Abstract: A video teleconferencing directional microphone includes three microphone elements arranged coincidentally on a vertical axis. The three microphone elements are placed on a supporting surface so that a first microphone element is on the surface, and the second and third microphone elements are elevated above the supporting surface. The directional microphone also includes three filters, a summing node, and an equalizer, which are used to shape the directivity pattern of the directional microphone into an elevated toroid sensitivity pattern. The elevated toroid sensitivity pattern increases sensitivity in the direction of a sound source of interest, but reduces sensitivity to any sound waves generated by noise sources at other locations.

Abstract: An acoustic tube that can be manufactured simply and can also be reduced in size easily is obtained. By using the acoustic tube, a directional microphone which has a simple structure and can be reduced in size easily is obtained. In an integrally molded acoustic tube, an acoustic resistance material arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the acoustic tube is integrated to the acoustic tube by molding of the acoustic tube. It is preferable to select resin as the material of the acoustic tube and resin mesh as that of the acoustic resistance material. It is preferable that the acoustic tube have a slit-like acoustic resistance part and the acoustic resistance material be present in the acoustic resistance part. It is preferable to configure a directional microphone by using the acoustic tube.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a plurality of microphones, and a plurality of guide tubes. The plurality of microphones are disposed in the housing. The plurality of guide tubes extend from the housing toward the plurality of microphones, whereby the plurality of microphones in the housing receives external sound via the guide tubes.

Abstract: A variable directional microphone unit includes two capacitor elements. Each of the two capacitor elements has: a back plate formed on one side of an insulating plate to be insulated from a back plate of the other capacitor element; and a vibrating plate disposed to face the back plate with a certain amount of space therebetween, in which a polarization voltage is applied between each of the back plates and the vibrating plates so that an electroacoustically transduced signal is obtainable from each of the back plates. The variable directional microphone unit is characterized in that the two vibrating plates of the two capacitor elements are acoustically connected in series as a plurality of holes are formed on both of the back plates.

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.

Abstract: In order to establish a communication connection between two subscribers in a direct communication network, signaling information containing subscriber address information is exchanged between subscribers participating in the communication connection. The communication connection is directly established between the subscribers participating in the communication connection on the basis of the subscriber address information. According to the invention, the following steps are carried out: first, subscriber address information of at least one target subscriber required for establishing a paired communication connection between the subscribers is stored in a first subscriber; the stored subscriber address information of the target subscriber is then transmitted to a calling subscriber by the first subscriber; and the calling subscriber uses said subscriber address information in order to establish the communication connection between the calling subscriber and the target subscriber.

Abstract: A differential microphone assembly with multiple membranes in a single package and oriented in mutually exclusive directions.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a circuit board, a first microphone module, and a second microphone module. The first microphone module includes a first omnidirectional microphone connected to the circuit board, a first boot also connected to the circuit board, and a first tube extending from the first boot. The second microphone module includes a second omnidirectional microphone connected to the circuit board, a second boot also connected to the circuit board, and a second tube extending from the second boot. The first and second omnidirectional microphones are identical, and the first and second boots are identical.

Abstract: An overhead microphone assembly using multiple unidirectional microphone elements. The microphone assembly is installed overhead, generally above all the desired sound sources and below the undesired sound sources. The signals from these multiple microphone elements are fed into a microphone steering processor which can mix and gate the signals to ensure the best signal/noise ratio. The steering processor may also track the sound source dynamically when such tracking (source locating) is desired. The resulting audio signal from the steering processor may be further processed, such as echo canceling, noise reduction and automatic gain control.

Abstract: The present invention relates to wind noise reduction for a microphone (10) achieved by locating a microphone pick up (2) in a chamber (4) provided with at least one sound passage (5), wherein one or more elements (s) (6) is/are provided in the sound passage (s) (5) to decrease the speed of the air stream.

