Porous Microphone Filter Module for Vehicle Wind Noise Mitigation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Microphones on vehicles are prone to high wind noise pickup, especially in adverse weather conditions, which interferes with the detection of important sounds such as emergency sirens, making it difficult to perceive operational noise data accurately.

Innovation Solution

A microphone module with a housing containing a proximal and distal opening, a first barrier with holes or pores, a second barrier to inhibit dust and water ingress, and a porous plastic material in the internal cavity to filter out unwanted noise while allowing target sounds to pass through.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a microphone is exposed to the outside environment to detect sounds, then the ability to detect emergency sirens and target sounds is improved, but wind noise pickup increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection of target soundsVSAvoidwind noise pickup

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The microphone module is divided into multiple functional barriers: a first barrier with holes or pores for initial wind noise reduction, a second barrier for dust and water ingress inhibition, and a porous plastic material filling the internal cavity for additional wind noise filtering. This segmented approach allows each barrier to address specific aspects of the wind noise problem while preserving target sound detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the microphone module have different properties optimized for specific functions: the first barrier has holes or pores sized to reduce wind noise while allowing sound passage, the second barrier has properties optimized for dust and water resistance, and the porous plastic material in the internal cavity provides additional localized wind noise filtering. Each component's local properties are tailored to its specific function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If barriers are added to reduce wind noise, then wind noise pickup is reduced, but the complexity of the microphone module increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewind noise interferenceVSAvoidmicrophone module structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple barriers and filtering components are merged into a single integrated microphone module housing. The first barrier, second barrier, and porous plastic material are combined within one compact structure, allowing wind noise reduction functionality to be integrated rather than added as separate external components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The microphone module is designed with multi-functional barriers: the first barrier reduces wind noise while allowing sound passage, the second barrier simultaneously provides dust and water ingress protection, and the porous plastic material contributes to both wind noise reduction and structural integrity. Each component performs multiple functions to reduce overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Effectively reduces wind noise interference, enhancing the ability to detect critical sounds like emergency sirens by filtering out extraneous noise data.

Implementation Method 1

a porous plastic material fills a particular portion of the internal cavity located between the proximal opening and the distal opening

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

a first barrier that covers the proximal opening of the internal cavity and a second barrier that is positioned between the first barrier and the proximal opening of the internal cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS12413887B1Sintered filter material and grill design to reduce and mitigate wind noise for perception

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 WAYMO LLC

AI summary

A sensor module comprising a housing defining an internal cavity having a proximal opening and a distal opening, a first barrier that covers the proximal opening of the internal cavity, a second barrier that is positioned between the first barrier and the proximal opening of the internal cavity, at least one microphone acoustically coupled to the distal opening of the internal cavity, and a porous plastic material that fills a particular portion of the internal cavity located between the proximal opening and the distal opening.