Microphone Mounting Patents (Class 379/433.03)
  • Patent number: 11410673
    Abstract: Audio-derived information is provided to a vehicle control system of a vehicle by attaching a microphone externally to a vehicle to generate an analog signal in response to sound waves external to the vehicle. An enclosure containing sound-attenuating material mechanically filters low frequency sounds from reaching the microphone transducer. An analog-to-digital converter converts the analog signal to a digital signal. A vehicle data bus transfers the digital signal to the vehicle control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Inventors: Brian Moore, Viet Hoang, Ken Brizel, Siamak Akhlaghi Esfahany, Warren Sheydwasser, Ajay Sandhu
  • Patent number: 11318051
    Abstract: Disclosed are hearing protection devices and housings for noise sensors for the same. Hearing protection devices can include an ear cup including an external casing partially defining an inner space, a noise sensor including a microphone electrically coupled to a printed circuit board, and a housing disposed in an aperture defined in the external casing. The housing can define an axial bore defining a noise sensor receiving portion and an acoustic communication portion. The inner space of the ear cup can be substantially airtight when the housing is sealably disposed at or proximate the aperture, the microphone is engaged within the noise sensor receiving portion of the housing, and the ear cup is worn securely about the wearer's ear. The noise sensor can be calibrated by removing a removable securing collar and slidably disposing a calibration tool into the axial bore without further disassembling the hearing protection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Peter Kara, Erik Pertot, Matthew Chen
  • Patent number: 10779077
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a printed wiring board (PWB) that defines an aperture. A microphone is mounted on the PWB such that the aperture provides an acoustic path to the microphone. An acoustic interface member defines a cavity that is acoustically coupled to the microphone via the aperture. A first gasket between the printed wiring board and the acoustic interface member forms an acoustic seal. A housing is included, and a second gasket is disposed between the acoustic interface member and the housing to form an acoustic seal. An acoustic chamber is defined by a sealed volume that extends from a first (bottom/inner) surface of the housing down to a junction between the microphone and the PWB. The housing defines apertures which provide an acoustic path between a region external to the housing and the acoustic chamber. The acoustic chamber and the apertures in the housing form a Helmholtz resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Austin Mackey, Brandon Hicks, Donna Marie Sullivan, Christopher Ratcliffe
  • Patent number: 10638238
    Abstract: A listening assistive device comprising with a sound-condensing collector structure having an open air end to receive non-cacophonic sound energy from a user-selected direction, a tapered guide through which the sound energy is condensed to a distal end at which a microphone converts the condensed sound energy to an electronic signal. A first interface of sound energy attenuating material (absorption, conversion, and/or reflection) is disposed around one or more outer surfaces of the collector structure, optionally around a handle, and a second interface sound energy attenuating material (absorption, conversion, and/or reflection) is disposed between the microphone and the collector structure, so as to attenuate cacophonic sounds from being received by the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Inventor: John A Kienzle
  • Patent number: 10524045
    Abstract: A personal audio system enabling a user to distinguish approximate locations of sound sources comprises at least one sound receiver. The sound receiver comprises a sound collecting structure for collecting sound. The sound collecting structure comprises a plurality of sound passages opening toward different directions and with different sizes to collect sound waves from the environment. The different sizes of the openings render a decline or an increase in specific frequency ranges of sound as a result of different resonances via the different openings. The user may therefore distinguish the direction of a sound source based on the slightly different pitches (frequencies) of the sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignees: Alwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-Hsueh Richard
  • Patent number: 10516927
    Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing microphone performance of a voice-controlled smart home device is disclosed. The apparatus generally comprises a lower ring having a first diameter an upper ring having a second diameter and a reflective surface. The reflective surface is disposed along the perimeter of the apparatus so as to directionally alter incoming sound waves and focus them toward an array of microphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Wave Sciences, LLC
    Inventors: James Keith McElveen, Noah I. Schiffman
  • Patent number: 10216469
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling an electronic device. The method may include: acquiring a user's location with respect to the electronic device; and determining a display direction of a screen displayed on the electronic device based on the acquired user's location and displaying a first screen in the determined display direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ran Kang, Nam-Hoi Kim, Seong-Woong Park, Do-Hyung Lee
  • Patent number: 9992578