Abstract: A narrow directional microphone includes an acoustic tube made of a resin film having thousands of minute holes, and a microphone unit attached in a rear end of the acoustic tube. The acoustic tube is made of a resin film having thousands of minute holes and curled up. The minute holes let air in but block droplets.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a plurality of microphones, and a plurality of guide tubes. The plurality of microphones are disposed in the housing. The plurality of guide tubes extend from the housing toward the plurality of microphones, whereby the plurality of microphones in the housing are capable of receiving external sound via the guide tubes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sound collector preferably applicable to an acoustic analysis with a high degree of accuracy and includes a sound collection hood having an opening at the front end and a sound reflective inner wall shaped like a rotating surface having a focus behind the opening at least provided on the opening side, thus forming an inner space, a microphone placed inside the sound collection hood with at least a sound receiving face oriented forward for receiving a sound wave entering the sound collection hood and an acoustical absorbent body formed in front of the sound receiving face so as to form an incident path for sound to enter the sound receiving face and in a shape surrounding the incident path.

Abstract: System (10) is disclosed including an acoustic sensor array (20) coupled to processor (42). System (10) processes inputs from array (20) to extract a desired acoustic signal through the suppression of interfering signals. The extraction/suppression is performed by modifying the array (20) inputs in the frequency domain with weights selected to minimize variance of the resulting output signal while maintaining unity gain of signals received in the direction of the desired acoustic signal. System (10) may be utilized in hearing, cochlear implants, speech recognition, voice input devices, surveillance devices, hands-free telephony devices, remote telepresence or teleconferencing, wireless acoustic sensor arrays, and other applications.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a mobile communication device are disclosed. The system generally includes a housing such as a headset, a speaker, a microphone, and a wireless communication module. The wireless communications module provides for directional communication links.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a body and a microphone module. The body includes a plurality of corners and a plurality of edges meeting at the corners. The microphone module is provided with a plurality of acoustic openings and disposed at the corners and/or the edges of the body to expose the acoustic openings.

Abstract: A microphone system, includes: a housing, adapted to be placed in a reference position relative to a sound source; a first microphone, configured to receive sound from the sound source at a first position within the housing; a second microphone, configured to receive sound from the sound source at a second position within the housing; and a differential signal generator, wherein: the first and second positions are arranged on a first line; and the first line perpendicularly intersects a second line that is extended from the sound source at a third position which is not between the first and second positions, and obliquely intersects a third line that is extended from the sound source at a fourth position which is between the first and second positions, when the housing is placed at the reference position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sound source localization using microphones are disclosed. The method includes: receiving signals coming from a sound source through microphones covering all directions; distinguishing the received signals into those signals directly input to the microphones from the sound source (direct signals) and those signals indirectly input to the microphones (indirect signals); identifying a candidate region at which the sound source is present using locations of the microphones receiving direct signals; selecting a point in the candidate region as a candidate location; drawing one or more virtual tangent lines, contacting with the circumference of the apparatus, from the candidate location; placing locations of the microphones receiving indirect signals on the virtual tangent lines; and localizing the sound source on the basis of signals passing through the microphones receiving direct signals and through the virtual locations of the microphones receiving indirect signals.

Abstract: A directional microphone assembly for a hearing aid is disclosed. The hearing aid has one or more microphone cartridge(s), and first and second sound passages. Inlets to the sound passages, or the sound passages themselves, are spaced apart such that the shortest distance between them is less than or approximately equal to the length of the microphone cartridge(s). A sound duct and at least one surface of a microphone cartridge may form each sound passage, where the sound duct is mounted with the microphone cartridge. Alternatively, each sound duct may be formed as an integral part of a microphone cartridge.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a sound image localization apparatus which can localize a sound image with ease correctly for many listeners. Herein disclosed is a sound image localization apparatus, in which a directional band information storage unit 11 is adapted to store therein directional bands in advance calculated for respective directions, a control filter computing unit 12 is adapted to read a directional band corresponding to a target position information from a directional band information storage unit 11 upon receiving target position information, calculate a control filter coefficient in such a manner that the maximum value of a sensation level for which masking is taken into consideration is matched with the directional band thus read, output the control filter coefficient to a sound image localization processing unit 13.

