Windscreen Patents (Class 381/359)
  • Patent number: 12035092
    Abstract: The disclosed technology provides solutions for preventing the ingress of potentially harmful materials, such as moisture and debris, into a sensor housing. In some aspects, an ingress-protection sub-assembly is provided. The sub-assembly can include a t-protector mounted to an outer surface of a face-plate, wherein the t-protector is disposed above an inlet in the face-plate, a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted to an inner surface of the face-plate, and a membrane disposed between the PCB and the face-plate. Methods for assembling and mounting a sub-assembly are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Amanda Lind, Sally Abolitz
  • Patent number: 11889249
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a housing, an audio component, and a gasket. The housing can define a first internal volume and the audio component can define a second internal volume. The audio component can include membrane and a venting element having a fluid impermeable layer. The venting element can define a fluid path placing the first internal volume and the second internal volume in fluid communication. At least a portion of the fluid path can extend parallel to the fluid impermeable layer. The gasket can define a seal between the first internal volume and an ambient environment adjacent the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jiahui Liang, Andrew L. Doyle, Nikolas T. Vitt, Yingyi Wang, David W. Robison
  • Patent number: 11477312
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a mobile phone cover providing passive noise reduction of at least one microphone audio input signal, comprising a supporting frame (13). The supporting frame (13) is arranged with an extension element with a compartment (15) facing upwards with a partly open surface on a same side as a display surface of the mobile phone, the compartment (15) is adapted to support a porous body (17) providing the passive noise reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: FURTUNE AS
    Inventor: Mads Bohn
  • Patent number: 11303980
    Abstract: A sensor module comprising a housing defining an internal cavity, the housing including an aperture, at least one microphone positioned in the internal cavity spaced from the aperture, a first barrier proximate the aperture, and a second barrier positioned between the at least one microphone and the first barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Choon Ping Chng, Cheng-Han Wu, Jun Hou, Xuan Zhong
  • Patent number: 11228832
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the electronic device comprises a housing including a plate defining a first face of the electronic device and a side portion extending along an edge of the plate and defining a side face of the electronic device, a speaker including a sound outlet disposed in a support portion of the housing extending from the side member to an inner space of the electronic device, the sound outlet disposed in a direction facing the first face, a sheet disposed between the plate and the speaker, and an acoustic duct defined in part by the sheet and the support portion, spaced apart from the plate, and extending from the sound outlet of the speaker to the side face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myoungsung Sim, Youngbae Park, Choonghyo Park, Byounghee Lee, Seungnam Kim, Juhwan Woo, Hochul Hwang
  • Patent number: 11101836
    Abstract: A cover for a portable computing device includes a cover panel having a first portion of a solid silicone rubber sheet and a first stiffener panel that is fully encapsulated in the first portion of the solid silicone rubber sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Boris Landwehr, Hyoji Heidi Lim
  • Patent number: 10327070
    Abstract: A sound pickup device includes a housing having a porous exterior surface, main microphones, a reference microphone disposed near the main microphones, a first support member, a second support member, a first blocking member that blocks between the inside of the housing and the insides of the main microphones, a second blocking member that blocks between the outside of housing and the inside of the reference microphone, and a third blocking member that blocks between the inside of the housing and the inside of the reference microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshio Ohtsuka
  • Patent number: 10123136
    Abstract: An assistive hearing device having a sound entrance aperture on a first side, the sound entrance aperture placed against a voice emitting speaker (or receiver) of the telephone, a sound egress aperture on a second side opposite the first side, and the sound egress aperture located within closer proximity to a hearing device relative to the sound entrance aperture and the speaker to facilitate transmission of sound from the speaker to the hearing device located nearby is provided. The assistive hearing device includes a hollow interior, which connects the sound entrance and sound egress apertures, and allows sound waves entering the sound entrance aperture to travel through the hollow interior and exit the sound egress aperture. The sound entrance aperture of the assistive hearing device surrounds the speaker of the mobile device to capture sound waves transmitted from the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Inventor: Richard J. Bendetti
  • Patent number: 9020180
