the sound hole 11, the risk of displacement or warping of the sound-permeable protective component 40 under impact, vibration, or temperature and humidity cycling environments can be reduced.

[0050] In some embodiments, the control module is integrated on or electrically connected to the circuit board 20. The control module includes a drive module, a frequency adjustment unit, and a trigger unit. The drive module outputs a drive signal to the vibration component 50 to enable the vibration component 50 to enter the working state and generate vibration. The trigger unit controls the start and stop of the drive module. The frequency adjustment unit pre-stores resonant frequency parameters and controls the drive module to output a drive signal corresponding to the resonant frequency parameters.

[0051] In some embodiments, the drive signal is an adjustable amplitude DC pulse voltage signal or an AC drive signal. In cleaning mode, the frequency of the drive signal can be set near a target frequency related to the sound-permeable shield 40 or the inlet structure of the sound hole 11 to improve the vibration amplitude and cleaning efficiency of the sound-permeable shield 40.

[0052] In some implementations, the control module is configured to output a test excitation signal to the vibration component 50 during the self-test phase and determine whether there is a blockage at the sound-transmitting protective component 40 based on the response signal acquired by the MEMS chip 31. The test excitation signal may be a swept frequency signal, a single-frequency signal, or a multi-frequency combination signal.

[0053] In some implementations, the control module determines whether the cleaning effect meets the standard based on the amplitude change, frequency response characteristic change, or attenuation rate calculation results of the response signal before and after cleaning. When a blockage is detected, the control module drives the vibration component 50 to enter the working state and outputs a dust removal drive signal to perform cleaning; after cleaning is completed, the control module outputs a test excitation signal again and collects the response signal for re-examination to verify the cleaning effect.

[0054] In some implementations, when the re-inspection results indicate that the cleaning effect is not up to standard, the control module repeatedly drives the vibration component 50 to perform cleaning, and the number of repetitions does not exceed 3. When the number of repetitions reaches the preset upper limit and the effect is still not up to standard, the control module sends a fault warning signal to the vehicle controller through the communication interface to indicate that manual inspection or module replacement is required.

[0055] In some embodiments, the housing 10 has a split structure, comprising a first housing 10 part and a second housing 10 part. The first housing 10 part and the second housing 10 part are connected by an adhesive layer to achieve structural connection and waterproof sealing. The adhesive layer can be continuously provided along the periphery of the joint between the two housing 10 parts, thereby reducing the risk of external moisture or liquid seeping into the receiving cavity along the joint. The split structure of the housing 10 facilitates the installation of other internal components such as the circuit board 20 into the receiving cavity within the housing 10.

[0056] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, this embodiment also provides a maintenance method for a microphone module 100, which is applied to the microphone module 100 described above. The microphone module 100 includes a housing 10, a sound hole 11, a sound-transmitting protective component 40, a vibration component 50 disposed around the sound hole 11, an acoustic module 30, and a control module electrically connected to the vibration component 50. The maintenance method is used to detect the blockage state at the sound-transmitting protective component 40, and when blockage is detected, to perform cleaning and effect verification, thereby reducing the risk of sound pickup attenuation caused by increased acoustic channel impedance.

[0057] In some implementations, the maintenance method includes the following steps: First, the vibration component 50 is driven to output a test excitation signal according to the drive signal. Specifically, the control module outputs a first type of drive signal to the vibration component 50, putting the vibration component 50 into test mode and outputting a test excitation signal. The test excitation signal can be a swept frequency signal, a single-frequency signal, or a multi-frequency combination signal, used to generate a recognizable response that can be acquired by the acoustic module 30 within the acoustic channel.

