Gentex Mirrors Add Microphone Capability
January 1, 2002...Gentex Corporation, an innovative developer and systems integrator of white HB-LEDs in their
popular automatic light dimming automotive rear vision mirrors, continues to change the face of auto mirror system
design. As illustrated in their amusing Dec. 18th press release hook, "You already look in the mirror while driving,
but soon you'll be talking to it." This in the way of introducing Gentex's next step in rear view mirror functionality--a
new microphone technology integrated into the mirror system. The Zeeland, Michigan-based USA manufacturer has
developed a new microphone designed specifically for the automotive environment catering to the need for hands-free
cellphones, navigation systems and other voice- activated services in the vehicle. According to Gentex, because
microphones work best when they're engineered to function within a specific, known environment, their new
microphone is integrated into the top of one of Gentex' automatic-dimming rearview mirrors. They have already
fine-tuned the microphone's acoustical properties for optimum performance because rearview mirrors are in the driver's
natural "line-of-speech,'' and they're located in approximately the same position in every vehicle. By integrating the
microphone into their mirrors, Gentex will control the installation process, which assures the microphone is going to
function properly in the car, and it also allows Gentex to automate the assembly process, which further assures a
quality product and yields predictable, consistent microphone performance characteristics. For those unfamiliar with
the importance of the white HB-LED in the Gentex systems, it was employed to significantly reduce the heat generated
in such a heavily loaded, very compact mirror system. As a result, Gentex is highly regarded by the compound semi
industry as an innovative, futuristic packager and systems integrator of HB-LEDs and other advanced devices. Press
release
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