    Abstract: A microphone apparatus, which includes a microphone comprising at least one display means provided about a head thereof, wherein the display means comprises at least one of a static display for displaying a static communication and an electronically variable display means for displaying electronically variable communication/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Inventor: Steven Mark Levinsohn
  • Patent number: 8995681
    Abstract: An audio processing apparatus includes first and second audio pickup units. The second audio pickup unit includes an audio resistor provided to cover a sound receiving portion to suppress external wind introduction while passing an external audio. A first filter attenuates a signal having a frequency lower than a first cutoff frequency of the output signal of a first A/D converter. A second filter attenuates a signal having a frequency higher than a second cutoff frequency of the output signal of a second A/D converter. A third filter is provided between the first audio pickup unit and the first A/D converter to attenuate a signal having a frequency lower than a third cutoff frequency for suppressing the wind noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masafumi Kimura, Fumihiro Kajimura, Koichi Washisu
  • Patent number: 8983106
    Abstract: A narrow directional microphone including a film for suppressing wind noise capable of being displaced by a wind pressure, a unidirectional microphone unit having a front acoustic terminal, a cylindrical acoustic tube having a prescribed axial length, and an acoustic resistor disposed at a position which is on an outward side of the film and at which the resistor does not come into contact with the film even when the film is displaced by the wind pressure. A rear end of the acoustic tube is coupled to a side of the front acoustic terminal of the unidirectional microphone unit, and a front end opening of the acoustic tube is covered with the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventor: Hiroshi Akino
  • Patent number: 8867773
    Abstract: An audio processing device including a first audio collecting unit configured to convert an audio vibration into an electric signal and acquire an audio signal includes a shielding unit having a predetermined resonant frequency that shields the first audio collecting unit from an influence of airflow outside the device; and an acquiring unit configured to acquire, as a first audio signal, an audio signal in a predetermined frequency band lower than the resonant frequency of the shielding unit from among the audio signal acquired by the first audio collecting unit that is shielded from the influence of the air flow outside the device by the shielding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masafumi Kimura, Fumihiro Kajimura
  • Publication number: 20140307908
    Abstract: A communication headset (1, 15, 25, 35) comprising a housing (2) and a peripheral slot (5) extending along the periphery (30) of the housing (2) in an intersecting plane (6) that intersects the housing (2). A space (7) extends in the intersecting plane (6) and communicates with the slot (5). A porous material (11) is arranged in the space (7), and a first microphone transducer (8) is arranged in the housing (2). The first microphone transducer (8) comprises a microphone opening (9), which is connected to the space (7). The peripheral slot (5) extends along the main part of the periphery (30) of the housing (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Hoby Andersen
  • Patent number: 8861753
    Abstract: An acoustic sensor includes: a semiconductor substrate; a vibrating membrane, formed above the semiconductor substrate, which includes a vibrating electrode; and a fixed membrane, formed on an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, which includes a fixed electrode, the acoustic sensor detecting an acoustic wave according to a change in capacitance between the vibrating electrode and the fixed electrode. The fixed membrane has a plurality of sound hole portions formed therein in order to allow the acoustic wave to reach the vibrating membrane from outside, and the fixed electrode is formed so that a boundary of an edge portion of the fixed electrode does not intersect the sound hole portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignees: OMRON Corporation, STMicroelectronics Srl
    Inventors: Takashi Kasai, Yuki Uchida, Yasuhiro Horimoto, Sebastiano Conti
  • Publication number: 20140254852
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an in-the-ear device. The in-the-ear device includes a housing including a microphone inlet. The in-the-ear device also includes a microphone and a windscreen. The microphone is disposed within the housing adjacent to the microphone inlet. The windscreen includes a porous screen and an attachment mechanism coupled to the porous screen. The attachment mechanism is configured to detachably couple to the housing surrounding a perimeter of the microphone inlet such that an acoustic seal is formed between the windscreen and the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Etymotic Research Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Haapapuro, Stephen D. Julstrom, Viorel Drambarean, Timothy Scott Monroe
  • Publication number: 20140233781
