Vehicle Microphone Housing Cover With Shifted Dual Grids

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing microphone assembly for vehicles requires two molds to manufacture the housing cover and shielding cover, leading to increased manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

The microphone assembly incorporates a housing cover with a first grid and a second grid that are shifted from each other, forming a path for sound waves while eliminating the need for a shielding cover, thus requiring only one mold for manufacturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If two separate covers (housing cover and shielding cover) are used, then the acoustic membrane is protected from high-pressure water, but the manufacturing cost increases due to requiring two molds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of acoustic membraneVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the housing cover and shielding cover into a single integrated housing cover that incorporates both the first grid (housing cover function) and the second grid (shielding cover function). This single-piece structure eliminates the need for two separate molds and assembly operations, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining water protection capability through the shifted grid arrangement that blocks high-pressure water paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If two separate covers (housing cover and shielding cover) are used, then the acoustic membrane is protected from high-pressure water, but the manufacturing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of acoustic membraneVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two separate manufacturing processes and assembly operations into a single molding process. The integrated housing cover with first grid and second grid is produced in one piece using one mold, eliminating the sequential manufacturing and assembly steps required for separate covers, thereby reducing total manufacturing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If two separate covers (housing cover and shielding cover) are used, then the acoustic membrane is protected from high-pressure water, but the assembly process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of acoustic membraneVSAvoidassembly process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the housing cover and shielding cover functions into a single component, reducing the number of parts from two to one. This simplification eliminates the assembly step of joining the two covers and reduces the overall structural complexity of the microphone assembly while preserving the water protection function through the shifted grid configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This design reduces manufacturing time and costs by eliminating the need for a second mold and simplifying the assembly process, while maintaining the ability to protect the acoustic membrane from high-pressure water and effectively detect emergency vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

a first grid and a second grid that are shifted from each other so as to form a path for sound waves coming from the exterior of the microphone assembly to reach said acoustic membrane

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound wave propagation: Sound

Data Source

PatentEP4539497A1Microphone assembly for a vehicle with a housing cover comprising a first grid and a second grid
Publication Date: 2025.04.16 VALEO TELEMATIK & AKUSTIK GMBH
  • EP4539497A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4539497A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4539497A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to microphone assembly (1) for a vehicle, said microphone assembly (1) comprising: - a housing base (10) that is configured to receive an electronic support (11), - said electronic support (11), - an acoustic membrane (12) that is configured to be in contact with said electronic support (11), - a sealing cover (13) that comprises an opening (131) which is configured to be in front of said acoustic membrane (12), - a housing cover (14) that is configured to cover said sealing cover (13), wherein : - said housing cover (14) comprises a first grid and a second grid that are shifted from each other so as to form a path for sound waves (5) coming from the exterior of the microphone assembly (1) to reach said acoustic membrane (12).