[0058] Subsequently, the acoustic module 30 acquires the response signal to the test excitation signal, and determines whether there is a blockage at the sound-transmitting protective component 40 based on the response signal. Specifically, the acoustic module 30 acquires the response signal under the action of the test excitation signal, the control module extracts and analyzes the features of the response signal, and determines whether there is a blockage at the sound-transmitting protective component 40 by combining a preset threshold or a preset feature model. Feature extraction may include the amplitude, energy, spectral characteristics, amplitude-frequency attenuation at characteristic frequency points, or the difference between the clean state reference template and the current response, etc.

[0059] When a blockage is detected in the sound-permeable protective component 40, the vibration drive assembly 50 outputs a dust removal drive signal to cause the sound-permeable protective component 40 to vibrate and clean. Specifically, the control module outputs a second type of drive signal to the vibration drive assembly 50, causing the vibration drive assembly 50 to enter the working state and output a dust removal drive signal. The amplitude, duty cycle, or frequency parameters of the dust removal drive signal may differ from the test excitation signal, causing the vibration drive assembly 50 to output stronger vibration energy and couple the vibration to the sound-permeable protective component 40 through the housing 10 or the vibration transmission path. This causes the sound-permeable protective component 40 to vibrate and deform, causing the dust, particles, or covering layer attached to the sound-permeable protective component 40 to detach, thus achieving cleaning.

[0060] After cleaning, the vibration component 50 is driven again to output a test excitation signal and collect a response signal to verify the cleaning effect. Specifically, after the dust removal drive ends, the control module outputs a test excitation signal again, the acoustic module 30 collects a new response signal, and compares the cleaned response signal with the response signal before cleaning, or with a preset threshold, to determine whether the cleaning effect meets the standard. If the attenuation of the cleaned response signal decreases and the amplitude-frequency characteristics recover to an acceptable range, the cleaning is deemed effective. If it still does not recover, further repeated cleaning or a fault prompt can be triggered.

[0061] The above maintenance methods can form a closed-loop management system of detection, cleaning and re-inspection, so that the blockages in the 40 sound-transmitting protective components can be identified in a timely manner and the transparency can be restored without disassembly, thereby reducing the acoustic channel impedance and improving the long-term reliability of the microphone module 100.

[0062] In some implementations, the timing of the maintenance method can be configured according to the vehicle control strategy, such as when the vehicle is powered on, unlocked, stationary, or when a regular maintenance cycle is reached, so as to restore the pickup performance in advance before critical scenarios.

[0063] In some implementations, the step of verifying the cleaning effect includes calculating the attenuation rate based on the response signals before and after cleaning, and judging the cleaning effect based on the comparison result of the attenuation rate and a preset threshold.

[0064] Specifically, the control module can select one or more characteristic frequency bands in the response signal, calculate the amplitude or energy of the response signal before and after cleaning, and calculate the ratio or difference between the two as the attenuation rate index; when the attenuation rate is less than a preset threshold or the recovery amount is greater than a preset threshold, the cleaning is deemed effective. By introducing the attenuation rate as a quantitative index, the objectivity and repeatability of the judgment can be improved.

[0065] In some implementations, if the cleaning effect is not satisfactory, the cleaning steps are repeated, and the number of repetitions does not exceed 3.

[0066] Specifically, the control module performs a re-inspection after the first dust removal. If the re-inspection result still shows that the blockage has not been cleared or the attenuation rate has not recovered to the threshold range, the control module outputs a dust removal drive signal again to perform a second cleaning and repeats the re-inspection. When the number of repetitions reaches the preset upper limit, the cleaning stops to avoid the vibration component working for a long time, which would lead to increased energy consumption or structural fatigue.

[0067] In some implementations, if the target is not met after three repetitions, a fault warning signal is sent to the vehicle controller.

[0068] Specifically, the control module sends fault codes or status information to the vehicle controller via a communication interface, indicating that the acoustic shielding component 40 may have persistent blockages, structural damage, or that the acoustic module 30 is malfunctioning, prompting a manual inspection or replacement procedure. This reporting mechanism improves the traceability of vehicle fault diagnosis and maintenance efficiency.