    Abstract: A sound transmission, material is made of fibers entangled with each other and has a self-standing property and a high performance sound transmission property, namely the Taber stiffness is not less than 5 mN·m, the bending resistance is not less than 100 mN, the porosity is not less than 50%, and the thickness is not more than 3 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: TOMOEGAWA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fukushi Kawakami, Takayuki Sano
  • Patent number: 8798992
    Abstract: An signal processing apparatus, system and software product for audio modification/substitution of a background noise generated during an event including, but not be limited to, substituting or partially substituting a noise signal from one or more microphones by a pre-recorded noise, and/or selecting one or more noise signals from a plurality of microphones for further processing in real-time or near real-time broadcasting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gay, Jed Drake, Anthony Bailey
  • Publication number: 20140211974
    Abstract: A sealed enclosure providing a microphone contained therein extended protection from the weather and some other outdoor hazards while not substantially altering the dynamic range of said microphone. The enclosure consists of a layer of liquid-water impermeable fabric, a layer of acoustical foam, a protective cage, and a wind noise dampening external cover. The enclosure is assembled around a microphone and a commercial foam windscreen, or around a custom high-wind foam windscreen first assembled around the microphone. As such, the weatherproof enclosure enables continuous use of boundary microphones and many other types and styles of microphones outdoors year round while supplementing the wind noise reduction of the enclosed foam windscreen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: William J Pielsticker
  • Patent number: 8774439
    Abstract: A communication headset (1, 15, 25, 35) comprising a housing (2) and a peripheral slot (5) extending along the periphery (30) of the housing (2) in an intersecting plane (6) that intersects the housing (2). A space (7) extends in the intersecting plane (6) and communicates with the slot (5). A porous material (11) is arranged in the space (7), and a first microphone transducer (8) is arranged in the housing (2). The first microphone transducer (8) comprises a microphone opening (9), which is connected to the space (7). The peripheral slot (5) extends along the main part of the periphery (30) of the housing (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: GN Netcom A/S
    Inventor: Michael Hoby Andersen
  • Patent number: 8724841
    Abstract: A portable electronic device having an outer case having a substantially planar face in which a microphone associated acoustic port is formed. The device also has a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone positioned within the outer case, the MEMS microphone having a diaphragm facing the microphone associated acoustic port. An acoustic mesh is positioned between the front face of the outer case and the diaphragm, the acoustic mesh having a non-linear acoustic resistance so as to minimize an effect of an incoming air burst on the diaphragm. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew P. Bright, Christopher R. Wilk, Jae Han Lee, Ruchir M. Dave, Scott P. Porter, Sawyer Isaac Cohen
  • Patent number: 8724840
    Abstract: A microphone with an offset acoustic channel. The microphone includes an external case, an acoustic chamber enclosure within the external case, a microphone transducer positioned within the acoustic chamber enclosure, and a gasket positioned between the external case and the acoustic chamber enclosure. A first opening in the external case is positioned an offset lateral distance from a second opening in the acoustic chamber enclosure. An acoustic channel is formed in the gasket extending from the first opening to the second opening along the offset lateral distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andrew J. Doller, Michael J. Daley
  • Publication number: 20140072164
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling airflow into an electronic device are disclosed. An airflow control system may include an airflow impedance plate having one or more airflow impeding features. The airflow impedance plate may be a passive device that may be configured to impede forceful airflow therethrough and also allow sound to pass therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Sawyer Cohen, Scott Porter, Ruchir Dave
  • Publication number: 20140064542
    Abstract: A portable electronic device having an outer case having a substantially planar face in which a microphone associated acoustic port is formed. The device also has a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone positioned within the outer case, the MEMS microphone having a diaphragm facing the microphone associated acoustic port. An acoustic mesh is positioned between the front face of the outer case and the diaphragm, the acoustic mesh having a non-linear acoustic resistance so as to minimize an effect of an incoming air burst on the diaphragm. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew P. Bright, Christopher R. Wilk, Jae Han Lee, Ruchir M. Dave, Scott P. Porter, Sawyer Isaac Cohen
  • Patent number: 8494204