    Abstract: In a unidirectional dynamic microphone unit, a cylindrical tube is provided to cover the microphone unit, a cylindrical wall of a first cylindrical portion that is included in the cylindrical tube and extends to at least the rearward is provided with a rear sound wave introducing portion weighted such that an acoustic resistance value is gradually made smaller toward the rearward side from positions of sound holes for taking in a sound wave transmitting around from the rearward side, preferably formed of a trumpet-shaped opening, and it is possible to enhance the sensibility to sound pressures without degradation of the frequency response and the directionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA AUDIO-TECHNICA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ikeda, Hiroshi Akino
  • Patent number: 9686389
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises i) an audio transducer; ii) an audio driver plate having an ear-facing side and a non-ear-facing side; iii) a rigid housing substantially circumferentially surrounding the audio driver plate without substantially covering the ear-facing side and non-ear-facing side of the audio driver plate; iv) a front plate mounted on the ear-facing side of the audio driver plate and spaced apart from the audio driver plate; and v) a fixing gasket affixed to the non-ear-facing side of the audio driver plate. In addition, the front plate is adapted to be compressed against an ear-facing portion of an audio transducer holding device and the fixing gasket adapted to be compressed against a non-ear-facing portion of the audio transducer holding device, whereby the audio transducer is adapted to be held within the audio transducer holding device by compressive force on both the fixing gasket and the front plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Zou, James Zi Yan He, Jinzhu Xue, Wu Xugang
  • Patent number: 9628595
    Abstract: A second microphone device of a mobile terminal, and more particularly, a second microphone device of a mobile terminal for preventing various limitations caused by mounting of a second microphone, is provided. The second microphone device includes an ear jack connector having an insertion space, a microphone hole connected at one end to the insertion space, and a second microphone connected at the other end of the microphone hole, thereby improving ambient noise removal performance of the mobile terminal without adversely affecting its appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Jae Ko, Min Seok Kim, Jin Hong Park
  • Patent number: 9521475
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing having a top wall, and a microphone module mounted in the housing. The microphone module includes a mounting seat having two oppositely spaced-apart upright suspension surfaces extending transversely from the top wall. A buffer member includes a main body disposed between and spaced apart from the suspension surfaces, and two suspension bumps protruding from the main body toward and abutting respectively and tightly against the suspension surfaces. The main body has an inner portion defining an accommodating space. A microphone body is disposed in the accommodating space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Hsuan Lin, Kai-Hsiang Chang
  • Patent number: 9407991
    Abstract: In accordance with methods and systems of the present disclosure, a mobile device may include an enclosure adapted such that the enclosure is readily transported by a user of the mobile device, a speaker associated with the enclosure for generating sound, and a controller within the enclosure, communicatively coupled to the speaker. The controller may be configured to receive a signal from the speaker, the signal induced at least in part by sound incident on the speaker other than sound generated by the speaker and process the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Melanson, Eric Swanson
  • Patent number: 9300781
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a portable electronic device and a control method thereof. The portable electronic device includes a main body, a proximity sensor, a first speaker, a first microphone, an orientation sensor, and a processor. The main body includes first and the second sides opposing to each other. The proximity sensor, the first speaker, and the first microphone are disposed in the first side region. The orientation sensor is configured to determine an orientation of the main body. When the orientation represents that the second side is higher than the first side, the processor disables the proximity sensor and the first speaker, and it enables the first microphone to detect the received sound volume as the basis of a proximity sensing function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: HTC Corpoation
    Inventors: Chi-Yi Liao, Hsin-Hao Lee
  • Patent number: 9253299
    Abstract: Disclosed, in general, are devices that provide a substantially sound-tight chamber over a sound source while absorbing fields of sounds from the sound source. In general, the devices feature: an anechoic chamber that is configured to receive a sound source in a substantially sound-tight manner; and an anechoic channel that is in fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere. The anechoic chamber is adapted to capture air containing sound energy generated by the sound source, and distribute the air about an internal surface area on the inside of the chamber, wherein the internal surface area is sufficiently large to dampen or otherwise absorb the sound energy. Specifically, the secondary anechoic chamber collects air from in-between the first and second anechoic chambers around the perimeter of the mouth, in the low decibel environment away from the voice blast high decibel areas in front of the mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Inventor: Scott A Moser