[0069] In some implementations, the frequency of the dust removal drive signal is determined based on pre-stored resonant frequency parameters, causing the sound-permeable protective component 40 to resonate at the target frequency. Specifically, the control module pre-stores target frequency parameters related to the assembly state of the sound-permeable protective component 40, the acoustic hole 11 structure, or the vibration component 50. In dust removal mode, the control module outputs a drive signal corresponding to the target frequency parameters, enabling the sound-permeable protective component 40 to obtain a higher vibration amplitude at that frequency, thereby improving the foreign object removal efficiency. The target frequency parameters can be determined during the factory calibration stage or adaptively updated during operation through frequency response analysis of the test excitation and response signals.

[0070] In some implementations, in addition to determining whether there is a blockage at the sound-transmitting protective component 40 and triggering vibration cleaning, the control module is also configured to classify and diagnose the operating status of the microphone module 100 based on the response signals collected by the acoustic module 30. When the algorithm analysis results indicate that the microphone module 100 is in an unfavorable state other than a blockage at the sound-transmitting protective component 40, the control module does not execute or stops the vibration cleaning process, but directly triggers an error report from the vehicle system to improve the targeting of fault handling and avoid ineffective cleaning.

[0071] Specifically, after outputting the test excitation signal, the control module acquires the response signals of the acoustic module 30 to the test excitation signal, and performs feature extraction and state identification on the response signals. Features may include, but are not limited to, the amplitude, energy, signal-to-noise ratio, spectral distribution, amplitude-frequency response at characteristic frequencies, phase characteristics, distortion characteristics, and the degree of difference from historical reference responses or factory-calibrated responses. Based on the above features, the control module performs state classification, at least distinguishing the operating state of the microphone module 100 into a normal state, a blocked sound-transmitting protective component 40 state, and other adverse states.

[0072] In some implementations, other adverse conditions include at least one of the following.

[0073] First, the abnormal state of the acoustic module 30 device is manifested as an overall low amplitude or abnormal distortion of the response signal, or a frequency response characteristic that deviates significantly from the reference template within the preset frequency band. This is used to characterize microphone device failure, bias abnormality, or circuit abnormality. Secondly, the acoustic channel leakage or sealing failure state is manifested by the amplitude-frequency response change pattern at the characteristic frequency point conforming to the characteristics of the acoustic channel airtightness decline, which is used to characterize the detachment of seal 32, abnormal assembly gap or sealing failure of housing 10. Third, water ingress or condensation state, which is characterized by high attenuation of response signal in a specific frequency band, broadband abnormal depression of frequency response curve or disappearance of abnormal resonance peak, and its change pattern is different from the change pattern of dust blockage, which is used to characterize water film coverage in the sound hole 11 area, water accumulation in the buffer cavity or moisture in the acoustic module 30. Fourth, abnormal states of the wiring harness or interface are manifested as interrupted or abrupt changes in the response signal or unstable periodic abnormalities, which are used to characterize poor contact of wire 70, loose connectors, or power supply fluctuations.

[0074] When the control module determines that the microphone module 100 is in another malfunctioning state, the control module sends a fault warning signal to the vehicle controller through the communication interface. Upon receiving the fault warning signal, the vehicle controller triggers an error report from the vehicle's infotainment system. The error report may include at least one of the following: displaying a prompt message on the vehicle's infotainment interface, outputting a fault code, recording a fault log, or reporting fault information through a remote diagnostic system. Unlike the blocked state of the sound-transmitting protective component 40, when other malfunctions are detected, the control module does not trigger the vibration assembly 50 to enter the working state, or immediately stops outputting the dust removal drive signal to the vibration assembly 50 if the cleaning process has already been initiated, to avoid ineffective operations on faults that cannot be resolved by vibration cleaning.

