Gentex Corporation

Electro-voice, Inc.

Michael A Bryson

Alan R Watson

Robert R Turnbull

William R Spence

G Bruce Poe

Robert C Knapp

Wayne J Rumsey

John W Carter

Kenton J Ypma

Joshua D Lintz

David A Blaker

David L Plangger

Keith W Bigoness

Bruce G Poe

An imaging assembly for use in a vehicle is disclosed. The imaging assembly may include an image sensor configured to capture image data and an electro-optic element configured to selectively control a range of wavelengths corresponding to light in a near infrared (NIR) range of light entering the image sensor. The electro-optic element may include a first portion configured to absorb the range of wavelengths entering the image sensor and a second portion configured to absorb the range of wavelengths entering the image sensor in a first state and to transmit the range of wavelengths entering the image sensor in a second state. The second portion may be electrically isolated from the first portion. A controller may be in communication with the image sensor and the electro-optic element. The controller may be operable to switch the second portion between the first state and the second state.

Active infrared illumination for enhancing rear vision from a vehicle

A vehicular microphone system () for post processing optimization of a microphone signal includes a first transducer () and second transducer () separated by a predetermined distance within an automotive mirror. A first high pass filter network () is connected to the first transducer () while a second high pass filter network () connected to the second transducer (). A low frequency shelving filter () is used for receiving the output from the second high pass filter (). A first all pass filter () is connected to the low frequency shelving filter () and a second all pass filter () is used in connection with the first all pass filter () for tailoring audio characteristics. A summing amplifier () is used for summing the output of the first high pass filter network () and the second all pass filter network () such that the first transducer () and second transducer () operate with improved directivity resulting in enhanced signal-to-noise performance in a substantially noisy vehicular environment.

Vehicular microphone system and method for post processing optimization of a microphone signal

A low power microphone circuit for a vehicle is provided that includes: at least one microphone transducer; a digital signal processor for receiving output signals from the at least one microphone transducer and for generating a digitally processed audio signal; an output amplifier for amplifying the audio signal from the digital signal processor and modulating an input voltage with the audio signal; and a DC power supply for supplying power to the digital signal processor. The output amplifier and the DC power supply may be electrically coupled in series. The DC power supply and the output amplifier may be powered by the input current, where the input current is no greater than about 6 mA.

Low power microphone circuits for vehicles

A space-time adaptive beamformer for reducing noise in a vehicle that includes two or more microphones. A first weighting network is used for adjusting the signal characteristics of at least one output of the microphones while at least one delay network is also used for delaying the output in time of at least one output of the microphones. A second weighting network then adjusts the signal characteristics of the output of each of the delay networks and at sum adder works to combine the output of the first weighting network and the second weighting network. Finally, an output of the sum adder is combined with an artificial noise free reference signal to provide a low distortion noise reduced output. By generating a desired signal that acts as an artificial noise free signal reference, adequate noise reduction to be obtained without the distortion created due to processing non-linearity.

Space-time noise reduction system for use in a vehicle and method of forming same

A non-spatial speech detection system includes a plurality of microphones whose output is supplied to a fixed beamformer. An adaptive beamformer is used for receiving the output of the plurality of microphones and one or more processors are used for processing an output from the fixed beamformer and identifying speech from noise though the use of an algorithm utilizing a covariance matrix.

Non-spatial speech detection system and method of using same

The rearview assembly of the present invention may include any one or more of the following: a housing for attaching to the vehicle, the housing may define an interior space that is acoustically separated into at least two chambers; a first speaker that may be located in a first one of the at least two chambers of the interior space of the housing; a first microphone subassembly located on the top surface of the housing; a second microphone subassembly located on the bottom surface of the housing; a display positioned in the housing; an audio/data transceiver for transmitting and receiving audio and data signals to/from a portable device; and a control circuit for determining whether a portable device having a predetermined identification code is within the range of the audio/data transceiver, and for exchanging data with the portable device through the audio/data transceiver.