    Abstract: An audio device includes a microphone, a sound canal allowing sound to pass from the surroundings to the microphone, a signal path from the microphone to a receiver, and a current source, such that sounds received at the microphone may be enhanced and presented at the ear level of the user. A protection screen is provided at the sound canal, and includes a first surface which faces the surroundings and a second surface which faces the sound canal, and defines a slit-formed opening between the first surface and the second surface. The curvature between the first surface and the slit-formed opening is smooth and gradual, and a sharp edge is located at the transition between the second surface and the slit-formed opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventor: Lars Tuborg Jensen
  • Patent number: 8488829
    Abstract: A device includes a windscreen in a first surface, a gradient microphone housed in a capsule having first and second outlets coupled to openings in a second surface displaced from the first surface, a pressure microphone mounted between the first and second surfaces, and circuitry coupled to the gradient microphone and the pressure microphone and operable to combine the signals of the microphones and provide a combined microphone signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Bose Corporartion
    Inventor: Martin David Ring
  • Patent number: 8477980
    Abstract: A vehicle trim and microphone assembly includes a headliner having a substrate, a foam layer, and a surface cover covering the substrate and foam layer. The substrate has a hole that is covered by the surface cover. A bracket is secured to the substrate and a microphone installed in the bracket so that acoustic sound waves pass through the surface cover within the hole to be detected by the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chi Li, Sara E. Veyo, Justin Lee Healy, Adam W. Hellar
  • Patent number: 8467551
    Abstract: A microphone mounting assembly (800A/800b) include one or more transducers (801) mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) (805) where a spacer (803) is used having a channel (807) positioned on the PCB (805) for allowing acoustical energy to pass through the channel (807) to a port (809) in the PCB (805). A first cover (811) is positioned over the channel (807) for disrupting the direct encounter with airflow into the channel (807) while a top section (813) having a second cover (815) is further positioned adjacent to the first fabric cover (811) for preventing debris from obstructing the first fabric cover (811).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Turnbull, Alan R. Watson, Michael A. Bryson
  • 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: 8443934
    Abstract: An acoustic resistance member includes an air-shielding layer which does not allow air to pass through such that acoustic waves do not propagate, and an acoustic resistance layer which allows air to pass through such that acoustic waves propagate. The air-shielding layer is composed of a resin containing a coloring agent, and a part of the air-shielding layer is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventor: Hiroshi Akino
  • Patent number: 8391529
    Abstract: An apparatus for reduction of wind noise comprised of an electro-acoustic transducer arrangement with at least two and preferably three omni-directional transducer elements. The exposed structure is covered with a thin layer of acoustic-resistive material. The electrical outputs of the elements are added together to provide an output signal with increased signal to noise ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Audio-Gravity Holdings Limited
    Inventor: David Herman
  • Publication number: 20130051591
    Abstract: A noise reduction filter for a microphone reducing unwanted wind noise includes a first filter element made of a first material configured to filter out wind noise, wherein the first filter element comprises a first surface configured to face towards a first microphone inlet of a first sound tube, the first microphone inlet having a central axis, and a second filter element made of a second material configured to be impermeable to wind, wherein the second filter element is configured to be positioned at the central axis so that a first part of a sound wave travelling towards the first microphone inlet is prevented by the second filter element from passing through a second surface of the first filter element into the first filter element, wherein the second surface is configured to be positioned at the central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: GN RESOUND A/S
    Inventors: Gorm Dannesboe, Morten Birkmose Sondergaard
  • Patent number: 8369556
    Abstract: A microphone pop filter for attenuating plosive artifacts utilizes a substantially acoustically transparent material configured to define multiple airfoil surfaces that are oriented non-orthogonally relative to an axis defined between an audio source and a microphone diaphragm, with the substantially acoustically transparent material disposed intermediate the audio source and the microphone diaphragm and separated from the microphone diaphragm by an airspace. Plosive artifacts from the audio source may be deflected away from the microphone diaphragm by the airfoil surfaces to reduce the impact of such artifacts on the microphone diaphragm and the resulting electronic signal output therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Power
  • Patent number: 8355521