Abstract: A comfortable device that combines the functionality of a hearing aid with that of a headset is to be provided. A hearing aid device (H) is thus provided which comprises a rotary switch, on which is arranged a directional microphone. In a first rotary position corresponding to the hearing aid mode, the directional microphone points horizontally forwards, whilst in the second rotary position corresponding to a telephone mode, the directional microphone points towards the mouth of the wearer. The hearing aid device is switched into the corresponding mode by rotating the directional microphone.

Abstract: The device is now a squarely-truncated horizontal cylinder capped at each end by a circular disc central to which is placed a transducer. With amplification the device yields the sound spectrum which can be heard in consciousness. The cylinder is extended just sufficiently to accommodate truncation at 35 degrees 16 minutes yielding a chiral pair of elliptical openings which, with amplification, add cues to sound-source localization and range determination which are not heard but are known subconsciously. The long axes of the elliptical openings are set orthogonally at 45 degrees to the horizon, thus allowing correct spatial orientation. Elliptical caps, with open edges, are applied to the elliptical ends of the device hiding the transducers from view and from direct sound. To cancel internally generated resonances the enclosed spaces are filled with fine irregularly-shaped particulate matter.

Abstract: An acoustic pressure type sensor fabricated on a supporting substrate is disclosed. The acoustic sensor is fabricated by depositing and etching a number of thin films on the supporting substrate and by machining the supporting substrate. The resulting structure contains a pressure sensitive, electrically conductive diaphragm positioned at a distance from an electrically conductive fixed electrode. In operation, the diaphragm deflects in response to an acoustic pressure and the corresponding change of electrical capacitance between the diaphragm and the fixed electrode is detected using an electrical circuit. Two or more such acoustic sensors are combined on the same supporting substrate with an interaural flexible mechanical connection, to form a directional sensor with a small surface area.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a microphone. The microphone includes housing, a port disposed in the housing leading to an interior chamber, and a diaphragm with a first side and a second side. The first side of the diaphragm faces the port. The microphone includes a shunt channel from the port to the second side of the diaphragm. The shunt channel receives a wind noise signal to reduce the effects of the wind noise signal on the diaphragm.

Abstract: The acoustic resistance inside the microphone of the present invention can be adjusted mechanically by a simple electrical operation from the outside, and thereby directivity can be changed easily without adversely affecting the acoustic characteristic, even if the microphone is a single directivity dynamic type microphone. The microphone has a front acoustic terminal and a rear acoustic terminal, and makes directivity variable by having an acoustic resistance changing unit of the rear acoustic terminal. The acoustic resistance changing unit has a piezoelectric element arranged in opposition to the rear acoustic terminal with an air layer in between, and makes the acoustic resistance of the rear acoustic terminal variable by varying a voltage to be applied to the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: The present invention increases the aperture size of a microphone array by introducing a diffracting structure into the interior of a microphone array. The diffracting structure within the array modifies both the amplitude and phase of the acoustic signal reaching the microphones. The diffracting structure increases acoustic shadowing along with the signal's travel time around the structure. The diffracting structure in the array effectively increases the aperture size of the array and thereby increases the directivity of the array. Constructing the surface of the diffracting structure such that surface waves can form over the surface further increases the travel time and modifies the amplitude of the acoustical signal thereby allowing a larger effective aperture for the array.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a uni-directional microphone, and a cover. The housing has a first acoustic opening and a second acoustic opening. The uni-directional microphone is disposed in the housing to receive external sound via the first acoustic opening and the second acoustic opening. The cover is disposed in the housing to cover the first acoustic opening, the second acoustic opening, and the unidirectional microphone. A process for mounting a microphone includes providing a first acoustic opening and a second acoustic opening on a housing, fixing a uni-directional microphone in the housing beside the first acoustic opening, and covering the first acoustic opening, the second acoustic opening, and the uni-directional microphone with a cover.

