Microphone arrangement and vehicle comprising a microphone arrangement

Abstract

A microphone arrangement comprises a first microphone unit (20) for being positioned on a first lateral side of a headrest of a first vehicle seat (104), and having a first main receive direction (202) pointing to a first position related to a second vehicle seat (102), wherein, if an occupant is seated on the second vehicle seat (102), the occupant's head is located at the first position.

Description

Client Docket No. P240482Attorney Docket No. HBA402WOMICROPHONE ARRANGEMENT AND VEHICLE COMPRISING A MICROPHONE ARRANGEMENTTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The disclosure relates to a microphone arrangement, and a vehicle comprising a microphone arrangement.BACKGROUND

[0002] Modem vehicles often incorporate systems that require sound input. For example, many vehicles include hands-free telephony capability. Hands-free telephony operates by using speakers and microphones within the vehicle instead of those associated with a cellular device. The cellular device may establish communication with the hands-free telephony system to transfer microphone and speaker data. Vehicles may further provide a voice recognition system for allowing the user to issue commands using spoken words. As a variety of systems may utilize microphone inputs, vehicles may include one or more microphones located in various positions. Space requirements in vehicles, however, are often critical.

[0003] There is a need for a microphone arrangement that is able to pick up speech from one or more occupants of a vehicle, and that requires only little space.SUMMARY

[0004] A microphone arrangement according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a first microphone unit for being positioned on a first lateral side of a headrest of a first vehicle seat, and having a first main receive direction pointing to a first position related to a second vehicle seat, wherein, if an occupant is seated on the second vehicle seat, the occupant’s head is located at the first position.

[0005] A vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes at least one microphone arrangement according to embodiments of the disclosure.Client Docket No. P240482Attorney Docket No. HBA402WO

[0006] Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and figures. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention and be protected by the following claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The arrangements may be better understood with reference to the following description and drawings. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

[0008] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a vehicle with microphone arrangements according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0009] Figure 2 schematically illustrates a microphone arrangement according to embodiments of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples 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.

[0011] It is recognized that directional terms that may be noted herein (e.g., “upper”, “lower”, “inner”, “outer”, “top”, “bottom”, etc.) simply refer to the orientation of various components of an arrangement as illustrated in the accompanying figures. Such terms are provided for context and understanding of the disclosed embodiments.Client Docket No. P240482Attorney Docket No. HBA402WO

[0012] Modem vehicles often incorporate systems that require sound input. For example, many vehicles include hands-free telephony capability. Hands-free telephony operates by using speakers and microphones within the vehicle instead of those associated with a cellular device. The cellular device may establish communication with the hands-free telephony system to transfer microphone and speaker data. Vehicles may further provide a voice recognition system for allowing the user to issue commands using spoken words. As a variety of systems may utilize microphone inputs, vehicles may include one or more microphones located in various positions. Space requirements in vehicles, however, are often critical.

[0013] A microphone arrangement according to embodiments of the present disclosure comprises a first microphone unit 20 for being positioned on a first lateral side of a headrest of a first vehicle seat 104, and having a first main receive direction 202 pointing to a first position related to a second vehicle seat 102, wherein, if an occupant is seated on the second vehicle seat 102, the occupant’s head is located at the first position. This is schematically illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. As can be seen, the first microphone unit 20 is arranged in a headrest of a first vehicle seat 104, and is able to pick up speech originating from an occupant seated on a second vehicle seat 102. The second vehicle seat 102 in the arrangement of Figure 1 is arranged next to the first vehicle seat 104. The first lateral side of the headrest may be a side facing towards the second vehicle seat 102.

[0014] According to some embodiments, the first vehicle seat 104 may be a front passenger seat, and the second vehicle seat 102 may be a driver’s seat. However, as is also illustrated in Figure 1, instead of or in addition to a first microphone unit 20 arranged in a headrest of a front passenger seat, a second microphone unit 22 may be arranged in a headrest of a driver’s seat. This second microphone unit 22 would then be able, for example, to pick up speech originating from an occupant seated on the front passenger seat.

[0015] Headrests are generally present in any kind of vehicle such as, e.g., passenger cars, trucks, tractors, busses, etc. One or more microphones may already be present in the headrest. However, microphones that are used for applications such as active noise cancellation, ANC, for example, are always arranged on a front side of the headrest facing towards a head of an occupant seated on the respective seat. In this way, such microphones are arranged close to the ears of an occupant seated on the respective vehicle seat, which is important for ANCClient Docket No. P240482Attorney Docket No. HBA402WOapplications. However, such microphones positioned at the front side of the headrest are generally not well suited for picking up speech originating from the respective occupant or from any other occupants of the vehicle. Headrests, however, generally provide ample space such that even more microphones can be arranged therein.

[0016] The microphone arrangements disclosed herein can be arranged in their intended position in the headrest even if certain additional features are implemented in the vehicle. For example, many vehicles today comprise so-called panorama windshields, which are basically very large windshields extending towards the roof of the vehicle. That is, panorama windshields may extend even as far as over the driver’s seat and front passenger seat, or even further towards the back. Also, additional panorama windows may be provided in the roof of a vehicle. Such enlarged or additional windows generally significantly reduce the space that is available in a vehicle for arranging microphones as, especially, the roof liner is no longer available for arranging microphones therein.

[0017] The microphone unit 20, according to some embodiments of the disclosure, may comprise at least one directional microphone. Directional microphones, however, are often implemented by means of microphone arrays. That is, according to some embodiments of the disclosure, the microphone unit 20 may comprise a plurality of omnidirectional microphones forming a directional microphone array. Directionality of the microphone array may be achieved by suitable beamforming techniques, which are generally known and will not be described in further detail herein. By means of beamforming techniques, the one or more main receive directions 202, 204 of the microphone unit 20 can be suitably oriented and adjusted.