    Abstract: A vehicle interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an accessory, a reflective element and a bezel. The mirror assembly may define portions of a pocket that at least partially receives and secures the accessory therebetween when the reflective element is at least partially received in the bezel. The mirror assembly may include a microphone and an acoustic cover positioned at least partially over one or more inlet ports of the microphone. The acoustic cover may include an outer air flow limiting layer that substantially limits air flow therethrough and a diffusing material that may space and support the outer layer from the inlet ports to substantially diffuse air flow that penetrates the outer layer. An acoustic barrier may be positioned between a pair of inlet ports of the microphone to enhance the directivity of the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Mark L. Larson, Andrew D. Weller, Joshua L. Barr, Eric P. Bigoness, Timothy R. Lambrix, Carol L. DeBoer, Joseph P. McCaw
  • Patent number: 8351633
    Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments are a noise-cancelling microphone housing including a body and a round wind shield member having a round depression in the end facing away from the body. The body is sized such that at least one microphone element will fit inside. The wind shield member is positioned such that in the course of normal use, wind directed toward the microphone will be intercepted and deflected by the wind-shield element. Deflecting wind away from the noise-cancelling microphone allows the microphone to produce a high-quality signal in spite of heavy winds. Various embodiments may also include a cover made of noise-damping material and/or holes through at least one face of the housing such that sound may pass through and reach the interior where the microphones are located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventor: Teodoro Lassally
  • Patent number: 8331601
    Abstract: A housing sub-assembly for mounting a microphone sub-assembly to a vehicle includes, but is not limited to a main body portion that is adapted to be mounted to an interior surface of the vehicle. The main body portion is configured to connect to the microphone sub-assembly and to support the microphone sub-assembly in a position such that a portion of the microphone sub-assembly protrudes beyond an end of the main body portion when the main body portion is connected to the microphone sub-assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignees: General Motors LLC, GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jesse T. Gratke, Darryl T. Fornatoro
  • Publication number: 20120257779
    Abstract: An audio processing device including a first audio collecting unit configured to convert an audio vibration into an electric signal and acquire an audio signal includes a shielding unit having a predetermined resonant frequency that shields the first audio collecting unit from an influence of airflow outside the device; and an acquiring unit configured to acquire, as a first audio signal, an audio signal in a predetermined frequency band lower than the resonant frequency of the shielding unit from among the audio signal acquired by the first audio collecting unit that is shielded from the influence of the air flow outside the device by the shielding unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masafumi Kimura, Fumihiro Kajimura
  • Publication number: 20120250927
    Abstract: A device includes a windscreen in a first surface, a gradient microphone housed in a capsule having first and second outlets coupled to openings in a second surface displaced from the first surface, a pressure microphone mounted between the first and second surfaces, and circuitry coupled to the gradient microphone and the pressure microphone and operable to combine the signals of the microphones and provide a combined microphone signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventor: Martin David Ring
  • Publication number: 20120177239
    Abstract: A removable case for a mobile communications device includes an opening that aligns with a microphone port that is built into the device. The case includes a windscreen that is sealed across the opening of the case. The windscreen is designed to reduce wind noise, air blasts, vocal plosives, and other noise. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Han Lee
  • Patent number: 8199961
    Abstract: A speaker device (100) includes a speaker unit (2) including a diaphragm (6); a windshield cover (3) covering the speaker unit and including a sound emitting unit (130) emitting a sound produced by the speaker unit; and a cabinet (5) connected to a bottom of the windshield cover, and supporting the speaker unit so as to form an angle equal to or greater than 0 degree and equal to or smaller than 90 degree between a vibration direction X of the diaphragm and the sound emitting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Omoda, Masahiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8194907
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikolay A. Kopnov, Lorne R. Brown, Aryeh Vered
  • Patent number: 8191678
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a combination of a microphone and a composite acoustic panel. The composite acoustic panel comprises materials having different spectra of acoustic absorption. The materials may be integrated in a single layer or in a plurality of different layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: SE Electronics International, Inc.