  • Patent number: 9198305
    Abstract: A protective case for a portable electronic media device has been described. The case includes a rotatable member that transitions from a stowed position to an open position. In the open position the rotatable member is positioned in front of a speaker of the portable electronic media device such that it redirects sound waves emitted from the speaker towards the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Inventor: Anthony N. Smith
  • Patent number: 9060216
    Abstract: A voice acquisition system for a vehicle includes a microphone having a first microphone element and a second microphone element. The system includes circuitry for processing signals output by the first and second microphone elements. The first microphone element is disposed at a first acoustic port and the second microphone element is disposed at a second acoustic port. The first acoustic port is at least partially isolated from the second acoustic port. When the microphone is normally mounted in an interior cabin of a vehicle, vocal signals emanating from an occupant of the vehicle pressurize the first microphone element at the first acoustic port ahead of pressurization by the vocal signals of the second microphone element at the second acoustic port. The voice acquisition system may include at least one of (i) discrimination of vocal signals from non-vocal signals, (ii) noise cancellation and (iii) filtering of noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark L. Larson, Andrew D. Weller, Eric P. Bigoness, Timothy R. Lambrix, Carol L. DeBoer, Joseph P. McCaw
  • Patent number: 8923929
    Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for processing a call on a mobile endpoint device in any orientation are disclosed. For example, the method receives an incoming call, detects a call answering signal, detects an audio signal within a time period after the call answering signal, determines an orientation of the mobile endpoint device and activates a microphone from a first speaker and microphone pair and a speaker from a second speaker and microphone pair based upon the orientation of the mobile endpoint device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Damian Kumor
  • Patent number: 8913738
    Abstract: Apparatus includes a housing, a substrate provided within the housing and including a first surface oppositely disposed to a second surface, an earpiece speaker module provided within the housing and including an air displacement component that is configured to move upon application of an electrical signal, the air displacement component having a front surface and a back surface, an acoustic cavity defined within the housing, and a front volume adjacent the front surface of the air moving component. The housing includes an earpiece aperture which is coupled to the earpiece speaker module by an acoustic channel, wherein the first surface of the substrate faces generally towards the earpiece aperture. The second surface of the substrate faces the back surface of the air displacement component. A rear volume is provided between the second surface of the substrate and the earpiece speaker module. The acoustic cavity is coupled via a coupling channel to the rear volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Yao Qingshan, Preben Kvist
  • Patent number: 8817971
    Abstract: In a video teleconference device, a microphone and a speaker are arranged in a housing in such a manner that a voice input direction of the microphone and a voice output direction of the speaker are roughly orthogonal to each other. With that, the sound coming out of the speaker is not easily received as input by the microphone. Thus, with such a simple configuration, it becomes possible to effectively curb the echo effect and the howling effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Haruo Shida, Nobutake Hayashi, Satoshi Odanaka
  • Patent number: 8804947
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system which supports a dual-purpose aperture for an electronic device. This system includes a first component configured to perform an acoustic function through the aperture and a second component configured to perform a non-acoustic function through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael N. Rosenblatt, Michael M. Lee, Justin L. Gregg
  • Patent number: 8731225
    Abstract: A wireless communication headset having both wired and wireless modes is provided. The wireless headset can include a headset connector assembly that can be coupled to a cable connector of a cable, which can in turn be connected to a telephone. When the wireless headset is coupled to the telephone, it can advantageously be operable to exchange audio information with the telephone through the cable, receive electrical power from the telephone through the cable, or both. In addition, the cable connector can advantageously be coupled to the wireless headset without obstructing airflow to a microphone that is located in the headset connector assembly, through use of apparatus of the invention located on the cable connector, such as an acoustic tunnel, a microphone-speaker pair, or a microphone that is coupled to control circuitry operable to disable the microphone of the headset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John Tang, Brett Alten
  • Patent number: 8731186
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with an electronic device having a microphone. The apparatus comprises a structure configured to detachably couple to the device, and a generator supported by the structure. The generator is configured to generate a force that acts on the microphone and renders the microphone unresponsive to voice sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Vysk Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Waleed Sami Haddad
