Mouthpiece (e.g., Telephone, Microphone, Etc.) Patents (Class 181/242)
  • Patent number: 11503399
    Abstract: A wireless earphone comprising a housing that defines an interior cavity having an inner surface and an outer surface; an opening extending through the housing from the inner surface to the outer surface; and a mesh assembly disposed over the opening and comprising a permanent assembly coupled to the housing and a replaceable assembly removably coupled to the permanent assembly and comprising a mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Mei Zhang, Benjamin A. Cousins, Mohammad Soroush Ghahri Sarabi, Phillip Qian, Sean T. McIntosh, Michael B. Minerbi, Lee M. Panecki
  • Patent number: 11363372
    Abstract: Protected microphone systems may include one or more dampeners, one or more cavities, or a combination thereof to minimize the vibration sensitivity of a microphone of the protected microphone systems. The dampeners, when present, may be constructed of a foam material or a thin metal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Joyce Gorny, Erich Tisch, Mark Hardin, Per Magnus Fredrik Hansson
  • Patent number: 11223887
    Abstract: An audio capture and transmission device for simultaneously communicating with a wireless communication device and a wired communication device is provided, the audio capture and transmission device for fitting generally over a user's mouth, the audio capture and transmission device comprising: an inner housing, the inner housing including a distal end, an air tube extending inward and outward therefrom, a proximal end and walls therebetween to define a cavity and a gutter on an outer surface; a gasket seated in the gutter; a form-fitting face piece located proximally on the inner housing, the form-fitting face piece defining a proximal opening continuous with the cavity; an outer housing, the outer housing, the gasket and the inner housing defining an interior, the outer housing including a distal end, the distal end including a plurality of apertures and an exhaust port, the exhaust port aligned with the air tube and in gaseous communication with the air tube; a microphone which is housed within the cavity;
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Inventor: Damon Webb
  • Patent number: 11109145
    Abstract: A speaker device having a resonance chamber with adjustable volume can include a speaker chamber and an acoustic deflecting module. The speaker chamber has a transducer, and the audio signal generated by the speaker chamber can be output via the transducer. The acoustic deflecting module is disposed adjacent to the speaker chamber. An outer surface of the acoustic deflecting module changes a transmission direction of the audio signal. An inner volume of the acoustic deflecting module is the resonance chamber with the adjustable volume. The acoustic deflecting module includes a base, a cover, a plate and a driving mechanism. The cover is assembled with the base. The plate is movably disposed inside the cover to form a resonance chamber. The driving mechanism is disposed on the cover and assembled with the plate, and adapted to move the plate inside the resonance chamber for vary a volume of the resonance chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Wen-Lang Tang, Chih-Feng Yeh, Tsai-Wen Hsu
  • Patent number: 10785558
    Abstract: Protected microphone systems may include one or more dampeners, one or more cavities, or a combination thereof to minimize the vibration sensitivity of a microphone of the protected microphone systems. The dampeners, when present, may be constructed of a foam material or a thin metal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Joyce Gorny, Erich Tisch, Mark Hardin, Per Magnus Fredrik Hansson
  • Patent number: 10327063
    Abstract: Protected microphone systems may include one or more dampeners, one or more protective layers, or a combination thereof to minimize the vibration sensitivity of a microphone of the protected microphone systems. The dampeners, when present, may be constructed of a foam material or a thin metal material. The protective layer may be a membrane, a mesh, or any suitable material. The protective layer may be air permeable or non-air permeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Joyce Gorny, Erich Tisch, Mark Hardin, Per Magnus Fredrik Hansson
  • Patent number: 10274347
    Abstract: An acoustic detector provides a planar arrangement of microphones. A windshield is arranged over the microphones, with a view to reducing the impact of environmental effects. A void is therefore defined over the microphones, and the interior surface of the windshield, which defines the void, is shaped suitably to reduce the potential for acoustic waves propagating within the void to reflect back onto the microphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: THALES HOLDINGS UK PLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Neil Smith, John Savage
  • Patent number: 10255896
    Abstract: A sound-absorbing mask is configured for covering a mouth. The sound-absorbing mask includes a covering body, a ventilation structure and a sound-absorbing portion. The covering body has a first chamber, a first and a second openings. The first chamber communicates with the first and the second openings. The first opening corresponds to the mouth. The ventilation structure is disposed at the second opening and has a second chamber, a third and a fourth openings. The second chamber communicates with the third and the fourth openings. The fourth opening is away from the first opening. The ventilation structure includes a plate disposed in the second chamber. The plate has a functioning surface facing the third opening. An edge of the plate and an inner wall of the ventilation structure have a gap in between. The sound-absorbing portion is disposed between the ventilation structure and the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Inventor: Huan-Cheng Chang