Abstract: A device comprises a microphone housing and a uni-directional microphone. The microphone housing includes a first acoustic passage and a second acoustic passage. The unidirectional microphone is disposed in the microphone housing, comprising a first surface receiving external sound via the first acoustic passage, and a second surface receiving the external sound via the second acoustic passage, wherein the first acoustic passage runs parallel to the first surface of the unidirectional microphone.

Abstract: In a method of separating acoustic signals from a plurality of sound sources comprising the following steps: disposing two microphones (MIK1, MIK2) at a predefined distance (d) from one another; picking up the acoustic signals with both microphones (MIK1, MIK2) and generating associated microphone signals (m1, m2); and separating the acoustic signal of one of the sound sources (SI) from the acoustic signals of the other sound sources (S2) on the basis of the microphone output signals (m1, m2), the proposed separation step comprises the following steps: applying a Fourier transform to the microphone output signals in order to determine their frequency spectra (M1, M2); determining the phase difference between the two microphone output signals (m1, m2) for every frequency component of their frequency spectra (M1 , M2); determining the angle of incidence of every acoustic signal allocated to a frequency of the frequency spectra (M1, M2) on the basis of the relative phase angle and the frequency; generating a sig

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a plurality of microphones, and a plurality of guide tubes. The plurality of microphones are disposed in the housing. The plurality of guide tubes extend from the housing toward the plurality of microphones, whereby the plurality of microphones in the housing are capable of receiving external sound via the guide tubes.

Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a frame, a magnet coupled to the frame and a diaphragm secured to the frame. An acoustic lens may be positioned in front of the diaphragm. An aperture extends through the acoustic lens. The acoustical directivity pattern of the loudspeaker may be modified by the acoustic lens to improve the uniformity of the off axis vs. on axis sound pressure level.

Abstract: To prevent sensitivity from lowering on switching to non-directionality as to a variable directional condenser microphone unit capable of switching to unidirectionality or non-directionality by opening and closing a rear acoustic terminal of a unidirectional condenser microphone unit. The variable directional condenser microphone unit has a converter 20 consisting of a diaphragm 21 set up on a supporter ring 22 and a fixed pole 23 supported by a seat 24 oppositely placed via a spacer housed in a cylindrical housing 10 including a front acoustic terminal 11, the microphone unit being unidirectional in the case where a rear acoustic terminal 24a provided on the seat 24 is open and being switchable to non-directionality by blocking the rear acoustic terminal 24a, wherein an air chamber A1 for complementing non-directional components is provided on the rear acoustic terminal 24a side.

Abstract: A directional microphone includes a housing, a diaphragm dividing the housing into a front volume and a back volume, electronics for detecting signals corresponding to movements of the diaphragm, and front and back inlets for the front and back volumes, respectively. To obtain additional low frequency roll-off in the directional microphone, the directional microphone includes an elongated acoustical conduit connecting the front volume and the back volume. The acoustical conduit may be external or internal to the housing.

Abstract: A microphone housing improves the broadband noise canceling performance of an active noise canceling microphone system while also ensuring improved speech transmission through the system. First and second microphone elements are selected each having a diameter “d” and a thickness “t”. The two microphone elements are aligned axially with the back surfaces in contact and secured in an axially aligned cylindrical cavity within a cylindrically shaped housing. The cylindrically shaped housing has an outside diameter “D,” an interior cavity of diameter of “d,” and a height “2t”. The housing is exposed to an environment comprising both speech and noise. The first microphone element is adapted to receive a signal having both voice and noise components, while the second microphone element is adapted to receive a signal that is predominantly noise. A controller processes signals from the first microphone element and the second microphone element.

Abstract: A directional microphone system comprises two membranes that, on the one hand, are respectively acoustically connected via an air volume with one of two spatially separate sound entrance ports, and on the other hand are acoustically coupled with one another via a third air volume, as well as an output generator configured to generate at least one output signal of the directional microphone from the vibration of one of the two membranes.