[0018] As mentioned above, the first microphone unit 20 has a first main receive direction 202. In this way, speech originating from a passenger seated on a first vehicle seat 102 may be captured by the microphone unit 20. According to some embodiments of the disclosure, however, the first microphone unit 20 may further have a second main receive direction 204 pointing to a second position related to a third vehicle seat 106, wherein, if an occupant is seated on the third vehicle seat 106, the occupant’s head is located at the second position.Client Docket No. P240482Attorney Docket No. HBA402WO

[0019] That is, speech from two different occupants seated on two different vehicle seats 102, 106 may be captured by a single microphone unit 20. For example, speech originating from a user seated on a vehicle seat arranged in the same row of vehicle seats as the first vehicle seat may be captured. However, it is also possible to capture speech originating from occupants seated on a vehicle seat in a row of vehicle seats that is located behind the first vehicle seat, as seen from the front of the vehicle 10. However, the occupant(s) from whom speech is captured, are seated on vehicle seats that are different from the vehicle seat the microphone unit 20 is arranged in.

[0020] In the example illustrated in Figure 1, the first microphone unit 20 is even able to capture speech originating from three different occupants of the vehicle 10. In the specific example of Figure 1, speech may be captured from a driver of the vehicle, as well as from different occupants seated in a back row of the vehicle. This similarly applies for the second microphone unit 22 arranged in a headrest of the driver’s seat in the example illustrated in Figure 1. In this way, speech originating from a plurality of different occupants seated on a plurality of different vehicle seats can be captured by only few microphone units. That is, only a small number of microphone units is required to capture speech originating from a plurality of different occupants seated on a plurality of different vehicle seats. The solution, therefore, is very economical.

[0021] The first microphone unit 20 may be arranged in a lower half of the headrest for example, wherein the lower half of the headrest is arranged closer to a backrest of the first vehicle seat 104 than an upper half of the headrest. Headrests are often wider towards their lower end. This provides more space to arrange the microphone unit 20 therein, as compared to the upper half of the headrest.

[0022] As is illustrated in Figure 1, a vehicle 10 may comprise at least one microphone arrangement 20, 22 according to embodiments of the disclosure. In the example illustrated in Figure 1, a standard passenger car having a front row and a back row is illustrated. However, larger vehicles may comprise even more rows of seats. In such cases, additionally or alternatively, one or more microphone units may be arranged in headrests of any of the different vehicle seats of the back rows. The microphone unit 20, if arranged in a headrest of a vehicle seat arranged towards a first side (e.g., the right side) of the vehicle 10, is generallyClient Docket No. P240482Attorney Docket No. HBA402WOable to pick up speech originating from an occupant seated on any of the seats arranged towards a second side opposite the first side (e.g., the left side) of the vehicle 10. However, capturing speech originating from an occupant seated on a vehicle seat that is arranged further towards the front of the vehicle may require that quite sophisticated algorithms be used. This is, because speech from an occupant will, in most cases, be directed towards the front of the vehicle. This is more difficult to capture by the microphone unit, if it is arranged in a vehicle seat arranged further towards the back of the vehicle. It is generally easier to pick up speech from occupant seated on vehicle seats on the same level or further towards the back of the vehicle 10.

[0023] The description of embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Suitable modifications and variations to the embodiments may be performed in light of the above description or may be acquired from practicing the methods. The described arrangements are exemplary in nature, and may include additional elements and / or omit elements. As used in this application, an element recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should not be understood as excluding the plural of said elements, unless such exclusion is stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” or “one example” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. The terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements or a particular positional order on their objects. The described systems are exemplary in nature, and may include additional elements and / or omit elements. The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various systems and configurations, and other features, functions, and / or properties disclosed. The following claims particularly disclose subject matter from the above description that is regarded to be novel and non-obvious.

Claims

Client Docket No. P240482Attorney Docket No. HBA402WOCLAIMS1. A microphone arrangement comprises:a first microphone unit (20) for being positioned on a first lateral side of a headrest of a first vehicle seat (104), and having a first main receive direction (202) pointing to a first position related to a second vehicle seat (102), wherein, if an occupant is seated on the second vehicle seat (102), the occupant’s head is located at the first position.

2. The microphone arrangement of claim 1, wherein the microphone unit (20) comprises at least one directional microphone.

3. The microphone arrangement of claim 1, wherein the microphone unit (20) comprises a plurality of omnidirectional microphones forming a microphone array.

4. The microphone arrangement of any of claims 1 to 3, whereinthe first vehicle seat (104) is a front passenger seat, and the second vehicle seat (102) is a driver’s seat, orthe first vehicle seat is a driver’s seat, and the second vehicle seat is a front passenger seat.

5. The microphone arrangement of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first microphone unit (20) further has a second main receive direction (204) pointing to a second position related to a third vehicle seat (106), wherein, if an occupant is seated on the third vehicle seat (106), the occupant’s head is located at the second position.

6. The microphone arrangement of claim 5, wherein the third vehicle seat (106) is a back passenger seat.

7. The microphone arrangement of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first lateral side of the headrest is a side facing towards the second vehicle seat (102).

8. The microphone arrangement of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first microphoneClient Docket No. P240482Attorney Docket No. HBA402WOunit (20) is arranged in a lower half of the headrest, wherein the lower half of the headrest is arranged closer to a backrest of the first vehicle seat (104) than an upper half of the headrest.

9. A vehicle (10) comprising at least one microphone arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 8.

10. The vehicle (10) of claim 9, wherein a microphone unit (20) of a first microphone arrangement is positioned on a first lateral side of a headrest of a front passenger seat, and a microphone unit (22) of a second microphone arrangement is positioned on a first lateral side of a headrest of a driver’ s seat.

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