  • Patent number: 10075782
    Abstract: A hearing aid (100) having a microphone, a signal processing unit, an electrical-acoustical output transducer, a housing (101) and a wind shield cover (102) wherein the housing has a surface with a microphone inlet (112, 113), and the wind shield cover is adapted to be attached to the housing, to cover the microphone inlet, to provide for sound to be guided in a gap between the wind shield cover and the housing, hereby providing for the transmission of sound from the surroundings and to said microphone inlet, wherein a first dimension of a cross-section of the gap is in the range between 0.15 mm and 0.5 mm, and wherein the minimum distance, along the gap, from the microphone inlet and to the opening of the gap, towards the surroundings, is at least 1 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Chunjian Li, Mads Jakob Herring Jensen, Soeren Christensen, Martin Moerkebjerg
  • Patent number: 9980027
    Abstract: A microphone includes a microphone unit configured to convert a sound wave into an electrical signal. A cylindrical housing accommodates the microphone unit, and includes a a first opening portion that transmits the sound wave to the microphone unit. A sheet member having an air-permeable property and a water-repellent property covers the first opening portion. A frame including a second opening portion having a shape corresponding to a shape of the first opening portion covers the sheet member at a position of the first opening portion. A wind screen having a drainage property covers an exterior of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA AUDIO-TECHNICA
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9811121
    Abstract: A liquid-resistant acoustic assembly for an electronic device includes an acoustic device positioned in a housing, a gasket compressed between the acoustic device and the housing, and a liquid-resistant membrane. The liquid-resistant membrane is disposed such that it is isolated from a non-uniform compressive distribution resulting from compression of the gasket. The liquid-resistant membrane may be uncompressed by compression of the gasket or compressed by a different compressive force than the gasket. For example, the liquid-resistant membrane may not be positioned between the gasket and the acoustic device, may be separated from the gasket, may be mounted to a shelf of the gasket or within a gap defined by the gasket, mounted to a stiffener positioned within the gasket, and mounted using other similar configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Cardinali, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
  • Patent number: 9560430
    Abstract: A waterproof structure includes a housing, an electroacoustic transducer, a packing and an annular member. The electroacoustic transducer has a case formed with tone holes. The packing is interposed between the housing and the electroacoustic transducer and has a thin film part on a part opposed to the tone holes. The annular member is interposed between the thin film part and the case and surrounds the tone holes. A space surrounded by the thin film part, the annular member and the case is formed. The annular member is configured to bias the thin film part of the packing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: JVC KENWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junji Iuchi
  • Patent number: 9467760
    Abstract: A microphone unit which can suppress collection of wind noise and minimize or eliminate digital signal processing has at least a microphone, a first acoustic transmissive material, and a second acoustic transmissive material, the first acoustic transmissive material is a fiber material in which fibers are intertwined with each other, the second acoustic transmissive material is a mesh-like member or a porous member having a plurality of holes, and the microphone is configured to be protected by the first acoustic transmissive material and the second acoustic transmissive material in this order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: TOMOEGAWA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fukushi Kawakami, Takayuki Sano
  • Patent number: 8208673
    Abstract: A miniaturized acoustic boom structure includes a microphone boom housing having a wind screen and a microphone pod configured to hold a microphone. The microphone pod has an outer surface secured to an inner surface of the microphone boom housing, an interior having one or more surfaces configured to form an acoustic seal around at least a portion of the periphery of the microphone, and first and second pod port openings. The first and second pod port openings provide sound wave access to opposing sides of a diaphragm of the microphone, and are shaped and spaced away from the first and second microphone ports of the microphone so that an acoustic path length between the first and second pod port openings is greater than an acoustic path length between the first and second microphone ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc
    Inventors: John Steven Graham, Osman Kemal Isvan
  • Publication number: 20100208930
    Abstract: A wind filter device (215) for use with a microphone (203), the wind filter device including a substrate (219) having an aperture (221) extending through the substrate, attached to a first face of the substrate a first layer (223) having a first perforated region (228) over the aperture and, attached to a second face of the substrate, a second layer (225) having a second perforated region (228) over the aperture. Also described is an arrangement of the wind filter device and a microphone, and a hand portable radio communication unit including the arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Nikolay A. Kopnov, Lorne R. Brown, Aryeh Vered
  • Patent number: 7165647