Abstract: A microphone system (100) includes a MEMS microphone (102) and at least one audio port (110) accessing the rear volume portion (106) of the MEMS microphone providing directional functionality, preferably through a MEMS switch (112).

Abstract: A MEMS directional sensor system capable of determining direction from a microphone to a sound source over a wide range of frequencies is disclosed. By utilizing a parallel filter bank that relies on a slow wave structure in a MEMS device, such as described herein, a very small microphone, on the order of a few micrometers, can be designed with unsurpassed ability to detect a sound source location.

Abstract: A directional microphone assembly suitable for subsurface mounting. A directional pickup pattern is developed from the outputs of a plurality of omnidirectional microphone elements mounted in an assembly behind a surface such that their acoustic excitation comes from the opposite side of the surface through small openings in the surface. The openings may have varying dimensions and may be covered with acoustically semi-transparent material without significantly degrading the assembly frequency response or polar pattern. Precautions are taken to ensure design robustness considering practical microphone element characteristics and potential high levels of low-frequency excitation.

Abstract: A microphone comprising a diaphragm which has a front diaphragm surface on which sound waves impinge and a rear diaphragm surface which is at least partially acoustically separated from the front diaphragm surface, and a sound inlet, through which sound waves can go to the rear diaphragm surface. In order to improve a strongly frequency-dependent frequency response characteristic in respect of the directional effect of the microphone, the microphone includes at least one damping element and the slot-shaped sound inlet forms substantially an acoustic inductance so that at least a part of the sound waves to be picked up is passed with a delay to the rear diaphragm surface.

Abstract: System (10) is disclosed including an acoustic sensor array (20) coupled to processor (42). System (10) processes inputs from array (20) to extract a desired acoustic signal through the suppression of interfering signals. The extraction/suppression is performed by modifying the array (20) inputs in the frequency domain with weights selected to minimize variance of the resulting output signal while maintaining unity gain of signals received in the direction of the desired acoustic signal. System (10) may be utilized in hearing, cochlear implants, speech recognition, voice input devices, surveillance devices, hands-free telephony devices, remote telepresence or teleconferencing, wireless acoustic sensor arrays, and other applications.

Abstract: The present invention increases the aperture size of a microphone array by introducing a diffracting structure into the interior of a microphone array. The diffracting structure within the array modifies both the amplitude and phase of the acoustic signal reaching the microphones. The diffracting structure increases acoustic shadowing along with the signal's travel time around the structure. The diffracting structure in the array effectively increases the aperture size of the array and thereby increases the directivity of the array. Constructing the surface of the diffracting structure such that surface waves can form over the surface further increases the travel time and modifies the amplitude of the acoustical signal thereby allowing a larger effective aperture for the array.

Abstract: It is a primary object of the present invention to suppress the variability of an acoustic resistance of sound passing from a rear acoustic terminal to the back surface of a vibration plate by sufficiently obtaining the contact area between an acoustic resistor and its storage portion even in a capacitor microphone having a small diameter. In order to achieve the object, as shown in FIG. 3, a support 140 of a fixed electrode 130 is formed as an electrically conductive column including a large and a small diameter-columns with the both columns disposed concentrically. The difference between each of the inner diameters of the large and the small diameter-columns is increased as possible as it can so that the contact area between the acoustic resistor 151 housed in the large diameter-column 141 and the bottom 141a of the large diameter-column can be increased. Therefore, the variability of the acoustic resistance can be suppressed.

Abstract: There is provided a microphone apparatus with an adjusting mechanism that prevents wind noise generated at a sound absorbing hole from perceptively inputted in the structure having a microphone built-in at the back of a panel with a sound absorbing hole. A sound box is structured between a sound absorbing hole of a panel and a sound perceptible portion of a microphone, and a movable piece that slidably moves in the sound box is formed. A screw rod is annexed to the movable piece, and a disk screwed with the screw rod is restricted and interposed between a tubular portion, serving as an outer frame of the sound box, and a support portion formed at the lower portion. A part of the disk is exposed to the front surface side from a slit of the panel, and the disk is rotated to move the movable piece, whereby changing a resonant frequency of a ventilation space of the sound box and a ventilation cross.