  • Patent number: 8699739
    Abstract: A boundary microphone includes: a base made of metal; a cover that is made of metal and has a plurality of holes through which a sound wave is guided; a microphone unit that converts sound into an electric signal; and a microphone unit holder slidably provided on the base and holds the microphone unit. The microphone unit holder has a knob. The base has a hole through which the knob of the microphone unit holder penetrates the base. The knob of the microphone unit holder and the hole of the base are so provided that the microphone unit holder can be moved with the microphone unit by a movement of the knob within a range defined by the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventor: Noriko Matsui
  • Patent number: 8649831
    Abstract: A mobile phone apparatus with a hiddenly suspended microphone is provided. The apparatus comprises a mobile phone body, on which a rotation component is deposed, wherein: a microphone pickup hole is provided on said mobile phone body, and within the mobile phone body, there is a microphone device in a position corresponding to the microphone pickup hole; said microphone pickup hole is deposed on the mobile phone body's inner wall at a place where the body engaged with the rotation component, and said microphone pickup hole is shielded by the rotation component. Since the microphone device is mounted on the mobile phone body's inner wall in a suspension manner and the microphone pickup hole is shielded by the rotation component, the apparatus is convenient for the user to hold during calling, while the integrality of the appearance and the good speech quality are ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: TCL Tian Yi Mobile Communications (Shenzhen) Company Limited
    Inventors: Wei Chen, Hong Xi Xue
  • Patent number: 8588434
    Abstract: Various aspects of this disclosure are directed to determining an orientation of a mobile computing device. The mobile computing device may include a first microphone-speaker system and a second microphone-speaker system that can each provide microphone and speaker capabilities. The first microphone-speaker system may be enabled to operate as a speaker device. The enabling of the first microphone-speaker system may include allowing the first microphone-speaker system to provide audio output and disallowing the mobile computing device to process audio input received from the first microphone-speaker system. The second microphone-speaker system may be enabled to operate as a microphone. Enabling the second microphone-speaker system may include allowing the mobile computing device to process audio input received from the second microphone-speaker system and disallowing the second microphone-speaker system to provide audio output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Lawrence Morrill
  • Patent number: 8520880
    Abstract: A boundary microphone is provided to effectively reduce noises caused by external electromagnetic waves by providing electrostatic shielding, including on the portion of lead wires from a microphone unit to a circuit board. The boundary microphone has a base plate, a cover, a circuit board, and a microphone unit mounted in the opening with a metallic holder. A shield pattern for electrostatically shielding inside of the recess with the base plate is formed on the circuit board. The holder is configured to include a cylindrical section into which a rear end side of the microphone unit is fitted, and a D-cut section in which a part of a circumferential surface and a base surface of a cylinder with a base integral with the cylindrical section are cut away in parallel to a board surface of the circuit board, and the lead wire is routed within the D-cut section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventor: Hiroshi Akino
  • Patent number: 8488777
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a microphone coupler system for a microphone mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) for a communication device. The system comprises a boot assembly to enclose the microphone and to direct acoustic signals to the microphone within the communication device, the boot assembly having a coupling section shaped to hold the microphone with the aperture facing upward from the PCB and an elongated section extending from the coupling section. In the system, an acoustic channel for the microphone is formed in part by the boot assembly when the boot assembly is mounted over the microphone. The system may further comprise a platform having an aperture, the platform for mounting on the PCB over the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Larry Hawker, George Mankaruse, James Infanti
  • Patent number: 8489026
    Abstract: This includes systems and methods for noise cancellation and power management in a wireless headset. The wireless headset can perform noise cancellation by using two or more omni-directional microphones to generate a noise canceling “cone.” Audio signals received outside of the cone can be filtered out. An accelerometer can be used to determine the location of the wireless headset and the system can then properly position the cone to face the user's voice and filter out other audio signals. Additionally, by monitoring the ambient noise, the system can save power by turning off the noise cancellation system when the amount of ambient noise is below a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey J. Terlizzi
  • Patent number: 8467524
