Vehicle Microphone System Dynamic Directivity Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microphone systems in vehicles experience undesirable variations in signal quality due to changes in the size of the driver or passenger, affecting the directivity and acoustic signal detection.
Innovation Solution
A microphone system with three microphones arranged in an isosceles triangle configuration, along with a signal processing device that automatically switches between different operating modes to optimize directivity for varying driver and passenger seat positions, using omnidirectional microphones and signal processing to adjust directivity patterns without additional hardware or networking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a fixed microphone system with specific directivity is used, then the signal quality is optimized for a specific driver or passenger size, but the signal quality varies undesirably when the driver or passenger size changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the microphone system to switch between different operating modes (first and second modes) that provide different directivities. This allows the system to adapt dynamically to varying driver or passenger sizes by selecting the appropriate mode, thereby maintaining consistent signal quality across different user configurations without requiring physical adjustment of the microphone positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the microphone system by processing signals from different microphone combinations in different modes. In the first mode, signals from specific microphone pairs are processed to provide first directivity, while in the second mode, signals from different microphone pairs are processed to provide second directivity. This parameter switching resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize signal quality for different user sizes through software-based parameter adjustment rather than hardware reconfiguration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional microphones are added to accommodate different driver and passenger sizes, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a microphone system where the same set of microphones serves multiple functions through different signal processing modes. The first and second microphones can provide first directivity in the first mode and second directivity in the second mode, while the second and third microphones similarly provide different directivities in different modes. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to different driver and passenger sizes without adding more physical microphones, thereby reducing device complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses signal processing to create virtual copies of directional sensitivity patterns. By processing the signals from the same physical microphones in different ways (different operating modes), the system generates multiple directivity patterns that effectively behave like separate directional microphones. This copying approach allows the system to achieve the adaptability of having multiple specialized microphones without the complexity and cost of physically installing them.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a microphone system for a motor vehicle, comprising a microphone housing in which a first microphone, a second microphone and a third microphone are disposed, with a signal processing device, which is designed to process respective signals provided by the microphones, wherein the signal processing device is configured to receive the signals of the first and the second microphones in a first operating mode in such a way that a driver directivity, which is oriented towards a first position of a driver's seat of the motor vehicle is provided, and the signals of the second and third microphones in that a passenger directivity, which is aligned with a first position of a passenger's seat of the motor vehicle is provided in the first operating mode, wherein the signal processing device is configured to process the signals of the first and the third microphones in a second operating mode in such a way that an alternative driver directivity is provided, which is oriented towards a second position of the driver's seat, or to process the signals of the second and third microphones in the second operating mode so as to provide an alternative front seat passenger directivity, which is oriented towards a second position of the front passenger's seat; to minimize a variation in signal quality in the presence of a variation of the size of a driver or front passenger.