    Inventor: Siwei Zou
  • Patent number: 8170257
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing background and wind noise to a microphone contained in a microphone casing comprises a clamshell enclosure. The clamshell enclosure has a top piece and a bottom piece held together by a hinge or a plastic membrane, wherein the clamshell enclosure is designed to encapsulate the microphone casing containing the microphone. The clamshell enclosure contains foam materials inside the clamshell enclosure, or the clamshell enclosure itself is made out of foam materials such as polyurethane, wherein the foam materials contribute to reduction of background and wind noises to the microphone. The clamshell enclosure may optionally incorporate one or more channels as electrical cord pathways between the microphone casing encapsulated in the clamshell enclosure and another object (e.g. electronic device, earphones, and etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventor: Wayne G P Chan
  • Publication number: 20120076321
    Abstract: A microphone includes a sensing element having two opposing sides; and a housing including a first acoustic port having an external-facing portion defined in part by a first aperture located on a first housing side and an internal-facing portion defined in part by a first cavity within the housing, the first cavity being coupled to a first side of the element; and a second acoustic port having an external-facing portion defined in part by a second aperture located on the first housing side and an internal-facing portion defined in part by a second cavity within the housing, the second cavity being coupled to a second side of the element. The ports are spaced apart at a distance such that a level of an electrical response by the element to an ambient acoustic noise at 50 dB A-weighted sound pressure level exceeds an internal electrical noise level of the element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Martin D. Ring, Vasu Iyengar
  • Patent number: 8116482
    Abstract: A microphone for use in windy environments. The microphone uses a transducer to flood the environment outside the microphone with a high frequency (such as an ultrasonic) acoustic field. The sounds desired to be detected are mixed with the high frequency carrier, and can then be received by the microphone with less wind noise. The microphone then demodulates the desired sound signals from the high frequency carrier. The microphone can be configured in a special emitter-receiver configuration that also reduces interference from engine noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Stephen Anthony Cerwin, Martin Gray Dennis
  • Patent number: 8081772
    Abstract: A triangular microphone assembly (101) for use in a vehicle accessory includes a mirror housing (106) adapted for attachment to the interior of the vehicle. A mirror is disposed in an opening of the mirror housing (106) and a plurality of virtual digital microphones (108a, 108b, 108c) are arranged in a substantially triangular configuration in the mirror housing (106). A digital signal processor (DSP) (537) is used for receiving signals from the plurality of digital microphones (108a, 108b, 108c) such that the digital microphones exhibit directional characteristics for reducing undesirable noise in at least one direction by normalizing the phase of the received signals as a function of signal frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Turnbull, Alan R. Watson, Michael A. Bryson
  • Patent number: 8045741
    Abstract: A boundary microphone, comprising: a base made of a metal; a cover made of a metal having a plurality of holes for introducing sound waves; and internal components including a microphone unit that is disposed in an internal space enclosed by the base and the cover; a first metallic part disposed on one side of the upper and lower sides of the internal components; and a second metallic part, which is disposed on other side of the upper and lower sides of the internal components and which encloses the internal components along with the first metallic part from all directions, are provided, wherein the base, the cover, the first metallic part, and the second metallic part are alternately overlapped at their peripheral portions, and wherein at least one of the first metallic part and the second metallic part is made of a metallic mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Audio-Technica
    Inventor: Satoshi Yoshino
  • Patent number: 8019109
    Abstract: A microphone boom cap includes a porous plastic portion adapted to cover a microphone boom first aperture. The microphone boom cap includes a non-porous plastic portion affixed to the porous plastic portion. The non-porous plastic portion is adapted to cover a microphone boom second aperture in a second use position, where the porous plastic portion covers the second aperture in a first use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Gollbach, Timothy Johnston
  • Patent number: 8009852
    Abstract: A windguard for a microphone includes an acoustic inlet at a downstream end and at least one pressure-relief port upstream of the acoustic inlet. The windguard has a base, a skirt depending from the base, and a first hood projecting from the base. The base and skirt provide space to accommodate the microphone. The first hood extends from an upstream end of the base to the downstream end and includes the acoustic inlet at the downstream end. The pressure-relief port(s) is located on the first hood at the upstream end and is protected by a second hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Jesse T. Gratke, Darryl T. Fornatoro
  • Patent number: 8009851
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sound receiving device and a microphone unit for such a sound receiving device. In microphone unit there is provided a microphone, an air filled chamber and a wind noise barrier covering chamber for providing a wind shield and having at least one air passage channel connecting the exterior of the device with the air filled chamber and having an inlet facing the exterior of the device and an outlet facing the air filled chamber. The air passage channel comprises at least one turn for reducing the influence of the wind on microphone. The invention provides enhanced wind noise reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications
    Inventors: Pieter De Pooter, Gerrit Johannes Willem Sampimon, Johannes Lucas Schreuder, Rudy Stubenitsky
  • Patent number: 8009845
    Abstract: A microphone unit (1) has a first vibration plate. A support member (6) supports the microphone unit (1). A second vibration plate (5) is fixed to the support member (6) at a predetermined distance from the first vibration plate. An armoring body (2) covers the microphone unit (1), the support member (6) and the second vibration plate (5). A space surrounded by the support member (6), the first vibration plate and the second vibration plate (5) is a closed space (S1) with air kept therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Limited
    Inventors: Kazuo Sakurai, Masayuki Shimada