    Abstract: A mechanical acoustic filter is formed of boards made by using erosion etching. The filter may be used in electric condenser microphones. The filter may be made of one or a plurality of boards each being made by erosion etching according to different requirements. The boards can be printed circuit boards, ply boards, or of other materials. Every etched board has corresponding paths, which after the boards are assembled, form an acoustic filtering path that not only can extend the length of the path to filter out high frequency noise more efficiently, but also can reduce the entire volume of the microphone assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Inventor: Pei-Chau Lee
  • Publication number: 20030209383
    Abstract: A modular multiple microphone array method and mounting system that facilitates surround sound multichannel recording. Array configuration allows accurate and repeatable configurations suited to studio and field use. The lightweight design ensures portability and ease of placement in a variety of field recording situations: musical performance recording, film and video production, broadcast, sound effects recording, soundscape recording, etc. Versatility built into the array design allows compatibility with a variety of sound recording standards, from single channel mono to multichannel stereo and surround sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Charles Whitman Fox, Wade Casey McGregor
  • Patent number: 6622820
    Abstract: A pop shield for a microphone, the microphone having a housing and an electroacoustic transducer arranged in the housing and having a main voice input direction in an axial direction of the housing, is in the form of a cover of a first open-pore foam. The cover and the housing together enclose the electroacoustic transducer. The cover has, at least in the main voice input direction, two foam layers spaced apart from one another and defining a space therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: AKG Acoustics GmbH
    Inventor: Gino Pavlovic
  • Publication number: 20030168278
    Abstract: A microphone housing to be mounted in a vehicle and having an electroacoustic transducer of a microphone arranged in the microphone housing has at least one sound entry opening, wherein the microphone housing when mounted projects past a surrounding surface of a component of the vehicle in which the microphone housing is mounted. The at least one sound entry, in the mounted state of the microphone housing, is positioned closely above the surrounding surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: AKG Acoustics GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Solderits
  • Publication number: 20030057012
    Abstract: A shroud and method capable of attenuating undesirable environmental noise from reaching a microphone. The shroud is a cover including a closed end, an open end substantially opposite of the closed end, and an intermediate portion that extends away from the closed end toward the open end. The intermediate portion includes a back side with a mouth opening that faces a user's mouth. The intermediate portion further includes a front side that is substantially opposite of the back side, with the front side being impermeable to airflow. Preferably, the shroud mounts over a windsock that mounts over the microphone. A flexible fastener may be secured to a portion of the open end so that the shroud more snugly mounts around the microphone. As such, the shroud shields a microphone from harsh environmental conditions such as wind and rain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas G. Owens
  • Patent number: 6457551
    Abstract: A replaceable muffler structure with an adjustable length includes a muffler, a tail pipe having a rear end provided with an insertion section movably mounted in a rear end of the muffler, and a positioning ring mounted on the rear end of the muffler for locking the insertion section of the rear end of the tail pipe. The rear end of the muffler has an air outlet provided with an annular flange for receiving the insertion section of the rear end of the tail pipe. The positioning ring is provided with a fitting portion fitted on the annular flange of the muffler and defines a plurality of screw holes. A plurality of bolts are each screwed into a corresponding one of the screw holes, and each urged on an outer periphery of the insertion section of the rear end of the tail pipe. A plurality of nuts are each screwed on a corresponding one of the bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Liang Fei Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Tien Chang
  • Patent number: 6418229
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a directional microphone, in particular having symmetrical directivity, having an interference tube with a tube axis which is provided with a row of sound inlets arranged at least approximately parallel to tube axis, and which incorporates an electroacoustic transducer in its inside in the vicinity of its rear end face. It is further provided that the row of sound inlets is arranged non-symmetrically to tube axis opposite the outer periphery of interference tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Raimund Staat
  • Patent number: 6401860
    Abstract: A cough silencer device comprising a body having a cavity therein with a mouth portion on a first end and an open second end. An internal muffling baffling system is placed within the cavity of the body and is fluidly connected to the mouth portion. An end cap is attachable to the open second end of the body to retain the internal muffling baffling system within the cavity. A person can insert the mouth portion into their mouth and cough allowing the internal muffling baffling system to silence the cough. The cough silencer device can further include an elongate tube having a first end attached to the mouth portion of the body. A mouthpiece is affixed to a second end of the elongate tube, so that the mouth of the person can engage the mouthpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Ellington & Rush Hunting Products, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Craig Ellington, Stephen D. Ellington, Rhett P. Rush