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer-readable media for presenting a mute indicator to a caller when the caller is attempting to provide input to a call that has been muted. In particular, a determination is made that a mute function is engaged during a call. An area surrounding a calling system, such as a phone, is then monitored by a monitoring system to determine whether a caller is attempting to provide input to the call. A determination is then made that a caller is attempting to provide input to the call. The determination may be based on a caller providing a threshold volume of voice input within a threshold area of proximity near the calling system. A mute indicator is then presented to the caller to notify the caller that the call has a mute function engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Woojae Lee, Trevor Daniel Shipley
  • Patent number: 8463334
    Abstract: A wideband voice electro-acoustic apparatus for a wireless telephone, including a mouthpiece for a wireless telephone. The mouthpiece has a wideband voice frequency response/passband in the frequency range of 200 Hz to 7000 Hz. The apparatus also includes an earpiece for a wireless telephone. The earpiece has a wideband voice passband in the frequency range of 200 Hz to 7000 Hz. The wideband voice electro-acoustic apparatus improves the voice quality of wireless voice band communication over that available using a conventional wireless telephone having an electro-acoustic passband smaller than 200 Hz to 7000 Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Louis Dominic Oliveira
  • Patent number: 8355515
    Abstract: An audio headset may comprise a case, near field microphone and far field microphone. A speaker, processor, memory, battery, charging interface and cradle detection circuit may be mounted to the case. Processor-executable instructions embodied in the memory, may be configured to implement a battery charging method. The headset may be shut off in response to placement of the headset in a charging cradle. The far-field microphone is turned on but not the near-field microphone. The battery may then be charged from the cradle. A headset having near-field and far-field microphones may be used to distinguish between user speech and competing sounds by generating signals from the sounds detected by each microphone and comparing the strengths of the signals. The signals may be processed as user speech if they are of comparable strength. Otherwise, the near-field signal may be processed as user speech and the far-field signal as competing sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Xiadong Mao, Ruxin Chen, Seth C. H. Luisi
  • Patent number: 8306252
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for media devices including a housing, a frame disposed adjacent to the housing, and a microphone assembly that is integrated with the frame for receiving sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Tang Yew Tan, Derek Boyd Barrentine
  • Patent number: 8285208
    Abstract: This includes systems and methods for noise cancellation and power management in a wireless headset. The wireless headset can perform noise cancellation by using two or more omni-directional microphones to generate a noise canceling “cone.” Audio signals received outside of the cone can be filtered out. An accelerometer can be used to determine the location of the wireless headset and the system can then properly position the cone to face the user's voice and filter out other audio signals. Additionally, by monitoring the ambient noise, the system can save power by turning off the noise cancellation system when the amount of ambient noise is below a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey J. Terlizzi
  • Patent number: 8270597
    Abstract: A microphone assembly includes a microphone array carrier having a top surface and a plurality of side faces adjacent to the top surface. The top surface and the plurality of side faces each have a substantially planar portion. The substantially planar portion of each of the side faces extends substantially perpendicular to the substantially planar portion of the top surface. Each side face has a side opening extending through the side face and the top surface has a top opening extending through the top surface. The microphone assembly also includes a plurality of microphones corresponding to the side faces. Each microphone is mounted with a microphone boot in a side opening and is isolated from the microphone array carrier by the microphone boot. The microphone assembly also includes a housing extending around the microphone array carrier and sound isolating material disposed between the microphone array carrier and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: ShoreTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Downing, Robert Jetter
  • Patent number: 8243961
    Abstract: Various aspects of this disclosure are directed to determining an orientation of a mobile computing device. The mobile computing device may include a first microphone-speaker system and a second microphone-speaker system that can each provide microphone and speaker capabilities. The first microphone-speaker system may be enabled to operate as a speaker device. The enabling of the first microphone-speaker system may include allowing the first microphone-speaker system to provide audio output and disallowing the mobile computing device to process audio input received from the first microphone-speaker system. The second microphone-speaker system may be enabled to operate as a microphone. Enabling the second microphone-speaker system may include allowing the mobile computing device to process audio input received from the second microphone-speaker system and disallowing the second microphone-speaker system to provide audio output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Lawrence Morrill
  • Patent number: 8213660
