Microphone unit

• US 20040258267A1
• Filed: 05/25/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Original Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Inventors: Madsen, Steen, Burger, Christian C, Christensen, Niels Erik Holm, Koefed, Anders, Laugesen, Soren
• Application Number:
  US10/494,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20040258267A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/355
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/403 Linear arrays of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/405 by combining a plurality of transducers

Abstract

The invention relates to a microphone unit for use in connection with a communication device, where the microphone unit comprise:—a linear array of two or more microphones (A,B,C,D,);—a signal processing unit which receives the signals from a number of the microphones in the array and which through signal processing provides an output signal with a degree of direction-ality, output means for the signal resulting from the signal processing. According to the invention the microphones (A,B,C,D) are directional microphones of the dipole type mounted with the ports of the dipole pointing in the direction of the linear array thereby enlarging the port spacing of the microphones (A,B,C,D). Low noise levels and good directionality isachieved though this arrangement

Claims

1. A microphone unit for use in connection with a communication device, where the microphone unit comprises:

a linear array of two or more microphones (A, B, C, D);

a signal processing unit which receives the signals from a number of the microphones in the array and which through signal processing provides an output signal with a degree of directionality,

output means for the signal resulting from the signal processing,

wherein the microphones (A, B, C, D) are directional microphones of the dipole type mounted with the ports of the dipole pointing in the direction of the linear array and wherein one or more of the microphones have a tube (13, 14) extending from the rear and front port, whereby the tube (13, 14) extends in the direction of the linear array thereby enlarging the port spacing of the microphones (A, B, C, D).

2. A microphone unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each tube (13, 14) at a first end (13a, 14a) has a circumferential shape and size, which allows the first end of the tube to embrace the microphone.

3. A microphone unit according to claim 1, wherein the microphones (A, B, C, D) of the array are suspended by resilient suspensions (15, 16) encircling the tubes (13, 14) at each microphone (A, B, C, D).

4. A microphone unit according to claim 2, wherein the resilient suspension (15) comprise a first member (15a) which is shaped to fit tightly around the tube (13, 14), and a second member (15b) arranged to be retained in the housing (1, 6) where the first and second members (15a, 15b) are interconnected by a plurality of resilient spokes (16).

5. A microphone unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second member (15b) is shaped to be retained between a first part of the housing (1) and a second part of the housing (6).

6. A microphone unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second member (15b) is an annular member, and wherein the first and second part of the housing (1,6) has an array of furrows (4) corresponding to the second members (15b).

7. A microphone unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the housing parts has openings (6a) to allow air-borne sounds to enter the tubes (13, 14) and reach the microphones (A, B, C,D).