  • Publication number: 20020017424
    Abstract: A pop shield for a microphone, the microphone having a housing and an electroacoustic transducer arranged in the housing and having a main voice input direction in an axial direction of the housing, is in the form of a cover of a first open-pore foam. The cover and the housing together enclose the electroacoustic transducer. The cover has, at least in the main voice input direction, two foam layers spaced apart from one another and defining a space therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventor: Gino Pavlovic
  • Patent number: 6085864
    Abstract: A cough muffler for muffling the vocal sounds of a human. The muffler is especially designed for deadening or silencing vocal sounds, particularly coughing, of hunters and the like to avoid possible frightening away of the game being hunted. The cough muffler generally comprises four components, namely: a mouthpiece, a cup-shaped casing which defines a cavity, a first absorbent material, and a second absorbent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventors: Derrick Copeland, Glen Copeland, Lucian Copeland
  • Patent number: 5701354
    Abstract: The telephone mouthpiece of the present invention comprises a microphone unit 3, a unit housing section 1 and an acoustic duct section 2 tightly fitted to the unit housing section 1. The unit housing section 1 comprises a flat plate 11 and a cylindrical housing 12 housing the microphone unit 3 provided on the flat plate 11. The acoustic duct section 2 comprises: an acoustic duct box 21 in the form of a box in close contact with the corresponding flat plate 11; and a cylindrical box 22 in close contact with the cylindrical box 12 at an end of the acoustic duct box 21; partitions 23 and 24 for partitioning inside of the acoustic duct box 21 into a plurality of air chambers; and slits 29 and 30 provided on the partitions 23 and 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyoshi Komoda, Yukio Murata
  • Patent number: 5413094
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing the noise of coughs and sneezes by placement over the nose and mouth of the user. The apparatus has a core with a recessed portion to fit over the mouth and nose of the user and the core is made of a noise reducing material. A cover surrounds the core and has a section of absorbent material positioned over the recessed portion of the core. The noise reducing material of the core is a foamed resin. Vent holes are provided on the cover to allow the air forced into the core to exit the core and for the removal of moisture. A strap is attached to the cover to allow the user to wear the apparatus about the user's person until upon need, the apparatus is placed over the mouth and nose to reduce the noise of a cough or sneeze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Inventor: Edward McBrearty
  • Patent number: 5349140
    Abstract: A windscreen for a remote microphone for mobile radios is disclosed. The sound absorbent material is held in place on the exterior surface of the microphone housing by means which permit easy detachment from the housing, thereby permitting replacement as the sound absorbent material deteriorates with age and exposure to the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Inventor: Lawrence R. Valenzin
  • Patent number: 5285024
    Abstract: A microphone, preferably of the type to be held in the hand or to be attached to a stand, includes a handle part, an intermediate part and a head part. At least the handle part is formed of two halves, each of which is symmetrical about a plane extending through the longitudinal axis of the handle part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Inventor: Hans R. Rosander
  • Patent number: 4967874
    Abstract: A microphone baffle apparatus having a baffle member having first and second sides with the first side shaped to form a sound baffling surface to absorb sound energy. The baffle member has an opening therethrough in the center portion thereof and has an elastic material attached around the opening so that a microphone can be slipped through the opening and the baffle member held to the microphone by the elastic material around the opening. The baffle member may be made of a plurality of sectors connected with ductile hinges to allow the baffle member to be bent into a plurality of shapes. In addition, each baffle sector may be made of a plurality of laminated layers of ductile material and bent to a variety of desired shapes. One layer may be a thin layer of lead and one side of the baffle may have a waffle shaped surface thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Scalli
  • Patent number: 4966252
    Abstract: The microphone windscreen has a smooth level outer surface with decreased wind resistance and enhanced acoustic properties. The screen includes a resilient, hollow tubular body member of metal or plastic or the like, preferably polyethylene plastic, having a central space to hold a microphone and open front and rear ends. The sidewall of the member has a plurality of spaced openings to form a mesh configuration. A similarly constructed pair of hemispherical hollow end caps are welded or molded directly to the body by a weld or mold line to form the windscreen into a strong unitary porous cage structure, having decreased weight in comparison to conventional windscreens, and with reduced sound obstruction. The weld line is part of the smooth level outer surface of the windscreen. The inner surface of the windscreen is preferably covered by a wind noise attenuation medium such as a fabric formed of an outer layer of napped nylon, an intermediate layer of polymeric plastic foam and an inner layer of woven nylon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Inventor: Leslie C. Drever
