SUBMERSION-SAFE MICROPHONE

• US 3,789,166 A
• Filed: 12/16/1971
• Issued: 01/29/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George J. Sebesta
• Original Assignee: George J. Sebesta
• Inventors: Sebesta, George J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Thomas W.
• Application Number:
  US05/208,630
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 179/115.5BS,179,181R,184
• US Class Current: 381/391
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/44 Special adaptations for subaqueous use, e.g. for hydrophone

Abstract

Air-conduction transducers such as microphones, earphones and loudspeakers for high humidity or high altitude environments. Further, the invention transducers are operable in up to a few feet of water. Also, when immersed to greater depths, as down to 100 feet at sea, means are incorporated therein to keep such transducers bone dry. A contained flexible barrier-diaphragm with a semi-pervious vent serves as pressure flap valve below two or three feet. The invention arrangement permits operation of the transducer up to 10,000 feet in altitude, and keeps it safe up to 50,000 feet.

Claims

1. An acoustic transducing system comprising a housing, a flexible water impermeable membrane arranged across an acoustic opening in the housing, a gas-pervious member that is waterrepellent attached to said membrane across an aperture thereof whereby acoustic pressure variations normally pass through said aperture and member, and a plate arranged between said membrane and an electro-acoustic transducer contained within said housing, said plate having a hole through which acoustic pressure variations are transmitted, the hole in said plate being positioned away from the location of the membrane aperture, whereby effective acoustic transducing action is maintained between the transducer and the opening of the housing through the membrane aperture with attached member and the plate hole while the system is submerged down to a predetermined level in water, said membrane being pressed against said plate when the system is submerged below said level to effect a water seal at its aperture and member and thereby protect the transducer therein.

2. A transducing system as claimed in claim 1, in which both said membrane and said plate extend across the housing, and thereby maintain its interior dry when the said water seal is effected by the membrane and plate.

3. A transducing system as claimed in claim 1, further including an acoustic grille at one end of said housing, being set adjacent to said membrane.

4. A transducing system as claimed in claim 3, in which said grille is generally parallel to said membrane and spaced therefrom, whereby the membrane is pressed against the grille when the system is above a predetermined altitude.

5. A transducing system as claimed in claim 1, in which said member and its companion aperture are arranged centrally on the membrane.

6. A transducing system as claimed in claim 2, in which said member and its companion aperture are arranged centrally on the membrane.