    Abstract: A shielded microphone, and method for shielding a microphone, are provided for use in a communications device having a circuit board and a microphone, especially where the device also has an antenna in close proximity to the microphone. The microphone is provided in an electromagnetic shield (e.g. formed as a shielding can) and a resilient separator (e.g. o-ring or disk) is provided over the shield. The device housing is stacked over the separator and shield, while the latter are stacked over the circuit board so that the separator and shield, with microphone there under, are sandwiched between the housing and the circuit board. By this sandwiching the separator is loaded onto the shield to drive the shield directly against the circuit board to make an electrical ground connection therewith, the microphone also being electrically connected to the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Robert W. Phillips
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8130995
    Abstract: An earpiece device includes a housing having a sound output portion, a speaker and a microphone. The speaker disposed in the housing includes a diaphragm and a sound transmitting hole. The diaphragm is located between the sound output portion and the sound transmitting hole. The microphone is disposed in the housing and covers the sound transmitting hole. A sound wave generated within an ear canal would be received by the speaker and delivered through the sound transmitting hole to the microphone for pickup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Merry Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong-Ching Her, Hung-Yue Chang, Ton-Kun Ho
  • Patent number: 8036723
    Abstract: Disclosed is a keypad and microphone arrangement for a communication device. The arrangement comprises: a key having a cap portion and a stem portion; a base layer attached to the stem portion; a key circuit to recognize activation of the key; a support member to support the key and base layer; a microphone located beneath the support member; a port in the base layer extending from an upper surface of the base, through an interior of the base layer, to a lower surface of the base layer. The support member has an opening extending from its top surface, through its interior, to its bottom surface. There is also an air channel connecting the microphone to ambient air above the cap portion, the air channel comprising the port and the opening. The stem portion and the cap portion are located about the port such that the cap portion extends fully over the port. The arrangement may be used in any communication device having voice reception capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: Scott MacIntosh, Teodor Dabov, Larry Hawker, Felipe Simoes
  • Patent number: 8005207
    Abstract: The invention provides a microphone coupler system for a communication device. The coupler system comprises: a microphone; a printed circuit board (PCB) to connect to the microphone; a platform having an aperture; a boot assembly to enclose the microphone and to direct acoustic signals to the microphone; and an acoustic channel formed in part by the boot assembly and a bottom surface of the platform when the boot assembly is mounted over the microphone and the platform is mounted over the boot assembly. The boot assembly has a coupling section shaped to hold the microphone with the aperture facing upward from the PCB and a lateral rib extending around its exterior to mate with an interior surface of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Larry Hawker, George Mankaruse, James Infanti
  • Patent number: 7920698
    Abstract: A microphone system that may be used in a mobile telephone is disclosed. In one embodiment, a microphone is housed within a first housing portion and is extended therefrom when a second portion of the housing is pivoted to an open position relative to the first housing portion. The microphone is retracted back into the first housing portion when the second housing portion is slidably affixed to the first housing portion and the microphone is extended from the first housing portion when the second housing portion is moved relative to an open position relative to the first housing portion and the microphone is retracted into the first housing portion when the second housing portion is moved into a closed position relative to the first housing portion. In another embodiment, a manually actuated scroll gear is used to extend and retract the microphone. In yet another embodiment, a motor is used to extend and retract the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Mikan, Justin McNamara, Fulvio Cenciarelli, Anastasios Kefalas, Adrianne Luu
  • Patent number: 7912511
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a microphone, a microphone holder holding the microphone therein, and a case encasing the microphone holder therein. The microphone holder has a first portion at which the microphone holder makes contact with a first inner surface of the case, and a second portion at which the microphone holder makes contact with one of a part of the electronic device and a second inner surface of the case facing the first inner surface, the microphone holder being sandwiched between the first inner surface and the part. At least one of the first and second portions of the microphone holder is disposed more outwardly than an outer edge of the microphone in a plane which is in parallel with the first inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Nozomi Toki, Yasuhiro Sasaki, Yasuharu Oonishi
  • Patent number: 7877125
