US 11,889,278 B1
Vehicle sensor modules with external audio receivers
Cheng-Han Wu, Sunnyvale, CA (US); Choon Ping Chng, Los Altos, CA (US); Jun Hou, Shanghai (CN); Miklos Szentkiralyi, San Bruno, CA (US); and Rutvik Acharya, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to Waymo LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed by Waymo LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/645,588.
Int. Cl. H04R 3/00 (2006.01); H04R 1/02 (2006.01); B60W 50/14 (2020.01)
CPC H04R 3/005 (2013.01) [H04R 1/02 (2013.01); B60W 50/14 (2013.01); H04R 2499/13 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a vehicle;
a sensor module coupled to a roof of the vehicle such that a gap is formed between portions of a bottom surface of the sensor module and the roof, wherein the sensor module includes one or more sensors;
an elongate extension coupled to the sensor module such that the elongate extension extends out toward a rear of the vehicle; and
a set of microphones coupled to the sensor module, wherein the set of microphones includes:
(i) a first microphone positioned proximate a front of the sensor module, wherein the first microphone extends into a given portion of the bottom surface of the sensor module proximate the gap;
(ii) a second microphone extending into a first side of the sensor module such that the second microphone is configured to detect audio originating from an environment extending from a first side of the vehicle,
(iii) a third microphone extending into a second side of the sensor module such that the third microphone is configured to detect audio originating from the environment extending from a second side of the vehicle, wherein the second side is opposite of the first side, and
(iv) a fourth microphone positioned proximate an end of the elongate extension opposite of the sensor module such that the fourth microphone is configured to detect audio originating from the environment extending from the rear of the vehicle.