Electronic circuit for a microphone and method of operating a microphone

• US 10,085,088 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2014
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TDK Corporation
• Original Assignee: Epcos AG (TDK Corporation)
• Inventors: Rocca, Gino, Rombach, Pirmin Hermann Otto
• Primary Examiner(s): Laekemariam, Yosef K
• Application Number:
  US15/316,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20170164105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: 381 26, 381 55, 381 57, 381 91, 381 92, 381111, 381113, 381355
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/04 Structural association of microphone with electric circuitry therefor in deaf-aid sets H04R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/005 using semiconductor materials
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/04 Microphones H04R19/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

An electronic circuit for a microphone comprises a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the electronic circuit is selectively operable in a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the first terminal is configured for microphone output and in the second mode, the second terminal is configured for microphone output. Furthermore, a method of operating a microphone is provided.

Claims

1. An electronic circuit for processing a signal of a transducer microphone and for providing a processed output signal, the electric circuit comprising:

a first terminal; and

a second terminal,

wherein the electronic circuit is selectively operable in a first mode and a second mode, wherein, in the first mode, the first terminal is configured for providing the processed output signal of the transducer microphone;

wherein, in the second mode, the second terminal is configured for providing the processed output signal of the transducer microphone;

wherein, in the first and second modes, the first terminal is configured for power supply;

wherein the first mode is a two-terminal mode wherein power and output of the electronic circuit are provided at a single terminal and ground is provided at a further terminal; and

wherein the second mode is a three-terminal mode wherein separate terminals are provided for each of power, ground and output.

2. The electronic circuit of claim 1, further comprising a memory for setting the electronic circuit in the first or second mode.

3. The electronic circuit of claim 1, further comprising at least one switchable resistor.

4. The electronic circuit of claim 3, wherein, in the first mode, the switchable resistor is switched on.

5. The electronic circuit of claim 3, further comprising a signal input for receiving a signal from a transducer, wherein the switchable resistor is located in an electric path between the signal input and the second terminal.

6. The electronic circuit of claim 1, further comprising a third terminal configured for ground.

7. The electronic circuit of claim 6, further comprising a signal input for receiving a signal from a transducer, wherein a switchable resistor is located in an electric path between the signal input and the third terminal.

8. The electronic circuit of claim 2, further comprising at least one switch controllable by the memory for switching on a switchable resistor.

9. The electronic circuit of claim 3, wherein the switchable resistor is tunable.

10. The electronic circuit of claim 9, wherein a memory controls a tuning of the switchable resistor.

11. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit is an application-specific-integrated circuit (ASIC).

15. The electronic circuit of claim 1, further comprising an amplifier for amplifying a signal of the transducer microphone, wherein processing the signal includes an amplification of the signal.

12. A microphone comprising:

a transducer; and

an electronic circuit for processing a signal of the microphone and for providing a processed output signal, the electric circuit comprising a first terminal and a second terminal;

wherein the electronic circuit is selectively operable in a first mode and a second mode;

wherein, in the first mode, the first terminal is configured for providing the processed output signal of the transducer microphone;

wherein, in the second mode, the second terminal is configured for providing the processed output signal of the transducer microphone;

wherein, in the first and second modes, the first terminal is configured for power supply;

wherein the first mode is a two-terminal mode wherein power and output of the electronic circuit are provided at a single terminal and ground is provided at a further terminal; and

wherein the second mode is a three-terminal mode wherein separate terminals are provided for each of power, ground and output.

13. The microphone of claim 12, wherein the transducer is fabricated in MEMS (Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems) technology.

14. A method for operating the microphone of claim 12, the method comprising:

selecting the first or second mode; and

operating the microphone in the selected mode.