[0075] Through the above implementation methods, differentiated handling of microphone module 100 malfunctions can be achieved. For blockage problems that can be resolved by vibration cleaning, a closed-loop process of self-inspection, cleaning, and re-inspection is executed. For other malfunctions such as component failure, seal failure, water ingress condensation, or wiring harness abnormalities, the vehicle's infotainment system will directly issue error prompts, thereby improving the accuracy of maintenance strategies and the overall user experience.

[0076] In summary, the microphone module 100 and its maintenance method according to this embodiment have the following technical effects: Understandably, the vibration assembly 50 is arranged circumferentially around the sound hole 11 and is connected to the inner wall of the housing 10. When cleaning is required, the control module outputs a drive signal to the vibration assembly 50, causing it to vibrate. This vibration is then coupled and transmitted through the inner wall of the housing 10 to the sound-permeable protective element 40 covering the sound hole 11, causing the protective element 40 to vibrate and deform. Because the vibration assembly 50 and the sound hole 11 are spatially aligned and the sound-permeable protective element 40 completely covers the sound hole 11, the vibration energy can be concentrated on the sound-permeable protective element 40 in the entrance area of ​​the sound hole 11. This results in a more significant inertial stripping effect on dust, particles, or coatings adhering to the surface of the protective element 40, allowing foreign objects to detach quickly and achieving targeted and efficient dust removal.

[0077] Understandably, the vibration assembly 50 adopts a ring-shaped piezoelectric sheet structure, or is formed by splicing multiple arc-shaped piezoelectric sheets circumferentially to form a ring structure. This allows the vibration assembly 50 to be arranged around the sound hole 11 within a limited space while maintaining a small thickness and a small footprint, thus meeting the requirements of miniaturization and high integration design. Specifically, the circuit board 20, acoustic module 30, sound-permeable protective component 40, and ring-shaped vibration assembly 50 are integrated together in the same housing 10 to form a single module. There is no need to add an external dust removal mechanism or external cleaning interface, which improves the module integration from a structural perspective and facilitates vehicle installation and layout.

[0078] Understandably, the vibration assembly 50, control module, and circuit board 20 are all housed within the receiving cavity formed by the housing 10, and the housing 10 provides structural protection. The sound-permeable protective component 40 covers the sound hole 11 and blocks external water and dust. The housing 10 can also improve its airtightness and watertightness through methods such as split adhesive sealing and sealing component 32 forming a sealed cavity 321, so that the vibration assembly 50 and electrical connection components are in a relatively protected internal environment, thereby reducing the risk of failure caused by high-pressure washing, rainwater intrusion, or dust accumulation, and improving the overall reliability and lifespan of the machine.

[0079] Understandably, during maintenance, the control module outputs test excitation signals and collects the response signals of the acoustic modules 30 to these signals. It then performs audio feature analysis and status determination on the response signals. Based on amplitude, frequency response, attenuation rate, signal-to-noise ratio, or difference from a reference template, the control module distinguishes between blockage and other adverse conditions in the sound-transmitting protective component 40. When blockage is detected, vibration cleaning and re-verification are triggered. When other adverse conditions are detected, fault information is directly reported to the vehicle controller or vehicle infotainment system. Through the above algorithmic analysis and triage, more intelligent status recognition can be achieved, reducing the cost of manual disassembly and inspection and fault analysis, and improving fault location efficiency.

[0080] Understandably, the vibration cleaning mechanism described above can reduce the probability of sound pickup attenuation, false alarms, or functional abnormalities caused by dust clogging the mesh of the sound-transmitting protective component 40, thereby reducing user complaints and after-sales repairs due to blockage. Furthermore, since blockage can be resolved through the module's internal maintenance process, the need for complete disassembly and repair or replacement of the microphone module 100 due to blockage can be reduced, lowering maintenance costs and improving customer experience.