Abstract: Hearing aid for improving the hearing ability of the hard of hearing, comprising an array of microphones, the electrical output signals of which are fed to at least one transmission path belonging to an ear. Means are provided for deriving two array output signals from the output signals of the microphones, the array having two main sensitivity directions running at an angle with respect to one another and each of which is associated to an array output signal. Each array output signal is fed to its own transmission path belonging to one ear of a person who is hard of hearing.

Abstract: A highly discreet and accurate voice pickup device includes a standard miniature pressure gradient type microphone element provided and mounted very close to the side of the user's head, preferably near the user's ear. The microphone element is oriented so that its direction of maximum sensitivity is parallel to the side of the user's head, and points toward the user's mouth so that it will pick up the user's speech sounds as the sounds diffract and travel along the side of the user's face and head, to the microphone element. The microphone element can be configured with low pass networks at front and rear ports of the microphone element, which cooperate with air volumes within the microphone to provide additional directional properties that advantageously vary with frequency and further enhance the noise-rejection capability of the microphone element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for picking up sound comprising the following steps providing at least two essentially omnidirectional microphones (1a, 1b, 1c) or membranes (9a, 9b) which have a mutual distance (d) shorter than a typical wave length of the sound wave; combining these microphones (1a, 1b, 1c) or membranes (9a, 9b) to obtain directional signals (F(t), R(t) depending on the direction (3) of sound; and processing the directional signals (F(t), R(t) to modify the directional pattern of the signals.

Abstract: In order to improve the directional effect in a hearing device system with a hearing aid device worn behind the left ear and a hearing aid device worn behind the right ear, the hearing aid devices are to be fashioned side-specific. Furthermore, each hearing aid device has at least three sound entrance ports that are arranged substantially along a straight line. When the hearing aid devices are worn, these straight lines are turned toward the straight-ahead viewing direction of a hearing device user (in contrast to symmetrically-fashioned hearing aid devices) due to the particular fashioning of the hearing aid devices. A directional effect thus is achieved by the natural formation of the pinna.

Abstract: A directional hearing aid comprises a front microphone (11) and a back microphone (12), a delay processor (13, 14) for processing, according to a control parameter, the respective microphone signals, and means (8a) for adjusting the control parameter in order to minimize the output signal from the delay processor. The control parameter may be adjusted to change smoothly the function mode of a hearing aid between omnidirectional mode, a directional mode and a directional mode with a pair of null directions, symmetrical about the 180° direction. The directional controller may be implemented in a multichannel version. The invention provides a hearing aid, a method of controlling a hearing aid, a noise reduction system and a method of reducing noise in a hearing aid.

Abstract: A microphone array for providing a focused field of optimum audio reception is disclosed. The array has a series of interconnected microphones spaced within a housing. At a midpoint of the spaced microphones is an illuminated polarized centering marker which gives the user a visual signal that the user is located within the optimum filed of audio reception. The housing can be placed on the top front edge of video monitor and has slideably mounted removable feet, which allow the microphones to be aimed more accurately at the user. The array is foldable along a midpoint, which allow for compact storage. The folding mechanism is a hinge, which has a hollow core, and openings which allow the internal wiring to interconnect two wings of the array without exposing the wires. The wings are held in their longitudinally oriented position by a latching mechanism of pins in one wing which snap fit into capture boots within the other wing.

Abstract: A system and method for acoustic source location using a horizontal and vertical microphone array. Tilt sensors are provided within each array to allow full determination of the tilt of each array. Based on the acoustic source location results, an image capture device may be maneuvered to focus in the direction of the acoustic source location.