Rearview assemblies incorporating hands-free telephone components

A microphone mounting assembly (A/) include one or more transducers () mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) () where a spacer () is used having a channel () positioned on the PCB () for allowing acoustical energy to pass through the channel () to a port () in the PCB (). A first cover () is positioned over the channel () for disrupting the direct encounter with airflow into the channel () while a top section () having a second cover () is further positioned adjacent to the first fabric cover () for preventing debris from obstructing the first fabric cover ().

Vehicular directional microphone assembly for preventing airflow encounter

A method for processing signals for reducing noise components in a vehicular microphone system (A) compares () a plurality of noise component values () for at least one frequency band of plurality of frequency bands. At least one frequency band is then downwardly expanded () by a predetermined expansion ratio () for providing a noise reduced signal () when determining a value is below a predetermined threshold ().

Vehicular automatic gain control (AGC) microphone system and method for post processing optimization of a microphone signal

A microphone assembly includes one or more transducers positioned in a housing. Circuitry is coupled to the transducer for outputting an electrical signal such that the microphone has a main lobe directed forwardly and attenuates signals originating from the sides and/or rear. The transducers can advantageously include multiple transducers, which, with the circuit, produce a desired sensitivity pattern. The microphone assembly can be employed in a vehicle accessory.

Vehicle accessory microphone

A triangular microphone assembly () for use in a vehicle accessory includes a mirror housing () adapted for attachment to the interior of the vehicle. A mirror is disposed in an opening of the mirror housing () and a plurality of virtual digital microphones () are arranged in a substantially triangular configuration in the mirror housing (). A digital signal processor (DSP) () is used for receiving signals from the plurality of digital microphones () such that the digital microphones exhibit directional characteristics for reducing undesirable noise in at least one direction by normalizing the phase of the received signals as a function of signal frequency.

Vehicular microphone assembly using fractional power phase normalization

A rearview assembly for a vehicle including a mounting structure for mounting to a vehicle, a rearward viewing device, and housing with a position sensor, is provided. The position sensor includes first and second radiation emitters, a radiation reception element, and sensor processing circuitry coupled to one of the position sensors and the radiation reception element. The position sensor determines the position of an object in the vicinity of the rearward viewing device.

Optical user interface system for automotive modules

A microphone assembly includes one or more transducers positioned in one or more housings. A processing circuit is coupled to the transducer for outputting an electrical signal such that the microphone in combination with the processing circuit very effectively cancels noise. The microphone assembly can be employed in a vehicle accessory.

Vehicle accessory microphone having mechanism for reducing line-induced noise

A vehicle rearview mirror assembly () includes one or more microphone assemblies () positioned on the rear surface () of the mirror housing (). Recesses () are provided in the rear surface to serve as a deflector for deflecting airflow from the defroster. Front ports () are provided on the microphone housing () that open upward, while rear ports () open downward. The microphone assemblies may include an acoustic dam () that extends around the microphone transducer () to acoustically separate the acoustic chamber within the microphone housing into two zones such that the front face of the transducer is acoustically coupled to the first zone and the rear face of transducer is acoustically coupled to the second zone. The microphone assemblies may include windscreens () made of a material of high acoustic resistivity (i.e., about 1 or more &#x3a9;/cm), and preferably of very high acoustic resistivity (i.e., about 8 or more &#x3a9;/cm).

Rearview mirror assemblies incorporating hands-free telephone components

A microphone assembly for a vehicle accessory includes one or more transducers positioned in a microphone housing. The microphone housing has at least one acoustic port to which the transducer is acoustically coupled. The microphone assembly further includes a windscreen sealed across the acoustic port. The windscreen having hydrophobic properties to prevent water from penetrating the microphone housing through the acoustic port.

Growing community of inventors

Hudsonville, MI, United States of America

Michael A Bryson