Headrest Microphone Housing for Vehicle Seat Acoustic Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat designs with integrated microphones for active noise cancellation systems often compromise comfort, safety, and aesthetics, and do not allow for optimal acoustic positioning.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat design that integrates a microphone in a housing within the headrest, securely fastened to the frame using screws, allowing for optimal acoustic positioning without affecting comfort, safety, or aesthetics, and enabling easy replacement and cost-effective manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the microphone is arranged in the headrest to detect ambient sounds close to the occupant's ears, then the acoustic positioning is optimized, but the comfort, safety and aesthetics of the seat are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest is divided into multiple sections, with the microphone integrated into a specific cavity within the foam structure. This segmentation allows the acoustic sensing function to be isolated in a specific zone without affecting the overall comfort and safety properties of the seat cushion and backrest.
Solution Approach 2:
A housing structure acts as an intermediary between the microphone and the external environment. The housing with its lid and cavity provides a protected mounting environment for the microphone, ensuring it is securely positioned for optimal acoustic detection while being isolated from direct contact with occupants, thus maintaining safety and comfort.
2Measurement precision
If the microphone is integrated into the seat structure, then the acoustic positioning is optimized, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microphone assembly is segmented as a separate component with its own housing, allowing it to be manufactured independently and then integrated into the seat during final assembly. This reduces the complexity of the main seat manufacturing process while still achieving precise acoustic positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The microphone is nested within a housing that is itself integrated into the foam structure of the headrest. This nested arrangement allows the microphone to be securely positioned within the existing seat architecture without requiring complete redesign of the manufacturing process for the entire seat.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the microphone is securely fastened to the frame using screws, then the positioning stability is improved, but the ease of manufacture is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The microphone is pre-mounted in its housing with the lid, creating a complete sub-assembly before integration into the seat. This preliminary action ensures proper positioning and secure fastening is achieved during the sub-assembly stage, making the final integration simpler while maintaining positioning stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The seat design provides effective acoustic positioning for noise cancellation while maintaining comfort, safety, and aesthetics, with a simple and cost-effective manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
microphones (10) that are configured to detect an ambient sound present in the passenger compartment (4)
Data Source
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AI summary
Seat (5) for a vehicle (1) and having: a frame (14); a bearing structure (15), which is mounted on the frame (14), is elastically deformable, and is divided into a seat (11), a backrest (3), and a headrest (13); a cover (16), which covers the bearing structure (15); a microphone (10); and a support element (17), which is U-shaped, embraces the upper part of the frame (14), is covered by the bearing structure (15), and has at its top a housing (18) accommodating, on the inside, the microphone (10).