Abstract
The use of car windows as a long range acoustic sensing device for external alarm signals is described in this paper. The goal is to detect and localize siren signals (e.g. ambulances and police cars) and to alert presbycusic drivers of its presence by visual and acoustic feedback in order to improve individual mobility and increase the sense of security. The glass panes of a Renault Zoé operating as an acoustic antenna have been equipped with large 50 mm outer diameter piezoceramic rings, hidden in the lower part of the door structure and the lower part of the windshield and the rear window. The response of the glass to a sweep excitation has been recorded. In general, the glass pane is acting as a high pass filter due to its inherent stiffness and provides only little damping. This effect is compensated by using a charge amplifier electronic circuit. The detection capability up to 120 m in static conditions as well as the influence of wind and vibration during driving conditions is shown. Finally, two alarm detection scenarios are reported with the car passing by a static alarm source once facing the car and once orthogonally to the driving direction.
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Acknowledgments
The work reported here was performed as part of the ICityForAll project (Contract No. AAL 2011-4-056) and is Funded by the Ambient Assisted Living program.
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Bolzmacher, C., Le Guelvouit, V. Transforming car glass into microphones using piezoelectric transducers. Microsyst Technol 22, 1653–1663 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-015-2795-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-015-2795-x