A voice-controlled system for providing digital audio content in an automobile is presented. The system comprises a CPU unit that includes a microprocessor programmed to decode and deliver digital media such as MP3s and ebooks to a listener. The CPU unit also includes a storage device for storing the media, RAM and a power supply. The storage device is a “plug-in” unit, such as a hard disc drive, that may be removed and inserted into a home computer for downloading media. The system is controlled using a voice-based input device that interfaces with the CPU unit. The voice-based device is operative to control in a hands-free manner, for example, the selection of the media to be delivered and the volume at which the media is delivered. A display and control unit is suitable for mounting on the dashboard of an automobile and provides an alternative to voice control of the system. The display and control unit also provides a scroll-through list of the available media and information about the media being played such as the title, the artist, the volume at which it is being played and a sound spectrum analysis.

Voice-controlled system for providing digital audio content in an automobile

A microphone device includes a base adapted to be installed in a given position, an arm mounted on the base for angular movement in a predetermined angular range with respect thereto, and a sound pickup unit mounted on a distal end of the arm for picking up sounds when the arm is angularly positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to the arm. The base may be installed on a pillar positioned obliquely in front of the driver's seat of a motor vehicle, so that the microphone can be held in a good position with respect to the driver. The microphone is positioned in superposed relation or in the vicinity of the pillar that is present in the front vision of the driver on the driver's seat, and hence does not essentially interfere with the front vision of the driver.

Microphone device navigation system, communication device, audio device, and motor vehicle

The mounting support (2) consists of a U-shaped clamping strap. A holder (4) carrying the microphone (5) is mounted displaceably to the curved portion (3) of the clamping strap (2). The axial direction (7) of the microphone (5) wherein the latter has its maximum sensitivity can be adjusted with respect to the sound source by displacing the microphone holder (4) along the curved strap portion (3). The extremely simple, economically producible microphone mounting support permits accurate adjustment of the direction of maximum sensitivity to the sound source, independently of the position of the object to which the mounting support is fastened; this is important for a transmission free of feedback, especially during hand-free two-way communication.

Microphone mounting support

A steering wheel system for a vehicle includes a steering wheel and an airbag module located within the hub portion of the steering wheel. The airbag module includes an airbag and a cover for the airbag. The steering wheel system also includes at least one microphone configured to receive audio input from a vehicle driver in which the at least one microphone is located on the cover of the airbag module.

Steering wheel system with audio input

Collecting the sound while rotating at least one or more microphone around a rotational axis, the filter processing is carried out in accordance with the positional information of the microphone at each point.

Sound collection system

The present construction relates to a microphone adjustably mounted to the steering wheel of a motor vehicle.

Maurice A. Negrini

Papers

Steering wheel microphone bracket assembly

Plastic bowling pin and its method of manufacture