[0081] Understandably, the control module employs a low duty cycle drive strategy triggered on demand, outputting a dust removal drive signal to the vibration assembly 50 only when a blockage is detected, a maintenance command is received, or a preset maintenance cycle is reached; during non-maintenance phases, the drive signal output is stopped, leaving the vibration assembly 50 in a non-operating state. Because the vibration assembly 50 operates only within a short cleaning window, and the drive signal can be optimized according to target frequency parameters to improve cleaning efficiency per unit of energy consumption, low-power operation is achieved, adapting to the vehicle's power system and reducing the impact on overall vehicle energy consumption.

[0082] This embodiment also provides a vehicle, which includes a vehicle controller and the microphone module 100 described above. The control module of the microphone module 100 is communicatively connected to the vehicle controller.

[0083] The vehicle controller can issue maintenance commands to the microphone module 100 based on the vehicle's status (e.g., power on, unlocked, wipers in operation, car wash mode, parking mode, or scheduled maintenance cycle) to trigger the execution of the aforementioned maintenance methods. Simultaneously, when the microphone module 100 fails to clean or detects an abnormal state, the control module can send a fault warning signal to the vehicle controller, allowing the vehicle to prompt the user for maintenance or to make subsequent service strategy decisions via the instrument cluster, infotainment system, or remote diagnostic system.

[0084] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A microphone module, characterized in that, include: A housing having a receiving cavity formed inside, and the housing having an acoustic hole for communicating with the receiving cavity and the outside of the housing; A circuit board, wherein the circuit board is disposed within the receiving cavity and is connected to the inner wall of the housing; An acoustic module, wherein the acoustic module is connected to the circuit board and communicates with the acoustic hole; A sound-permeable protective component, which is connected to the housing and covers at least a portion of the sound holes; A vibration assembly is disposed within the receiving cavity and arranged around the sound hole. The vibration assembly is configured to transmit vibration to the sound-permeable protective member in the working state, causing the sound-permeable protective member to vibrate to achieve cleaning. A control module is electrically connected to the vibration component and is configured to output a drive signal to the vibration component to cause the vibration component to enter a working state.

2. The microphone module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vibration assembly is connected to the inner wall of the housing, and the vibration assembly is arranged around the circumferential direction of the acoustic hole.

3. The microphone module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The vibration assembly includes a piezoelectric element or a linear motor.

4. The microphone module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The microphone module also includes a cover, which is connected to the housing and surrounds the housing to form a buffer cavity. The sound hole is connected to the buffer cavity. The cover has at least two sound channels, which are respectively connected to the buffer cavity and the outside of the cover of the housing.

5. The microphone module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The acoustic module includes a MEMS chip, which is connected to the side of the circuit board away from the sound hole. The circuit board has a through hole, through which the MEMS chip communicates with the sound hole.

6. The microphone module according to claim 5, characterized in that, The acoustic module also includes a sealing element, one end of which is connected to the side of the circuit board facing the sound hole, and the other end of which is connected to the inner wall of the housing. The sealing element, the circuit board, and the housing together enclose a sealing cavity, and the through hole and the sound hole are respectively connected to the sealing cavity.

7. The microphone module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The microphone module also includes wires, and the vibration component is electrically connected to the circuit board via the wires.

8. The microphone module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The circumferential edge of the sound-permeable protective component is fixed to the circumferential edge of the sound hole.

9. The microphone module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The sound-permeable protective component is a sound-permeable membrane or a sound-permeable mesh.

10. A method for maintaining a microphone module, characterized in that, The application to the microphone module according to any one of claims 1 to 9 includes the following steps: The vibration component is driven by the driving signal to output a test excitation signal; The acoustic module's response signal to the test excitation signal is collected, and the presence of a blockage at the sound-transmitting protective component is determined based on the response signal. When it is determined that the sound-permeable protective component is blocked, a dust removal drive signal is output to the drive vibration component to drive the sound-permeable protective component to vibrate and clean it. After cleaning, the vibration component is driven again to output a test excitation signal and the response signal is collected to verify the cleaning effect.

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