  • Patent number: 4932495
    Abstract: A vocal sound muffling device having an elongated tubular body providing an elongated tubular cavity, a mouthpiece on one end of the body providing an inlet into the cavity for vocal sound waves and atomized fluids, a closure on the other end of the body having a fluid outlet therein for regulating fluid flow from the cavity, and cellular material in the cavity intermediate the inlet and outlet for attenuating the vocal sound waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Inventor: Dewey R. Chapman
  • Patent number: 4920564
    Abstract: A microphone unit for a telephone handset comprises a microphone mount, a microphone mounted in the microphone mount, a mouthpiece detachably fixed to the handset, and a moisture barrier assembly for preventing ingress of moisture into the microphone. The moisture barrier assembly is constituted by a moisture barrier, an annular seal and a support plate. The support plate has a perforated portion covered by, but spaced from, the moisture barrier. The moisture barrier assembly is positioned between the mouthpiece and the microphone mount. Venting means vents a space between the moisture barrier and the microphone. The moisture barrier is constituted by a moisture impermeable film whose peripheral edge portion is fixed to the annular seal. The seal is fixed to the support plate and seals against the front face of the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: British Telecommunications public company limited
    Inventor: Martin D. Allkins
  • Patent number: 4887693
    Abstract: A construction for housing a microphone is disclosed. The construction is configured to improve the wind and noise protection for a small diameter microphone by providing a large diameter opening tapering to a smaller microphone aperture. The construction comprises a housing for a microphone transducer, and an adapter mateable with the transducer and housing. The adapter includes a plate having a greater diameter than the microphone aperture, and tapering to the smaller microphone diameter opening. In the preferred embodiments of the construction, a windscreen is included covering the tapered portion of the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Shure Brothers, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald W. Plice
  • Patent number: 4834212
    Abstract: A human sound muffler and indicator for placement around the mouth of a user to absorb most of the sound emanating from the user's mouth including a microphone and associated electrical circuit for receiving unabsorbed sound and providing an indication of the intensity of the unabsorbed sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Inventors: Moira J. Figone, Frank M. Figone
  • Patent number: 4792013
    Abstract: A vocal muffler for muffling the vocalization of a human, especially a crying baby. The muffler comprises a globe-like member having a chamber provided with a port positionable over the baby's mouth and via which the baby's crying enters the chamber to exit through muffled port means in bypassing relation to an inhalation port. A valve in the chamber opens the inhalation port during inhalation by the baby and closes the port in response to exhalation. The bypassing port means includes sound-attenuating means for muffling the baby's cries. The valve is contained loosely in a cage adjacent to the inhalation port so that when the muffler is not used as a muffler, the ball will rattle in the cage and the muffler serves as a toy rattle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Inventor: Carter R. Boynton
  • Patent number: 4789044
    Abstract: A narrow directional microphone comprising a microphone unit having forward and rearward sound terminals, and an interference pipe to cooperate with said microphone unit and to effect a narrow directional orientation. The microphone unit is positioned at its outer periphery to take a position at a distance to an inner periphery of the interference pipe in a rear end of the interference pipe. The interference pipe having a plurality of sound wave inlets at a distance in a circumferential direction at a portion taking position on said rearward sound terminal of said interference pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventor: Hiroshi Akino
  • Patent number: 4658932
    Abstract: A microphone system comprising a pair of microphone capsules, a pair of planar barriers positioned at an angle to each other, with each microphone capsule secured to the center portion of a barrier positioned between the microphone capsules. A baffle is positioned between the microphones with the sidewalls of the baffle extending angularly toward the barriers forming corners with each of the microphone capsules located at the corner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Inventor: Michael S. J. C. Billingsley
  • Patent number: 4625827
    Abstract: A unidirectional microphone windscreen which includes portions formed of compressed foam and uncompressed foam located on opposite sides of the capsule to enhance directivity of the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Crown International, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Bartlett
  • Patent number: 4625828
    Abstract: A flush-dish microphone system for measuring aircraft flyover noise is disclosed. The system includes an acoustically hard base supporting a microphone. The base is configured along its periphery to define a plurality of outwardly extending tapered members. Each of the tapered members includes a pair of converging edges that are each at least in part curved. The curved edges produce a favorable progressive match of acoustic impedance at the ground/tapered member boundary that reduces edge diffraction contamination of the noise signal being measured by the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Belur N. Shivashankara, Wendell R. Miller, Gene W. Stubbs