    Abstract: A portable terminal device can extrapolate the position of a sound source in the thicknesswise direction regardless of the use style. A slide type portable terminal has an upper casing, a lower casing, and a coupling part that couples the casings in such a way that their positional relation is changeable. The upper casing has a plurality of first microphones, and the lower casing has a second microphone. In a handhold style, one of the first microphones and the second microphone are lined in the thicknesswise direction of the cellular phone. As the upper casing is slid, the other one of the first microphones and the second microphone are lined in the thicknesswise direction of the cellular phone. The position of a sound source in the thicknesswise direction can be extrapolated from output signals of a formed microphone array in the thicknesswise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Takizawa, Masahito Togami
  • Publication number: 20110007891
    Abstract: A microphone assembly includes a microphone array carrier having a top surface and a plurality of side faces adjacent to the top surface. The top surface and the plurality of side faces each have a substantially planar portion. The substantially planar portion of each of the side faces extends substantially perpendicular to the substantially planar portion of the top surface. Each side face has a side opening extending through the side face and the top surface has a top opening extending through the top surface. The microphone assembly also includes a plurality of microphones corresponding to the side faces. Each microphone is mounted with a microphone boot in a side opening and is isolated from the microphone array carrier by the microphone boot. The microphone assembly also includes a housing extending around the microphone array carrier and sound isolating material disposed between the microphone array carrier and the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: ShoreTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Downing, Robert Jetter
  • Patent number: 7860536
    Abstract: A method of using a portable communications device includes displaying a first image of a rotary dial in a display of the portable communications device in response to a first contact by a user with a click wheel. The first image of the rotary dial includes a plurality of icons arranged proximate to a periphery of the rotary dial. The plurality of icons include numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Jobs, Scott Forstall, Greg Christie, Bas Ording, Imran Chaudhri, Stephen O. Lemay, Marcel Van Os, Freddy Allen Anzures, Mike Matas
  • Patent number: 7848511
    Abstract: The subject matter provides a method that enable detecting if a party engaged into a tele-conference call is attempting to engage into conversation while a microphone is in a mute mode. The method provides receiving of a signal. The signal is then analyzed to determining if a party is attempting to engage into conversation. If it is determined that the party is attempting to engage in the conversation then an alarm is transmitted indicating the mode of operation of the microphone. The transmitted alarm may be an audio alert or a visual alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Dresher, Emil F. Stefanacci, Thomas Anthony Petsche, Bina Patel
  • Patent number: 7844311
    Abstract: A mobile terminal having acoustic transducers and method for using the same are provided. The acoustic transducers are detachably mounted in a terminal body. When the acoustic transducers are mounted in the terminal body, they are operated as speakers, and when the acoustic transducers are separated from the terminal body, the acoustic transducers are operated as at least one of a wireless earphone and the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Myoung-Jae Kim
  • Patent number: 7817798
    Abstract: A compact low cost beamforming microphone assembly for a desk telephone is described. The assembly includes a microphone carrier array having a top surface and having faces arrayed about an exterior surface, each to receive a microphone. Each microphone is mounted in a microphone boot and inserted into a microphone carrier. The carrier array fits into a housing having a cover allowing sound to reach the microphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: ShoreTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Downing, Robert Jetter
  • Patent number: 7787617
    Abstract: An exemplary communication terminal includes a main body, a cover, and a keypad. The main body has a triggering area and a microphone boot near the triggering area. The cover defines an opening and a sound inlet near the opening. The keypad contacts the triggering area and is exposed from the opening. The keypad is integrated with a rib extending from an extremity thereof, along with a sealing gasket formed at a distal end of the rib. The sealing gasket abuts the cover and defines a through hole therein aligned with the sound inlet to form a sound passage towards the microphone boot. The microphone boot is extended into the through hole of the sealing gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shi-Jun Yang
  • Patent number: 7769195
    Abstract: A microphone connector module includes a microphone with a receiving face and a contacting face, a body defining a cavity to receive the microphone, a pair of terminals fixed in the body and connecting with the microphone and an external printed circuit board and a casing including a basic portion and a front portion. The basic portion of the casing defines a housing to receive the body. The front portion of the casing defines a voice channel approximately perpendicularly communicating with the housing of the basic portion. The receiving face of the microphone approximately perpendicularly faces to the voice channel and only receives the acoustic waves of single frequency at a time, which avoids the influence of a mixed transformation of the acoustic waves of different frequency to electric signals and enhances the receiving effect of the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsin-Tsung Ho