  • Patent number: 4600077
    Abstract: A microphone wind shroud having a integral mounting means for being slidably mounted to an omnidirectional or unidirectional microphone, such as those integrally mounted on video cameras. A semi-rigid grid-like external shell shrouds the microphone head. The shell is lined with a multilayer laminate fabric material. The shell and laminate allow desired audio frequencies to pass and reach the microphone head while attenuating undesired wind noises caused by microphone movement or environmental wind conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Inventor: Leslie C. Drever
  • Patent number: 4570746
    Abstract: An effective wind/breath screen for a microphone is described. The wind/breath screen includes a rigid perforated structure for enclosing the microphone. The microphone being physically isolated from the rigid perforated structure by a surrounding pad of air therebetween. A porous layer is utilized to enclose the rigid perforated structure thereby creating a pad of dead air between the microphone and the porous layer, whereby the speech signal reaches the microphone without substantial attenuation, and the wind/breath noise is suppressed. The present wind screen for a microphone is optimized for, and is particularly effective for voice data entry applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Subrata K. Das, Norman R. Dixon, Robert F. Gluck
  • Patent number: 4522283
    Abstract: A sound absorbent pad, which comprises an interconnected cellular foam or a fibrous material, has a central hole which houses a microphone whose sound-sensing diaphragm is held flush with the center of the outer surface of the pad. The pad is a shallow dome or other shape which converges from a large base to a vertex and incorporates a plastic or metal plate, which being frusto-conical or another suitable shape. The pad with its plate acts to control noise which would otherwise be reflected from noise reflecting surface onto the microphone, thereby facilitating measurement of freefield noise levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1985
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Limited
    Inventor: Michael J. T. Smith
  • Patent number: 4483414
    Abstract: A sound dampening device for telephones comprising a sleeve which fits over a telephone mouthpiece and contains a mat of spaced-apart thin rod-like members extending radially inward in a direction transverse to the voice sound waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Inventor: John S. Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4396089
    Abstract: The invention is directed to providing a sound muffling cup into which an enraged person can shout to release tension while avoiding disturbing other persons. The cup comprises an elongated body portion having a substantially closed end wall at one end, and brim shaped to provide a mouthpiece at the other end. The body portion is of a size such that the fingers can be at least partially wrapped around the body portion for holding of the cup, and the mouthpiece is of a size and contour such that it can be place over the mouth with substantially the entire brim contacting the skin along a generally elliptical line spaced from the lips and on the mouth side of the nose and chin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1983
    Inventor: Monya Scully
  • Patent number: 4363937
    Abstract: A sound inlet for microphones to inhibit noises caused by sonic pressure changes occurring in shocklike pulses is disclosed which includes, in the area in front of the diaphragm walls which extend the microphone housing and have sound entry channels with openings at its outer surfaces that are closer to the diaphragm plane than those located at its inner surface. A cavity enclosed by the extending walls is closed off at the front of the housing by a cap-shaped or a plug-shaped closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1982
    Assignee: AKG Akustische u.Kino-Gerate Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Bernhard Bruna
  • Patent number: 4129754
    Abstract: A hand-held reporting device for use in environments wherein a minimum of sound in connection with use of the device is a priority and in environments having a high level of noise intensity. The device includes a barrel with a bell-shaped top, the latter preferably being set at an angle with respect to the barrel. A microphone is positioned at the end of the barrel remote from the bell-shaped top. The barrel portion and a portion of the bell-shaped top are lined with foam urethane to muffle noise and absorb moisture. The reporting device includes means for permitting pressurized air within the device to escape to the outside via an air communication channel from inside the device through a portion of the face piece of the device to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1978
    Inventor: Thomas A. Gore
  • Patent number: 4057124
    Abstract: A sound suppressor for a microphone on a low-power transmitter-receiver, sometimes called a citizens band radio. The sound suppressor is made up of a disc of paper-towel-like material and a disc of aluminum foil of like size sandwiched between two annular sheets of aluminum foil with central apertures so that the paper-towel-like disc is exposed from one side and aluminum foil from the other side. The suppressor is supported in front of a microphone so that the sound waves from a person's voice strike the disc. The several discs are held together around the outer periphery of the round discs by pressure-sensitive adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1977
    Inventor: Harold C. Braden